The true divide in politics is between those who see problems and want to solve them and those who simply want to exploit them. This is a Government determined to take on even the most complex and difficult problems, to support a strong society and strong economy, to show respect for others and to work constructively with the mandate we have from the Irish people. In two and a half years, we have helped our country in ways which any fair commentary would acknowledge and in doing so, we showed our commitment to the …

First of all, I thank the Deputy for her initial comments and her “this is it” approach. I thought there was an Elvis Presley moment coming on me there, like in his song "I Miss You" or whatever.

In the first instance, the national emergency co-ordination group has been meeting in response to the severe weather situation. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. We are experiencing a period of extremely cold weather. It has settled over Ireland, with severe frost, freezing fog, ice, wintry showers and the fall of snow. The national directorate for fire and emergency management crisis management team has been meeting daily since Friday, 2 December, liaising closely with Met Éireann, and the national emergen…

I know he gets Deputy Healy-Rae excited every now and again for different reasons.

As a Cabinet colleague, with the range of legislation, initiatives and strategic plans the Minister has brought through in the last month at least, I can definitely assure the House that he is anything but fast asleep at this juncture.

Sorry?

The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, met the DAA in the context of the meeting on Sunday with the national emergency co-ordination group. They had a discussion in respect of the preparedness of the DAA and the issues that arise because of the very severe weather we are experiencing. Bhuail an tAire, an Teachta Darragh O’Brien, leis an DAA Dé Domhnaigh seo caite. Táim sásta go bhfuil gach aon iarracht á dhéanamh ní hamháin ag an DAA ach ag bardais áitiúla ar fud na tíre agus ag an TII chun a bheith réidh agus go mb…

Tá an tAire, an Teachta O’Brien, i gceannas-----

-----ar an gcomhoibriú idir na seirbhísí éigeandála. Tá sé ag déileáil leis an Aire, an Teachta Eamon Ryan, chomh maith. Beidh mé ag caint leis an Aire, an Teachta Ryan, agus déarfaidh mé leis go bhfuil an Teachta McDonald á lorg.

I thank the Deputy for her very kind comments in advance. I have good news for the Deputy in that today, at Government, we approved legislation relating to land value sharing, which deals fundamentally with the issue of excessive profits being made following the zoning of land. Given the level of public infrastructure and investment that takes place in the State on any land that is zoned for housing, a portion of that value must accrue to the State. This is very radical legislation and is Kenny-like in respect of t…

I do not disagree with the need to pursue as wide a range of issues and initiatives as we can. This year, we will exceed our targets in Housing for All. There will be more than 26,000 home completions, the highest number of houses built in any one year since 2008. Measures in Housing for All are having an impact. It is not just about announcing strategies and plans; they are having an impact. The issue is that we need to build more than 30,000 houses per annum. Prior to 2020, we were at about 20,000. The need to pi…

I thank the Deputy for the introduction earlier, although I am a bit bemused that I have earned the title, apparently, of the most successful at creating photo opportunities. I think many colleagues all over the House will be disturbed that that accolade has been passed on to me. I assure the Deputy that anybody in the Government ranks who knows me knows I am all about delivery, not photo opportunities or process. I am a very impatient politician when it comes to moving from concept to reality and to getting things…

Yes, and the Deputy was Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and knows full well what I mean and would endorse everything I have said.

It is Deputy Verona Murphy's time.

That is called agility on the floor. As for SIPO, I think Deputy Murphy has raised this issue over some time and I think I have been consistent in saying to her that no public official or CEO of a local authority should ever place conditions on or endeavour to influence the output of a local radio station. That is a very strong view I hold. That is fundamental to democracy. In other words, I am not saying that this happened in any given situation, but one cannot say that the consequence of one's having spent money …

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I assure her that no issue should be excluded from debate and discussion in this House. It is fundamental to our national Parliament that we would have open and free debate and that the voice of the contrarian is always heard. I do not apply that to the Deputy in this context, but the voice of the contrarian should always be heard. Groupthink is always dangerous and we should not always follow the herd on any issue, be it the economy, education or anything else. Historicall…

There is a robust migration policy within the State. Yesterday, we had a Cabinet subcommittee meeting involving all the relevant Departments, which I chaired. We consistently monitor the situation concerning those seeking asylum in the country. When people come into the country to seek asylum, there is a process to deal with that. There is no choice but to deal with it once an application comes in. I assure the Deputy that, at the European Council meeting this week, the issue of migration will be on the agenda, alt…

We have a very heavy schedule this week.

Just one step at a time now. Deputy McDonald asked if the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, could issue a statement or could come before the House. We are meeting until beyond midnight tonight. I would hesitate to ask the Minister in at 12.30 a.m. or towards 1 a.m. because he should be asleep at that stage.