I welcome the opportunity to take part in the debate on the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023. It is important to place it in context, as is usual. The following has been referred to many times today, using different figures but all amounting to the same message. As of November 2022, it was estimated that roughly 40% of households in Ireland were experiencing energy poverty. That was up from 29% in June 2022, in a matter of months. Let that figure sink in; some 40% of h…

I hope so. I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate. It is an important one. Deputy Ring has left the Chamber. While I agree with a lot he said, his former Taoiseach led the campaign to get rid of the Seanad if I remember. His story was told in a certain way with certain truths in it, told disingenuously. However, I agree with him on the points made about the absence of power at local authorities. As usual I want to thank the Library and Research Service for its excellent digest of the Bill. The Bill …

That is a big gap at the moment.

Okay. I am going to put that aside for the moment and make more general points. I have very mixed opinions on whether this is the right way to approach the matter. I believe it is an absolute illusion that we are giving power to a mayor. I respect the people of Limerick who have voted for it; I fully respect the democratic decision. However, I think it is an illusion that we are now bringing more democracy. We are doing exactly the opposite. Since the day I came into this Dáil I am fascinated by the misuse of langu…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Bríd Smith - to discuss the scoping exercise into the death of Shane O’Farrell and need for a public inquiry. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae - to discuss the changing of the open season order removing four species of duck that could be hunted, and the possible removal of lead in cartridges. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - to discuss ongoing school bus cancellatio…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. This is the third such motion. They have all been ruled out by the Government's vote. I am unhappy with a piecemeal approach to the housing crisis. I find myself unable not to support the motion, although it is discriminatory. It is not targeted, although it is calling for a targeted scheme from the Government and it does not say for how long. I have no choice but to support this, given the crisis. The Minister confirmed in his contribution that there are more than …

I thank the Minister. He will get a chance to come back in.

I thank the Minister. Gabhaim buíochas.

The Minister is way over time.

The Minister is over time.

The feasibility study on wool was published in July of last year. One of its many recommendations was to set up a wool council. My question asks for an update on the work of the wool council and whether the €30,000 in departmental funding promised by the Department has been drawn down.

I welcome the setting up of the wool council. I very much welcome the setting up of the Wool Research and Innovation Hub. I am a little concerned. It has been over a year. I am on record as saying that the report was excellent in parts and woolly in others, but that the potential for the wool industry was huge. There is a role for the Government in this. I am concerned that the Department seems to be taking a step back in relation to this rather than a active role. If one thinks of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Irelan…

The report was detailed. There were over hundred pages in it. The report states: "While there are existing bodies and groups all active in the sector, there is a need for a representative body [that is, a wool council], with government support and close links to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine." There were numerous recommendations, some of which apply to the wool council. For example, the report recommended the following but, importantly, did not place the responsibility on the wool council: trai…

Is buntáiste faoi leith é foirgnimh agus talamh a bheith ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ach is scannal amach is amach é go bhfuil cuid mhaith acu folamh, ag dul siar na blianta go 2001. D'ardaigh mise an cheist seo go mion minic. Tá mé thar a bheith sásta go bhfuil athbhreithniú i gceist ach an rud ata ag teastáil uaim ná spriocdháta ó thaobh na measúnaithe sin ata faoi chaibidil aige. Mar a dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, teastaíonn dearbhú maidir le cúrsaí airgid chun a chinntiú go bhfuiltear in úsáid cuí a bhaint as na fo…

Tagraím don Choimisinéir Teanga. Níl aon Choimisinéir Teanga againn. An féidir soiléiriú a thabhairt dúinn cén uair a bheidh Coimisinéir Teanga ann?

Tá ceist simplí agam. Cén uair a bheidh Coimisinéir Teanga nua ceaptha ag an Rialtas? Sin cheist thar a bheith simplí. Tuigim an stair agus chomh tábhachtach is atá ról an choimisinéara. Tháinig sé os comhair Choiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge go mion minic agus rinne sé agus a fhoireann obair na gcapall go leanúnach. Arís, cén uair a bheidh coimisinéir nua ceaptha ag an Rialtas?

I call Deputy Gino Kenny from People Before Profit Solidarity.

There is a certain uncertainty and I will allow the Deputy the benefit of the uncertainty.

Yes.

The clock is running.