Mary Butler
Waterford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Major improvements are happening across services: enhanced access to proactive and preventive healthcare to support a better quality of life; the embedding and upscaling of women's health initiatives put in place through the implementation of the previous women's health action plans, including, as the Senator knows, free contraception, sp…”
“In relation to any proposal, a proposal for a new location requires a detailed business case, a premises, support from the regional HSE management, and the necessary funding to resource the staffing of the service. That is where I come into it and what I will be trying to do.”
“We are currently working closely with it to support the expansion of Jigsaw services to Waterford and the south east, as well as to County Clare. The location of Waterford was picked because we have no services in the south east at all. It is great that we will have the hub and spoke model the Senator spoke about.”
“That is where I do not agree with the Senator. I believe €180 million of funding ring-fenced for women's health, when we have come from a low base, is absolutely unbelievable.”
“The plan will build on our knowledge of women's health through research and innovation and will spotlight important areas such as endometriosis and cardiovascular health. Recently, the Minister announced €2 million in funding for women's health research.”
“This plan will continue to focus on how we can improve access to specialist endometriosis care and treatment. As the Senator knows, we have established two super-regional specialist centres, one in Tallaght University Hospital and another in Cork, alongside the development of five regional endometriosis hubs.”
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“I have a briefing note here that states that CHI has a staffing complement of 8.8 whole-time consultant dermatologists. These are 8.8 whole-time equivalent, or funded recurring consultant dermatologists, across three CHI sites but it is currently operating within 6.3 whole-time equivalents. That is the information I have. I also know from my own area, and Deputy Michael Murphy will be aware of this as well, that in the old CHO 5 area, for example, dermatology consultants are scarce and it is difficult to recruit them. To return to what the Deputy said about the letter only being submitted last night, I can follow up on that in relation to the additional dermatologist posts that have been sought. Thankfully, with the new regional structure, the six regional executive officers have received their cohort of staffing numbers.”
“That seems to be at odds with what the Deputy has said. I certainly will look into it. Obviously, the HSE will use waiting-list initiative funding to take some of this list down. I will bring back to the regional executive officer, Dr. Andy Phillips, and the Minister for Health the Deputy's contention that there are no plans to hire an additional paediatric dermatology consultant given that it is clear that this waiting list is forever too high, especially for young children.”
“I assure the Deputy that the delivery of high-quality patient-centred care and best practice remains at the centre of all hospital activity. Having said that, I see exactly the point he is making. I checked this morning and the waiting lists are extremely high, especially for children seeking dermatology supports. There has been a small reduction in the waiting list of 58 young children and adolescents. In January 2026, there were 227 people waiting between six and 12 months and 601 waiting from nought to six months. That shows the massive demand for this service. On the Deputy’s question regarding the recruitment of paediatric dermatology consultants to the south-west region, the HSE has advised that while it currently has no plan in this regard for 2026, the matter will be kept under consideration for the future.”
“While SIVUH is the regional hub, Cork University Hospital also hosts outreach clinics and integrated care for children with complex needs. Public dermatology services from the regional hub centre also extend to Bantry General Hospital and University Hospital Kerry. In addition, CHI manages and delivers paediatric dermatology services across the three paediatric hospitals in Dublin. CHI is currently focused on reducing the numbers waiting, as well as reducing the waiting times, on the dermatology outpatient lists. I acknowledge the impact on patients and their families who have to travel to Dublin. I am not sure whether those having to do so are those accessing the specialist dermatology services based in CHI.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue and giving me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on paediatric dermatology services in the HSE south west. Those services are provided through primary care services, regional dermatology services and specialist dermatology services based in Children's Health Ireland, CHI, in Dublin. Paediatric dermatology services in the south-west region are primarily provided in Cork from the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, which serves as the regional hub for the specialty. As the regional centre, it treats a wide range of conditions in infants, children and adolescents, including eczema, psoriasis, acne and rare genetic skin disorders.”
