This issue has been raised for many years. We have a new finance Minister. I would like a bit of straight talking from this finance Minister about his position. We are all appalled by the genocide that we have seen before our eyes with 70,000 people slaughtered. Deputy Carthy talked about one company. When accusations were put to the CEO of that company that his equipment was involved in the killing of Palestinians in Gaza, he said that is true. The UN human rights report stated that the company had provided defenc…

I am hoping the Tánaiste would make the statement and join the rest.

It is not decent to invest in genocide. I am clear that it is not decent to invest in genocide and I think the Tánaiste would be stretching it to suggest-----

I am not shouting the Tánaiste down. I am just telling him it is not decent to invest in genocide.

I accept that the Minister for Finance-----

The Tánaiste is asking questions.

We have legislation. The Government is blocking it in the committee.

If they are involved in genocide in genocide, the answer is very simple, yes.

If they are involved in genocide, yes. I think any decent person would say the same thing.

The Tánaiste did not answer any questions I put to him. At least Paschal answered the questions-----

-----yet the Tánaiste is giving me lectures on democracy.

I welcome to the Visitors Gallery the group of women, including Patricia Walsh, from Rock Street, Tralee, which I am told is the street of champions. They are very welcome to Teach Laighean inniu. Cuirim fáilte rompu. Ar phríomhleathanach an Irish Daily Mail inniu, tuairiscítear bhfuil sé ráite ag an Tánaiste go gcuirfidh sé airgead ar ais i bpócaí na ndaoine. Gheall an Tánaiste roimhe seo go mbeadh laghdú ar cháin ioncaim do ghnáthoibrithe. Bhris sé an gealltanas sin. Gheall sé go mbeadh laghdú ar chostais fuinnim…

Does the Tánaiste accept that his €9.4 billion budget has left ordinary workers and families worse off? Does he accept that what he is promising in the Irish Daily Mail today is directly contradicted by his own litany and record of broken promises? Will he now commit to a real cost-of-living reset, including the immediate restoration of the energy credits, €10 a day childcare, a ban on rent increases, meaningful rent relief, the scrapping of further carbon tax hikes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil, the aboli…

Maybe the Tánaiste should read his own ESRI research.

I am referring to the Government’s own economic research body. What does it say about the budget? It states there will be income losses next year across the board. It states these will be even higher for those on lower incomes, affecting their disposable income. It states this will lead inevitably to reductions in household living standards in 2026. That is what the Tánaiste has been able to achieve with a €9.4 billion budget. This is because he prioritises his buddies. He has left behind and abandoned ordinary peo…

How did he break all these promises? He should answer the question. He made pledges to people over and over again. He is Tánaiste and he wants to be Taoiseach in a couple of years. He promises tax cuts every year to workers. There are no tax cuts in this budget, as he pointed out. He said energy would be cheaper under Fine Gael. People have never paid more. The Government knew that and withdrew the energy credit. People now have to get €321 extra. The Tánaiste promised cuts in third level fees. People are paying €5…

Confidence in the Government's stated opposition to the EU Mercosur agreement has been further undermined in recent days by the withdrawal of Brazilian beef from sale across Europe and the fact an Irish MEP, Regina Doherty, from the Tánaiste's party, gave a full throated support for the deal on RTÉ radio - I am not sure if he heard her - contradicting the Government's stated position. I would appreciate if the Tánaiste answered my questions. What action has been taken by the Government to help construct a minority …

Will the Tánaiste not answer the question?

Will it vote against it and will you call on others to do so? Please answer the question.

I asked simple questions.