I am glad the Minister is taking this question, because it concerns an area where we know the cost but not the value. I refer to home care hours. This is a crisis all over the country, but I am going to focus on Galway. The battle there is a twin crisis. The first aspect is to get enough hours allocated. When hours are allocated, however, there are no home carers. The Minister may not have this before him, but certainly the Taoiseach and many other people, including all the TDs in the area have. Most unusually, a d…

I was not in the Chair. Quite clearly the Ceann Comhairle was in the Chair when that happened. I was not-----

Deputy McAuliffe will have to stay with me a second.

There is no point in repeating it. I heard what Deputy McAuliffe said. He talked about something that happened when I was not in the Chair, which the Ceann Comhairle dealt with or did not deal with. I do not know. He was in the Chair and I presume he dealt with it. The time to deal with it was at that point, when it happened. At this point, we are under time pressure, which is irrelevant to Deputy McAuliffe's point but is relevant in the sense that we are now talking about amendments that are grouped together.

Deputy McAuliffe asked for my-----

Sorry, I was asked by Deputy McAuliffe and I appreciate what he asked. I realise it is a serious issue. I was not in the Chair. I did not hear the comments. I cannot deal with them. If Deputy McAuliffe wants to deal with the amendments, I am happy to listen.

It is not being helpful, Deputy.

No, Deputy.

Thank you, Deputy.

Will the Deputy please resume his seat?

Deputy, can I please-----

I did not ask for Deputy Nash's advice on how I might address it. I am addressing Deputy McAuliffe who specifically asked for my assistance. I appreciate that but I am not in a position to give him help at this point because it relates to a matter that arose earlier on. I apologise if that does not please him at this point. I understand his raising-----

This was dealt with earlier on.

Deputy McAuliffe is bringing it up. The Ceann Comhairle was in the Chamber at that point.

I am now in the Chair dealing with amendments. I am dealing with what I am listening to at this time. I ask Deputy McAuliffe to deal with the amendments. There are procedures outside of this Chamber on the matters he is unhappy with.

I am asking Deputy McAuliffe to deal with the amendments at this point, given the seriousness of the amendments that are being discussed and the fact there is a guillotine at 8.30 p.m.

Deputy McAuliffe has asked-----

I am not allowing-----

The Deputy is not helpful and he is not speaking through the Chair. At this point I have given the advice that I can give. Does Deputy McAuliffe want to use his time in relation to the amendments?

Unfortunately, I am going to have to deal with it this way at this point because I was not in the Chamber and I did not hear.