Pearse Doherty

On two occasions the committee unanimously said-----

-----that it would facilitate the Taoiseach at whatever time he wanted with regard to his attendance.

In three weeks.

Three occasions in 21 years.

We asked how much the tribunal would cost.

But the Department can tell us the running cost. Please.

Is the Minister of State going to answer any questions?

What is the total cost of the tribunal? I think three people have asked the Minister of State that question.

What is the total cost of the-----

On a point of order, three Members have asked what the total running cost of the tribunal is now. The Minister of State is here to take Estimates. It is not just about the money that is there; it is also about the actions and the objectives that are met. Can she please tell us, what is the total cost of the Moriarty tribunal now to date, given the Estimates she is asking the House to agree? That i…

No, it has not.

Cuirfeadh na figiúirí ar fhoilsigh an rialálaí inné maidir le riaráistí fuinnimh imní an domhain ar dhuine ar bith. Tá rabhadh mór dearg ag splancáil do theaghlaigh atá ag streachailt cheana féin leis an mhéid atá in ann dóibh don gheimhreadh. Tá sé seo go léir ag tarlú toisc nach bhfuil faic déanta ag an Rialtas le dul i ngleic leis an sáinn nó chun smacht a chur ar phraghasanna. Tar éis dó gan r…

That is going to be cold comfort to people who are listening to this.

Do not be cold this winter. Does the Tánaiste listen to the facts? Does he not listen to what is being said by the CRU and the hard, unvarnished facts? Seventy thousand more households, more families, more individuals - real people - could not pay their electricity bill in the first six months of this year. The record number we are seeing is from the middle of July, the warmest month of the year. …

People have had to make the decision not to pay their gas and electricity bills because of the decisions of the Tánaiste's Government. I put it to him the Government has consciously made it impossible for people to stay warm this winter and I ask him to bring forward energy credits-----

-----to support these families and provide them with a lifeline during these winter months.

Does he think that washes with people?

There is no election so the Tánaiste does not care. Simon Harris, true to form.

I put to the Tánaiste a truly disgraceful situation that exposes the consequences of the Government's failure to properly fund our schools. Parents at Darver National School in County Louth were contacted this week and told that the school could no longer afford basic hygiene supplies because Government grants had fallen so far behind rising costs. The principal was forced to ask every child to co…

No money.

They-----

We are doing a bake sale next week. We are doing a fundraiser next week.

You asked me a question.

You asked me the question.

Oh please.