We are not just in daily contact but in morning, afternoon and evening contact with the fuel supply industry because we have a supply issue as well as a price issue that we have to manage and we will be able to do that. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will look to make sure with a laser focus that all the proper approaches were taken and that there was not price gouging. It is very complicated because different forecourts have different circumstances. The excise duty applies when the fuel leaves …

The best way we can do that, as I said earlier in response to another question, is by working with the Polish Government. We really have to follow its lead.

Yes, but we will respond and co-ordinate with what the Polish say because the last thing they want is an ad hoc approach and a variety of different actors coming in where they have to manage and marshal what they are responsible for. It is through working with the European Commission and the Polish Government, in giving a co-ordinated response, that we will be most effective.

Absolutely, but we will not send Irish trucks or buses in an unco-ordinated way that is not at their behest.

We do not know the exact number of refugees that will come. We do not know the duration or future path of this war. It is likely that many refugees will remain in countries close to their homeland with a view to going back. We have experience in successfully managing workers and others coming from the new accession countries in the early and middle part of the previous decade and, therefore, we should use that experience. The Minister for Social Protection has made it clear that, on arrival, those workers will rece…

We have within promised legislation the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021. In amendments we are seeking to introduce on Committee Stage are provisions that will help us on the licensing and recognition of licences from a variety of different locations. I look forward to discussing such arrangements the Deputy talked about when that Bill comes back from Committee Stage, which I hope will be soon.

God help us should a fire take place in Clonakilty. I will make sure to discuss the matter with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and ask him to report back to the Deputy directly on the potential progress of that station.

My understanding is that there is provision within the HAP arrangements for increased flexibility under certain circumstances, and that is the appropriate mechanism of dealing with the particular circumstances rather than a universal increase.

We should integrate coastal flood protection. We have met and discussed the particular example given by the Deputy at great length. It is a particularly sensitive habitat. It is an important special area of conservation. Dublin Bay eco biosphere is a United Nations-recognised important and sensitive site, therefore, it would not be done quickly. I believe we will have to do other measures in the interim while we go through the sensitive planning process. There is an opportunity, however, and not just in the Dublin …

My understanding is that the CCPC will be issuing a statement shortly on this issue because it is leading to much public-----

The Deputy might just let me answer that. It will be issuing a communication, which is important, to allay public fears. If the Deputy has any particular evidence or examples-----

-----he might direct them to the CCPC as well as our Department and we will follow up.

I am aware of this situation and we have had lengthy discussions about it. The Deputy is absolutely right to point it out; it is a critical issue. The underlying problem is that oil prices have gone up but the price of gas has gone from approximately 50p per therm two years ago - it tends to be priced in sterling - to just under £5 per therm. That is putting a lot of projects under pressure, be it gas-fired haulage or this sort of district heating system. I can see there is a very specific problem. I will ask the D…

I absolutely agree with the Deputy that our strength of response must be a unified one. I am sure the Taoiseach will carry out exactly that at the European Council today and tomorrow. He did us proud with that initial response in the Thursday night meeting of the Council in which we were very strong in the response in terms of sanctions and other approaches. I will make one background point if I may. This is an example of why this is an underlying energy issue. We are providing €10 million in humanitarian aid but p…

The development of renewable offshore wind is the huge potential development for our country. It is Ardnacrusha to the power of ten in its significance, scale and importance. It will start in the coming days and in a short number of weeks. We will start the process of what is known as the relevant projects. These are the projects that have been in planning for over ten years by getting foreshore licences and other planning systems in place. They are largely on the east coast. There is one in the west. There is one …

I will follow up on the specifics of that. I do not have specific timeline here. I will return to my Department and revert to the Deputy as soon as possible about when those guidelines can be delivered. I want to make sure that we act and deliver at that local level. I will come back to the Deputy as fast as I can.

As I said to Deputy Doherty and others earlier, we have engaged in a series of measures. While the war has been happening for the recent two weeks, gas plants started to restrict the gas last year. This has been ongoing for a year. It is among a number of other reasons gas prices have become high. We will go further in the coming days, when the SEAI will come out with a public information campaign to help people understand what they could do and what efficiency measures we could introduce so that we keep the money …

I am familiar with the road and with the project. From my understanding, we had a meeting last week with some Deputies from different parts of the country, in the south east and in the midlands regarding the N24 and the N4. There were similar circumstances. The project did not have immediate additional funding to go to the next stage in the planning process. There is a difference with the N2. As I understand it, it had an original preferred route. Then there was a further revised route. It is not the case that ther…

I might pick up on two examples the Deputy mentioned, which I very much agree we could, and should, advance. He mentioned a smart metering programme. As I said earlier in response to Deputy Leddin, the Oireachtas committee a few days ago discussed the idea of time-of-day pricing, whereby it would be possible to shift the demand. For example, if there is a load for the washing machine or the dryer, the power could be less expensive later in the day when there is less demand for fossil fuels. That is one measure whic…

I am pleased to introduce the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2021 for consideration by the House. It is a short, technical Bill that contains important provisions to amend the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000, which established the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB. The amendments to the 2000 Act have a particular focus to support the functioning of the independent MCIB as the marine casualty investigative body in the State and ensure t…