That is what we are trying to do.

I assure the Deputy I raised it again yesterday.

I agree with the Deputy.

I cannot do anything about it. We have raised it with Europe.

I will try to address the issues Deputies have raised, perhaps beginning with Deputy Canney as he is here and has just spoken. While I agree with Deputy Canney's perspective about rural Ireland being reflected in the European Union, I remind him that it is the sons and daughters of rural Ireland who are representing Ireland in the political institutions in Europe. It is the sons and daughters of rural Ireland who are sitting with me, the Taoiseach or the range of Ministers at the European Council meetings. Sons and…

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the European migration and asylum pact. I will answer some of the questions asked about what Europe is doing to prevent or ease conflict elsewhere and stem the flow of migration. It is important to look at the proportion of the European Peace Facility that is used to try to prevent conflict in Africa, reduce the incidence, duration, intensity and severity of conflicts there and support the African Union. Some 10% of the facility is used for those purposes and for a r…

There are a number of issues to address. I thank all Members for their contributions. I will first address matters relating to the Bill. As the Tánaiste said, I reiterate this is the first of two substantial defence Bills that will be advanced this year. Members are aware of what is to come, so let us discuss today's Bill. The major issues being discussed are the establishment of the external oversight body on a statutory basis, which is a priority for the Government because it is the major piece that gives effect …

That has never happened to me.

Perhaps I will speak to what is important to all. Let us talk about defence broadly and the importance of it because that is why the Senators are here. All of us are having this debate to try to enhance Ireland's defence capacity and our defence structures at this time. Of course, it is fair to say the Government has made some strides in Ireland's security and defence policy with the implementation of the Commission on the Defence Forces report and the Consultation Forum on International Security Policy. There is b…

How much did you get?

How do you do it?

The Deputy got his answer.

I am delighted to be here to mark Europe Day and to speak to the many benefits we have felt through our membership of the European Union. Today is also an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come over the past half century. This afternoon, I will speak to the transformative effect EU membership has had on our country, the benefits accrued through previous waves of enlargement for all of us, as well as the potential of future enlargement. I will also touch on the EU’s approach to migration. Ireland’s membershi…

I thank the Acting Chairperson. I appreciate that because I wish to respond as best I can to the excellent debate and the contributions that have been made. Members will forgive me if I jump from one issue to another but it will be in an effort to respond to what they said. I will start with Senator Higgins simply because, respectfully, that seems to be the most logical response. What she said is exactly right in so many ways. We are constrained by the practicality of some of the different particular challenges of …

Forgive me, I do not have the voting records in front of me but I do not recall whether Deputy O'Donoghue voted for or against this year's budget, in which Fine Gael and the Government introduced yet another tax decrease for working families, in particular a targeted----

A tax decrease.

I will just talk again because he has no manners.

It is unclear to me, because I did not have time to check, and this is why I am posing the question, whether the Deputy voted for or against the budget in which we gave not just another tax cut to working families but the third successive tax cut. Cumulatively, these lifted 220,000 working people out of the upper tax bracket. Perhaps, then, if we extend the measure this year we will be able to be confident of the Deputy's support for the budget and yet another tax decrease for working families. The Deputy should no…

I thank Senator Cassells for raising this important matter. The return of the power-sharing Executive is very important for the people of Northern Ireland and has brought renewed hope regarding what we believe is achievable through the Good Friday Agreement. Last Tuesday, the Government agreed a range of funding allocations worth more than €800 million to affirm our commitment to work with the new Executive and UK Government to make cross-Border investments that will make the island of Ireland a better place to liv…

I thank the Senator for making the point so forcefully. It is extremely important now that the Executive is back up and running that our commitments are matched. The Irish Government has not been found wanting in that regard. It is meeting a longstanding commitment in this regard and indeed through other forms of investment on the island for the benefit of everybody. The Irish Government has never been found wanting in its commitment to the restoration of the power-sharing Executive and the operation thereof. That …