“As the Deputy knows, I put in place free counselling support for men from 1 September. Exchange House partnered with me and I was able to provide it with €100,000 to provide a 24-7 counselling line for Travellers. I continue to engage with the service. I can speak to the Deputy offline about what else he suggested.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Notwithstanding the fact that we have seen a reduction in suicide numbers between 2001 and 2025 by 28%, we have not seen the same reduction in suicide numbers in the Travelling community. Where once we ranked one of the worst in Europe, we now sit at about 12th. We will have a new strategy in place very soon - the connecting for life strategy. There were over 1,900 referrals into that strategy, which was really important. The Deputy is correct. Our suicide numbers are currently 9.2 for every 100,000. Unfortunately, in Northern Ireland and across the UK, the figure is 14 per 100,000. We have made progress but not enough when it comes to the Travelling community. I recently visited Exchange House in Dublin.”
“I thank the various Whips for their comments. We have a request for four additional sets of statements this week but, as Members know, we are dealing with requests that came in two weeks ago, including for statements on bluetongue and on flooding. Notwithstanding they are all extremely important, I will consult with the various Ministers to see if they can be facilitated as soon as possible. The Order of Business stands.”
“Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 35 25 15 15 5 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 15 15 5 12 15 SF ITG Gov SF OM Mins 5 12 15 5 8 Total 3 hrs 22 mins”
“In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that: 1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and 2. the Statements on Flooding shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: ( a ) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across); ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and ( c ) members may share time.”
“the proceedings on the Motion for a Financial Resolution for the International Protection Bill 2026 shall be taken immediately following the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1), without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; 4. the proceedings on Committee Stage of the International Protection Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted, and stand adjourned after 8 hours; and 5. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.”
“notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: ( a ) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m.; ( b ) the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) shall be taken on conclusion of Questions on Policy or Legislation for one hour or until 2.12 p.m. whichever is the later; and ( c ) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025; 2. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours; 3.”
“the Statements on Bluetongue shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: ( a ) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across); ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and ( c ) members may share time. Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 25 15 10 10 3 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 10 10 3 9 10 SF ITG Gov SF OM Mins 3 9 10 3 5 Total 2 hrs 15 mins In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that: 1.”
“Thursday's business shall be: - Statements on Flooding (not to exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes) Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024, sponsored by Deputy Martin Kenny. Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business: In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: ( a ) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the Dáil may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and ( b ) private members’ business shall be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on Bluetongue, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business; and 2.”
“I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Statements on Bluetongue (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - International Protection Bill 2026 - Financial Resolution (without debate and to be taken no earlier than 2.12 p.m. and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - International Protection Bill 2026 (Committee Stage) (to adjourn after 8 hours) - Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour) Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026, selected by the Labour Party.”
“I have to leave at about 2.50 p.m. I am sorry I will not be able to be here to hear everyone. I already had to juggle a meeting I had at 2 p.m. to be here, so I apologise in advance.”
“I want people to be in no doubt that this is an area of significant priority for me as the Minister of State for mental health. The programme of work under way and the investment we will make will continue to show this. As I told Senator Harmon outside, this is a really good and decent motion. The Department of Health and I do not oppose motions just for the sake of it because it is Government and Opposition. I am really looking forward to working with the Senators on this to deliver the motion. The only place where it does not fall within our remit is in relation to the maternity benefit of up to 12 months. I am thinking back to my 32-year-old son, Jack. I was self-employed at the time and I was back in work after four weeks, so things have changed quite a lot and for the better. I thank the Acting Chairperson for the forbearance.”
“General practitioners are trained in the management of most common mental health conditions and also have access to mental health resources at a primary care level, and can refer their patients to counselling services, such as counselling in primary care, SilverCloud and community-based therapy services. HSE mental health services deliver a nationwide network of adult mental health teams as well, as all the Senators know. To conclude, I once again thank the Senators, led by Senator Cosgrove, for this important debate. I believe there is another event in the audiovisual room next week.”
