I thank the Senator for bringing forward these amendments. I will say a word about each of them in turn. The amendments propose various further rate reductions from 1 May until budget day. The Senator seeks to reduce the mineral oil tax rates on petrol and diesel to the minimum rates, as prescribed in the energy tax directive, and to further reduce the rate on marked gas oil by 2 cent. The amendment also seeks to remove the carbon component on kerosene by reducing the overall rate to zero. The proposed mineral oil …

What the Bill before the House does is provide a legislative basis for a number of changes to the main Covid supports that were announced by the Government since the end of last year and that are currently being implemented by the Revenue Commissioners on an administrative basis. Members will recall that the additional public health restrictions in place at the end of last year necessitated additional supports for those businesses most impacted. We are dealing with some other matters in the Bill, such as the tax tr…

I will reply to the points made by different Senators. Senator Kyne inquired about the taxation of the pandemic recognition payment and whether tax can be alleviated on payments that were made in the past. The pandemic recognition payment should not have had tax paid on it. When the Government made the announcement on it, we implemented it on an administrative basis through the Revenue Commissioners. This legislation gives legal effect to that. Anyone who has contacted the Senator about that €1,000 payment should n…

The Government absolutely is aware of the anxiety and additional costs that many people across our country are facing at the moment due to the rise in energy prices, which is mostly being caused by what is happening in the war in Ukraine. We are aware of the worry that many now are contending with as they see their bills go up due to the rising price of food, which is due, in turn, to the food consequences and the raw material consequences of what is happening in that awful war. It is precisely in recognition of th…

We are determined to stand by, and do what we can to help the Irish people during this latest crisis. It is a test to which we will rise.

This is a Government that has, from the moment this crisis tested our country again, acted quickly, just as it did when contending with the crisis of two years ago. We will be so determined to do what we can at each point in offering help. I am well aware of the anxiety and concern of many at the moment. I meet them in my clinics and through my constituency work, just as all my Government colleagues do. We are aware of the challenges and the new tests we will respond to. However, I did not hear any word from the De…

We are busy implementing measures to try to help. Deputy Doherty is busy deleting his policies and measures.

We are acting on recent decisions. We are acting on our recent policy.

All the Sinn Féin Members are too busy deleting them.

I thank Deputy Naughten for raising those very important matters. I will answer each question he has put to me in turn. The Government will of course participate in any collective procedures or arrangements that are possible within the EU to examine how we can establish more clearly the certainty of supply and manage the affordability challenge that I know so many in the House are concerned about. As Members know, the Taoiseach is travelling to the European Council meeting. One of the key issues will be how we can …

As we know, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has already said we need to consider the impact of very high energy use and the price the Deputy’s constituents and other citizens pay for energy. However, I would still make the point to the Deputy that the very data centres he is referring to are an invaluable element and will be even more valuable regarding how Ireland can continue to be a place in which very large employers are present. On the factors that influence the price of energy and the impact of speculative t…

There are few politicians in this House that better understand the practical value of our neutrality and the impact it has had on Ireland being able to support the vulnerable and stand by our principles and our commitment to human rights than, for example, the Taoiseach. As a Minister for Foreign Affairs, and now as a representative of the European Council, he has articulated the value of our neutrality on many occasions. The Minister for Foreign Affairs used an emphasis on neutrality and our commitment to human ri…

Whose side is Deputy Murphy on in this? This Government knows where we stand at the moment. Any policy that the Government is involved in implementing involving our Defence Forces or any other aspect of our public services will of course be consistent with our Constitution, the principles in our Constitution and the policies of this and previous Governments. In any debate that takes place in the future regarding our neutrality, if such a debate is to begin of course the people will be consulted. I again put it to D…

The Deputy cannot come into this House and attempt to lecture us about us not being clear about where we stand when he has been against the very elements of European Union foreign policy that are now being used to support those most in need.

The Deputy made reference to a number of really important sectors within our economy and society. He made reference to where we stand with regard to the haulage sector and the pressures farmers are facing. The Government has responded in respect of each of those sectors in recent weeks. We bought forward an excise reduction because it is a tax reduction and change that helps the business sector. It is unlike the proposal the Deputy is making in respect of VAT because it helps the business sector. We did that becaus…

How much would that cost?

How much would it cost?

How much would it cost?

How much would it cost?

I am just asking the Deputy a simple question to which he clearly does not have the answer.