That is where I was going with my supplementary question. As the Minister of State is aware, much attention has been focused on cultural and operational difficulties within the Coast Guard. Indeed, committee members in particular, and people more broadly, have been contacted by volunteers and former volunteers about the issue. A dire picture has been painted. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications has engaged with the Department and the Coast Guard. We intend to pick up on those engagements …

In respect of the previous question, I ask the Minister of State to afford an opportunity to the Irish Coast Guard Volunteers Representative Association to submit to that review of the CUAG. It would be helpful to take on board its perspective. In this question, I am asking the Minister of State how she is assisting the haulage sector with issues such as increasing fuel costs and the skills shortage in the sector.

The challenge here is clear. For hauliers, particularly small hauliers with several lorries on the road, the margins are squeezed unbelievably because of the increasing cost of fuel. What has the Government done in response? Based on the reply of the Minister of State, the answer is "Nothing". It has done nothing to respond to the runaway fuel prices. When I raised this with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, at the Oireachtas committee a couple of weeks ago in advance of the cost of living crisis, he said the Government i…

It is a matter of urgency at this stage. The ball is firmly in the Government's court in terms of coming up with solutions. The hauliers have put their hands up. They are crying out for support. The Minister of State mentioned the alternatively fuelled heavy-duty vehicle purchase grant scheme. Approximately 60 vehicles bought under that scheme are currently parked up because they are not affordable to run due to compressed natural gas, CNG, not being included in the rebate. It is a perfect example of a failure of a…

I thank the Minister for his response. There is a great opportunity here and we have made submissions to the overall rail review. The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications is looking at various aspects of this. I will mention two of these. The Minister has already discussed the western rail corridor, WRC, and some of the opportunity this presents. This is an ambition that needs to be realised. There is the focus on the Navan rail line extension, which is very significant and has the potential to be the fi…

The Minister is hearing this from all quarters. The opportunity is available. If one maps our rail infrastructure and our forced car dependency, there has to be very significant development if we are to achieve a modal shift. Much of that will be to an improved public bus network, but rail has a very important role to play. I am speaking about Navan but also about the west and north west. Communities are chomping at the bit for this. They have their hands up and they want to see this delivered. I believe that if it…

The Minister has just said that planning takes an inordinate amount of time. We are on notice there will be opposition to this plan when it comes. That is the nature of privilege. We hear it through the national airwaves. The Minister said the planning process takes an inordinate amount of time and there is a balance of rights to be struck between development and environmental impact. How does the Minister see this progressing? There is an ongoing review. How will it be addressed to deliver these projects as quickl…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this issue for debate. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for being here. In many HSE documents we see the mantra the "right care", the "right place", the "right time". In County Meath it does not happen. We are aware that there is an intent in acute services to close the ICU and emergency department at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. We are at the bottom of the list or very close to it for primary care and disability services, GP services or the head of popula…

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I will point to one line that the Minister of State did read into the record which is "I am assured by the HSE that the clearance is imminent and the day hospital will reopen as soon as possible". I ask the Minister of State to take a personal interest in that to ensure that it happens as quickly as possible and that the services returned to full capacity.

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this motion and I thank Deputy McNamara and the Independent Group for tabling it. Sinn Féin supports the motion, which raises some very important issues, particularly as they relate to inclusivity, State procurement and State priorities. Two weeks ago, in a response to a parliamentary question I tabled, and again today, the Minister has confirmed that the current NDLS contract, which was put in place with the front-office service provider in June 2021, no longer offers a walk-i…

We will not oppose either amendment. This is one occasion where we welcome the Government amendments. Sinn Féin had put forward a series of amendments on both Committee Stage and Report Stage in the Dáil that, I firmly believe, would have given the Government greater flexibility regarding the upper limits and would have meant we would not need primary legislation if we were to return to similar circumstances in the near, or even not-so-near, future. I have had a series of meetings in recent days with representative…

I ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the recent comments by the director general of the EPA that greenhouse gas emissions are unlikely to fall here in 2022. Has the Minister plans to strengthen the climate action remit of the CRU to prioritise the achievement of Ireland’s 2030 and 2050 emission reduction targets? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. As he knows, the director general of the EPA said it is hard to see how emissions will fall this year. I think a former head of the CCAC said they will likely increase. This is at a time we are in the second year of a carbon budget where we are supposed to see a 4.8% annual average reduction. I do not take any satisfaction from saying this but there is a real possibility that, as a Green Party Minister with responsibility for the environment, Deputy Ryan will preside over our missing …

I do not agree. I refer again to the level of funding committed to this. We differ on the carbon tax but it will at best raise €9.5 billion, though I question that figure. That figure is a drop in the ocean in respect of what is needed to deliver the type of urgent systemic change the Minister is talking about. People do not see the impact on public transport, for example. They do not see it with renewables. We are not there and the window of opportunity is closing. This transition might happen, and I expect it wil…

You are the Minister.

What are the Minister's views on the rising costs of energy and electricity for households? When will households receive the €200 electricity credit? What additional measures will he take to address rising fuel, electricity and other energy costs?

I thank the Minister for his reply. I did not pick up the date on which the €200 credit would land on people's bills. Perhaps he will clarify it. It might seem a secondary consideration in light of everything that is happening, and our primary concern is for the welfare of the people of Ukraine, but will the Minister clarify the role of Russian gas in our supply? The Tánaiste stated that our supply was 50% from Corrib and 50% from Moffat. Previously, the Minister stated that it was one third from Corrib and two thi…

One of the ways we can help people with their electricity and energy costs is to empower and enable them to generate their own energy. When will we have the long-awaited updated regulations to exempt schools from the planning conditions in terms of solar PV? We heard from the Taoiseach that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage would have them ready in two or three weeks. We then heard from the Minister of State at that Department that the timeframe in that regard would be months because the Depar…

I want to ask the Minister the plans he has to develop the capability of the State to produce, store and use green hydrogen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Everybody agrees that there is, potentially, a considerable opportunity with green hydrogen. I see it across the political spectrum and that is welcome. The concern of my party and me, which is shared by people in the wider community who have an interest in green hydrogen, is that the focus, ambition and urgency is not there from the Government. I acknowledge everything the Deputy has said in his response and I know the Department of Transport has issued a call which is welcome. One of the things the sector says to…