“The allocation this year is €41 million, so there is another €429 million there, and watch me spend it, because I will spend it, which is key. There was no mother and baby unit on the entire island, North or South. We are not going to stand still, though, because I have also had significant engagement with Sandra Broderick, the regional executive officer for HSE Mid West. I know she is keen to progress a perinatal mental health unit in Limerick to serve the west of the country and some CAMHS beds as well. I have seen her plans, and she has submitted them, so we are making progress. Outside of hospital and clinic-based services which include psychological supports, women can access a range of mental health supports in the community, but we must encourage women to reach out for those supports.”
“I thank Martina Queally, the regional executive officer of HSE Dublin and South East, which is my own area, and the board of St. Vincent’s University Hospital because we have come to an agreement on this unit. I am delighted about this. We are also going to build a new department of psychiatry on the site. This morning, I spent three hours in committee with the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, and the Minister of State, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor discussing the Estimates and the budget we have in the Department. I am delighted that for the first time ever I have a significant budget for capital for mental health supports. Up to 2030, I have secured €470 million under the national development plan. I have never had capital funding like this before, so I am really pleased.”
“This is an inpatient mental health service with relevant maternity support to allow women to stay with their babies during their mental health treatment. My Department and the HSE are working to progress a perinatal mother and baby unit for Ireland, and I have been very clear that this is one of my key priorities for my second term in this office. To meet the needs of new mothers with moderate to severe mental illness, the perinatal mother and baby unit must be sited at a location with access to a maternity hospital as well as an acute mental health unit. This will ensure mental health and maternity expertise are always available. We have made progress. It is envisaged that the perinatal mother and baby unit will be developed on the grounds of St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin.”
“There were women who had given birth and had a traumatic birth, suffered panic attacks after the birth and needed that support after the baby was born. I was really struck by how important these supports are to women who are pregnant. As I said, I have allocated funding to recruit two additional consultant psychiatrists, such is the demand. I will continue to invest in this vital service to meet our programme for Government commitments to double the number of multidisciplinary perinatal mental health teams and increase the number of perinatal mental health midwife posts to ensure women are getting the support they need at this crucial moment in their lives. A key priority under the model of care is to develop a perinatal mother and baby unit, PMBU, something I have been trying to push now for quite a few years.”
“Under budget 2026, I have allocated funding to recruit two additional consultant psychiatrists for the programme’s busiest sites, the Rotunda and Holles Street, to meet growing demand for the service. I visited the Rotunda site a couple of years ago. It was around 10 March, which is International Women's Day. I met people using the service and those delivering it, and I was struck that one in every five women that year had accessed the mental health perinatal supports. In some cases, it was just that women were nervous being pregnant for the first time. They might not have had a lot of support at home, and just knowing the service was there was enough for them. There were other people who had enduring mental health conditions who needed a huge amount of support the whole way through. There were different cases.”
“Funding for services is approximately €4 million, recurring each year, with six consultant-led multidisciplinary teams in place across our major maternity hospitals, namely, the Coombe, Holles Street, the Rotunda, Galway, Cork and Limerick. Perinatal mental health midwives deliver the programme in the other 13 maternity sites. The HSE is progressing a review of the model of care for specialist perinatal mental health services, with a refreshed model due to be published later this year. The key objective of this refresh is the provision of equivalent service to the major hospital sites for the other 13 spoke sites and this will be the focus of this second phase of the model of care.”
“This is really challenging, with potentially very negative effects on the relationship between mother, baby and the family unit, and specialist support is needed. That is why we have developed and continue to invest in our specialist perinatal mental health services, a HSE mental health service programme now available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide. I am particularly proud of this programme and I know it works very well. Services provide support to pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old, so the mental health supports are there up to age one of the baby with an existing or new mental health problem.”
