The Taoiseach should see whether he will be laughing when he-----

Will the Taoiseach tell it to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan?

What does the Taoiseach tell his backbenchers?

What about the backbenchers?

I thank Sinn Féin, in particular Deputy Kerrane, for bringing forward this very important motion and giving us the first formal opportunity to discuss on the record of the Dáil the proposed criminalisation of the sale of turf for supply. One would swear to God it was some sort of an illegal drug the way we are talking about it. I never thought the sale and supply of turf would come to this. I would like the Minister to look around him. He was very welcome to Kerry this morning. I said it to him today and will say i…

Who insulted rural Ireland?

The Government insulted them.

On a point of order, that man to one side of the Minister of State came out a week ago and said he would ban from 1 September the sale and the supply of turf.

No, but the Minister of State cannot say that. It is a lie.

No. The Minister of State should correct what he is after saying now.

The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, said he would ban turf. Why is the Minister of State now standing up talking-----

Why does the Minister of State not answer for himself?

That man there said it.

No. I am not talking about the Minister of State at all, but he should not cover for the Minister. It was the Minister who said it.

We want to thank President Zelenskyy for his presentation today. I thank Ambassador Gerasko for being here and I thank her and her staff for the excellent work they have been doing over the last number of weeks. The Irish people and the Irish Government have been to the forefront in standing up and saying we will put our shoulders to the wheel and we will do everything collectively that we can do to support the people of Ukraine, the people who have had to come here literally with what is on their backs and the bag…

We want to thank President Zelenskyy for his presentation today. I thank Ambassador Gerasko for being here and I thank her and her staff for the excellent work they have been doing over the last number of weeks. The Irish people and the Irish Government have been to the forefront in standing up and saying we will put our shoulders to the wheel and we will do everything collectively that we can do to support the people of Ukraine, the people who have had to come here literally with what is on their backs and the bag…

The Government closed it down.

They will be dead.

I sincerely thank the Regional Group for this excellent motion. The simple fact is that this problem is becoming more and more serious as the days and weeks go by. Of course, the Ukrainian people are most welcome here in their time of need but this compounds the problems and difficulties we have in trying to take care of and cater for everybody. I really believe there is one thing we have to do. Every town in every county had small building contractors and bigger contractors in recent decades. Now we are living in …

On a point of order, I want to apologise. At the beginning I should have declared an interest in this issue. I should have done that before I spoke so I am sorry for that. I want to correct that.