It is fair to say the system we have designed was for around 3,000 to 4,000 arrivals per year, and that was based largely on accommodation from private providers. Nobody foresaw the general increase in the applications we now have due to a war. We are in an emergency situation. We have plans, which I know the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is working on, to acquire more State-provided accommodation and to look at where that needs to go in terms of maybe a fairer or a broader distribution across the country. The Taoisea…

The way the system works in this House is that all parties have the opportunity in Private Members' time to bring forward their own propositions. Many things are considered at the Business Committee, as we know, and the Chief Whip has given a commitment to have a balanced debate on immigration in the new year, so that will be organised.

I will answer.

All these things are debated. They were debated before Christmas, as I understand it. Ireland intervened before the court in the case taken by Ukraine against Russia. We participated in two advisory opinion cases related to Israeli action in Palestine last year. We were never afraid to intervene at the appropriate time.

You have Private Members' time.

Ceann Comhairle.

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. I absolutely agree with what you just said. The Deputies have Leaders' Questions as an opportunity to raise this. They have another opportunity through oral parliamentary questions, they have written parliamentary questions-----

Let me finish. They have their own Private Members' time. Why are they not using that?

The Deputies have had loads of opportunity. They would rather get up there-----

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. The Deputies have an opportunity on Topical Issue debates. There are loads of opportunities.

They do not have to stand up there are and create a big fuss so that they get attention. They will run it off on social media and there will be big song and dance. I know what they do all the time. This is all about themselves.

It is not about the people that we are watching on the television. What we are seeing is terrible.

We are all aware of what is happening to children, mothers and fathers. I can assure the Deputies that we are doing everything we can as a Government.

Yes, we are. As I said, the Whip will speak at the Business Committee and the matter can be decide there.

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this issue. I am glad to see that energy prices are coming down. The Government has done a lot, paying out a €200 energy credit in the past month, with more to come, and my Department expanded the fuel allowance. These are things we have been doing. Like Deputy O'Rourke, I would like to see energy prices come down further to reflect the market.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. We are urgently calling for an immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and full and safe unhindered humanitarian access. The protection of civilians, which is an obligation under international humanitarian law, must be paramount. There must be accountability for civilian deaths. The hearings last week at the ICJ involved only South Africa and Israel, the parties to this case. This is not the time for interventio…

As the Deputy knows, discussions are taking place at EU level. As I said to Deputy Bacik, the hearings last week at the International Court of Justice involved only South Africa and Israel, the parties to the case. This is not the time for intervention by other states. We have never been afraid to intervene and have done so at the appropriate time when we judged an intervention to be warranted. I assure the Deputy we will not be found wanting.

There must be accountability for what is happening. As I said, Ireland will decide whether to intervene on the ICJ proceedings instituted by South Africa under the genocide convention at the appropriate juncture, after the court has made its order on preliminary measures.

I understand how important it is to get a test, especially when living in rural Ireland. It is important for transport. I take the Deputy's point and will raise it directly with the Minister for Transport and have him reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.

I thank Deputy Stanton. I know Storm Babet caused extensive damage to the road infrastructure in the likes of Midleton and other parts of east Cork last November. I am informed that the Department of Transport is engaging with Cork County Council at the moment and will continue to do so with a view to providing assistance.