“This focus reflects the compelling international evidence that early relational support and nurturing environments are among the strongest predictors of lifelong mental health. By embedding mental health promotion supports within a broader whole-of-government approach, Pathways to Wellbeing seeks to create the conditions where positive mental health can flourish from the earliest stages of life and buffer against future inequalities. A phased implementation plan, currently in development, will set out clear actions, timelines and shared responsibilities to drive co-ordinated delivery across sectors and ensure sustained impact over the coming years. For a small number of women, however, pregnancy and the perinatal period can become a more serious mental health issue or a relapse or recurrence of a pre-existing condition.”
“Launched over a year ago, Pathways to Wellbeing aims to strengthen protective factors for mental health at the individual, community and structural levels. It adopts a systems approach, promoting universal supports for all and targeted interventions for those most at risk. Strengthening the foundations for positive mental health in the early years is a key priority area within the plan. However, I must flag that some women do not want to get involved in such supports. That is probably a reflection of what they are going through, but they do not always reach out and attend supports. Maybe the onus is on us all to encourage people to avail of the supports that are available. My Department will work with lead and supporting partners to increase access to antenatal and postnatal supports that improve maternal and infant mental well-being.”
“The report and recommendations are due to be published in early 2026. Actions on maternal mental health run along a spectrum from mental health promotion to the delivery of specialist perinatal mental health services, in line with the overarching objective of Ireland’s national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, which views the provision of services and supports across a broad continuum. Actions under Sharing the Vision range from prevention and early intervention, service access, co-ordination and continuity of care, social inclusion and accountability and continuous improvement. A key recommendation under Sharing the Vision was the development of a stand-alone mental health promotion plan for Ireland and this plan, Pathways to Wellbeing, is now a reality.”
“The GP provides an initial examination, if possible before 12 weeks, and a further five examinations during the pregnancy, which are alternated with visits to the maternity hospital. In the case of a significant illness, such as diabetes or hypertension, women may have up to five additional visits to the GP. After the birth, the GP will examine the baby at two weeks and both mother and baby at six weeks. Checks under the scheme include monitoring of mental health, with GPs well positioned to assess for problems and provide support or onward referral to other services. Last year, the HSE’s national women and infants health programme convened a review group on the maternity and infant care scheme, engaging with key stakeholders and conducting a literature review to progress the review.”
“Services have now been established in Dublin across the maternity hospitals and at Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, at the start of this year following the successful pilot of the hubs in Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Portiuncula and Sligo. Each hub represents an additional six to ten whole-time equivalent staff and four further hubs will commence later this year as part of phase 3 of the postnatal hubs project. Another priority action of the national maternity strategy is the review of the maternity and infant care scheme, including an examination of the current schedule of visits. The scheme is an essential programme of care to all expectant mothers, provided by their GP and a hospital obstetrician.”
“A really important development in maternal mental health support has been the new national network of postnatal hubs. I acknowledge that Senator Cosgrove mentioned these. They provide essential care for women in the community in the weeks after birth. Postnatal hub services include core midwifery care, physiotherapy, lactation and infant feeding support, parent education, bereavement support and birth reflection services. Women can engage with hubs for as long as they need to. The hubs are delivering meaningful improvements in postnatal care. Women using them report much higher satisfaction with the attention paid to their physical and mental health in the postnatal period. The one-to-one midwife support is particularly valued.”
“The national maternity strategy is now in its final year and we are developing a successor strategy, which will be informed by the extensive review and evaluation of the implementation of the current strategy. The new strategy will be supported by insights from the 2025 national maternity experience survey published in December, in which 3,300 women participated. This is the lived experience about which I spoke every day when debating the Committee Stage of the Bill. Having 3,300 participate with their lived experience is powerful because it will reflect the reality on the ground. Through the national maternity strategy we have delivered significant improvements across our maternity services, including perinatal mental health supports and supports during the postnatal period.”
