Mary Butler

I move: That it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, on the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026, that pursuant to Standing Order 194, the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill to provide that: Part VA of the Child Care Act 1991 is amended for the purposes of prov…

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this really important issue of eye care services in line with emerging trends. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. There are measures either in place or being progressed to address the emerging trends in eye care services, such as those due to an ageing demographic or an increase in the prevalence of myopia. The Healt…

It is great to have the opportunity to discuss the reform of eye care services in line with emerging trends across the country. Deputy Michael Murphy, who is sitting in front of Deputy Moynihan, has discussed with me several times the issue of getting the right clinicians into the job. We have been really challenged, for example, in south Tipperary in getting a consultant optometrist in there to f…

I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this very important issue. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for older people and housing, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, who sends his apologies for not being able to be here tonight. The Deputy is quite right. I was a Minister of State in the previous Dáil for four and a half years, and one of the areas where we mad…

I thank the Deputy. Many of the memory clinics evolved organically over many years. I am aware that there is a memory technology resource room in Clonmel, which supports people with technology when, for example, they are living well at home with dementia, but it is important that we get the memory clinic back up and running. These clinics are a vital cog in the wheel. There is an excellent dementi…

That is shocking.

That is a new low. It is a new low.

It is proposed, notwithstanding yesterday's Order of Business, that the motion regarding the report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform entitled arrangements for Leaders' Questions, Questions Nominated for Priority and Private Members' time in respect of Dáil sittings from 9 to 11 June 2026 shall be taken on the conclusion of the motion regarding leave to introduce Supplementary Es…

I move: That Dáil Éireann adopts the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform entitled "Rotas and arrangements for Leaders' Questions, Questions nominated for priority and Private Members' Time in respect of Dáil sittings from 9 to 11 June 2026", copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 27th May, 2026.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Motion re Twelfth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate) - Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking …

The occupied territories Bill passed Cabinet this morning. It will be published this week. It will be included in the next Order of Business, which will be finalised on Thursday. There will be a full debate on the Bill with the Minister present.

In relation to the Deputy's issue, we can discuss that on Thursday. The Order of Business stands.

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Standing Order 33, and with effect from 27th May, 2026, approves the Twelfth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 22nd May, 2026.

I thank Deputy Ó Súilleabháin for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Minister is aware of the case the Deputy referred to and acknowledges the very difficult circumstances outlined by him and how difficult the situation described is for this young teacher and her family. In relation to the EU treatment abroad scheme, …

I reiterate that the HSE has advised that it suggested that the applicant's referring consultant engage with the relevant ERN, the European reference network on rare multisystemic vascular diseases. The ERN enables specialists in Europe to discuss cases of patients affected by rare, low-prevalence and complex diseases, providing advice on the most appropriate diagnosis and the best treatment avail…

I thank all three Deputies for raising this really important issue. First, I want to make absolutely clear that neither my Department nor the HSE is closing any beds. In fact, this year, in budget 2026, I have provided over €4 million to open 18 HSE CAMHS beds. I have allocated €2.7 million to open the first phase of the new acute CAMHS wing of the national children's hospital and I have also allo…

There has been.

My team spoke to the PNA in advance of the conference and indeed spoke to some of the nurses in St. Vincent’s about this change. If anything the nurses' main concern was the way in which the decision was communicated to the staff at St. Vincent's by their CEO, by email on a Friday evening with no detail about the opportunities to transfer. That was completely wrong. This is no way to treat hard-wo…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Statements on National Biodiversity Week (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) Tuesday's private memb…

I note all the comments made, but we have a serious amount of business to get through this week, including the National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill, the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill and the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill. For that reason, and because in the morning there is a Pr…

I thank Deputies Gallagher and Doherty for raising this matter. I will be answering on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. As stated, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare and progressive disease affecting the muscle strength and function of boys almost exclusively, with approximately ten children diagnosed with the condition each year. The Minister, Deputy Carrol…

I thank the two Deputies. It is important we understand that negotiations are under way. There is a system and process in place and simply saying that does not cut it from a political perspective is not at all logical. There are children all over Ireland who need this drug. The Minister recognises that. There is a process in place. Italfarmaco, the pharmaceutical company, came with a proposal las…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Statements on International Nurses Day (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Statements on the National Safety Camera Strategy (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) (Dept of Transport…

I thank the Deputies for all of their comments. They have been noted. The Order of Business stands.

It is not opposed.