Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)

I echo my colleagues' disappointment in learning of the motion of no confidence in our party leader, the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris. Let us be straight here: the dogs in the street know the exact reason the motion is being put down. It is because we have a presidential election next week. It is the greatest form of populist politics - I would call it pathetic politics. I hope the general public will see what it actually is. We have a duty as public representatives to call Government and the political parties to account if there are issues or challenges or issues in our communities not being worked on, but this is populist politics at its very best.

At the heart of this are scoliosis and spina bifida issues. I welcome the fact the Minister for Health and the Tánaiste have met the family of Harvey Morrison Sherratt recently but let us not forget why the motion is put down and let us call it out for what it is. I, too, have seen the Tánaiste at work on a daily basis here. Let us not forget the threats made on his life and against his family. We need to be careful as public representatives. When motions are put down and go to social media, that is the effect they can have, so I call out this motion directly.

I have raised in this House on a number of occasions the issue of infrastructure and the lack thereof in constituencies across the country. I welcome the additional funding put into infrastructure in the budget. The electricity grid and water and wastewater services need to be improved but when we see increased funding, we need to see efficiencies and delivery on the ground. We need to improve how Uisce Éireann and other State bodies communicate that delivery back to public representatives. I call for a debate with the Minister for housing to hear his plans to ensure State agencies spend money wisely. We all as public representatives email, phone and write to Uisce Éireann and it is deeply frustrating to get updates that take a long time. There is scope to put in place a website or a better communication method for public representatives at all levels to communicate the work being done.