No, but would he not-----

The Minister is abusing the process of the House with this sort of trite remark about taxpayers' money and with him buying gas guzzlers with farmers' money.

I did not bang the desk.

I wish to return to the matter of industrial relations difficulties in local government, in particular the difficulty faced by retained firefighters across the country and that faced by water workers who are not intending to transfer to Irish Water. I raised this matter with the Tánaiste, the Minister's party leader, last week. He urged that water workers engage with the industrial relations machinery of the State. However, the difficulty is that they already have engaged with that industrial relations machinery. A…

They are understaffed right across to the extent that it is dangerous. They are putting their lives at risk. What is the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, as the line Minister responsible, going to do to avert these impending strikes?

Is the Minister saying that the retainer paid to retained firefighters is going to be linked to the pay of other public service employees as part of the public service agreement, guaranteeing them a real, proper wage? That is something they would welcome but I do not believe that is what the Minister is saying. I would very much like to see that happening because of the service that they provide. Of course many of them are already on social welfare so it is already costing the State because due to the onerous requi…

It is 25% of their pay. That is not a small issue.

Ridiculously.

I raised the issue of unsewered communities with the Taoiseach last week. He pointed to the new €50 million pilot scheme, which is very welcome. That €50 million could be used in Clare alone. There are unsewered communities in Carrigaholt, Doolin and Spanish Point. Broadford and Cooraclare have applied for the scheme. Larger counties like Cork would need a multiple of that figure. We are in breach of environmental standards across the country. Sewerage is not the responsibility of local authorities. Uisce Éireann d…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I was very surprised at what I thought was the Minister's introductory remarks when he cited the Burren Life project and the hen harrier project as examples of how things would proceed. The Minister kindly gave me a copy of his speech. It said, "Another example of farmers’ engagement is the Burren scheme, funded by my Department for many years and as an EU LIFE project, recognised as best in class across the EU for its approach to working with farmers to conserve and promote biodiversit…

There are no additional moneys now. I have raised this issue repeatedly in the Dáil. I raised it with Deputy Micheál Martin when he was Taoiseach and as Tánaiste, and I have raised it with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. I have been told that senior officials are looking at the matter. Senior officials are still looking at the matter. We are in May, the scheme ran out last November and there are no concrete proposals to compensate farmers. Farmers wait to be compensated for the designation. They received payments…

I will get it.

I am not in the Burren.

Sure, the Department withdrew the funding for the Burren.

It withdrew its funding. What is the Minister of State talking about?

Nonsense.

The man is talking nonsense.

Where is the funding? They are not getting funding.

Free Willie.

I would say-----