I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. In response to Deputy O'Reilly's point, it is an internal matter for the Fine Gael Party-----
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-----and it is not appropriate for me to make any further comment on it.
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Deputy Nash will be aware we have set aside 88 minutes to discuss the Bill on Second Stage and then a further 30 minutes.
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As the Deputy outlined, it is very clear what the legislation sets out to do. We have Ministers of State in the marine area and in other areas such as older people and migration who are going to be appointed and who want to get down to work. That is the context in which we are bringing this Bill through and trying to accelerate the timeline around it. In response to Deputy Gibney, the Tánaiste responded to her party last Thursday on the ongoing drafting that the Government is undertaking on bringing forward a Bill of our own on the occupied territories. Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the same issue as Deputy Nash, to which I have responded, on the time provided for the Bill. I have no objection to a wider debate on housing policy. I am sure that can be facilitated in the coming weeks. I am aware the Labour Party has tabled a motion on housing, so there is an opportunity to discuss housing in the House this week.
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It was also raised elsewhere. The Minister will be here to respond to the motion whenever it is taken. In response to Deputy Collins's point on speed limits, the reforms that have been introduced relating to speed limits in this country will make a serious difference in saving lives on our roads. We know that speed is the central factor to so many of the road deaths across the country. That is the reason, when I was in the role of Minister of State for transport, we took on board the recommendation to reduce speed limits, in particular on local, rural roads from 80 km/h to 60 km/h, because it will make a difference and it has an evidence base. There is a role for the local authorities as well to amend speed limits, where appropriate. The outworking of that has to take place. It will be co-ordinated by local authorities this year.
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I appreciate the difficulties and my sympathies are with the family of Joe Drennan. I cannot imagine what they are going through, particularly in light of what the Deputy outlined. I am not familiar with the specifics around the sentencing. I do not want to comment on specific sentencing relating to the courts system but I will ask the Minister for Justice, who is familiar with the case, to engage with the Deputy and respond to his specific question on legislation. I will ask him to do that quickly, also in the context of the family whom the Deputy met today.
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The Minister for Justice wants to comment.
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I am sorry; I did not know he was here.
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I thank Deputy O'Gorman. I made representations, as I know he did, under the previous Government in respect of reading classes and reading schools. We are both active on the case to which he refers on behalf of many parents of children who attend St. Francis Xavier school. I will ask the Minister for Education to respond to Deputy O'Gorman directly. I know how important reading classes are for particular children and their needs. I know this has been reflected to us directly in Dublin West. As stated, I will ask the Minister for Education to respond directly and I will continue to take up the case with her also.
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I am aware that an industrial relations process is under way. I am due to be briefed on the matter relating to the technological university and the staff involved and I will come to the Deputy directly in respect of it.
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I thank the Deputy. I am familiar with that issue in north County Dublin. The National Transport Authority conducted significant work on a fare determination policy, which the previous Government progressed. I will ask Deputy O'Brien, in his new role as transport Minister, to respond to the Deputy's concerns. He is very familiar with north County Dublin, having previously represented the relevant commuter towns. The wider emphasis is on making sure public transport is more affordable and supporting commuters who come into town. I will ask the Minister, with the NTA, to respond to the Deputy's concerns in the context of overall fare policy.
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I thank the Deputy. I am very cognisant of the need for increased bed capacity and expanded service provision in the mid-west region. I will ask the Minister for Health to respond on specifics relating to timelines. There is consensus across this House on the need for greater investment in the mid-west when it comes to provision of healthcare and bed capacity. That is reflected in the programme for Government. I will get the Minister for Health to respond to the Deputy on the sequencing around that. In the context of the NDP, we want to ensure a greater envelope for healthcare infrastructure in our country. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will be able to provide a direct response to the Deputy around the specific sequencing. The approach from Government is to ensure we respond to the genuine needs reflected in multiple reports.
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I thank the Deputy. The Government recognises the essential work carried out by community and voluntary health and social care organisations and their staff and the reliance of the State on these organisations to deliver important supports and services in the communities we represent. The programme for Government commits to working with the voluntary sector through industrial relations mechanisms and other processes to progress pay issues affecting the delivery of disability services and the long-term viability of organisations within the sector. Relevant Departments have proactively engaged with unions and employers on pay funding in a process facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. Talks at the WRC were adjourned around the time of the general election. Ministers in relevant Departments are seeking an early opportunity to restart engagement with unions and employers through the WRC to provide certainty to the sector as soon as possible.
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Like the Deputy's, my thoughts are with the woman involved in that case, who went through a shocking series of incidents with that person. I cannot comment directly on the court case. Our thoughts are with her. We need to ensure all legislation we advance is victim-centred. That will be central to the legislation the Minister for Justice advances. I will ask him to respond to the specific questions the Deputy raised in the context of the Government's legislative programme.
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The health and well-being of the men and women in the Air Corps is an absolute priority for me and the Government. While I cannot comment on the details or circumstances of individual cases, the Department of Defence is aware of a matter that was recently settled by mutual agreement between the parties involved and that the State did not seek to restrict the disclosure of the terms of the settlement. An independent reviewer was appointed in 2016 to examine disclosures relating to people's exposure to chemical and toxic substances while working in the Air Corps in Baldonnel. The report of the independent reviewer noted that the Health and Safety Authority was the appropriate statutory body to deal with such allegations. The State Claims Agency is currently managing a number of claims for personal injuries relating to alleged exposure to chemical and toxic substances that people suffered while working in the Air Corps. There is ongoing engagement with the State Claims Agency in that context. As a result, it would not be appropriate to comment any further on the matter. The Minister for Defence can give further information about the matter directly to the Deputy.
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