Mark Ward

While sitting on his phone.

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. I am disappointed that the Minister for Health - or a Minister of State with a health brief - is not here to respond to the debate. I have been informed by some of my constituents about unacceptable waiting times for occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is important for people who may have suffered an injury that requires their home to b…

I thank the Minister of State. She mentioned priorities, triage and how people are assessed. Larry, who is 80 and whom I spoke about, is not priority 1. He is priority 2, and that is why he must wait for six years. Angela, who broke both her hips and has not been up her own stairs in two years, is not priority 1. She is priority 2. Sarah-Jane, who has to rely on her 71-year-old mother to get washe…

104. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport the public transport options to Dubin Airport for the people of Dublin Mid-West; if additional routes are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31351/26]

It is an ordeal to get from Dublin Mid-West to the airport. What public transport options are available to Dublin Airport from Dublin Mid-West for the residents of Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, Citywest, Newcastle, Saggart, Brittas, Fettercairn and Rathcoole? Are additional routes being considered?

There was a private operator, the Airport Hopper, in Dublin Mid-West until February 2025. It provided an economical route to Dublin Airport for residents of Tallaght, Lucan and Clondalkin. The operator closed because the service was not financially sustainable. The Minister mentioned public service obligations. I understand when a privately run service stops, the State can take it over through th…

I welcome the fact that the Minister is going to have a conversation with the NTA regarding the consideration of interim solutions. If I were to travel from Neillstown, where I am from, to the airport today by public transport, I would have to take three buses. If I travelled via Adamstown I would need to take a train and bus, that is, if I was lucky to be able to get on a train. DART+ South West …

I thank Deputy Gogarty for the opportunity to talk about child welfare, in particular in relation to Tusla. We all saw the harrowing documentary from "RTÉ Investigates" last week in relation to the failures of Tusla to protect some of our most vulnerable children. I commend the makers of this programme for an excellent piece of journalism. We got to meet Max in this documentary. He was sleeping in…

It has.

All of our amendments were drafted in consultation with the Omagh families and their representatives. That is where we are coming from. They should be at the heart of this legislation. It is disappointing that the Minister did not take the time to meet them before this Bill was drafted. Under this amendment, the procedure would preserve fair notice for the witness and give him or her the fair not…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, line 27, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, line 29, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, line 31, to delete “any such question” and substitute “regarding any such topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, line 36, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, line 38, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 7, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following: “(i) be likely to cause a specific, identifiable and substantial risk of prejudice to the sovereignty or security of the State, and only where such risk cannot reasonably be mitigated through redaction, protective measures, or partial disclosure,”. Sinn Féin has repeatedly highlighted how national security …

I move amendment No. 8: In page 7, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(iv) for the purposes of paragraph (i), a refusal may not be based on a general, speculative, or unparticularised assertion of harm to State security or essential interests. The relevant head shall record in writing the precise nature of the risk relied upon and the reasons why less restrictive measures would not…

I move amendment No. 9: In page 7, to delete lines 7 to 11 and substitute the following: “(5) A relevant head to whom a request for assistance is made shall notify the former office holder of the request. The consent in writing of the former office holder shall be required only where the former office holder demonstrates that answering the specified question would give rise to a substantial and …

I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, line 9, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, line 17, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 7, line 19, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 7, line 22, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 14: In page 7, line 29, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 7, line 34, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 7, line 38, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.