She is berating us for putting down our own motion.

The Minister of State's reply was almost as brief as the contribution of the other Minister of State. What I am saying is not personal. If the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was not here because he is sick, I will understand and accept it; however, if we see him around the House today or this evening, we will be very annoyed. We tabled this motion in good faith, as we are entitled to do as elected Teachtaí Dála and members of a registered technical group in this House. We are not going to take any lectures from the G…

It was a disgusting and disparaging remark given that we have one researcher. He does an excellent job for us. It is iar-Seanadóir Brian Ó Domhnaill, whom I thank. I also thank Deputy Michael Collins, who has been pleading with people. We are not looking for new licences willy-nilly; simply and plainly, we are seeking to be sure that we can keep the lights on. We all know we have to have a transition. An Teachta Nolan has been talking about this daily since the lovely phrase "just transition" came up. It is the mos…

Which amendment?

Not agreed.

We are not the Regional Group.

Not agreed.

I hope the Minister will follow up on my issue, which I have previously raised with the Taoiseach and concerns St. Rita's respite care centre in Tipperary. It is a fabulous centre that does excellent work with young people with special and additional needs. It does not have enough funding to provide extra summer camps and young boys and girls have been refused places, to the anguish of their parents and those at St. Rita's. The people in the centre want to embrace and help children and their families, but they do n…

They were under pressure long before the war.

Taxation is causing it.

I acknowledge the hard work of the staff of the Business Committee. After many phone calls, matters were pushed onto the committee by the Government. We had decisions to make within an hour. I object to the Order of Business, due to the ongoing controversy surrounding An Bord Pleanála. We need an urgent debate. We have a housing crisis which we have never seen the like of. An Bord Pleanála's carry-on and questionable behaviour in many cases is not helping. There is no confidence in it. It is the highest planning au…

We need a debate on the carry-on of An Bord Pleanála. We need to have the Minister in and to have a full Dáil debate.

Cuirim céad míle fáilte rompu.

DEIS status schools have never been more important with the rising costs of living. DEIS status was awarded to a number of schools in Tipperary. However, Coláiste Dún Iascaigh in Cahir and the Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrick-on-Suir, among others, were left out and denied DEIS status. They have appealed, as the Department told them to do. They are awaiting the results of the appeal. They were dearly hoping to get results before the summer break, so they can plan for the reopening of the school in the coming S…

I am sharing time with Deputy O'Donoghue. I am pleased to speak broadly in support of this Bill. At the Business Committee and in subsequent communications, we agreed to progress this legislation as a matter of urgency. There is an old saying that justice delayed is justice denied. The Minister of State, as a practitioner of the law, understands the problems that arise from delays. There are many reasons for those delays. The backlogs in all the courts, particularly in Circuit Court sittings, are enormous. It could…

Not agreed. I listen to the Minister and I always wish him well but how can the Government sit by and allow 65% tax on every litre of fuel and diesel? The price of these goods is skyrocketing and it is driving inflation mad. We need an urgent debate on this in this House. The Minister talked about the €2 billion the Government spent but that is wiped away on a daily basis because people cannot afford to heat their homes and put fuel in their cars. They have to choose between heat, food and petrol or diesel. Unless …

The Minister is in government.

Action.

There are many crises at present. I refer to those relating to housing, mental health, the Passport Office and other areas. I welcome Mr. Tom O'Callaghan, of the Independent Postmasters Group, to the Public Gallery. Our post office network is forgotten about. Fianna Fáil supported the previous Government by means of the confidence and supply agreement. Now that it is in government, it is paying lip service - not even that - to the private contractors who are operating the post offices. Throughout the Covid situatio…

I am sharing with Deputy Michael Collins and possibly an Teachta Danny Healy-Rae if he arrives. I too welcome this long-overdue electoral reform. In many areas the measures could be wider than what is proposed, but I understand that small steps are important. I pay tribute to the many people I have worked with over the years in the county councils, South Tipperary County Council and then North Tipperary County Council, who helped out, did a lot of work and updated the register. They were really in a void and a vacu…