There is nowhere to apply for it.

Where to apply-----

Subject to-----

That is for broadleaf.

That is for broadleaf.

What of the Gresham House deal?

Hear, hear.

It was Lidl.

I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Bill. One thing that needs to be recognised, and I am not going to refer to "my amendment" or whatever like some do, is that everyone in the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine put in amendments. We discussed it and worked together. One good part of being up here is that at least in the committees we are not badgering and going at each other. In fairness to the agriculture committee and its Chair, Deputy Cahill, members from all parties and none w…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Climate Action Plan 2023. I often wonder about plans, including the climate plan. The rich can always afford the obstacles that are put in front of them, but the poor always suffer. Motorists in rural Ireland must contend with the carbon tax and the attempt during the past year to try to stop them burning a bit of turf. It is a half of 1% of the whole country. We then saw 500 aeroplanes going to COP27 and nearly €100,000 spent on doing up offices. One wonders what agenda is…

The Minister wants to rewet everything.

First, on a personal level, I wish the Taoiseach well. During the week, I outlined that although I do not have a problem with some people in Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil, I do have a problem with some of the agenda that is being pushed in this country at the moment. I am not a person who is negative about everything. During the week, as the Taoiseach is well aware, I welcomed how the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, brought in a sewage scheme for towns that had no Irish Water and brought in the grant for refurbishment…

Yes, there is rural regeneration and things like that, which I welcome. I am not a naysayer. However, we are being forgotten in the bigger picture. My fear is that farmers will abandon the land. If the EU continues with the food policy it has adopted, we will be importing from Brazil and we will be like the birds in the nest with our mouths open trying to get food. That is not the future I want. It is not a good future for Europe.

Like other Members, I think the way that this is being rushed through the Dáil is crazy. There is nothing to say that in January we could not go through this thoroughly. The Minister of State seems to be putting stuff in. He comes from a farming background as well. Thresholds will be put in for farmers to get licences. It is like driving a car. The day you have to get a licence for something is the day that you could lose it and you become vulnerable to the State. While you have to get one to drive on the road, the…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. The appointments of people have been questionable. There are clear messages from the top to the middle and the bottom on what went on and there are transcripts. The Department has all of that in its possession. Allegations were made against the people at the bottom but the one thing the Government should do is appoint a retired High Court judge, an independent person, to look at this. From everything we have seen it stinks from the high heav…

I agree with Deputy Ring that an independent person has to come in. The Minister of State is referring to it going back to IFI to look at it before it comes out again. He should forget about that because the problem has gone too deep. The Minister of State has said that different letters came in. The people who sent files signed their names to them so this is not hidden; it is out in the open and there is a transcript of everything that went on. This is not wonder stuff that has to be investigated morning, noon and…

The Taoiseach is well aware of the housing situation and the construction sector around the country. There is a dire need to get work done and to get houses built. I know the Government is bringing Bills forward in the coming weeks. Regarding the construction sector, I acknowledge the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, revised figures for what we would call Government jobs that contractors would do, but there is a serious problem around the country where houses are being built and other works that are not Government…

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I acknowledge the additional people working in the economy. I am talking about when a client, be it the State or a private client, hires a main contractor. At the moment, some of those are going into liquidation. Unfortunately, many seem to be coming from Northern Ireland, from the trend I have observed. The subcontractor, a smaller outfit, is then left high and dry for the money. That is the big problem. I acknowledge the great work of Feargal Quinn. Given time, the then Govern…

President von der Leyen is welcome to Ireland. As a supporter of the old EEC, I wonder where we are going in the EU. This is for the simple reason that, in my opinion, the European Union is like marriage; it is either love or divorce. People either buy into everything or they do not. I welcome what President von der Leyen said about the UK. We need the UK, especially in the agricultural sector which, unfortunately, has not been mentioned today. I listened to President von der Leyen speak about freedom. Every time w…

President von der Leyen is welcome to Ireland. As a supporter of the old EEC, I wonder where we are going in the EU. This is for the simple reason that, in my opinion, the European Union is like marriage; it is either love or divorce. People either buy into everything or they do not. I welcome what President von der Leyen said about the UK. We need the UK, especially in the agricultural sector which, unfortunately, has not been mentioned today. I listened to President von der Leyen speak about freedom. Every time w…