That is not an answer to the question.

For the purposes of clarity, the Minister of State has repeatedly indicated that the effect of the Deputy's amendment would be to force up cover costs. Can she set out precisely how that could be the case? I have listened to the exchange and I am unclear as to how or why that claim is being made by the Minister of State.

Storm Barra is raging outside and bringing significant disruption to families, workers and businesses, especially in those counties under red and orange warnings. Today and tonight, people need to stay safe. No one should take chances or risks. It is important that we pay tribute to our front-line workers. After 18 months of heroism, they now find themselves in the eye of the storm, again risking their own safety to keep us safe and the show on the road. We thank them. Our children are not in school today because o…

Of course, there is no single silver bullet, more is the pity, and there is no single answer, including vaccination, although I am never one to lampoon either fresh air or the need for vaccination and for boosters, which is absolutely imperative. However, I asked the Taoiseach a different question. I asked him about ventilation and air quality in our classrooms. Between removing contact tracing from schools, a very sluggish response to teaching supply and mixed and confused messaging on children wearing masks in sc…

Is that a “Yes”?

I did not approve of the Government’s handling of them. I am sure the Taoiseach was very clear on that. I could not have been clearer.

Is the Taoiseach going to answer my question?

Will he answer my question? He is the Taoiseach.

Really. Okay. Thank you. It is kind of pathetic but-----

For every classroom.

An important story broke in The Currency magazine today relating to National Broadband Ireland, which could have serious implications for the roll-out of broadband across rural Ireland. In May 2019, I warned the then Taoiseach and current Tánaiste, Deputy Leo Varadkar, that the contract signed by the Government to deliver the national broadband plan was a bad deal for the taxpayer. I raised a concern that the contract would see the taxpayer shell out over €3 billion up front to roll out the broadband network and, a…

The Taoiseach might answer the question.

What about Oak Hill Advisors? That was my question. Will the Taoiseach confirm-----

The Taoiseach does not know.

What does that mean? That is devoid of meaning.

That is shocking.

Following publication of the mid-term review of the national drug strategy, a decision was made by the Department of Health to remove the community and voluntary sector from the strategy's national oversight committee. The sector is to be replaced by a civic society forum made up of Department of Health appointees. This new structure has yet to be formalised or established. There is a growing opinion across the oversight committee that officials are now intent on pushing out those who voice opinions contrary to the…

President Biden's absolute and, to use the Taoiseach's word, vigorous commitment in respect of the Good Friday Agreement is very reassuring indeed. It goes beyond the Administration itself and the White House and is a position that is shared across the aisles in Congress, including the Senate, and I very much welcome that. Indeed, I had the opportunity to have exchanges and hear those commitments at first hand last week. What vigorous assertions did the Taoiseach make by way of reply to President Biden? What exchan…

We have all the mechanisms in the Stormont House Agreement.

As the Taoiseach set out, the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council provided the opportunity for attendees to use indigenous, minority and lesser used languages. As the Taoiseach is aware, the Westminster Government has agreed to legislate for the Irish language, making Gaeilge an official language in the North. Has the Taoiseach used the British-Irish Council or any other opportunity to raise this commitment with the British Government? If so, can he provide details of these engagements? As we have previousl…