Last week, the Government published a long-awaited report of the scoping exercise into the death of Shane O'Farrell. The Taoiseach will know that many aspects of that scoping report have been challenged by Shane O'Farrell's family. The crucial question that has not been answered is why the person who was solely responsible for Shane's death, a man by the name of Zigimantas Gridziuska, was in a position to crash into this young man, kill him and leave the scene when he clearly should have been in prison in light of his multiple breaches of multiple bail conditions set by multiple courts. The scoping exercise was established by the then Government in response to a call made in the Dáil for a public inquiry. Rather than delivering the public inquiry that was sought, the Government instead provided a scoping exercise that was not sought by anyone.

The least that the family of Shane O'Farrell and this House deserve is a debate in the House this week on the scoping exercise report. I appeal to the Taoiseach to ensure we are given that opportunity.

We need to have a debate this week on the shocking revelations about the dark side of the dairy industry. As a Dáil, we cannot just close our eyes to the horrific treatment of hundreds of thousands of calves on a yearly basis and rise for the summer recess. The Taoiseach earlier seemed to suggest this was just about a few bad apples. That is the Government washing its hands of its responsibility for creating an industry in which, bluntly, the export of live calves can either be profitable or humane. Clearly, the decision has been made for it to be profitable. This is not just about a few calves being kicked, thrown around and hit with sticks, horrific though that is. It is about the export of hundreds of thousands of calves yearly in massively overcrowded trucks over long journeys of over 18 hours without anything like adequate rest, food or water. We need a ban on those live exports. It has been reported that there is to be an investigation by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That is welcome but the findings should come before the House. We should be able to debate the nature of the investigation before the Dáil rises.

I commend the "RTÉ Investigates" team for its programme last night. It showed very distressing footage of the brutal ill-treatment of bull calves and awful scenes of calves being dragged around, hit with sticks and kicked. It would be worthwhile to have a debate this week, as others have called for, on animal welfare, live animal transportation and, crucially, the enforcement of standards. The Taoiseach spoke earlier about the existing laws and those who were breaking them, but let us look at enforcement of the law and how best we can ensure that animals are not ill-treated in this appalling and, as it appears in some cases, systemic way. Let us have the debate this week and inform the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine investigation.

The Rural Independents want to be associated with the vote of sympathy on the late Deputy Ben Briscoe.

At the Business Committee, I have asked dozens of times for a debate in the House on the excess mortality of humans, not to mention the animals that have been talked about by Deputies. Human life is the most sacred thing of all, in my opinion anyway. I want a debate here on the sharp and ongoing rise in the number of excess deaths compared to last year or many other years. We see overcrowding in every hospital and the ongoing chaos at University Hospital Limerick. There is pressure on people given the numbers getting sick, contracting serious illnesses and dying very quickly. The medical people are trying to do their best but we need an investigation into this. We need to debate it in this House before we rise for the summer so we will not pass on the problem again next winter. We should be prepared to have a proper debate before the winter.

Barnardo's is again raising the issue of child poverty and the increasing number of families being pulled into poverty and deprivation. It is calling on the Government to target child poverty and ensure families hit by it will be protected in the upcoming budget. The Taoiseach said that when he first took up office that he wanted to focus on this area. It is timely for us to have a debate in the Dáil on child poverty and the measures the Government is taking to address it.

I thank all the Deputies for raising these very important issues. To respond to Deputy Carthy's query, it is a fact that there are thousands of people out on bail today. Some people on bail commit crimes. Sadly, it is not that uncommon. It would not be possible or right for us to jail everyone who is on bail. It would not be practical or just. It is ultimately for the courts, not us in this House, to decide who is granted bail.

We are seeking a debate on a Government report that was laid before the House.

I will come to that.

Please, can the Taoiseach be allowed to answer without interruption?

Deputy Paul Murphy and Deputy Bacik sought a debate on animal welfare and Deputy Mattie McGrath sought one on excess deaths. The number of excess deaths varies from year to year. In the past couple of years, there has not been an increase. It may be of interest to the Deputy to know that hospital overcrowding is 20% lower this year than last year.

That is a fact.

Deputy Whitmore again sought a debate on child poverty, which is a very important issue and one close to my heart.

There are four important issues on which Deputies are seeking debate. The Opposition has three slots this week. It did not choose any of those issues as a priority. We can have debates on three of the four issues. The Opposition just has to make them a priority.

The Taoiseach's response is completely unacceptable. We are talking about a Government report that has been laid before this House. The Members of the House deserve an opportunity to debate it. The implications of it are quite profound. The Taoiseach's response is disingenuous in the extreme.