Darragh O'Brien

I could do so but I will wait until the end to respond to the debate.

Tá mé ag éisteach. I can walk and chew gum at the same time. I am actually explaining to the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, what Deputy Whitmore is saying so that he understands the Social Democrats’ position. I am trying to be helpful.

We will helpfully respond to that.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an leasú. Labhróidh mé ar an leasú. Ní féidir liom glacadh leis. Ba chóir don Teachta a bheith cinnte go bhfuil muidne ar an gcoiste inacmhainneachta ag obair ar na tacaíochtaí is féidir linn a thabhairt isteach go luath. Tá an obair sin á déanamh againn anois. Rinne an coiste a lán rudaí roimh cháinaisnéis 2026. Tá rudaí isteach sa dlí anois mar gheall ar an ob…

That is a serious charge. The Deputy should withdraw it.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as ucht an leasaithe. Labhróidh mé i gcomhthéacs an leasaithe anois. Ní féidir liom glacadh leis. Ní aontaím leis na rudaí a dúirt na Teachtaí. I do not agree with what Deputy Hayes said. I understand it and will take it at face value that his concerns are genuine. I have no reason to think otherwise. There is nothing underhand about this at all. It is a bit of a …

It goes to NORA and then an element of it is forwarded.

D’fhreagair mé ceisteanna an Teachta. Níl aon rud fágtha le rá agam faoi sin. Níl mé ag glacadh leis an leasú.

I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 1 — President's Establishment (Revised Estimate). That a sum not exceeding €6,198,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Secretary General to the President, for certain other expenses of the President's Establi…

I move: That, notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 3rd day of March, 2026 and, pursuant to Standing Order 223(1), the following Committee may complete its consideration of the Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, standing referred to them pursuant to Standing Order 222(2), later than the eightieth day and not later than the one hundred and thirty-fourth day, …

I thank Deputies for the opportunity to discuss the pressures Irish households are facing as a result of high energy costs. I have listened intently to the contributions this evening. I assure Deputies that the current crisis is of deep concern to the Government, as has been articulated very well by Government colleagues and, to be fair, Opposition colleagues this evening. I know everyone shares t…

There is a price pressure there-----

-----but what we will do, unlike Sinn Féin, is assess the situation, make sure the measures we bring forward are targeted and targeted at those who them most-----

-----and we will actually do that. What we need to do while we are doing that is ensure we continue our retrofitting programme to deliver permanent savings for households. Significant grants are there to protect households. Some 240,000 have been retrofitted so far and we are targeting another 72,000 this year. Going by what Sinn Féin has said this evening and continually over the last few days, t…

-----because it would not be able to fund it from anywhere else.

Deputy Doherty, you have been 19 years as Opposition finance spokesperson and I suggest there is a reason for that-----

There is a reason you have not actually been in government.

Just relax a bit, will you? This is a serious issue.

I think you have been 19 years in opposition, as of the last time I checked.

Deputy Doherty is very excitable and I promise I will not interrupt him even though I might feel like I should. People will make up their own minds on what he is saying. There are many people out there who are vulnerable at the moment. Government is committed to assisting them and we will bring forward targeted measures - a number of measures - not just for households but for the sector as well. W…

-----€600 million. The energy affordability task force has met on a number of occasions and brought forward preliminary reports in advance of the last budget, where we made permanent reductions in VAT down to 9%. It will be meeting again tomorrow with me chairing and we will look at further measures we will bring forward this year post this crisis. These will be done in a structured way, in a sust…

The Tánaiste said he moved the amendment. The Tánaiste did move the amendment.

He did move the amendment at the start. I have a copy of his speech here.

To be clear, the Tánaiste said to me that he moved the amendment.

The Tánaiste said it to me directly, and Deputy Ó Muirí is here, that he had moved the amendment.