From the response we have seen from the Government which has been outlined in the House today it is obvious that we, as a State, have done a significant amount so far to support Ukrainian war refugees coming to Ireland for safety while their country continues to suffer an unconscionable attack from Russia. We have reacted quickly in putting processes in place to welcome Ukrainians coming to Ireland and we have facilitated through practical means the compassion that the Irish people feel at this difficult time. The …

We have discussed that multiple times at the Security Council, multiple times.

Multiple times.

Gabhaim buíochas le gach Ball a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht. Táim buíoch go bhfuilimid d'aon ghuth ag tabhairt tacaíochta don Úcráin sa Dáil. Mar a dúramar an tseachtain seo caite agus inniu, tá sé ríthábhachtach go dtabhairfaimis ár dtacaíocht iomlán don Úcráin. President Zelenskyy has rightly said that Ukrainians are not just fighting for Ukraine, but for what we have - peace, equality, democracy, the right to vote for who we want, the right to speak in the manner we wish, and a free media. As a nation that valu…

He was in touch with me as well. He mentioned the Deputy and we are following this matter up. He said he had been in touch with the Deputy.

Thanks.

It falls to me to conclude this debate and to welcome the ambassador from Ukraine. H.E. Larysa Gerasko and her colleagues are very welcome. The ambassador represents the second largest country in Europe, which is often forgotten in the debates that we have. It is a country of more than 40 million people and is second in size to Russia. It has been heartening to hear the widespread support for Ukraine in the statements today. As the Minister, Deputy Coveney, said, the support in the Dáil and indeed in the Oireachtas…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I apologise that the Minister is unable to be here himself and he has asked me to respond to this matter. I listened with great interest to what the Deputy said about the situation in Galway. While I am a very strong supporter of more cycle lanes everywhere I cannot, on behalf of the Government, intervene in that particular discussion here in the Dáil Chamber. The discussion proposed for the Topical Issues matter is the role of local authorities in the delivery of climate …

I reiterate that I am not able to get involved with the discussion on Galway and the detail of what Galway City Council has done this week. I agree with the Deputy that the change required to deal with climate change can be difficult but I have yet to see people regret the change once it has been made, whether it is electric cars or more footpaths or cycle lanes or, in my own area, the banning of cars from a beach. I think people are pretty happy with that, despite it having been a difficult decision. The developme…

Before I respond, I echo what the Senator said about the advice to people not to keep cash at home, notwithstanding the issue with the legal status of cash he has raised, because it is not safe and there are rules and provisions for bank accounts to be opened if people do not have them. I thank him for raising this issue. It is 20 years this year since we as Europeans held a brand new currency in our hands - the euro. The changeover from 12 national currencies to the euro was a one-of-a-kind operation in history: t…

I again thank the Senator for raising this issue. Certainly, it is an important matter for consumers, businesses and the State, as alluded to by him. The Commission recommendation is in place but, as he agrees, it is a recommendation and not a legally binding law. Retail businesses under current law can refuse to accept payment in cash, once people are told beforehand. I am not the Minister for Finance but I do not know of a legal impediment for the Senator to bring forward Private Members' legislation on the issue…

I certainly will pass that on to the Minister.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí, go háirithe an Seanadóir McDowell ós rud é gur chuir sé agus a chomhghleacaithe an rún seo os comhair an tSeanaid inniu. Is ábhar an-tábhachtach é sin. The countermotion my colleague Senator Horkan has put forward on behalf of the Government takes account of our deep concern about the situation in Xinjiang and the evidence-based reports referred to on the treatment of the Uyghur people. It also seeks concrete actions, including calling on China to allow immediate, meaningful and…

The Minister, Deputy Coveney, would have presented it to the Cabinet.

The officials from the Department would not have been present at the Cabinet.

Did the Senator read the speech?

Senator Mullen was not listening to what I said.

That is not what I said.

I never said-----

I said specifically that I will leave it in the hands of the Senators.