“Government resourcing of mental health and suicide prevention has increased by over 50% in my time in this office. Progressing women's health continues to be a priority for this Government. We have overseen unprecedented levels of investment in women's health. I must give credit to the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, the former minister of State, Senator Rabbitte, the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and myself. We all came into the Department in 2020 and there was a push at that time to improve supports for women's health. We started that off. I always thought they did not stand a chance when Senator Rabbitte and I got together. Thankfully, we now see that being supported by all sides of the Houses, in both the Dáil and the Seanad, but especially by the Minister as well. It has been embedded, which is really important.”
“For many first-time mothers, it can be just anxiety and nervousness at not knowing what is ahead of them and worry about the whole process. I acknowledge the work of Aolish Gormley and the Year of Care campaign, which she founded. She has drawn attention to a really important issue. I share her vision for maternal care in Ireland and services and supports for the physical, emotional and mental health needs of new mothers. We must all work to make this a reality. I want to set out the actions by the Government to invest in and deliver improved maternal mental health supports and services. This is an area of Government policy where significant focus and substantial investment is under way. As Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I have been working for several years now to expand our maternal mental supports.”
“It has been one of those days because we had a committee meeting on the Estimates for 2026 for three hours as well this morning. It is great to get such a focus on mental health. This is an issue of such importance in society. Becoming a parent is a huge change and adjustment. While it is of course a source of great joy, mental health challenges can be a big part of having a baby. We are much better at recognising this now and, in fact, mental health issues during and after pregnancy are common. One in five women will experience a mental health problem either during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. This could be a previous problem that has come back or the first time experiencing an issue. It can range from feeling low or anxious through to postnatal depression or post partum psychosis requiring specialist support.”
“I also welcome Cara whom I just met outside the door earlier. I would also like to welcome my colleague Deputy Tony McCormack. He has some students in with him today. They are all very welcome to Seanad Éireann to see democracy in action. I thank the Senators, especially Senator Cosgrove, for raising this important motion by the Cross-Party Group coming together to promote best practice for maternal mental health and women's health. I am proud as a woman to be able to stand up here and support this motion. When the motion came in on Friday evening, the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and I had a look at it and were both happy to support it. Any opportunity to speak on mental health is a good one. I have been speaking about mental health since about 8.10 a.m.”
“I am now reading the report and considering next steps. I want to publish it as soon as possible, being mindful that families need to receive it without delay. Families will receive the report first, after I bring it to Cabinet. They will not hear it from the media or when they go to their local shop. I am adamant about that. I will work with my Government colleagues, including the Attorney General, to decide the next steps. In response to the Deputy's invitation to me and to the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, I will be visiting Kerry shortly, as soon as I publish the report.”
“Following a national audit of prescribing CAMHS, which we spoke about, where we did a random sample audit of 50 files in the case of every CAMHS team in the country, all 76 of them at the time, concerns were identified in 16 of 50 files reviewed in CAMHS in north Kerry. This prompted a lookback review of all cases open to CAMHS as of 21 November 2022. My main priority, and this will always remain, is that the children and families will be communicated with throughout the lookback process, which has happened. All families where the potential for harm was identified were invited to open disclosure meetings with the HSE. I reiterate I am speaking about Kerry north now. Apologies were issued and families have been offered supports from a clinical liaison support team. My Department received the final report over the weekend.”
“Subject to the solicitors' capacity to progress their caseload, the State Claims Agency aims to finalise the remaining cases in the next 18 months. The State Claims Agency continues to engage with the processes involved in the compensation scheme. As the Deputy will appreciate, I do not have access to a list of settlement amounts paid out by the State Claims Agency, and I will speak to north Kerry when I come back in.”
