What is happening in Ukraine?

I, too, send my sympathy and support to the people and communities of west Waterford and east Cork following yesterday's devastating floods. I raise the issue of dedicated hospice care beds. We used to have three lovely hospice suites in St. Brigid's District Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir, but they were closed unceremoniously with the hospital. We were then promised four beds for the town of Clonmel, which has 18,500 people and with another 10,000 to 15,000 in the hinterlands. Now we find we are getting one bed in the …

Whitewashed.

There was.

Decide for them.

Hear, hear.

We tabled this motion in good faith. The Government has decided not to oppose it but it is a complete cop-out. It is an abject failure of the Department. I am disappointed that the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is not here for the reply. With the Chair's indulgence, I would like to sympathise with the families of the four young leaving certificate students from Clonmel. They were on their way to get a bus in Clonmel to celebrate their leaving certificate and met their untimely deaths. They were from the McSwe…

Budget 2024 will see a €200 million cut in funding for main road projects. This is a misguided decision by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, who has an over-influence on the Cabinet. It is the third consecutive year there has been this level of cuts to major infrastructure. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, said there were four deaths on the N24 and 11 serious injuries between Limerick Junction and Cahir. We have already had two losses of life this year. The Government must put this money back into thes…

Will the Government please listen to the TII when it says that lives will be lost and there will be more injuries because of a lack of investment in these roads?

Thank God.

I am looking forward to that.

Anois táimid ag bogadh ar aghaidh leis Sinn Féin agus an Teachta as Port Láirge, Teachta-----

Gabh mo leithscéal. How could I forget?

Indeed. I represent it well.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this debate because I have asked for it at meetings of the Business Committee for the past 18 months. I remind Deputy Tóibín that while the Rural Independent Group might not be a political party, it has been fighting on this issue for a long time. I have fought at every meeting of the Business Committee, and thanks to this we are here today. According to data from the General Register Office and rip.ie , Ireland has experienced a significant rise in excess deaths since 2…

John Hume.

I, too, am delighted to speak on behalf of our group to condemn utterly and totally the actions of Hamas and what happened. We had our Stardust tragedy, involving all the young people who were in Dublin that night all of 40 years ago, and see the trauma that caused. People are still looking for justice for those 48 young people who were enjoying themselves. To cross a border, to break in, to shoot and maim, to take hostages, and to mutilate young people having a night's fun, is just one of the most vicious and pern…

I too stand to support this amendment. It beggars belief that the Bill promised we might put some kind of rein on these companies. One thing that is sure and certain is that they have not flown the green flag. I do not know what flag they are wearing but we have the most expensive fuels and everything else in Europe by a long shot. The Government here is so feeble in dealing with the energy companies. We were all hoping for legislation on a meaningful energy cap that would help us to understand their explanations a…

This is a perfectly logical and reasonable amendment. It is pity it is being opposed because people want oversight. We have been talking about this windfall tax for long enough. I am reminded of what a windfall meant at this time of year when I was young. I would always pick apples after the storms had brought them down. I am sure many of them came down today. The Government does not seem to know, or want to know, what a windfall tax is.

It does not want to tackle big business in any shape, make or form. I am a small businessman, as is Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. We have to make a profit but people are being gouged and it has gone on for two years or more now. Ireland has the dearest prices in the EU for all forms of energy. Those are not my figures but those of reputable organisations. The Minister of State will not accept this reasonable amendment. Why do we have to take this half-baked approach? This amendment would have given more transparency and,…