I welcome many of the provisions in this Bill but I also have concerns which I will refer to over the next few minutes. The European Stability Mechanism has been important in providing financial assistance to EU member states experiencing a crisis and so safeguarding the stability of the wider euro area. The Single Resolution Fund, focused as it is on resolving failing banks, is also important in the context of the banking union. In being financed by contributions from the banking sector rather than by taxpayer mon…

I am happy to contribute to this debate. I do not have any difficulty with the motion in front of us. It would not make sense in the present exceptional circumstances to allocate €500 million to a rainy day fund but it has not made a lot of sense up to now either. Deputy Richmond said that any sensible household puts money away in a rainy day fund but you do not do that when there is a hole in the roof and you need to replace the roof. Essentially for several years now there has been the equivalent of a hole in the…

All Members have been following the events this week at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP, at which the Taoiseach made some very ambitious commitments, but will his Government's climate actions match his climate rhetoric? The omens are not good. Yesterday, he stated that Ireland will sign a pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30% before hastily adding that this was a global target rather than a national one. We hear the climate action plan contains a target of just 10% reduction. The Tánaiste a…

I thank the Taoiseach. I would appreciate a few specifics on this. As regards the national herd, is the Government talking about decreasing it or stabilising it? It is important that all Members are clear what the Taoiseach means when he gives commitments. It is really important that he is honest with farmers. Most farmers are perfectly reasonable. They want to know exactly what the plan is and what supports the Government is going to put in place for diversification. For example, what is it going to do about licen…

I ask the Taoiseach to answer the questions.

Tell us how you will achieve them.

Will the Taoiseach answer the questions?

Will the Taoiseach answer the questions and stop dodging? He should just answer the straight questions.

The Taoiseach is not answering the questions.

The biggest question is: is the Taoiseach serious-----

Is the Taoiseach serious about this or not?

I ask the Taoiseach to answer the questions.

I ask the Taoiseach to answer the questions.

The Taoiseach still has not answered the questions I asked.

The Taoiseach has not answered any of the questions I asked.

The Finance Bill before us today, which gives effect to some of the measures arising from the recent budget, is being considered in a number of particular contexts. The first and overriding context is the fact we are now coming close to the end of the second year of a devastating pandemic and all that has meant for our country, our people and the economy. We are also approaching it on the basis of how all the weaknesses in how we run our country and how our economy operates have been exposed by the pandemic, partic…

I move amendment No. 1: To insert the following after "9th day of February, 2022": "and any new regulations introduced under this legislation shall be brought before the Dáil for prior approval." The Minister is today seeking yet a further extension in the special powers that were granted to him last year in dire emergency circumstances. It is true that when the initial legislation was agreed by the Dáil we knew very little about Covid-19. Our level of knowledge has increased greatly since then and we know there ar…

I welcome the motion, which is timely. It is about time serious consideration was given to the role that nurses have played in this country generally and particularly over the past two years. It is a shocking indictment that nurses have to take to the streets and protest for what they have long been promised and for the recognition they deserve. I welcome the Minister's announcement that the booster vaccine will be extended to healthcare workers. Like other Members, I do not know why there was a delay in this. It i…

I very much welcome these statements and the opportunity to mark breast cancer awareness month and raise issues of concern, but also to give credit where it is due. There is no doubt that the breast cancer services are very good and improving all the time, notwithstanding the difficulties in the past couple of years. It is an element of the overall cancer strategy which, again, has taken very much the right kind of approach. It is not perfect by any means but, notwithstanding the issues relating to inadequate fundi…

What is happening regarding Covid is very disappointing. It is a genuine setback for individuals, families and the country generally. The starting point at this stage should be determining why we are in the situation we are in and why the numbers are going out of control and trending so high, given that we have had a really successful vaccination programme. It is important to note the points that were made by NPHET in its letter. It states that, in a pessimistic scenario, there will be 800 to 1,000 in hospital by l…