I know.

No.

I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: notes that: — the annual rate of consumer price inflation, as measured by the European Union's (EU) Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, picked up sharply over the course of last year, and stood at 6.9 per cent in March - the highest reading since the series began in 1997; — the key driver of this increase is increases in wholesale energy prices as a result of the rapid rebound in global demand, and more recently, the war…

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising the issue of inflation and the cost-of-living pressures we as a Government acknowledge people are facing at this time. It was highlighted further by the ESRI report the Deputy mentioned in her introductory remarks. People will accept this is a global phenomenon. All developed economies in the world are experiencing a high level of inflation. For our neighbours in the UK, the latest figure is 6.2%. In the US it is just under 8%. These are unprecedented times. The level of inflatio…

Through our actions to date, we have demonstrated that the Government is agile and responsive. The Government is constantly monitoring the evolving situation. We are experiencing an incredible amount of volatility and the Government has responded to date. We will keep the situation under review and consider our options on an ongoing basis. However, we also have to be honest with people and say that we as a Government cannot fully insulate the economy, households and businesses from the economic fallout of the appal…

It would be disingenuous to suggest that we could.

We have already taken decisive steps and we will keep the situation under review-----

-----but we also need consistency from Deputy McDonald. She entered the House yesterday and called for the removal of VAT. On the very same day, Sinn Féin tabled a motion in the Dáil calling for a reduction in VAT. It is fine in opposition to be loose in one's language and suggest that the Government can do things that it cannot, but the Deputy knows well that the Government does not have within its armoury at this point in time the ability to reduce or remove VAT. She should be honest with people and not mislead t…

I thank Deputy Howlin for raising this issue and I acknowledge the manner in which he has done so. We all share his sentiments about the appalling atrocities in Ukraine that we are witnessing on our television screens, scenes that we believed belonged to a bygone era. Ireland is going to do everything it can to support the Ukrainian refugees who come to our country. We will welcome them with open arms. This is being led by the extraordinary response of the Irish people and the goodwill and generosity they have demo…

It is important to recognise that Ukrainian refugees arriving at the port are being looked after. That is thanks in no small part to the fantastic efforts of local community groups. State actors are also directly involved and are providing the essential supports to the refugees. I assure the Deputy that this specific issue is being treated with the urgency it deserves. There was a meeting as recently as this morning on seeking to co-ordinate the State's response at its points of entry, including Rosslare Europort. …

I thank the Deputy. It may well be the case that there are companies that are profiteering on the back of the current international climate around energy prices. Those issues are not entirely within the control of any government or of the European Union acting as a collective. The European Union leaders, when they meet at European Council tomorrow and Friday, will be examining this issue in the round, inclusive of the issue of energy prices that is having such an impact on our people, households and businesses and …

I believe investing in renewables is the way forward. We have set the target that by 2030, 80% of our electricity generation in Ireland will come from renewables. At the moment, it is 40% plus; it varies day by day depending on the extent to which the wind blows. That is the future for Ireland. The Deputy mentioned that we get all of our gas from the Corrib. We do not.

No, not most. We get about 30%. It is important that we are accurate. We get the balance from the UK and Norway. We are not self-sufficient in relation to gas supply in this country. Similarly, in respect of oil.

The Deputy narrowed this issue down to fuel, which is a major issue, but he ignored the impact that the war is also having on food prices, fertiliser, input costs for farmers and so on. It might suit his ideological agenda to narrow it down to one specific issue. The impact of this is global and it is across a range of sectors that are impacting on the Irish economy. As a Government, we are doing all that we can to respond.

I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising the issue. I also acknowledge the interest of Deputies Ring, Dillon and Calleary, and I am sure others-----

-----including Deputy Conway-Walsh.

I am referring to the people who have raised it with me, if the Deputy wants me to give a straight answer. I acknowledge the enormous impact the appointment of the receivers has had on the employees. Deputy Fitzmaurice has recognised the work of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the work of the Department of Social Protection, in ensuring that the employees are being looked after in that regard. Deputy Fitzmaurice raised specifically the knock-on impact on subcontractors. I am aware the clarifi…

As the Deputy is aware, both bodies are commercial State bodies under the remit of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will be alerted to the fact that Deputy Fitzmaurice has raised this on the floor of the House today. I am sure the Minister will respond directly to the Deputy in that regard also. Deputy Fitzmaurice has made clear the strength of feeling that there is on the ground about this issue. It is always incredibly difficult when a receivership proces…

The Government stands foursquare behind the common travel area and the open Border in all respects. We do not in any way support or endorse the decision that was taken in the House of Commons. We have serious concerns about the proposal for an electronic travel authorisation system. We do not believe it is either practical or fair to seek to distinguish between EU citizens from other member states and Irish citizens going across the Border. There is a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference later …

As the Deputy has recognised, the position of the Government has been that we will act in consort with our European partners. Ideally, that should be done in a co-ordinated manner. This issue may well be discussed at the European Council meeting over the next couple of days. We have previously expressed our concern at the extent of the diplomatic presence in the Russian Embassy in Dublin. I will ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to revert to the Deputy with the latest position on the matter.