I thank the Minister of State very much for being here. I know this is not her area and I appreciate her taking the time to be here. I raise the absolute shambles of a public transport service in north Wicklow and particularly the services provided by Go-Ahead Ireland. This has been an issue for a number of years now. I am speaking here about route 184 to Newtownmountkennedy, route 185 to Enniskerry and route 44A to Bray. People are inundating my office with messages about the poor service that is being provided by…

I thank the Minister of State. It is time that the Minister for Transport, the NTA and Go-Ahead Ireland put the Covid baby down and start taking responsibility for not providing the service that, as the Minister of State says, it is paid to do. It is incredible that a Green Party Minister, the Minister for Transport, is saying that it is not his responsibility to provide these services and make sure buses turn up on time. That is absolutely incredible because when I see press releases and photo opportunities in rel…

I was also absolutely appalled today to read that the business lobby group, IBEC, has objected to the Government's plan to bringing in legislation on paid leave for victims of domestic abuse. Asking people who have suffered domestic abuse to provide proof that they have actually suffered that abuse is retraumatising. This level of disbelief and distrust is exactly why victims do not come forward. I ask not only that the Government commit to the speedy implementation of this Bill, but also that it will never be the …

It must be without the need for proof.

We are in the throes of a perfect storm, with sky-high energy prices, energy insecurity and an increasingly palpable climate crisis, which is impacting on every element of our lives and communities. This is an extremely challenging time, when many will struggle to feed their families or heat their homes over the winter. Nevertheless, out of crisis can come opportunity, and with an €11 billion budget, never before has a Government had such an opportunity to build a secure, sustainable and fair future for all residen…

Hundreds of children who are Irish citizens born through surrogacy have no legal relationship with their mothers or some of their fathers. Those families pinned their hopes on this being finally resolved following publication of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy report. However, they have been left feeling confused and worried by the contradictory statements from the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler, in the Seanad yesterday and the Department of Health yesterday e…

First, I want to say that this debate is getting incredibly personal and it is the wrong approach for us to take. I am aware the Minister has left the Chamber, but the personalised nature of the debate in respect of energy and climate is not the appropriate response. However, I recognise that people are angry and scared, and they are unsure of how they will get through the coming winter. I am not just talking about householders but about small businesses and community groups. The energy costs that are hitting peopl…

I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward this motion. It is a far-ranging motion that touches on every element of the energy issues we are seeing, be it security of supply or price. We must be clear that they are two separate issues with two drivers behind them. The exorbitant prices being applied to people's bills are as a result of the problem in Ukraine, which could not have been foreseen. There is also the security of supply issue, which the motion also relates to. On the security of supply issue, there …

We are in the worst cost-of-living crisis in more than four decades. The price of everything, including basic necessities, is soaring. People all over the country are worrying about how they are going to feed their families and heat their homes. The speed with which prices are increasing and the extortionate levels they are reaching are unprecedented in their scope, scale and catastrophic impact. Even before this crisis, Ireland was the second most expensive country in the EU, with living costs 36% above the EU ave…

I too want to raise the issue of the accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. The response the Minister has just given there is probably the same response that would have been given five months ago when this crisis started. I know that no Government could been prepared for what happened. We are, however, five months down the road and all of the kite-flying on such things as modular homes, incentives for holiday homes and vacant State properties have not eventuated. People, in fact, who have offered own-door accommodat…

The Minister is not using the premises that are available.

I thank the Minister of State for attending and wonder whether he pulled the short straw in having to do so this evening. I recognise this issue is not his area. It relates to childcare in Wicklow. It is no secret that childcare in this country is at crisis point. The costs, which are exorbitant, are putting severe pressure on families who are just trying to keep their heads above water. Wicklow is at the forefront of that crisis, given parents there pay the highest fees for childcare outside of Dublin, at approxim…

I thank the Minister of State. I understand that this is not his area. The response that the vacancy rate in Wicklow is at 16% is quite disappointing. Many parents have contacted me to say the opposite. In fact, one parent said she contacted 46 crèches and minders before she found someone. There is obviously a problem. When we talk about averages, what needs to be reflected is that Wicklow is a very diverse county with many towns and villages. Some villages have no access at all to any childcare and they will obvio…

The Taoiseach says all the right things when it comes to climate. He talks about the stark challenges and urgency. Where is the urgency when it comes to setting the sectoral targets? The longer it takes to set those targets, the more onerous it will be for us to meet them. Is his Government too afraid to deal with the issue of agriculture? Are discussions with the agriculture sector and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine holding up the establishment and setting of these sectoral targets? We need eac…

It has been one year since------

One year.

I also thank Deputy Cairns for bringing forward this motion and welcome all those in the Gallery and those looking in today. We have all heard the saying that a disability does not disable someone; society disables people. It is an important point to acknowledge today because it is clear that the skyrocketing cost of living everyone is seeing at the moment is making life very difficult, particularly for people with disabilities. We want the Government to step in and support those people. Disabled people are among t…

I would also like to have that information. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has estimated that as a result of the measure of providing 450 MW of energy, the actual cost on domestic bills will be €40 per bill. Yesterday in the Chamber I asked the Minister to indicate whether that 450 MW was the total of what will be supplied. What is the potential full cost that could be added to domestic bills? It appears that while the Government may be reducing the PSO levy and saying it is making savings - accor…

On that point on the €40, I asked the Minister of State yesterday and it would appear the CRU has also undertaken to procure an additional 200 MW, which it has already done. Two questions arise. Will that 200 MW equate to approximately €20 on each domestic bill as well? How was that 200 MW procured in the absence of this legislation?

I, too, speak in support of this amendment. The Social Democrats had an amendment on data centres as well but, unfortunately, it was ruled out of order. The key thing, however, is the principle of the amendment and I hope the Minister will take on board these discussions. I was disappointed in the Chairman of the committee and his comments yesterday because a brief Google search or a review of the CRU or EirGrid website indicate very clearly where the blame lies when it comes to this increased demand. It has been s…