Can you imagine if another leader came over to tell us what to do?

That is why Deputy Tóibín left Sinn Féin.

The Deputy should be careful.

I thank Deputies for their contributions to the debate. The Government welcomes the considerations and contributions on this Stage. I look forward to what I think, based on what I heard, will be the Deputies' support in progressing the Bill through the House. The Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 will make crucial and long-sought changes to our regulatory regime for natural gas and liquified petroleum gas, protecting operators, customers and the public, which I think we all accept is paramount. I will try to respond…

-----and that is something that will come on board through Gas Networks Ireland. I am pleased we are making significant progress in that area. I am sorry I did not get to answer my good friend, Deputy Heneghan, but he and I will have a conversation again about the whole offshore piece in another forum I am sure.

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188.

I begin by reiterating that the Government rejects entirely the arguments and assertions put forward in the Sinn Féin motion. As stated by the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, the motion does not at all acknowledge the serious and diligent work undertaken by the Government and by numerous Government Ministers at European level with like-minded EU member states to oppose the EU-Mercosur agreement and to defend the interests of Irish farmers and rural communities. I have heard from many tonight that they wanted to…

When at some point Sinn Féin gets an opportunity to be in government - it has experience north of the Border - it will know how diplomacy works. When people have the privilege and obligation to work on behalf of the people, they do so behind the scenes and they work generously. We set our frame forward when we entered government with a programme for Government that set out clearly that we were against the Mercosur agreement as it was constituted. The Government worked tirelessly with like-minded member states that …

Yes, because others worked together to block us. The Deputies opposite know the facts of this.

They know full well that this decision does not diminish Ireland's commitment to trade with the European Union or to the international engagement. Rather, it reflects a careful, evidence-based judgment that trade policy must be fair, sustainable and balanced. The Government will continue to engage constructively as the process moves forward, including ahead of the European Parliament vote. We will continue to advocate for the strongest possible implementation of safeguards, standards and commitments secured through…

-----or the reopening of market access for beef to the Chinese markets. This Government has shown time after time a commitment to rural communities. Time after time, it has delivered for rural communities. We can all get up here and shout and roar, but the reality is that I, as someone who was born and bred in a rural community and brought up on a small farm,-----

-----know how much agriculture has changed over the past 50 years. I know what engagement within the European Union has meant and I am shocked by some of the utterances, that some people say our future would be better - I am not saying Deputy Kenny said this but it is part of this narrative - outside the European Union.

Sadly, the Deputy and I know that is not the case.

Which European treaty did Sinn Féin support? We would not be there today if it was up to Sinn Féin.

Every day.

It would have passed either way.

That is the European Parliament now.

My understanding is that he has been away all week in Strasbourg. He has been involved in issues relating to the Irish Presidency.

He feels he is well covered by the presence of two Ministers of State to represent him. I hope the Deputy will understand and appreciate this. We will bring back the Deputy's good wishes and concern for him.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. I know Deputy Daly is interested in this matter. He has raised it in the House on a few occasions, so he has a good track record on it. As he is aware, the electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within an EU regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial and liberalised. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014. Price setting by …