Darragh O'Brien

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

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that, the Government: — remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf; — affirms Ireland's long track-record of support for international law and the United Nations; — continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved…

Did you meet them?

Sinn Féin voted against the last excise cut.

Two minutes of this debate have been lost as a result of this interruption.

I obviously want to support the motion of confidence in the Government. I want to commence my remarks by thanking the Garda, our bus drivers, the public sector, and all the front-line workers who had to put up with a lot over the last week or so. I am a TD in Dublin. I and all my colleagues on the Government side know our constituents. We understand the difficulties that people have and the pressu…

They voted against the whole system-----

Níl mé ag éisteacht leis an fear-----

What I would say is that is a fact. Check the record.

I will move on, in the interests of this. What I have heard-----

That I am not. What we have heard here from Pearse and others is an example of Sinn Féin's behaviour today. What we have heard from some on those benches, though not all, has been literally despicable. What they have done is that any time a female Deputy or Minister stood up here they shouted them down. Ken O'Flynn should have a look back at what he has done. What I am conscious of is the people o…

The nasty and vicious-----

The nasty and vicious language-----

It was nasty-----

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, if I may proceed.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I think that none of us in government, and I hope none of you in opposition, have failed to grasp the gravity of the global crisis that we are in. It behoves all of us to do everything we can to protect our citizens, our businesses and the vulnerable as best we can. Are we going to be able to resolve every problem that is visited upon our citizens through one or …

This will be my final question. This evening we will bring forward financial resolutions to cut fuel bills and to bring forward measures, such as for the road hauliers, which is €40 million per month in support. The question, and it will be on the Dáil record, will be who will support that and who will actually vote for it.

I think-----

I am not going to be shouted down by Pearse Doherty, who is a late bloomer to democracy-----

We have very serious matters to deal with in this House-----

-----and measures to bring forward to support our people. I hope-----

I hope that those on the Opposition side will discharge their responsibilities appropriately and stop trying to just consistently score political points. They could not care less about the people.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to bring this Bill forward today. I thank my officials for the work they have done in a very short space of time as well as the Whip's office and the Opposition for facilitating this just the day after it was approved by the Government. I am acutely aware of the pressures being faced by Irish businesses and households. …

Give me some examples of what they did in Europe.

It is not a very long Bill.