I really do not know where to start on this, although I will speak to the amendment. I was glad to have given something like seven hours last Wednesday to Committee Stage of this Bill, when we went through each of these amendments one by one. I was truly shocked and terribly disappointed by the Minister's statement that he does not care what amendments are brought forward, by whom or from what party or non-party, as it makes no real difference. The Minister is saying to the Irish people tonight that it is the green…

Yes. I am talking about just transition. I ask the Minister, very clearly, where is the justness and fairness in this process. I have heard him say we will create green jobs instead of brown jobs but that is probably the biggest load of balderdash and nonsense. How can the Minister seriously sit there and think the Irish people will take this on board and let it wash? It is wrong. The Minister speaks about rewetting the great bogs of Allen, where people worked or slaved, staying in tents in encampments, working day…

I did not realise a time limit applied.

I will make one final point. Ireland nearly ran out of electricity. Does the Minister know that? Where is the common sense in telling everybody we must use more and more electricity when we are already at the stage of nearly running out of it?

Take that back.

Take that back now. Sorry, but Deputy Bruton cannot make a statement like that. A lot of these issues were debated last Wednesday and I spent several hours debating each one of them-----

I am not going to listen to any Deputy coming in here, pointing a finger at us and saying that we did not participate in the debate.

That is not true-----

It is not right. It is not proper.

The Deputy must take it back from the record of the Dáil. He cannot say something like that.

We were before the committee-----

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for not shutting down this debate and instead using his experience and expertise to know that what is being said here tonight probably amounts to some of the most genuine contributions on one of the most important subjects that will affect the Irish people for many years. Shutting it down would indeed be totally wrong so I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I have listened very carefully to what the Minister has said not just tonight but on every other day or night on this. I really cannot under…

Speaking to this amendment, there has not been a proper impact analysis of what this Bill is actually going to mean for the Irish people, be they involved in farming, tourism, or any other sector of society. We are an island. Take our tourism industry, for instance. I come from the tourism capital of Ireland and, indeed of Europe, and I am proud and glad of the tourism product that has been built up by hoteliers, publicans, restaurateurs and businesspeople in our county who have strived to become masters of their c…

-----things for future generations but we also have to protect the present people.

I publicly thank the Taoiseach for the Cabinet's decision and commitment with regard to Kerry Airport and our public service obligation, PSO, routes to Dublin. This is of vital importance. The Taoiseach knows how important it was that this lifeline was kept open for us during the pandemic because of healthcare and other necessities, for which the airport is required. That PSO is of such importance. We must remember that Ireland is an island of air connectivity, however. It is not just critical but critical care for…

I thank my colleagues for allowing me some of their time to make a small contribution. It is only right and proper that every Deputy should be present to tell the good people who came here today in order to highlight this issue that their homes are their castles. When they might have nothing else, the most important thing in the whole world are their homes. Little boys and girls came today with their parents and grandparents. They are growing up in homes that are falling down around them. That is sad. On the practi…

I congratulate the Acting Chairman on the birth of his new granddaughter, who came into this world after 1 o'clock this morning. I congratulate the parents, all the extended McGrath family and on their behalf I thank all the excellent maternity staff in Clonmel hospital. It is only right to acknowledge that and it is a proud day for the Deputy and his family.

We are all very glad to see lovely new little babies coming into this world, and not just in Clonmel and County Tipperary but in County Kerry and the rest of the country as well. The motion we are discussing concerns a serious issue and I have been inundated with communication regarding partners not being allowed into scans. It is still an issue. I was grateful to the Minister for Health and the Department for making the HSE write to the State's 19 maternity hospitals telling them it was time to lift the restrictio…

If Government stuck to the basics, the economy would be far stronger. What is it doing in respect of fishing? It is attacking the industry and letting it down. What is it doing in respect of farming? It is attacking it and letting it down. What did it do in respect of tourism? It took every negative step it could to hurt tourism. It is planning further attacks on the sector. I remind the Government that we are an island nation but, in order to pursue a green agenda, the Government is going to increase the cost of a…

I appreciate the opportunity to speak to these amendments. This is an important debate. The people of Ireland have experienced a lot of anxiety and have had an awful lot to put up with. They are saying in their droves that they do not want the Minister for Health or the Government to be given a blank cheque to continue at will without having to consult us, as legislators, or them, the people. The fact is that people have had an awful lot to contend with financially, mentally and in every other aspect of their lives…