When committees are formed, they are specifically informed of what Vote they are responsible for. This Vote does not appear in any of the committees' remits. That is the problem. The Minister or whoever else can say the Minister has no responsibility to the Dáil on this matter, and that is correct, but Ministers also have no responsibility to any committee on this matter and, technically, no committee can take on this issue because it is one of those strange ones. In some ways, it has to go to Cabinet or somebody e…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 26, after “citied” to insert “as Acht Leithghabhála 2025 or, in the English language,”. Only this week, we had President Catherine Connolly launch a multilingual dictionary. It was a fantastic day. We now have a groundbreaking new dictionary that is accessible online. When the Minister was the Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, he part-funded the research into this through Foras na Gaeilge. I do not think anybody is critical of that but when you look up the meani…

That would be a useful engagement in terms of parliamentary language. There has been a campaign over the years called plain English. We should have the same for Irish, where we make our legislation as accessible to the public as possible. Where there are words that have double meanings we should put in a different word. That has implications obviously in law. We have to make sure that the word can stand up and that we specify in legislation what it was previously known as and so on. In the future especially, we wil…

Cape Verde.

The Minister knows my area and knows the need. We also have to address ridiculous situations such as that of the drug ship berthed in Cork which has cost us €12 million to date. That is €12 million that could be spent on those areas as well as CAB money and other investments. It is stupid that we are spending money where we do not need to spend it. The answer from the Revenue chair to the Public Accounts Committee was that he would do it all over again if they were in the same boat. We have to find ways to ensure t…

Bah humbug.

Is Bille cuíosach teicniúil é seo i slí amháin. Tagann sé os ár gcomhair gach bliain, ach is le déanaí a thosaigh díospóireacht air. Nuair a bhí mise tofa ar dtús, bhíodh sé rite tríd gan aon díospóireachta in aon chor ag deireadh na bliana. Tá sé go maith go bhfuil an díospóireacht ann i slí amháin. Sa deireadh thiar thall, níor chuala mé aon rud riamh sna díospóireachtaí seo a thug le fios go dtiocfadh aon athrú an mBille bliantúil seo, nó go n-athrófar an slí a dtabharfaimid faoi seo in aon bhliain amach anseo. …

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Minister is misrepresenting what I said here yesterday.

The Minister has misrepresented the Dáil.

I did not ask in any shape or form for him to increase the price of Netflix.

The Minister should not misrepresent the Dáil.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the inclusion of mixed use properties in the vacant and derelict homes scheme and the local authority purchase and renovation loan. Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss urgent issues regarding a primary school in Fairview. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere - To discuss the new Kilkenny Institute of Further Education and Training campus. …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Casaimid anois go dtí na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta.

Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for culture, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, to liaise urgently with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Jack Chambers, to ensure funding can be secured to ensure one of the most versatile and much-needed arts centres in Dublin can be saved from eviction? Government engagement on this matter - saving the Complex - before the notice to quit expires on 14 January could allow moneys from the north inner city task force and Dublin City Council to be leveraged and released so that the vibrant …

They know where the single socks go.

I have already put some of this on the record, so I will not delay proceedings. We are dealing with film, which is an important industry in Ireland and we need to treat it as such. What we have done over the years, despite criticism, is to create, or recreate, a film industry that we hope will stand the test of time. In doing so, we have forgone a lot of tax revenue, which is what tax relief is. We have invested in the Irish Film Board and are today allowing it to expend more on projects. I do not think anybody has…

I will tax anything if it helps workers.

You can, if it helps workers to get a better standard of life and if it helps Ireland through the crises that have come before us and face us into the future. That is why taxation is there, to ensure the tax is aimed at the right people - those who are making huge profits. That is why people are talking about the audiovisual sector. I will not go down that road, but it is vital. People say it will be passed on to those who are paying for these services in the first place. That has not been seen to happen in other c…

I have one or two brief comments in response to what the Minister had to say. I welcome the fact that we will, hopefully within the next year, be dealing with a Bill that will cover gaming. The Minister should read the article in The Currency today about The Digital Hub, where many gaming companies had set up. Strangely, the agency is spending a lot of money on derelict sites even though it does not even control them any more. That is a separate issue from that of section 481. Ultimately, because of the nature of t…

It is not in the Bill but this is where artists and authors come together. There is an eclectic mix there and it is where ideas come from. When others mentioned films, I was reminded of the old film “Poitín”. I do not know whether the Minister ever saw it. Maybe I am of the vintage to have seen it. It is worth watching if you want to see divilment in Cyril Cusack's eyes. It is absolutely brilliant. It was one of the first Irish-language films and it is worth watching. It is dated at this stage but shows that, even …