Profiteering by Mr. Putin. One of the main reasons-----

One of the main reasons the prices went up is that he started reducing-----

I am trying to answer the question. One of the main reasons is that Mr. Putin started reducing the flow of gas into Europe and started raising Gazprom stocks in Russia. At this moment in time, gas stocks in Europe are at about 25% capacity-----

-----while Russian gas stocks are at full capacity. That lack of gas supply pushed up the price of gas which also pushed up the price of electricity. That is a fact. That is the reality and is something we should be honest about and aware of.

The market said so because we buy so much gas. We made a mistake in Europe by putting ourselves in a position that made us vulnerable to that threat. It has taken a war for us to wake up and be wise to that, and now we have to reduce our risk by reducing the use of those fuels. That is our key response and that is what we have to focus on.

I wish Deputy Bacik the very best in her new role as leader of the Labour Party, which is a huge honour, privilege and responsibility. We look forward to working with her in that new role and we wish her and the Labour Party well. Our democratic system is critical to everything we do. A leadership position is an honour to hold. I expressed concern earlier that if we just see the solution to our energy crisis as being a cut to every form of tax revenue, that presents difficulties. One of the areas to which the Gover…

My own view which, I think, is matched in the Government is that the State needs to take a stronger role here, perhaps by way of a State agency in order that we are not just relying on the market. While many of the private operators are doing a really good job in terms of the excellent facilities they provide, this area requires a lot of State engagement, for example by supporting community initiatives in terms of how early years care and childcare facilities are managed and presented. We do this better when we do …

As I said in response to an earlier question, the Housing for All strategy is the right strategy in light of what we will need to do because of the refugee crisis, but we will need to accelerate some of the measures. We cannot make home ownership an impossible ambition for people in our country, particularly in areas such as my own constituency, where houses are probably the most expensive in the country. I want to see my children grow up in the same area where I grew up. It is an area we know and is our home. That…

I will meet representatives of the CRU again. When I met them last week, we considered every available option. I will ask them to include that as one of the options. I will ask them to look at what is being done in the UK and consider if it would be of benefit here. It is best to get their precise advice about any unintended consequences that may arise. I will ask them to consider that option when I meet them again on this matter.

I absolutely understand the nature of the crisis and the risk of further difficulties if these problems extend. As I said, we saw prices were rising last year and we started to respond. The expectation was that those prices would start to come down this year but that is not looking likely. We are going to have to manage. We must change the timelines and think about how we do things in a more radical way. When I met representatives of the CRU last week, they were absolutely open to looking at every option. That is a…

The way things work, particularly where there are complicated markets, is that we listen and take the partnership approach I mentioned earlier. It is important to listen to different voices, including those of the Opposition. That is why I told Deputy Ó Ríordáin we would include his suggestion on the list of things to consider. Doing things by fiat and demanding that organisations do this or that does not work as well as listening and working with the experts.

We are all working in the public interest and paid for from the public purse. None of us have anything to gain other than getting what is best for the Irish people. We must listen to what the CRU has to say as well.

Programmes for Government are important in that they offer guidance. The guidance in this case is very clear. The programme for Government states that we "will not participate in projects that are incompatible with our policy of active military neutrality and non-membership of military alliances". It also states that we "will ensure that all overseas operations ... will be subject to a triple lock of UN, Government and Dáil Éireann approval". I stand by that and that is what this Government will follow. It is impor…

Will the Deputy send me the relevant details? It is hard to answer without them. I am very familiar with the developments at Rosslare Europort. The port has risen to the demands that have arisen because of Brexit. There will be more demands of it relating to the development of offshore energy generation. There is a big future for Rosslare Europort. I have every confidence in the ability of Iarnród Éireann and the management of the port to deliver. If there are specific issues around the OPW facilities, I ask the De…

The way to serve the Irish people and Irish interests on this occasion is through a radical transformation whereby we use our own energy. We need to turn what we have in abundance-----

May I be allowed to finish my point? We have an abundance of renewable power. Our sea area is seven times that of our land area. We are probably the windiest country in the world.

With the land mass we have, we can, in our farming communities, through biomass and solar energy, turn to our own power.

We will never be held to ransom. That power supply is the cheapest power supply available to us today. The best way we can serve the Irish people at this time is to turn to our national resources. The founding ambition of this State in the Proclamation was to rely on ourselves, to be strong in using and managing our own natural resources. That is what we are doing.

I am not aware of those pension arrangements so I would appreciate it if the Deputy would send them to me and I will pass them on to the relevant Minister. We will try to get a response as quickly as possible.

I agree with the Deputy. This situation is still evolving. We saw last week and in recent days the uncertainty as to whether those gas and oil supplies would continue to flow. That changes by the day. The market price is shooting up and down in a volatile manner. One thing the Taoiseach has said right from the start in this crisis, and I think he is right, is that we will act in solidarity in the European Union. That gives us our greatest strength and we should not divide. It is very important that we have internat…