On budget night.

It is becoming a habit.

On a point of order, it is becoming a habit.

I rise to support amendments Nos. 1 and 2 from Sinn Féin. We are talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul and then the Minister brought the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, into it. I know Peter and Paul were saints but I do not know anything about NORA. This is not very saintly or funny to the people at home who want to get some relief. The Government has a budget of €11 billion and it is talking about giving money here and there to give relief to hard-pressed householders. In the same breath, it is acquiescing …

I welcome this measure wholeheartedly because the relationship between employer and employees is a very important relationship in companies and across the board. In the main, it is very productive and is very beneficial both ways. I welcome the fact that it can be included this year because so much of the year is gone and the second benefit can accrue. We need to acknowledge the role of entrepreneurs and business people and I welcome them being able to give benefits to employees. I am not happy with the taxation me…

I am sharing time with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. I objected to this arrangement when the Business Committee rang around today about it. It is a slipshod way of doing business. I do not deny the merits of the rainy day fund but comparing it with the resolution in 2020 for Covid is just another false omen and a fake issue. The money could certainly be invested in projects in rural Ireland, which are so badly needed. I would have no problem with that but the figures are large, at €2 billion this year and €4 billion next…

That is First Communion money.

Hear, hear.

How long is it going to take?

He would not be saying-----

Those prayers will be answered.

We are not the rural alliance.

Every customer.

I thank iar-Seanadóir Brian Ó Domhnaill, my daughter Mairéad and iar-Seanadóir John Hanafin for their help in putting the motion together. I make no apologies for the motion we have brought forward today. We will take no criticism from the Minister of State or the absent Minister who was here at the start. Why is it that he has fled like snow off a ditch when questions were being asked, especially by the rural groups, the Regional Group, ourselves and Deputy McNamara who had to return to the health committee? The M…

The Government is not funding mental health services but it is putting huge pressures on people's mental health. They just cannot cope with the ever-growing cost increases. The Government says we cannot interfere here, we cannot interfere there. The people own 95% of the ESB. I salute the ESB outdoor staff and indoor staff whom I deal with during outages. They are very effective and very good. The pure gouging they are taking out of people now and they are making €590 million profit in the first six months of this …

I have ten minutes, please. In fairness, I have ten minutes and I would like to use them. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, used his full ten minutes, so I am entitled, as it is our motion, le do thoil. The Minister prevaricated and presided over one disaster after the next. As I said, it just not feasible or anything else. The Minister shamed the oil companies and oil investors and dismantled all of them, yet he has no diversification plans. There are many people out there crying. Businesses, households and eve…

It is in your hands.

And a war.

When?

They do not have them now either.