Ireland has not been on the sidelines in this, nor indeed has this Government. We brought forward the most comprehensive climate action plan. We underpinned that in law.

Some parties decided to vote against it. Reversing the loss in biodiversity and tackling climate change is the single biggest challenge the world faces. Doing so is this generation's responsibility. This is probably the last generation that can actually do something about it. There will be tough choices. I want to give the Deputy a couple of examples of where we have already moved.

We have made substantial progress in delivering over 13,000 ha of rehabilitated peatlands in Bord na Móna ownership. The Climate Action Plan 2023 has committed to a further rehabilitation of 77,000 ha by 2030. There are many measures being undertaken and these are just examples. I attended the Committee on Environment and Climate Action this morning for my own Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and we were looking at what we are doing to ensure we are reducing emissions within the housing and loca…

I would not usually describe Deputy Barry as being happy.

I see the Deputy carried out that extensive research on the list of speakers at breakneck speed and I suggest that the research and the results thereof would probably require some independent verification so I am not going to take the results of his research as gospel here this morning, if he does not mind. As a Government and as a country, we are very conscious that since Russia’s brutal and illegal war on Ukraine, on which some would question the Deputy’s response, international relations and the international se…

The nub of the Deputy’s comment was at the very end when he said that is why there will be protests at this forum. I am sure that Deputy Barry will be outside there in Cork himself with his megaphone and placards, which is his right if he wishes, and I respect that while I disagree with him. There is no stitch-up here. Even Deputy Barry must realise that the geopolitical situation across the world, but particularly here in Europe, has changed in the past 16 or 17 months even though he was slow to admit that at the …

That is a good change in his outlook.

It is right as a sovereign nation that we allow debate within the country, that we have fora such as this, particularly when we look at how things have changed on our own Continent with the largest outbreak of war on the European Continent since the Second World War. Should we just sit there silently and not even discuss what the potential issues would be and how we can strengthen our own security as a sovereign proud state within the European Union? It is also the European Union acting together in solidarity with …

I thank Deputy Berry. I welcome Private Kedian's comrades who are here today. I had the pleasure and honour of meeting them earlier this morning. I thank the Deputy for his continued advocacy on behalf of our Defence Forces, both serving and retired. It is important that we all remember the sacrifice Private Kedian made for his country and the UN on a peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon. He lost his life - it was the ultimate sacrifice - in protecting his own comrades. That is the type of bravery in service to wh…

I assure the Deputy that following his intervention and his question today, I will raise the matter personally and directly with the Tánaiste. I reiterate that he has asked the Chief of Staff to consider a review of the medals process, perhaps using the incidence of Private Kedian as an example of some other outstanding matters in relation to recognition of Defence Forces personnel. I assure the Deputy that I will discuss this directly with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. I will ask him to revert directly to…

To get back to the matter at hand, I know many of the men and women in the retained fire service across the country. I commissioned the independent review. I was not asked to do it; I commissioned it, published it and brought it to Cabinet twice. All 13 recommendations were accepted by the Government. Much progress was made in this regard concerning rostering and minimum staffing levels at stations. There will be 12 staff per station. The Deputy is correct that the issue of pay remains. His assertion today, like th…

It was obviously choreographed.

I know firefighters right across the country.

There is a process and I am confident this issue can be resolved. I have immense regard for the men and women of the fire service.

Gabh mo leithscéal.

I will tell the Deputy what I will-----

I will conclude. I have been interrupted repeatedly. I want to state that I encourage contact with the unions. There is contact and I encourage the unions to re-engage with the State's process and industrial relations, IR, process.

If I can, I wish to reassure the House that I have given an absolute commitment that the public sector pay talks will begin in July-----

-----which is next month.

What I will not do, though, is what the Deputy and his party are doing, which is trying to use this matter for their own political gain-----