Until October.

I have been asking the Government to deal with this with the Commission for months. I am familiar with the directives.

The British Government is pushing forward with the requirement for EU citizens who are not Irish or British to apply for travel clearance if they want to travel North to South or vice versa . This is a disgraceful situation. It undermines the Good Friday Agreement and the common travel area. It creates significant restrictions on freedom across our island. I do not know whether the Minister believes that it is acceptable but I find it wholly unacceptable that, for example, a Polish person who lives and works in Lif…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Ceann Comhairle. Last week, Bord Gáis announced massive price hikes for gas and electricity that will add a further €350 per year to the average gas bill and an €340 to electricity bills. This is the Government credit wiped out before it even arrives. Meanwhile, nothing has been done to cut the cost of home heating oil, which has doubled in 12 months. Workers and families have been hit by a barrage of energy hikes, with more than 30 in the past year. They are already struggling to keep up a…

Yes, this is global. Yes, it is squeezing those on lower incomes in particular. Yes, there are international factors beyond the Government's control. Yes, yes, yes - but no, the Government should not sit on its hands. The Minister for Finance has said the Government will do nothing additional for the next seven months. I would like the Tánaiste to clarify that that is not the case and that the Government is going to do more. I have given the Tánaiste two concrete proposals on VAT and the excise duty on home heating…

We heard earlier in this session about the large numbers of refugees - those seeking international safety - who will land on our shores and we are all anxious to respond in the fullest way that we can. It is essential that the Opposition is fully briefed on Government plans for accommodation and service provision in the short, medium and long term. It is essential that the Tánaiste makes clear to the House that party leaders will be briefed and that the House in its entirety will be briefed on the specific approach…

Roadbridge, one of Ireland's largest construction firms, has gone into receivership. It is devastating news for the company's workers and subcontractors. Roadbridge could owe at least €40 million to subcontractors and suppliers. I know of one small company that is owed €155,000, despite Roadbridge having been paid for the work, which included taxpayers' money. These particular owners, like many others I am sure, have invested everything in their business and are now left high and dry. They may not survive this blow…

It appears the Taoiseach may not be able to attend this week's meeting of the European Council. This is a very important summit. I welcome the opportunity to speak on two pressing matters that will, as the Minister set out, dominate discussions, namely, the invasion by Russia of Ukraine and energy costs. I also extend our best wishes to the Taoiseach. I very much hope he will make a speedy recovery from the virus and will soon return to work. I also extend our total and unwavering solidarity to the people of Ukrain…

Yesterday, I told the Taoiseach that surging fuel prices required that the Government take urgent action to relieve the immense pressure people are under. I appealed to him to bring forward a financial resolution to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel and to remove it entirely from home heating oil. I am very glad to see that good sense has prevailed and the Taoiseach accepts the need to act. Unfortunately, the Taoiseach's approach as set out does not go far enough. It is very important we get this right for peopl…

Amy cannot get her child to a hospital visit. I am not asking the Taoiseach to control international events through some miracle. I know he cannot control them. Neither can I. Nobody here can. I am asking the Taoiseach to do every single thing he can, and to do so quickly, to ensure that mothers like Amy, couples like Lorraine and her partner, and workers and small businesses are not totally caught in the grip of the panic that is setting in because people simply cannot make ends meet. I put the proposition to the …

The prices are growing at such a rate that people expect the Taoiseach to stretch himself and to stretch our European partners and to act in what is a crisis situation. By the way, we have been on to the Taoiseach since last September about talking to the Commission about VAT. He has not done that so he should not cry now. He should tell us how he can get these prices down and keep them down. Half measures will not work.

We as a team have been raising the issue of the cost of living for a year, I think. The Taoiseach acknowledges and we all know the pressure that people are under; therefore, it is incumbent on us to act and to prepare to act. On several occasions this afternoon, the Taoiseach has referred to the price of food. From his commentary, I am reading that he assumes sharp increases in food prices. He mentioned Ukraine as the breadbasket of the world, so the price of bread, for example, will rise. What plans, preparations …

Múinteoir, I will go home and reflect. I will do lines for you, if you like, and bring them in, or detention.

Beannachtaí na féile. A very happy International Women's Day to you and to all. The price of energy and fuel has literally soared over the past year and, of course, prices have risen even more rapidly following the criminal Russian invasion of Ukraine, which, as we know, has resulted in an unprecedented disruption in the global energy market. The cost of petrol at the pumps has increased by 70 cent per litre since January last year. We are now at a point where many people can no longer afford to put fuel in a car t…

Nobody is disputing the international context for these soaring prices. I hope nobody is disputing, either, that householders, families, workers, hauliers and those providing school transport are now at their wits' end. Their crisis is now. It is in the immediacy of now. It is a question of how they get to work, get about and heat their home, today, tomorrow and next week. I am well aware that the European Commission is bringing forward proposals and we certainly look forward to seeing them, but we would regard the…

Not agreed.

The Dáil will not sit next week, as Deputy Canney has averted to, because of St. Patrick's Day. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that we act urgently this week on the matter of spiralling costs of petrol, diesel and home heating oil. I have put the proposal to the Taoiseach that a financial resolution be drafted and brought before us tonight, tomorrow night or at the earliest available opportunity to ensure that consumers and families see immediate relief and immediate price reductions. For the life of me, I c…

The issue of excise is a matter for government and a matter for the House. Therefore, we are quite insistent that the Government act and bring forward this financial resolution this week.

No more delay.

Given the importance of this issue and the need for urgent Government action in respect of fuel and energy costs, under Standing Order 83(3)(b) I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means, or, in other words, by a walk-through vote.