I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

-Motion re Appointment of Jane Mulcahy to be a Member of the Policing Authority (without debate)

-Motion re Referral to Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Regulations 2023 (without debate)

-Motion re Twenty-Seventh Report of the Committee of Selection (without debate)

-Statements on matters arising in RTÉ in recent weeks (not to exceed 210 minutes)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re A5 Route Upgrade, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

-Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of meeting of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on Arranmore (without debate)

-Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023 - Motion for a Financial Resolution (without debate and any division claimed shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage of the Bill on Wednesday but in any event no earlier than 4 p.m.)

-Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (to stand adjourned either at 4 p.m. or after 1 hour and 10 minutes, whichever is the later)

-Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023 (Committee and Remaining Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 4 p.m. and to conclude within 2 hours and 30 minutes)

-Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 2 hours 30 minutes)

-Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 90 minutes)

-Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 30 minutes)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Nature Restoration Law, selected by the Independent Group.

Thursday's business shall be:

-Statements on Progress of National Parks and Wildlife Service (not to exceed 145 minutes)

-Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's participation in four European Defence Agency Projects (to conclude within 55 minutes)

-Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating corruption (to conclude within 55 minutes)

Thursday evening business shall be the Motion re Committee Report entitled “Report on Section 481 - Film Tax Credit”.

Proposed Arrangements for this week's business:

In relation to Tuesday's business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) the Dáil shall sit later than 10.30 p.m.;

(ii) the time allotted to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for the Statements on matters arising in RTÉ in recent weeks; and

(iii) private members' business shall be taken on the conclusion of Government business, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following private members' business in the ordinary routine of business, namely, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and topical issues;

2. the Motion re Appointment of Jane Mulcahy to be a Member of the Policing Authority re shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion re Referral to Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

4. the Motion re Twenty-Seventh Report of the Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate; and

5. the Statements on matters arising in RTÉ in recent weeks shall not exceed 210 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 200 minutes, following which a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, and members may share time.

In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as set out in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) the Dáil shall sit later than 9.30 p.m.; and

(ii) the weekly division time may be taken later than 8.45 p.m., and shall, in any event, be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023;

2. the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of meeting of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on Arranmore shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion for a Financial Resolution on the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage of the Bill on Wednesday but in any event no earlier than 4 p.m.;

4. the proceedings on Second Stage of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 4 p.m. or after 1 hour and 10 minutes, whichever is the later;

5. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023 shall be taken no earlier than 4 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours and 30 minutes 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 Environment, Climate and Communications;

6. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours and 30 minutes 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 Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth;

7. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes 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 Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and

8. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 30 minutes 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 Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as set out in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of the Government business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Motion re Committee Report entitled "Report on Section 481 - Film Credit Tax" and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2. the Statements on Progress of National Parks and Wildlife Service shall not exceed 145 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 135 minutes, following which a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, and members may share time;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's participation in four European Defence Agency Projects shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 55 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

-opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State - 10 minutes;

-speech by representative of Sinn Féin - 10 minutes;

-speeches by representatives of the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People-Before-Profit-Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group and the Independent Group - 5 minutes per party or group; and

-a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and

(ii) members may share time; and

4. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating corruption shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 55 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

-opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State - 10 minutes;

-speech by representative of Sinn Féin - 10 minutes;

-speeches by representatives of the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People-Before-Profit-Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group and the Independent Group - 5 minutes per party or group; and

-a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and

(ii) members may share time.

Is that agreed?

Not agreed.

Not agreed.

It is not agreed. I call Deputy Carthy.

The scenes from Jenin refugee camp in the occupied Palestinian territory, where an Israeli raid has resulted in the deaths of at least ten Palestinians and forced thousands to flee their homes, must be condemned in the strongest terms, as should today's car ramming in Tel Aviv that attacked innocent Israelis.

The Israeli Government is carrying out indiscriminate attacks on Palestine as the occupation and apartheid intensifies. The world must say stop and Ireland must lead the way. This House has adopted resolutions demanding that Israel end its occupation and annexation of Palestinian lands. We should have another debate and resolution this week. More importantly, however, we need action by the Government.

