Aontaím leis an méid atá an tAire Stáit ag rá. Caithfimid cinntiú nach dtarlóidh aon mhoilleadóireacht agus nach gcaillfidh muid mí i ndiaidh míosa toisc cruinnithe coiste nó a leithéid. Tá dúshlán mór roimh an Stát. Má tá moilleadóireacht ann ag an staid seo, beidh muid mall ag comhlíonadh na ndúshlán móra atá roimh an státchóras ina iomláine ó thaobh earcaíochta de agus ó thaobh gach rud eile agus na seirbhísí a bheith ar fáil. Ceist a bhaineann leis seo ná ceist na gcaighdeán. Le linn na díospóireachta, bhí muid…

This question relates to the petrol and diesel crisis and the significant cost on households, businesses, taxi drivers and hauliers. Has the Minister for Finance considered reducing the rate of excise duty applicable to petrol and diesel in particular?

I understand the Minister of State's point, but that does not solve the problem for those involved in farming, transport or haulage or for the ordinary worker who has to get to work and cannot rely on public transport because there is none in the area or it is not feasible. Their costs are going up. It is reckoned that, if inflation continues as it has been, prices will increase by between €750 and €1,000 per year. The Minister of State is correct about prices fluctuating, but they do not fluctuate to that degree. …

I do not know whether the Government understands how stretched businesses are and how the first reaction for any business if it has an increased output is to pass that increase on to the customer. That includes the less well-off and those who are dependent on local shops and on getting to school. There has to be some measure to try to discourage businesses, hauliers, taxi drivers and any type of transport business in this country from passing on to the customer the increases they are being forced to pay because of …

It will obviously be noted because you have just said it, so we will leave it at that and move on.

It is the Department that groups them.

The next question is in the name of Deputy Shortall, who indicated she would not be in attendance.

Ba mhaith liom fiafraí den Aire Stáit cad atá déanta aige ó a ritheadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 i mí na Nollag seo caite? Cén obair atá le déanamh laistigh dá Roinn chun déanamh cinnte de go mbeidh Gaeilgeoirí á earcú ag an leibhéal 20%?

Rinneadh achtú ar an Acht seo i mí na Nollag. Ní bhaineann sé leis an Aire Stáit ach bhí an coiste comhairleach le bheith i bhfeidhm roimh na seachtaine seo chugainn. Tá seachtain ag an Aire, mar sin, an coiste comhairleach sin a bhunú agus tá gach rud bunaithe timpeall air sin. An príomhrud anseo ná gur spriocanna uaillmhianacha iad. Glacaimid leis sin ach is poist le Gaeilge iad gach uile post sa státseirbhís. Sin an t-athrú bunúsach a chaithfidh teacht agus ní fheicim ón mhéid atá ráite ag an Aire Stáit go bhfui…

Ba mhaith liom i dtús báire mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire sinsearach as an éisteacht a thug sé dúinn. Chuir sé leasuithe síos a thug roinnt de na moltaí a bhí againn ar Chéim an Choiste ar bord, agus tá siad le feiceáil anois ar an gCéim seo. I welcome the amendments from the Minister. He said he would look at the Bill, he did so and we see the product of that in the amendments that he has tabled. That is to be welcomed. The issue around the 20% of recruitment and of the 20% of the board will obviously be de…

I do not know whether the Taoiseach gleaned from his engagement with the Prime Minister that he had any understanding of the need for a functioning Executive, of the scale of the cost-of-living crisis in the North or of the fact that his not being properly assertive with his friends in the DUP is holding up funding which could be given to help those who are in dire need of investment. Regarding the so-called Tory legacy Bill, which has been described by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission as fatally flawed…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Taoiseach agus aithním go bhfuil an scéim reatha ann ach beidh deireadh leis an scéim sin i mbliana. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Taoiseach síneadh ama a chur léi, scéim nua a chur ar siúl dá Roinn, nó cén bealach atá i gceist aige chun déileáil léi má leantar go bhfuil moill ar thosú Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), a ritheamar anseo níos luaithe i mbliana. Is léir go bhfuil an mhoill sin ag cur as do roinnt nithe agus tiocfaidh mé ar ais chucu sin ar ball. Níl an cois…

I will take this opportunity to thank the Minister's office and those in the passport service whom we manage to get through to on occasion for their empathy and hard work in expediting some of the cases we have raised with them. We all deal with such cases. Similar to many jobs around the country, I guarantee the House that, if someone were to walk into any constituency office in the State, one of the phones there would be set to autodial the Passport Office, such is the level of chaos. As my colleague mentioned, i…

Ask the Minister, Deputy Martin.

He does encourage us sometimes.

In a proper parliamentary fashion.

The Independent Group has gifted the next slot to the Rural Independent Group.

Amendment No. 1 has been ruled out of order.

Amendments Nos. 2, 3, 17, 18 and 19 are related and may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The Deputy also has amendments Nos. 17 and 19 in this grouping.