The Government put fuel up in the budget.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus táim buíoch díot freisin an deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an mBille seo inniu sa Dáil. Mar a dúirt an tAire féin, tá súil agam gurbh é seo an t-am deireanach a bheimid ag déileáil le reachtaíocht ó thaobh Covid-19 agus an gá a bhí ann le reachtaíocht sciobtha a thabhairt isteach le dhá bhliain anuas agus go bhfuilimid anois ar an taobh eile de. Den mhórchuid, tá súil agam gurbh é seo an píosa reachtaíochta deireanach a bheimid ag déileáil leis ach caithfimid f…

On a point of order, earlier today we had a bit of an issue with our networks going down. Such an event causes pressure on days like this when we are trying to introduce a financial resolution late in a day with limited deadlines for amendments. Obviously we then put serious pressure on staff in the Bills Office to turn them into properly drafted amendments. There is an issue with the amendments that have been issued. I understand the Bills Office is correcting this at present. I am asking for a 20-minute recess.

I am not sure that ten minutes will allow the Bills Office to deal with the issue. If it is not, we can suspend for a further ten minutes.

I move amendment No. 2: In Schedule 2, inserted by paragraph (1), by the substitution of the following for the row dated 10 March 2022: " " I welcome the opportunity to speak on this financial resolution on the cost of fuel, a price spike that is causing significant distress and worry in households throughout the country. It is what people are talking about in the shops and in their homes. It is what people want action from the Government on. I recognise the economic conditions we face, the source of the price spik…

I move amendment No. 3: In Schedule 2, inserted by paragraph (1), by the substitution of the following for the row dated 1 April 2022:

I move amendment No. 4: In Schedule 2, inserted by paragraph (1), by the substitution of the following for the row dated 1 May 2022: For the benefit of the backbenchers who missed the debate, this amendment is about reducing the price of petrol by 34 cent and the price of diesel by 25 cent.

Instead of what the Government is doing, increasing excise on home heating oil, the amendment would remove excise on home heating oil completely. Government Deputies should make sure that they can tell their constituents what they will vote against in a few minutes. They should make sure, when those constituents come to complain to them, to look them in the eye and say they could have done more but decided not to.

It is withdrawn.

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a rá go gcáineann Sinn Féin gníomhaíochtaí na Rúise agus iad ag sárú teorann agus ceannas na hÚcráine. Seasann muid le muintir na hÚcráine ag an am iontach deacair seo, agus is cinnte go seasann an Dáil leo fosta. I begin by expressing on behalf of Sinn Féin our complete opposition to the actions of the Russian Government in its violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and internationally recognised borders. I am sure all of us in this Dáil are united in our condemnation of the latest action…

I thank the Tánaiste for the response and for the clarity regarding the support of the Government for economic sanctions, including banking sanctions. Will the Government this afternoon put forward an argument for some of these sanctions with its European counterparts? We are learning through media reports that there is disagreement, or at least there was, with some countries looking for carve-outs for diamonds and other luxury goods, banking services, railways and so on. Has the Government a position on this? Give…

I want to ask about the rights of citizens with disabilities. Documents released to me under freedom of information show that, for years, the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal has called on the Minister for Finance to change the criteria of the disabled drivers and passengers scheme. It warned that it excluded and discriminated against citizens with genuine, permanent and severe disabilities. Despite the repeated warnings since 2018, no action has been taken and the board often did not even get a response to…

The Taoiseach cannot even defend his own policy.

What is the Taoiseach's response?

I begin by extending, on behalf of Sinn Féin, my condolences on the passing of South Belfast MLA, Christopher Stalford, to Christopher's wife, Laura, to his four children, his family, friends and colleagues in the DUP. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve his loss. Tá dhá tuairisc a fhoilsíodh an tseachtain seo a chaitheann síos go mór ar fhreagra an Rialtais seo maidir le géarchéim na gcostas maireachtála chun solais. Is í an fhírinne ná nach bhfuil go leor á dhéanamh. Tá páistí ar an líne bhochta…

The people I speak to who live in this city say they cannot afford €2,000 rents and cannot understand why the Minister and his Government continue to vote against rent freezes. They continue to ask me why the Government will not support the Sinn Féin policy that would put a month’s rent back into renters’ pockets. The people I talk to tell me about the fact that childcare is a second mortgage for many families and that there is a way to cut the cost of childcare but it falls on deaf ears. The people I talk to say t…

That is not true. We increased portions of welfare-----

We did not say we would. Let us stop pushing up energy prices on families.

We are against pushing up prices on families. What do you only understand about that? Push up gas prices. Push up oil prices.

What about the vulture funds, Minister?