In that case I will conclude by emphasising the importance of antigen testing and the importance of the HSE getting behind it, which was referenced by my colleague, Deputy Higgins, earlier. It is now policy. It is now in the public domain. It is now being used so we need our medical experts to bring the same level of expertise they brought to everything else in this pandemic and get behind antigen testing as well. As a final remark, others have described at length how it is very difficult to get an appointment for …

I commend my colleagues of all parties and none on their work on the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action under the chairmanship of Deputy Leddin. We have done significant work on the policy and legislative framework for this climate action plan and on a great many other topics that we have debated in the committee with great ambition. I note that Deputies Leddin and O'Rourke are present, along with other Members who have made a significant contribution to the process. I was in Glasgow for COP26. At th…

My understanding is that Deputy Matthews is taking four minutes.

My apologies, I misunderstood. I thought Deputy Matthews and I were sharing eight minutes.

On that basis, my time has expired.

I would like to be associated with Deputy Calleary's comments. Instinctively, my first contribution to the debate is to offer my condolences to the families of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy, winch operator Paul Ormsby and winchman Ciarán Smith for their bravery and unnecessary and tragic loss. I live at the mouth of the Malahide Estuary and from my window I can see as far as Skerries. In fact, on the horizon I can see the Mountains of Mourne and County Down, and almost every day I also see Rescue 116…

Most Members will welcome the increase in overseas development aid the Minister announced this week, which provides for a larger commitment to climate-mitigation measures in developing countries. While that is welcome and appropriate at this time, can he give a commitment that such additional funding in the ever-increasing pot of overseas development aid the Government is providing for will include those sums for future years to ensure countries such as those islands that identified themselves through impassioned s…

I welcome the introduction of this omnibus Bill to the House. I agree with previous speakers that its contents will make a significant improvement in a number of areas that affect road users across the State. This Bill deals with a number of different policy areas. I will use my time to address some of the most significant issues. Crucially, this legislation will begin the process of regularising the use of electric scooters and certain electric bikes as well as providing for other forms of micromobility in the fut…

I thank Deputy Richmond for the question, which conveniently covered north County Dublin, and I thank the Minister of State for the detail provided. I have no desire to sound like my esteemed colleagues from County Kerry but a significant number of communities in north County Dublin were mentioned, which I am appreciative of. I would like to take the opportunity to welcome the importance of the NBP and I recognise the work Deputy Bruton did on it. It is fantastic to see so many community hubs being created across t…

My question may seem premature considering that the climate action plan is being published today but we have an opportunity to talk about bringing people with us in the context of the plan. I am conscious of the Minister of State's response to earlier questions.

The Minister of State has already spent significant time this morning going through this issue. Will he comment on the flexibility built into the unpublished climate action plan to acknowledge the technological advances that may be presented in the coming years in terms of mitigating measures across certain Departments? What level of flexibility will be contained in the climate action plan? I am thinking of transport, specifically aviation and shipping. Given our island status, these two critical sectors for our ec…

The Minister of State is right that we cannot abandon aviation. It is a crucial part of our economy and society, given our diaspora across the world. I am heartened by the Minister of State's response to an earlier question on the development of hydrogen. I know there are options in that regard for that sector. My question was related to the adaptation of the plan and its recognition that, as technology emerges, it will be sufficiently flexible to be able to adapt to those changes rather than, as the Minister of St…

I will raise awareness of what is a very pressing matter, that of carbon footprint labelling for produce and products we purchase on a daily basis, particularly in the context of the imminent publication of the climate action plan. I also raise it in the context of informing consumers throughout the country of the choices they are making about products that are coming in from all over the world rather than being sourced locally. The multiples and smaller retail units should involve themselves in tackling unnecessar…

I thank the Minister for the work he has done and I also thank other members of Cabinet. It has been a considerable budget considering the backdrop against which it was framed. The budget will respond to the challenging economic landscape following Covid-19. Today's jobless numbers were quite remarkable in the context of what the previous Government and the current one have tried to do in this scenario. This time last year, there was 20% unemployment and it is just 7% now. This is not to be sneezed at. As Deputy Br…

We are rightly proud of much of the progress we have made in Ireland over the past several decades and especially in the past decade. We have seen positive and inclusive social progress made and at a pace which has surprised many. However, despite this progress, we face a continued battle to achieve full inclusivity and equality within our society. This is true of many minorities and groups but also applies to the largest population group in the country which is, of course, women. The regrettable truth is sexism an…

I want to raise the national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence 2016-21, which has rightly focused on awareness and education in recent years. Given recent events that I myself experienced along with thousands of men, women and children up and down the State, both reported and unreported, will the Government and the Taoiseach outline the proposals for the new national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence which is scheduled for publication soon?

Like my colleague, Deputy Richmond, I would like to mention the wonderful opportunity the people of Northern Ireland have in the offer the European Union has made on the protocol. That has been welcomed in Northern Ireland and I hope it will be adopted in due course. My question on the shared island unit is on whether or not its continued operation will be damaged in any way by the lack of participation by certain parties in Northern Ireland in its stated goals. I ask the Taoiseach to make a comment on that.

Deputy Doherty, please.

Allow the Minister without interruption, please, Deputy Doherty.

I thank the Deputy. I call on behalf of the Regional Group Deputy Verona Murphy. She has ten minutes and she is sharing time.