The Opposition has not lost one slot.

We have a mandate too.

This debate is welcome. As a former member of the housing committee, we have debated the issues in the Housing Commission report and have had lengthy debates on proposals to amend the Constitution. It was clear to me at the committee that, while an amendment to the Constitution would strengthen the State’s ability to regulate and provide more public housing, the idea that it would be simple to pass a housing amendment, particularly given the experience of the referendums last year, is something we would have to giv…

We have the same mandate as Deputy Bacik.

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to require the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to develop and publish a strategy to ensure that surplus renewable energy is utilised effectively, specifically for the benefit of people experiencing energy poverty, and to set targets for the utilisation of surplus renewable energy. I am introducing this Bill as a proposal that reflects the strategic approach to energy management and a moral commitment to those living in energy…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health join me in my constituency to visit Beaumont Hospital? It is a fantastic hospital that does amazing work but it is in need of further capital support. I and many other local TDs saw the unveiling of a new theatre in the hospital. It has amazing potential and uses AI and many other new technologies. Some key areas, such as critical care, the emergency department and the new 95-bed unit, are still within the capital programme. We would welcome that investment and its pro…

The Taoiseach and Minister are welcome.

In some ways, this debate is incredibly refreshing. While we are dealing with an incredibly new technology, there is nothing new about the debate we are having. We could replace the word "AI" with the word "steam", "electricity", "computers" or "Internet". All of them are just technological developments and it is up to us as a society to decide how we react to them. Having listened to the debate, I believe we have three options: one, pull the plug, hunker down and pretend AI is not happening; two, take no risks and…

That is not acceptable.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the Ministers of State, Deputies Dillon and Cummins. Deputy Cummins served on the housing committee, which sets him up well for the question I am about to put before him. The site on Oscar Traynor Road is incredibly important in the overall Housing for All programme and the overall programme of State construction of public housing on public land. There are more than 800 houses, comprising cost-rental, affordable purchase and social housing. It was hoped we could get rapid del…

I thank the Minister of State. The point he makes in regard to the current status of the project is important because it would appear that yesterday Dublin City Council was also unaware that there was no activity on site. While there appear to be some attempts to bring forward some of the public realm elements, a site such as this should be heaving. It should be a hive of activity. More than 200 people were on site at one point, which is very far from the situation I encountered when I visited it on Friday. The imp…

The programme for Government has a very welcome commitment to extend the ten-year rule for taxis registered in 2015. When this happened on a number of previous occasions it took several months for the NTA to operationalise it, which negates the benefit in the first place, as many taxis are bought in the first quarter of the year. The benefit of the 2015 registration is to be had now. We have extended it in previous years and we should do it again. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister, Deputy…

Will the Tánaiste report to the House on the recent conversations he has had with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy?

I intend to note at each Oral Questions session from now on the disproportionate, unbalanced and unfair priority which some parties in the House have to hold the Government to account, given the allocated amounts of time. I hope the Government and the Opposition will follow through on their words to allocate more time to people representing one of the largest groups in the House, namely, backbenchers. We have as much right to ask Priority Questions to our Ministers as anybody else in the House. I acknowledge the Tá…

We saw with Brexit that a huge amount of work went into preparing Irish business for the impacts of the divergence between the two parts of the island on trade, customs and tariffs. As we head into more uncertain times in terms of the transatlantic relationship regarding trade and tariffs, I ask the Tánaiste's Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to engage more with business. That is unlike members of the Opposition, who seem to pour water on engaging with businesses on trade. Of course…

Is this the Order of Business?

I will not be on a break.

That is not true.

It was not.