Cathy Bennett

-----leaving officials subject to potential disclosures responsible for dealing with them.

In his new role, perhaps the Minister of State will see fit to support this motion and protect whistleblowers.

You are the Government. You should know how much is spent-----

Yes, you do. That is why Albert-----

Underground.

We want it underground.

We are fortunate in Ireland to have the most highly qualified and dedicated healthcare professionals in the world. Generally, aside from the notable exceptions, when people receive care they give a sterling endorsement of the care they receive. The problem is that access to healthcare across the State is plagued by waiting lists, vacancies in key roles and the State even breaking the law by its fa…

I welcome the ladies in the Visitors Gallery and I thank them for having their voices heard. Three years on from the Government launching its zero-tolerance strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence much remains to be done. We still do not have a domestic violence refuge in every county. Though I welcome the Government recommitting to the provision of refuge services in both counties …

6. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he intends to reopen the basic income for the arts scheme to new applicants. [64552/25]

When will the Minister reopen the basic income for artists scheme? We need to encourage the arts in Ireland. As a country that rates culture and the arts so highly, we must encourage new and emerging artists to thrive through every art form.

I thank the Minister for his response. While Sinn Féin welcomes the six-month extension to the basic income scheme for artists, they are at a loss to know what is going to happen now. The date when the Minister intends to roll out this scheme would be very helpful. He said quarter 4 but what is the actual date? What are artists supposed to do if this extension only goes to February and the scheme …

It is disappointing to hear that artists who have already been on it will not be considered. These artists deserve an ability to plan for their future. Some have been tied into mortgages, etc., and they are going to be at a loss with this. I also mentioned that people with disabilities were stripped of basic allowances and even medical cards through means tests if they participated. I ask the Mini…

Is the Minister telling me they are allowed to apply? In relation to the six-month gap, what are people to do in those six months?

Thank you for the clarification.

Just to let the last speaker know, Sinn Féin is very aware of what is happening with the haulage industry. Last week, Sinn Féin brought forward a motion in the Dáil mandating the Government to tackle the cost of driving. The measures outlined, particularly those relating to tolls, insurance and carbon tax, would have provided relief to our haulage sector as well as to the ordinary motorist yet las…

Introducing the occupied territories Bill to the Dáil in January 2019, Deputy Niall Collins, who is now Minister of State with special responsibility for International Law, challenged those who would seek to dissuade the Dáil from passing the Bill and asked "If this is not the time to act, when will that time come?". According to the Government he became part of a little over a year later, it was …

So now we are millionaires.

The Government failed.

The targets were down.

How many did the Government get last year?

You are in the Government.

I know about farming. There you go. You did not know that, did you?

I welcome all the farming organisations here tonight. As a TD from rural Monaghan, I very much support them. Time and again, Irish farming families have been tasked to rise to challenges, whether it is absorbing inflationary shocks within their already too meagre margins or meeting ever-increasing environmental challenges. They do exactly what is often asked of them. What they expect in return is…

86. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Transport the projects identified in the strategic rail review with regard to Monaghan that he intends to progress; and the status of same. [63068/25]

My question relates to the timeline in the strategic rail review for the return of rail transport to County Monaghan. The Minister of State may or may not know that in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal we have no railway network at all. The strategic rail review provides for this and I ask the Minister of State to consider it.