Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir Clonan as an rún seo a chur os comhair an Tí. This is a very important motion. We have heard heartfelt statements from lived experience, particularly that of Senator Clonan. It is a welcome opportunity to raise these issues; to discuss, as the Seanad does in a reflective way, where we are as a country; to challenge the Government; to raise important issues; and to see how we can do better. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is busy with Dáil and official business…

Hear, hear.

It would have been illegal.

No. His father was a garda.

My generation was the first to go to university in my family rather than my parents' generation.

That is absolutely untrue.

The opposite is the case. All the research shows that.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Cathal Crowe agus Carey. On behalf of the Government, I welcome the report to which the Deputies have referred, Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Clare, which was published by the Clare PPN. Indeed, I welcome the representatives of the network who are here today. We know that the voice of lived experience is essential for good policy and good decision-making. Democracy is made stronger by allowing diverse views and interests to be considered as part of the decision-making proces…

I will certainly pass the constructive suggestions and ideas that have been put forward by Deputies Crowe and Carey to the Minister. It is the case in Ireland that social protection budgets over the past number of years have prioritised the introduction of measures that have had and will continue to have a direct and positive impact on poverty in the entire country, and including those who are living in County Clare. I know the Deputies have supported this. We have increased the weekly child-related payments, inclu…

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Connolly as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a chur faoi bhráid na Dála. Tá brón orm go bhfuil an ráiteas a thug an Roinn dom as Béarla agus nach bhfuil aon ráiteas trí Ghaeilge agam. Is féidir liom an Ghaeilge a labhairt ach ba mhaith liom a bheith soiléir agus beacht leis an bpobal. Tá fíricí agam sa ráiteas seo; b’fhéidir nach bhfuil gach freagra agam ach tá na fíricí anseo i mBéarla. Bímid go léir buartha nuair a tharlaíonn rudaí mar seo inár gceantair féin. Tá a l…

Tá mise ag labhairt ar son an Rialtais agus tá dualgas ar Uisce Éireann cumarsáid agus teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an bpobal sna ceantair go léir. Tá dualgas air i bhfad níos mó eolais a thabhairt don phobal, do Theachtaí Dála agus do chomhlairleoirí contae sa cheantar freisin. Iarrfaidh mé ar Uisce Éireann é sin a dhéanamh agus iarrfaidh mé ar an Aire teagmháil a dhéanamh le hUisce Éireann maidir leis sin. Tá fadhb ansin. Tá mise sásta go bhfuil an fhadhb sin feicthe ag Uisce Éireann agus tá súil agam go mbeidh sé i…

What? This is too much.

I challenge any Sinn Féin Deputy to explain decoupling to the public without a script in front of them. I will go on the radio with any of them.

They are all reading script. They do not know what it is they are reading.

We will not let them.

At least the Deputy mentioned Putin.

I agree with some of the things Deputy McNamara said but I am reminded of the time he compared us with Cromwell over the Covid restrictions, whereas it turned out-----

-----that we had one of the best outcomes in the entire world from Covid.

That was thanks to the policies of this Government.

To be fair, there is a wide range of suggestions from the Opposition and there are interesting points across the spectrum. The general criticism I have of the Opposition response is that while the Government is struggling with this crisis, as governments all over the world are, and the Opposition cannot be expected to come up with answers, an acknowledgment at least of how complex this situation is would be useful for the public. It is incredibly complex. The issue of decoupling electricity and gas was never mentio…