I never noticed.

Climate change.

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I concur with the Ceann Comhairle in thanking all of the staff, from the Secretary General down to the ushers, the gardaí, and everybody in the canteen and catering for looking after us and for being so kind to us during this term and this year. The old song is "It's a Long Way to Tipperary". Tipperary town needs a bypass and it cannot wait forever and languish. It needs a relief road because the town is choked with lorries, cars and vehicles, fumes and pollution, and God k…

I thank the movers of this very good motion. I take the opportunity to wish good luck to the mná of the Republic of Ireland football squad who have flown out to Australia for the country's first ever appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup. I wish them good success and enjoyment. The FAI's newly published strategic analysis and vision for the next 15 years details that the association requires €862 million to modernise facilities and standards. Goodness knows I want to see that happening in all clubs. We have some…

I have been supplied with a lovely picture of the Taoiseach, the Ministers, Deputies Eamon Ryan, Foley and Coveney, and, I think, the CEO of Irish Water standing at Ardnacrusha. It is lovely and picturesque.

I will if I get the right answer. I could use it as a dartboard too, you know. I refer to the midlands region water supply and a project to pump 320 million gallons of water a day to Dublin before fixing the pipes here. The children’s hospital is already a disaster. It is a hole in the ground, and a runaway train as regards costs. Last year, Ardnacrusha did not have enough water to produce electricity for the months of August and September. Did anyone in government think to ask the CEO of Irish Water whether what i…

I will pass it over.

Is the Government going to stop the project?

I am glad to be able to speak on this. I am sorry I was not here for the earlier speakers. I do not know what goes on at these meetings. I am not very happy with what goes on. We seem to be passive and dumb, just nodding at everything we are told to do by the EU, whether it is farming or the fishing industry, which have been wiped out over the decades. The Minister of State, Deputy Burke, is relatively new in the Department, and goodness knows we miss him out of his previous position - I do anyway. Now he is Minist…

How did we end up with an agreement under which we have to pay €20,000 per refugee who we are unable to take despite teams trying with the best will in the world to work out a resolution and people offering their homes? How come we did not raise concerns about this wanton waste of money? Why are we being penalised without having any avenue to attempt to negotiate it or understand it? Are we just passive and nodding our heads at everything the EU wants us to do? How are we so involved in the Ukraine war – we are inv…

Is the Minister of State in war mode?

The Rural Independents want to be associated with the vote of sympathy on the late Deputy Ben Briscoe. At the Business Committee, I have asked dozens of times for a debate in the House on the excess mortality of humans, not to mention the animals that have been talked about by Deputies. Human life is the most sacred thing of all, in my opinion anyway. I want a debate here on the sharp and ongoing rise in the number of excess deaths compared to last year or many other years. We see overcrowding in every hospital and…

I have asked the Taoiseach a few times about the situation regarding motorcycles and motorcycle events. The Faugheen 50 has been running for decades in my county of Tipperary and it cannot get insurance. There are different clubs and organisations across the country involved in carting, quad racing or motorcycling events, all carried on safely with health and safety officers and everybody else present, but they just cannot get insurance in the Republic. They can get it in Northern Ireland. Absolutely no effort is b…

During last week’s debate the exclusion zone Bill did not receive any of the scrutiny it deserved although it will have a dramatic impact on civil liberties. Most speakers went on long tangents. One even went off talking about something that happened 30 years ago. Supporters of the Bill have claimed it strikes a balance and is proportional but is it? By whose yardstick? The Government claims it would impede people’s right to protest because pro-life protesters will still be tolerated outside Leinster House. Is it n…

They are fact.

When you speak the truth it is difficult-----

A Cheann Comhairle, we were told porkies. I am taking other Members' time now, but-----

Yes.

Was he elected on the 15th or 16th count or was he not? What is wrong with saying that?

Hear, hear.