Mary Butler

It was not rushed; it was debated on the floor of the Dáil.

This is the third time this has been dealt with this way this year - three committees.

A Chathaoirligh-----

Correct.

I thank Deputy Daly. I hope he will stay because otherwise I will be speaking to an empty Chamber and I will-----

I know you are. I was just saying that.

We also have the Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, coming in, so there is someone in the Chamber to hear me. It was great to finish on words of wisdom and lived experience from Deputy Daly. He is always there to give us all advice in relation to healthcare, and it is great to hear somebody speaking to the Bill. I have been six years in the Department of Health. This is possibly my fifth or sixth time s…

I move: That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the proposed arrangements as set out in the first Revised Report of the Business Committee are hereby agreed to.

These are exceptional circumstances on the nomination of Members of Government.

The revised schedule accommodates this and ensures we continue with Dáil business, and the Taoiseach will take his questions tomorrow instead of today.

I move: Today's business shall be: - Motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2025 (without debate) (any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2025 [Votes 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42…

In response to Deputy McDonald, under Standing Order 35(3) and as the Taoiseach said earlier, the Minister met Harvey's parents this afternoon with the Tánaiste, Simon Harris. I will speak to the Minister about Deputy McDonald's request and try to table that for next week. In response to Deputy Gibney, the occupied territories Bill is receiving priority publication by the Office of the Parliament…

I thank the Deputy very much for his question. There were 4,047 children on the CAMHS waiting list nationally in September 2025, a decrease of 97 from 4,144. We have seen a reduction of 445 children in the last five months. I have taken to the car and visited 21 CAMHS teams in the last five months to try to get under the bonnet as to why some teams are doing really well and some are not doing as w…

I thank the Deputy for this important question. All emergency departments should have a separate, quiet assessment place. That is in Sharing the Vision. I will liaise with the REO, Tony Canavan, in relation to why that is not the case. To support people who attend emergency departments in crisis, across the road from Galway University Hospital, in 2022, I opened a crisis cafe to support people whi…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Finance Bill 2025 - Financial Resolutions (without debate) (to be moved together and decided by one question; any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours and 34 minutes, with any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday) Tuesday'…

I commend the Deputy on not missing an opportunity. I have taken notes on all the issues that were raised. I believe that what Deputy Murphy has raised is covered under tomorrow's statements on international protection processing and enforcement. That debate will be on for three and a half hours and will be taken by the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. The Deputy will have the opportu…

No. There is no need to. The Deputy can still raise it under that. I have taken on board what has been asked in relation to energy, Fastway Couriers, and the nitrates derogation, on which we had a lengthy discussion this morning. All are important and will be considered at the Business Committee meeting.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the delivery of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital. There are 12 external reviews related to maternity care at Portiuncula. Seven of these reviews have now been completed. I understand the very natural worry that developments in Portiuncula may be causing for many women and families who att…

I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge and appreciate his knowledge of the situation on his doorstep. In some cases they may be patients he has worked with previously. I accept his passion about that. He is absolutely right. We have to prioritise patient safety not only at Portiuncula but across all maternity units in Ireland. The Minister and the Department of Health are c…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House today on the vital issue of men’s health, and in particular, men’s mental health. This is not just a health issue; it is a societal issue, a family issue and a personal issue. It affects every community in Ireland. When we speak about men’s health, we are speaking about fathers, sons, brothers, grandsons, partners and friends. We are speaking about th…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Fifth Report of the Committee of Selection (without debate) - Finance Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours and 34 minutes; any division claimed to be taken no earlier than 7 p.m.) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Irish Unity, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Statements on Men's H…

I have heard the views of the various Opposition Whips in relation to barristers. Tomorrow morning, as everybody is aware, there is a Private Members' motion on the Office of the President. I am sure there is ample time there if somebody wants to raise an issue. On the question to the Minister in regard to Standing Order 35(3) that has just been raised, at the moment the gardaí are involved. Ther…

Agreed.

I thank the Deputy for speaking about the CAST project. We often hear about game-changers on the floor of this Dáil but this project is a game-changer. For the many who do not know about it, it involves incidents to which the Garda is alerted and the persons involved might have enduring mental health conditions, for example, they might be psychotic. What it means is that the consultant psychiatris…

No.