I am glad Deputy Doherty has restated his view because it is important to be precise about the role of the Central Bank. The Deputy's exact words on this issue, which he has just restated, were that the bonds are being sold through the Irish Central Bank. They were his words in this debate on Tuesday night. The leader of Sinn Féin went on to say that we are allowing the Irish Central Bank to trade in Israeli war bonds. The Deputy knows that is not the truth. The Deputy knows that is not the case. The Central Bank o…

The Deputy did not respond to my point.

I laid out very clearly his words. Very interestingly, when Deputy Martin Kenny stood up, he said "we are not suggesting that they are being sold by the Irish Central Bank".

He said "we are not suggesting any of that."

In the Deputy's contribution on Tuesday night, both Deputy Doherty and the leader of Sinn Féin referred to the bonds being sold through the Central Bank of Ireland, which is not the case, and he referred to the Central Bank of Ireland trading in bonds, which is not the case. It is so important, as I attempt to continue to-----

-----recognise the suffering of the people of Gaza and the many practical steps the Government of Ireland is taking to aid them, to give them support-----

-----that we also deal in the truth. In relation to the final allegation that was made by Deputy Doherty, let me again state to the House that no such call was received by me. I have made that very clear. I find it very interesting that the Deputy is more willing to accept the word of the department of finance of Israel than me.

I want to call out the behaviour of Deputy Doherty. His language and the way he is attempting to treat this issue, which is so serious, is thuggish. His behaviour is thuggish. Yesterday, the leader of Sinn Féin referred to harassing the Government on this issue.

I have come into House to attempt to deal-----

I can stand up for what I believe but I can do so in a way that is respectful of the views of others. I can make the case for what I believe in without constantly interrupting and demeaning the good intentions of others.

For the record, I used the words of Deputy McDonald yesterday. That was the word she used. Despite everything, I still try to respect Deputy Doherty's good intentions in spite of the many reasons I should not. I simply ask the Deputy to do the same of me. In relation to the very important matter he raises here, I recognise the concerns on profitability levels in certain segments of the market. Structural reform and ensuring the long-term affordability and sustainability of the Irish insurance market, while ensuring…

I thank the Deputy for raising that issue and acknowledging the scale of the reforms the Government has brought in, and his own role in that regard, which I acknowledge. I also acknowledge the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019, which was the subject of a motion the Deputy brought forward. Part of that Act has not yet been commenced, but most of it has. There are various measures the Government brought in: the personal injuries guidelines; the reform of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022; the bannin…

With regard to motor insurance, it is the case that the figures in the year to date are up 9.7%. If you look at where it was for the month of April, they were up 0.2%. The figures are now 34.4% lower than they were at their peak in 2016. If you look at motor insurance, prices are now down by 2.2% since the implementation of the personal injuries guidelines and down 5.1% since the Cabinet sub-committee on insurance reform was set up. We have seen some developments there. The Deputy is at it again. He is inferring th…

I thank the Deputy for this question, particularly as maintaining a variety of payment options in the State is important for the economy and for ensuring the financial inclusion of consumers who are older, on fixed or lower incomes or at risk of digital exclusion. The availability of non-digital payment options ensures that certain vulnerable groups are not excluded from participating in our society. This is why cash access has been ensured via the recently passed Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure…

I will raise that matter with the Minister for housing. The information I have does cover off where we are with our State agencies but does not deal with the local authorities at the level the Deputy has just referred to, and, in particular, the specific case to which he referred. I accept that for our more elderly citizens who need to use local authorities and other services, not being able to use cash broadly can be, for them, more than an issue of convenience. As I said, I will follow up on this with the Ministe…

When it comes to inflation, it is important to emphasise the reason so many people are still struggling with it, and I accept it is a challenge for many, is not because of the actions of the Government. Inflation within our economy and the way it has gone up has not been caused by the Government of Ireland. It has been caused by factors that are outside of our control, in many cases. I refer to the cost of energy and what has happened with supply chains across the world. To answer the Deputy's question, we are curr…

It is not the case to say that some inflation is caused by forces outside our control. Looking at the inflation we have gone through in recent years most of it has been caused by issues outside of our control. What has happened with the cost of food and energy has been cause by the awful war on the people of Ukraine and the huge changes that have happened in supply chains and the way goods are supplied across the world after the pandemic. I accept there are issues that definitely contribute to the cost of living an…

Referring to being short-changed, if the Deputy looks at the measures the Government has brought in recent years, the various one-off measures brought in on budget day did make a difference to people at a time during which the cost of living was so high and inflation was going up. In regard to the carbon tax the Deputy referred to, it is also the case that carbon tax funded the allocation of €951 million to various measures that are helping not only with fuel poverty but with the transition to a lower carbon future…

He has not explained how we will pay for this.

He is against the carbon tax.