In response to Deputy Pa Daly, that matter will be examined. I will come back to the Deputy on the implications of that decision. We will examine the point Deputy Joan Collins has made about the foster care allowance. Between the Ministers for Health, Social Protection, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, we can examine a range of measures for children more generally. We will consider the specific point the Deputy has raised in the fullness of the budgetary exam…

It can deal with complaints. The scale of what the Deputy has told me is involved in this case might merit examination by the RTB.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. I have had a number of discussions with each of the leaders of the main parties in Northern Ireland since the election. Most recently, I travelled to Belfast on Friday, 20 May for a day of meetings. In all of these engagements, I reiterated the importance of early formation of the Northern Ireland Executive and a functioning assembly. The people of Northern Ireland want their elected representatives to address the pressing issues facing them, including …

I did not say that.

No, it was not. The Deputy cannot mislead the House. That is not true.

That is classic spin by the Deputy.

That is classic politicking by the Deputy.

Yes.

Who are?

Name them.

They are not drilling here.

Is the Deputy referring to the ESB?

Is he saying that the ESB is involved?

Deputy Richmond raised the issue of the level of my commitment to Northern Ireland. I appreciate his kind comments. In respect of the UK Prime Minister, both of us agree on the necessity to convene the assembly and the Executive and get them formed. That said, the intention of the UK Government to introduce unilateral legislation to circumvent the protocol is undermining political stability in Northern Ireland and is not conducive to getting a resolution of issues around the operation of the protocol. There are asp…

It is without question a key factor. On the windfall tax, the ESB is a State company. We already get a dividend from the ESB. We do not want to tax wind energy companies because we want to move as fast as we possibly can to secure our independence in that regard and to secure energy security.

We need the energy companies to invest and have a total focus on other areas that can be looked at in the fullness of time. In Ireland we are not similar to the UK.

We do not have too many native fossil fuel companies in this country, as the Deputy knows well. I do not believe that we should tax Bord na Móna and I do not believe we should tax the ESB, as the Deputy has advocated. We get a dividend every year and that makes sense.

Tá sé i gceist agam Ceisteanna Uimh. 11 agus 12 a fhreagairt le chéile. Foilsíodh scéim teanga reatha mo Roinne don tréimhse 2019 go 2022 in 2019 ar gov.ie . Áirítear sa scéim raon gealltanais seirbhíse atá leagtha amach chun a chinntiú go mbeidh custaiméir ar bith de chuid Roinn an Taoisigh atá ag iarraidh a gcuid gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge ábalta é sin a dhéanamh. Áirítear leis sin: seirbhísí ar an bhfón, ar an láthair agus cáipéisí ina leagtar amach tograí beartais phoiblí a fhoilsiú. Aithnítear an tábhacht a b…

Tháinig an scéim i bhfeidhm ar an 1 Iúil 2019 agus beidh sí i bhfeidhm go dtí go gcuirfear na caighdeáin nua i bhfeidhm faoin reachtaíocht nua. Ós rud é go ndéanann an reachtaíocht nua foráil do chaighdeáin nua a thiocfaidh in áit córas na scéimeanna teanga, thug an Roinn fhreagrach comhairle do mo Roinn gan scéim nua a ullmhú in 2022. Baineann formhór d’obair mo Roinne le hidirghníomhaíocht idir na Ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí Rialtais eile. Mar thoradh air sin, ní bhíonn aon éileamh mór ag an bpobal ar sheirbhísí …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 21, inclusive, together. The Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the programme for Government across a wide range of issues in all Departments. The ten Cabinet committees established by this Government reflect a broad range of policy areas that it will work on during its lifetime, as set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to continue this work. Strategy statements prepared by Departments reflect the key national …