Domestic violence law commencement and surgery delays
Deputy O'Loughlin asks when the Domestic Violence Act 2018 will be commenced, and Deputy Kenny raises long surgery delays for a woman whose operation has been repeatedly cancelled. The Minister says he will ask Justice to contact the first Deputy directly and notes extra funding for the National Treatment Purchase Fund as part of the response to waiting lists.
To answer Deputy O'Loughlin's question on domestic violence legislation, I am not aware of the detail around the commencement. I agree with the Deputy that this is a heinous crime, and we need the full legislative arsenal to deal with those who are guilty of it. I will ask my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, to communicate with the Deputy directly.
On Deputy Kenny's point, as he is aware, there is significant increased funding for the National Treatment Purchase Fund in the budget for 2019. I hope that will deliver a solution. I accept that many thousands of people await surgery. There are initiatives pertaining to that fund to help reduce those waiting lists.
The M20 is critical infrastructure that traverses Deputy O'Keeffe's constituency and my own and is critical to regional development.
The Taoiseach gave a commitment that this would be prioritised in the context of Project Ireland 2040. As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, moving from approval in principle through all of the necessary hoops is not easy. I acknowledge, however, that much of the preparatory work will have been done previously but I am not sure whether it is all transferable at this stage. I will ask the line Minister to communicate directly with the Deputy on the matter.