“This also resulted in the development and delivery of the Kerry CAMHS compensation scheme, which is managed and administered by the State Claims Agency on behalf of the HSE. As of 12 January 2026, four weeks ago, the State Claims Agency received 231 applications to the south Kerry CAMHS compensation scheme. As we know, there were 240 cases. Payments on account had been made to 227 applicants following an application verification process. Mediations were also ongoing, and 120 of these had taken place up to 12 January, resulting in 111 settlements, four cases for determination by the mediator and five adjourned for further investigations. I understand there is one lead firm of solicitors representing most of the remaining applicants to the scheme.”
“The Government acknowledged these deficits at the time and, as the Deputy said, I worked closely with my Government colleagues, including the Attorney General, to introduce a non-adversarial route for children and their families to seek compensation for the shortfall in care received. Following on from this, and the challenges we have seen in Kerry, I established the first ever national child and youth mental health office in the HSE to drive reform of CAMHS. I appointed a national clinical lead for child and youth mental health services for the first time and directed a national prescribing audit. I subsequently published the child and youth mental health action plan last year, which details 17 areas for service improvement. Implementation of the action plan is under way, and I monitor progress very closely.”
“At the time, the HSE issued an apology, offered open disclosure meetings to the cohort identified as having suffered potential harm or injury or risk of harm or injury in south Kerry, and instigated a series of follow-up actions and changes. The Deputy will remember that at the time I, as Minister of State, commissioned a national audit from the HSE in relation to every single CAMHS team in Ireland. I also asked the Mental Health Commission to carry out a national review. These were all concluded and the CAMHS teams outside of Kerry, in the review and in the audit, did not see the same challenges regarding the overprescribing we saw in Kerry.”
“I thank Deputy Cahill and I acknowledge the work he has done regarding the situation with CAMHS services in Kerry when he was a councillor and when he met me as well as the advocacy work he did with the families and the parents. I am happy to be here this morning to take his question and I will answer as best I can. As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I was in this role when the Maskey report was published in 2022. The report examined deficits relating to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, in south Kerry. The Maskey report examined the files of everyone who received care from south Kerry CAMHS between 1 July 2016 and 19 April 2021. It identified that 240 young people did not receive the standard of care they should have had from CAMHS.”
“There are six hospitals that do not have that additional room capacity with regard to emergency departments to make sure that there is a quiet space there, so I can speak to the Deputy about it offline. The crisis resolution response and the crisis cafés are where we are going.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and for his constant advocacy on in respect of those who have mental health challenges, disorders and illnesses. As he knows, budget 2026 focused on the provision of a crisis resolution response, especially for those who attend acute hospitals out of hours. I was able to secure the funding, and I want to thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for her work with me on this, for our nine model 4 hospitals and one model 3 hospital, so there are ten hospitals in total where each emergency department out of hours will be provided with four clinical nurse specialists or advanced nurse practitioners who will be able to support the non-consultant hospital doctor on call to deal with that crisis. We are working very hard.”
“I thank the Deputies for their suggestions. We will have the debate on the International Protection Bill 2026 this afternoon for several hours. Tomorrow, we will have statements on Operation Kenova. We will have the residential tenancies Bill before the House tomorrow for five hours. On Thursday, we will again have the International Protection Bill. We can discuss different statements at the Business Committee meeting on Thursday, which we do every week. The Order of Business stands. I am not accepting the suggestion under Standing Order 35(3).”
“the resumed proceedings on the Second Stage of the International Protection Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the third speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the third-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across); (b) on conclusion of the third-round speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; (c) any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday, 18th February, 2026; and (d) members may share time. Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 20 20 20 12 4 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov 20 12 4 20 12 SF ITG Gov SF OM 4 20 12 4 20 Total 204 mins”
“In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that: 1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and 2.”
“the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour, and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; and 4. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 5 hours by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.”
“the Statements on the Report of Operation Kenova shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across); (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and (c) members may share time; Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 25 15 10 10 3 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 10 10 3 9 10 SF ITG Gov SF OM Mins 3 9 10 3 5 Total 135 mins 3.”