Ireland should recognise the state of Palestine. We must take measures to end the EU preferential trading relationship with Israel. We should start by withdrawing Irish State investment from companies that operate in the occupied territory. Can we have a debate on this matter this week?

On Thursday, there is a debate on Ireland's further participation in the European Defence Agency. This is a mouthpiece for the European arms industry. The Taoiseach is planning to further involve us with this organisation, which represents those who make profits from producing weapons that are sold to, among other places, countries like Israel to murder Palestinians. Not only do European governments not sanction Israel for its murderous activities, as we have seen in Jenin on an ongoing basis - day in, day out - but also European arms companies sell weapons worth billions to Israel. We buy Israel's weapons and boost its arms industry to give it more money to kill more Palestinians. At the very least, we should have a bit more time to discuss the implications of us getting more involved with the industry of death and destruction in Europe that profits from, among other things, the murder of innocent Palestinians by Israel, which Europe supports with its arms trade.

I know the Taoiseach is going to launch his summer economic statement this evening. I hope it will not be raining. There are huge concerns about a levy the Government introduced in budget 2023. I refer to the 5% levy on all ready-mixed concrete and concrete blocks. KPMG did a study on this which said it would increase the cost of building a three-bed semi-detached house by €1,300, it would add an extra €300 million to the construction costs and it would add to already spiralling inflation in the construction sector and across the agriculture industry too. The Government has so many commitments which it is so far behind on and has failed on. It beggars belief that the Government is going to go off for the summer recess and come back after this levy is introduced on 1 September, thereby undermining again its own target for building houses and the infrastructure we so badly need. I appeal to the Government to have a debate on this issue. It is very serious. It was introduced and kind of hedged until September. It will do untold damage and slow down the rate of construction of houses and other buildings. It is another punitive charge on couples trying to build their houses and get a foot on the ladder.

I add my voice to those who have expressed a desire to see a debate on Palestine in this House in light of the outrageous conduct of the Israel Defense Forces in recent days and indeed in recent hours in Jenin. There has been concerted cross-party support here for the rights of the Palestinian people and, in particular, for the Bill that was started in the Seanad by Senator Frances Black, which we in the Labour Party and other parties supported. I refer to the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill, which seeks to ban the import of goods from occupied territories. Passing that Bill in this House would be an important solidarity gesture.

When the Government took office, there were 8,699 people living homeless in emergency accommodation, which is far too high a number. There are now 12,441 people living in emergency homeless accommodation. That includes more than 600 families who have been there for more than a year. The Government seems to think people are coming and going from emergency accommodation. This is a huge increase. It does not include people who are sleeping in cars and tents, and on couches and floors. It is becoming increasingly difficult for people even to get into emergency accommodation. We need an explanation from the Government this week about what it is going to do and what emergency measures it will take to reverse this trend.

I echo the calls from Deputy Connolly and other Members to have a discussion and debate about the ongoing Palestinian situation in the West Bank. It is vitally important for the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill to be progressed too. The Government should take that on board.

Before I respond to Deputies, I want to take this opportunity to welcome some visitors to the House. Members of the national advisory council of Down Syndrome Ireland are here today. A very special welcome to Sinéad, Ross, Conor, Orla and Claire. They are very welcome to Leinster House. I hope to see them at some point later on.

The Deputies have raised some very important issues here, including homelessness, what is happening in Israel, Palestine, Jenin and Tel Aviv, and also the European defence industry issue.

We have an agreed Order of Business for the House, which I understand was agreed at the Business Committee. We are keen to stick to the agenda we have to get our legislation done. I am sure some time could be provided next week to discuss some of these issues.

Nothing about the price of concrete.

On a point of order, is the Taoiseach not concerned about building and the cost of concrete? I know he has never stood on a building site, but surely he will answer my question.

Come on.

I am sure he will answer my question.

Deputy McGrath, please. You are out of order.

Is he not going to answer my question?

You are out of order.

Is he not going to answer my question?

The Taoiseach has indicated he is not giving any time for any of these matters.

He does not have any interest in construction. This is scandalous.

Please. Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to?

Not agreed.

Not agreed.