-----throughout the public service, whether it is the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants or other unions, through national wage agreements. The most effective way to tackle high salaries is the income tax system, which is progressive in this country. It basically means that when one gets to a certain level, approximately 50% is taxed. That rarely gets said in the debate but it is the reality. That relates both to USC, which is especially harsh or strong on those on very high incomes, and to higher inco…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 11, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The NESC work programme in 2022 includes five main areas. It will carry out a major piece of research and consultation on climate, biodiversity and how to achieve a just transition in agriculture. It will continue to help us deepen our understanding of how to deliver more affordable and …

I thank all the Deputies for raising these issues. In the first instance, I support NESC's work with regard to the shared island unit and the work it has done in terms of greater potential for cross-Border co-operation projects, particularly in respect of health, which has been one of the more effective cross-Border areas over a long time and, in particular, in respect of paediatric health and cardiovascular health in paediatrics. The one cardiac surgical centre on the island enjoyed political support across the is…

-----and quite effective in terms of European wild bison, for example. A programme is being led from the wildlife park in terms of various species of toads. We need to be funding organisations like Fota Wildlife Park, Dublin Zoo and those which are involved in global interbreeding, breeding programmes around wildlife and protecting endangered species. That is what we need to be doing more of but we need resources to do that. We need a re-engineering of our economy towards the green economy and also the decarbonised…

The Deputy is as enthusiastic as ever.

The Deputy is eager and he always has been.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 18, inclusive, together. My Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023, which was published last year, reflects the role of the Department to support me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in order to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, to implement the Government programme and to build a better future for Ireland and for all of our citizens. My Department will provide progress reports under the six strategic priorities set…

That is exactly what it is.

I thank the Deputies for raising those issues. To respond to Deputy Boyd Barrett in respect of what Ireland's place in Europe means, it means that from the outset of this crisis we have decided to take a proactive role in supporting a unified response from the 27 member states of the European Union to Vladimir Putin's assault on the Ukrainian people. As I said at the European Council meeting, it meant we wanted the most comprehensive, wide-ranging, robust set of sanctions that were possible. That was the statement …

I will tell the Deputy why. Every country-----

Every country in Europe, irrespective of whether it is a member of NATO, did not want the war and did everything possible to prevent the war, such as the German Chancellor at the eleventh hour going again to Russia. Anyone who knows the German-Russian relationship knows that Germany has tried everything, including the diplomatic channel and every other channel available to it. Germany has tried everything.

France has tried everything. Emmanuel Macron, with his country’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has tried everything, and the Deputy does not give credit for that or even acknowledge it. He calls those leaders warmongers on the same level as Putin. I think that is nonsense.

Deputy Boyd Barrett’s approach is all wrong and it undermines the broader unity of purpose here. In respect of the wider issue, for 20 years, irrespective of what the Deputy says, the western presence in Afghanistan gave some light to the women of Afghanistan through access to education and so on. Now they have nothing-----

There is no question that it was better to free Afghanistan from the clutches of the Taliban and other extremists who are now back.

We need to be crystal clear and consistent. This idea of attacking pro forma or in a formulaic way – I am not saying every Deputy is doing that - the Russian aggression and then pivoting to attacking NATO and other countries as being the real culprits is unacceptable. Morally, I cannot stand over it without calling it out. Too much of that has been going on in this House in recent months-----

The Deputy needs to stand up and be counted and call this out, without equivocating on it or trying to dilute it-----

To return to my main point, war crimes are being committed and the security architecture has changed because of Putin's actions. I listened to what the Tánaiste said; he referenced Irish military neutrality. Equally, however, the global system of a rules-based, multilateral order has been turned upside down by Vladimir Putin, and that has implications. One issue I observe is the vulnerability of Europe. The European Union cherishes democracy, social systems, education, open and free trade and so on. All of that is …

The Deputy needs to get real about people on the borders of Russia-----

-----what they are facing and the fears and anxieties they experience.

Poland has accepted more than 100,000 migrants from Ukraine.