The tongue will be out. The sheer magnitude of the Government delegation to COP27 damaged the credibility of the case for climate action. The event has really and truly turned into something akin to a jolly boys' outing to Margate. Figures on the number of delegates have been provided to our colleague, Deputy Nolan, by Departments. There were 11 individuals from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, two from the Department of Finance, ten from the Department of Foreign Affairs, two from the…

Some €6 billion on NGOs every year.

Yes, but it is raiméis.

You could do that every day at home.

And our own people can go to perish.

Delivering for the bankers.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an nGrúpa Neamhspleách. I thank the Independent Group for giving us the extra time. This is another fine mess the Minister has got us into. As Minister for Transport when this broke, he showed no cop on, copped out and went to COP27. I heard the Tánaiste saying it was wrong and might not happen. I heard the Taoiseach say something similar but they had to wait until the man himself came back from Egypt. I heard him when he came back saying we could not look at it again, that it was an agreed de…

One official.

We put down this motion in good faith and I am delighted to see the support it has got. Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an iar-Sheanadóir Brian Ó Domhnaill agus do Mhairead san oifig for their research on this. It is quite a basic, simple, honest-to-God motion that ordinary people would recommend. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State's script that he read out, nor to the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth's script. As usual the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan is not here. …

I know they would. I know what kind of hangers-on some of them are and they would arrive to the wedding all right. I mean no disrespect in that. This is a serious motion and we are serious about climate change but we want to bring the people with us. All stick and no carrot will not work.

All duck with the Government alright.

The first home scheme, under the Government's Housing For All programme sets the maximum property price ceiling for houses in Tipperary at €250,000, while neighbouring counties are set at €300,000 and the maximum purchase in some other areas goes as far as €450,000. The housing crisis exists in every county and the costs for building houses are similar. In Tipperary we want to attract developers to build houses so that families can get into housing. Developers tell me it is unattractive for them to build in Tippera…

I am also glad to be able to speak on this. As usual, the Taoiseach does not wait around for us to make our views known. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne is here and I have no issue with that, but I repeat what I have said before: they are both completely gobsmacked by the EU. They are serving the global masters instead of serving the people who elected them. In the Minister of State's case it is the people of Meath East. The people will have their say when the next election comes. The Taoiseach will probably he…

The Minister of State might answer my question today, although he did not on the previous occasion I asked him in the House, about the number of warships that recently docked in the harbour of Cork. Was that with the imprimatur of the Government? The ships were from Canada and Great Britain, among other places. Why are they there and why are they being minded by a large number of gardaí? When anybody approaches them peacefully, not to damage a warship, by walking up to it and asking questions, armed and unarmed gar…

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I want to be associated with the words of sympathy. We were devastated to learn of her passing at the young age of 48. Indeed, the whole country is now one way or another in mourning at the passing of this courageous, heroic and remarkable woman. Vicky Phelan refused to sell her soul for a settlement and she refused to remain silent. Vicky Phelan was not afraid to speak out and she fought hard for some support in fighting her illness and looking after her family, but when a…

It is not agreed.

I am very unhappy with the scheduling and the way the Government handled, managed and scheduled the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 last week. The Minister for Justice gave us to believe that we would have the opportunity to put down amendments on Report Stage but we were debating Second Stage here last Thursday and the date for amendments had passed before we commenced Second Stage. This is shocking, it does not comply with Standing Orders and it is completely wrong.…

That is not my point. My point is that the date was gone-----

It is a matter of Standing Orders.

They are not agreed.