Okay. I am going to move to Deputy McNamara to introduce Question No. 109.

I will allow Deputy Naughten to come in on this question.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the climate action plan. As a climate action spokesperson and member of the Joint Committee on Climate Action, I am proud of the role that I and my colleagues of all parties and none have played in assisting the Minister on the legislative side of these plans and building upon that which was published and enacted in 2019. In the short time available, I will cover four key themes. The first is building and the need to support homeowners in the State's plan to retrofit up to 500,0…

I raise the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, report published yesterday, the National Waste Statistics Summary Report for 2020. It shows that waste generation in Ireland continues to increase and that our rising levels of waste make it very difficult for us to maintain or increase our current recycling rates. Crucially, it shows we are in danger of missing our EU 2025 targets for municipal waste and plastic packaging recycling targets. Ireland remains reliant on the export market to deal with the vast majority…

I thank the Taoiseach and ask Deputy Higgins to be brief.

There are two final contributors, Deputies Ó Cuív and Ó Cathasaigh, who I will take together.

I welcome the introduction of the Bill and commend the Minister of State and the Department for the work they have done. It is an important step in curbing the issue of problem gambling and will allow for greater regulation of the gambling market. It is not a new phenomenon unfortunately. It has become a ubiquitous part of sport in Ireland, whether it is horse racing or field sports such as rugby, GAA or others. Even general elections are not exempt from the gambling advertisers: the Minister of State should consid…

I, too, wish to express my sympathies to the family on the tragedy that occurred two years ago. I appreciate the comments of the Minister in respect of the independence of GSOC but I must express my disappointment at the turnaround time. Two years is an unacceptable period to wait for an assessment of this matter to be made. I fully understand the gravity of the situation and, indeed, of the report that is to be published. My understanding from Deputy Gino Kenny, however, is that a timeline of one year was outlined…

I congratulate the Minister on her appointment as Minister for Justice. I wish her well for what may be a limited amount of time in that role, although it may be longer. My question relates to the third iteration of the Government's plan in respect of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and, specifically, the supports and service provision therein. What are the views of the Minister in respect of how it is going?

I thank the Minister for her reply. At this time last year, the Ceann Comhairle agreed to the illumination of Leinster House to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. That UN programme, in which Ireland participates, is commendable. There is a significant amount of work to be done. While I fully appreciate the sums the Minister stated have been allocated in various budgets across Departments and agencies, one of the …

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive response. I will have to put in a parliamentary question to get all of that in writing. I am not sure the Minister addressed my point about Garda training. It is important, not just for NGOs but victims, to know that An Garda Síochána has the appropriate resources and training available to it on a divisional basis throughout the country.

They would never do such a thing.

I welcome the introduction of the Bill and I commend the Minister of State, his officials, the Department, the working group and the Oireachtas committee on the work they have done on this. It is a poor reflection that 100 years after the commencement of our democracy, we are only introducing this now. To promote this sort of political inclusivity and accessibility, we have to make this Parliament and, indeed, local authorities more accessible, amenable and available for people of all walks of life, not just men an…

The point I am making is that it should not be a matter for the local authority; it should be a matter for the individual.

As a veteran politician, the Taoiseach will understand the importance of campaigns which led to the important decision by the Office of Public Works, OPW, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to bring the live crib back to Dublin, after Dublin City Council made such a decision. The ESRI launched a report yesterday and addressed the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action this morning on the importance of the provision of information to the public concerning decisions that affect climate change and…

Could he bring to Cabinet that all Departments review their campaign methodology in terms of getting information to the public through the media, which is an important means of getting across the message of the importance of climate change?

I thank the Minister for his very significant contribution to COP27 alongside the Taoiseach. Most importantly, however, I thank the civil servants who played a very significant role in getting this historic agreement over the line. It seems like every Conference of the Parties has a historic agreement. The importance of delivery is not lost on the Minister or, indeed, the Department. Despite several urgent crises developing across the world, COP27 saw no diminution of the Paris Agreement, which is crucial in our co…

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. There are few occasions when most, if not all, of the House is in agreement with policies that we have been pursuing for the past number of years, particularly on Brexit. Our bilateral relationship with the UK is of paramount importance to us. I appreciate that the Taoiseach's discussions with the new Prime Minister are probably at an initial stage, given his recent appointment. As my colleague mentioned, the issues relating to Brexit and the protocol are of paramount importa…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on the Bill. I echo the words of Deputy Ó Cathasaigh. The budget is fair and equitable and has shown that the Government is acutely aware of the pressures this cost-of-living crisis has placed on people. The rising cost of living is ever prevalent, but there is recognition of that through the movement on social welfare rates, for example. It is the largest increase in well over a decade and certainly the largest in my time - almost 12 years - in this House. There have been in…

The Deputy should stick to the script.