It is the leak.

For the benefit of the other Deputies who are here for the Topical Issue debate, I will tap the bell when it gets to one minute so they are aware of the time. We are a little bit lost without the clocks.

The Deputy did not. He had a sixth sense. That is what comes with experience.

The Minister has four minutes.

Staying with the topic of Irish Water, is the Tánaiste aware of the earthy-smelling and poor-tasting water that is being supplied to homes and business in the south Dublin-north Wicklow area? I understand that complaints relate to supplies from the Vartry water supply plant, which serves customers in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin city and north Wicklow. Irish Water has assured the public that the water supply is safe and properly treated. It says the smell is harmless, however, and it is investigating the issue. I…

Seanad Éireann has passed the Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022, without amendment.

The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2022 and has made no amendments thereto.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, for taking this matter. I am disappointed that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, was not able to make it. I have raised this issue previously, most recently with the Tánaiste in this Chamber in September and at committee meetings last year. Specifically on the Go-Ahead bus service, my office is inundated with complaints from customers. It is not just the 63, 59, 45A, 111 or 75 routes in Dún Laoghaire; it is Go-Ahead bus services across the greater Du…

I thank the Minister of State for the update, the majority of which was contained in the response I received yesterday from the Department, which is welcome. A parallel I would draw is the issue of Go-Ahead experiencing higher than normal levels of Covid-related staff absences. We wish Covid on nobody but I do not understand how that company seems to have a worse number of cases of Covid than any other operator. It is having a serious impact on commuters. From the Minister's perspective, there is a kind of a hands-…

The Select Committee on Justice has completed its detailed scrutiny of the Ban on Sex for Rent Bill 2022 and, in accordance with Standing Order 178, has recommended that for the reasons outlined in its report, the Bill should not proceed to Committee Stage.

Dealing with the cost-of-living crisis is the top priority in budget 2023. The Government introduced a very significant €11 billion package on Tuesday to support households and businesses. The budget will continue to invest in public services, particularly our education, health, childcare and housing services, while increasing social protection and pension rates, supporting enterprise and delivering tax relief for working people. The €4.1 billion cost-of-living package is very welcome and necessary as we face into …

I thank the Deputy. Before I call the Minister of State, in fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, she is generally here for the Topical Issue debate herself, as Deputy Cahill knows.

That is a fair point.

As the Tánaiste will be aware, I have raised issues relating to Go-Ahead Ireland in this House on previous occasions, including the poor quality of bus service it is providing to users in Dublin and across a wider area. My office is inundated with complaints about the company from the public. It is not just routes 111, 63, 59 and 75 in my area; there is a problem with the service throughout Dublin. Yesterday, for example, the 9.05 a.m. service leaving Prosperous, County Kildare was cancelled and the 10.05 a.m. bus …

I thank the Minister of State and Deputy Lahart. I fully agree with his remarks. We now turn to the final Topical Issue matter of the day. I call Deputy Andrews.

I apologise. Deputy Nash should have 15 minutes to speak first.

I did call the Minister after Deputy Nash moved the Second Reading. The Minister will have 15 minutes to speak after Deputy Nash.

Not ours.

I welcome the opportunity to examine the summer economic statement. Clearly, we have a challenging period ahead. The Government was not found wanting when it came to supporting incomes, jobs and enterprise during the Covid-19 pandemic. People recognise that the pandemic was handled reasonably well. However, the increased cost of living is having an impact on their standard of living. Inflation has moved beyond energy prices and is now impacting core inflation rates. The budget needs to be framed with this in mind. …

I thank the Minister of State, and the Deputy for raising the matter. He has been persistent on the issue.