Jim O'Callaghan

I thank Deputy Cairns for her question. Obviously, it evokes a very painful and disturbing part of our history. In fairness to this Government and indeed previous Governments, there has been a process of trying to ensure that women who are survivors of mother and baby homes and, indeed, children who were born there are provided with recompense and acknowledgement by the State over the past ten-to-…

We want to be honest with people. We do not want to mislead the 829 families into believing that, by purchasing the site, we will be able to excavate and identify burial grounds. We need to be honest with people in this regard. Just so the House is aware, on foot of the Government’s action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby homes, the former Minister for housing, Deputy O’…

I thank the Deputy for his question. I am surprised he started with an invocation of Joseph Kent, who is one of the leaders of the MAGA movement in the United States of America.

It is just curious that the Deputy should happen to rely upon him and quote what he said.

I repeat what I said to Deputy Bacik, which is that what the Taoiseach did yesterday in the White House was extremely important from Ireland and Europe's point of view. We are, as the Deputy will know, at a particularly important time in the geopolitical relationship between the United States and Europe. A very significant break has taken place in that relationship, which has existed for ever 100 …

-----and that is very clear. He would not have gone. I know Deputy Bacik would not have gone-----

In fairness, Deputies McDonald and Cairns would have gone, so I wish them well when they are in government together deciding whether they will go to the United States next year or whenever they are in government.

Deputy Boyd Barrett would not have gone. There is a real benefit in the Taoiseach going there and being able to speak out frankly, more so than any other international leaders who have been there recently have done. The Taoiseach was able to speak out in respect of Keir Starmer-----

-----in respect of immigration and in respect of Ireland's view that we should resolve disputes through pacific methods. We cannot emphasise that enough. However, the reality is that in politics, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, self-awareness is an important characteristic. It applies to all of us individually. It also applies to us as a country. Ireland is a small, non-military country. What w…

Ireland has a strong voice. The Taoiseach emphasises that. The Deputy just saw what was stated in front of the cameras yesterday. There is ongoing engagement between ambassadors and diplomats in the United States. Nobody wants to see these disputes resolved through force. I agree with Deputy Carthy when he said that no-one ever achieved anything from bombing a country. He was right in that respect…

The Deputy mentioned the Mayor of New York, Mamdani. Of course, he did go to the White House. He is not refusing to meet President Trump as a result of what has happened in Iran. The Deputy's position is not consistent when it comes to engagement. The Irish Government believes there should be engagement with people when it comes to seeking to resolve disputes. The Deputy's view is to stay away fro…

-----stands to us, and the fact that we are not a member of NATO stands to us. I again commend the Taoiseach for the great performance he put up yesterday.

I thank Deputy Scanlon for his question about Sligo University Hospital. As the Deputy will be aware, a 42-bed block is being built in Sligo. I think it is Deputy Scanlon’s view that the oncology unit should be constructed at the same time. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in respect of this matter and come back to the Deputy on it. Obviously, a lot of work is being done in t…

I commend Deputy Scanlon on raising the question. As he knows, the programme for Government has committed the Government to exploring the provision of a surgical hub for the north west, in addition to establishing six new surgical hubs across the country. Delivery of the surgical hub in Sligo will be in line with the delivery of the other surgical hubs which are all new builds and which are takin…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It was a horrific incident that happened to the families. I had the pleasure of meeting the Deputy and Deputy Doherty to discuss it last year. I also met with the parents of Leona Harper in December. I want to be straight with the families, because they have suffered a lot. I will not establish a public inquiry until such time as the criminal investigati…

I will answer that-----

I will answer it in due course.

I want to deal with the question from Deputy McDonald that I did not answer. I will keep an open mind in respect of the matter. I will just say, however, that my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, met them. They want a public inquiry. I am being straight with them. I am not going to establish a public inquiry until such time that the criminal process is over. I will come back to the …

In the context of what Deputy Bacik said, people are obviously concerned about the rising cost of fuel. That is why the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and other Government Ministers have indicated that measures will probably be taken in response to what is happening with regard to the price of fuel. We are not going to just have a knee-jerk reaction in respect of this; we are going to have a united Gover…

I thank the Deputy. I am well aware of the issue. As he indicated, it happened in Sean Moore Park in my constituency. Gardaí had considerable success identifying the person responsible for it. The criminal justice system must operate in respect of people, even if they are under 18 years of age, who commit arson in playgrounds. Not only are they damaging playgrounds, they are damaging their communi…

Unfortunately, I do not have an answer for the Deputy. I will raise it with my colleague the Minister, Deputy James Browne. It might be of assistance if the Deputy were to provide to the Minister details of the two constituents in question in order that he can look at the matter in more detail. At the periphery of every scheme, there is always some flexibility.

Everyone is aware of the impact that the price of fuel is having on families, not just at pumps but also elsewhere. The Deputy is correct that VAT accounts for more than 20% of the cost of fuel. Excise duty accounts for more than 30%. That is something the Government is looking at, particularly in respect of the excise duty. We will not make a knee-jerk reaction just to facilitate the Deputy in ge…

I have spoken to Deputy Crowe previously about this issue and his concern for the gardaí involved. As is obviously the case, they were acquitted. They are not guilty. It is always the case, regrettably, that where people who are prosecuted for offences and acquitted, there are consequences for them deriving from that. There is no mechanism in place to provide any remedy for a person who is prosec…

I thank the Deputy very much. I will raise that with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne. Just so the Deputy is aware,the Government has provided a €150 million fund to end long-term vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities under the urban regeneration and development fund. This dedicated €150 million fund allows local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, residential or c…

I thank the Deputy. I regret to say that I am not aware of the detail of the issues he has outlined but I will raise them with my colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Naughton and Lawless. I do not know whether the issue is in respect of English language classes but generally there is good funding for ETBs. Obviously, if moneys are being reduced, there must be a reason for it and I will engage with…