Taoiseach Enda Kenny is on his feet at 2pm to face questions from Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour and AAA-PBP.
We’ll be keeping an eye on all things happening over at Leinster House this afternoon. Join us…
The bell is ringing here at Leinster House calling on TDs to make their way to the chamber.
It’s been an interesting day so far in the life of politics, with Labour Leader Brendan Howlin calling Minister Shane Ross “Trumpesque-like”.
Other issues being discussed today include, the possible banning of microbeads and should Dublin get a directly-elected mayor?
Micheál Martin says Shane Ross’ remarks on judiciary are “unacceptable” stating that his remarks have been inaccurate.
You can read about that here:
He says he doesn’t think it is right for a minister to use his ministerial platform to engage in such behaviour.
He also criticises that Minister Ross for not making any state appointments to date.
“Ministers on their own can’t operate solo runs.”
The Fianna Fáil leader says ministers can’t act like “mini-dictators”.
Martin says tells the Taoiseach he needs to be spoken to.
Enda Kenny says he has spoken to Ross in relation to his remarks about judges, stating that it is not the opinion of government.
He says judicial appointments bill will come before the Dáil shortly.
Martin says the Taoiseach flatly ignored his question in relation to state board appointments.
He is doing it because he thinks it is popular, Martin says to Kenny. “And you know it”.
Martin says Ross has a very “cavalier” attitude.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny says people apply online to public appointments service. He says ministers do not know who applies for the job.
Minister Ross is looking at the number of vacancies and the criteria, which is a matter dealt with by ministers.
Gerry Adams is up now and he wants to talk about water charges.
The expert report on water charges will be out in a number of weeks and it is expected that a modest form of charging will be recommended.
Adams says Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael kicked the issue to touch. He criticises Fianna Fáil’s line on water charges, which seems to be confusing some people.
Adams says Minister Coveney has no right to appoint the chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee that will deal with water charges.
“My, my how your memory has faded,” said Enda Kenny to Gerry Adams.
He says he remembers a time when Adams said he would pay his water charges, and says Sinn Féin then decided to “reverse engines”.
Kenny says he has every confidence in the new chairperson, independent senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh.
Taoiseach tells Adams there will be cross-party representation on the committee.
Adams says Coveney “stepped entirely beyond his remit” when appointing Ó Céidigh.
He says the water charges debacle is now “comedy of errors” and said it is now time for the government to admit that charges now need to be scrapped.
Kenny: “Everybody will have the opportunity to have their say.”
He said Ó Céidigh will be”objective” in carrying out his duties.
The next topic being discussed is the trolley numbers in Irish hospitals.
Catherine Connolly says the health system is “malfunctioning” and raises issue of Galway University Hospital.
“Please don’t waffle to me Taoiseach,” she pleads. “You are presiding over the deaths of people,” adds Connolly.
She criticises the Taosieach for not visiting the hospital while he was in the area recently and asks when he will visit the hospital.
Kenny says “it is unacceptable to have that number of patients on trolleys”.
“It is not acceptable that this happens.. it is because of the system hat has evolved over many years”.
He tells Connolly that he won’t “waffle” and said he will visit the hospital but in his own time. He says when he visits he hears of patients being moved out, and he doesn’t want that to happen.
Connolly is not happy one bit with the Taoiseach’s response.
“Step out of your bland rhetoric,” she says.
I empathise with the calls that you make, says Kenny regarding calls for a new hospital in Galway.
“Of course I offer my condolences for people who unfortunately die in hospital,” says the Taoiseach.
Social Democrat’s Roisin Shorthall is now up and she is talking about rent certainty.
Enda Kenny says rental strategy will be brought to the Dáil soon. He said it should give greater security of tenure for renters.
Shorthall said the rental market is a good market for investors – but not for those renting.
She says there are some renters that will see their rent freeze run out on 3 December. Kenny says he will raise the issue with Minister Coveney straight away as he was not aware of it.
She said it is extraordinary that the Taoiseach and his ministers were not aware of such a thing.
That’s it for today, folks. You can continue to watch Dáil proceedings here.
Join us back here tomorrow for more of the live happenings from Leinster House.
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