Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is no reassurance in anything the Minister of State has said. We have heard all of it before. He said the Minister is working on developing a scheme "as a matter of priority" and he needs "sufficient time" to do so. The Minister of State is not in a position to tell us anything. He has given us no timelines. He has told us the Minister is working on a scheme. The Houses go into recess today for two months. We will not have an opportunity during that time to question any Minister. He made reference to a scheme and a code of practice being imminent. All the Minister of State has said today is that the Department is working on a code of practice and the Minister needs time to bring in the legislation. There is no solace offered to the people affected.

Will the Minister of State take what I have said back to his colleagues? The people listening to the discussion this morning expected to hear something about what is happening with emergency funding, what interim measures there will be and what insurance support will be provided. Those are the three asks. The Minister of State has shared none of that information with us. I respect him and his position and it is clearly the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who is taking responsibility for this response. There is nothing in it. We are told the Minister is working on legislation and a code but we are given no timelines for delivery. It is most unsatisfactory and most disappointing.