Did the Government do the 22 cent reduction?

Did the Government do the 22 cent reduction?

Did the Government do it?

The people in the Deputy's constituency want it. Did the Government do it? No.

I am sure all the Deputy's constituents are delighted to see-----

Ordinary families and workers understand that the Irish Government is not responsible for international energy crises. Where the frustration lies, however, is that what it is responsible for is Ireland's response, and its response has been lethargic, it is lacklustre and it has not been nearly good enough. Not only is it a delayed response but our starting point is actually worse than it need have been, given that the Government pulled the energy credits only a few months ago based on inflation figures it got wrong…

These are measures that would have meaningfully supported ordinary workers, families and farmers-----

-----but what the Government introduced yesterday did not do so.

The end is nigh.

International Women's Day can and does mean different things to people. For my part, I have always seen value where celebration is productive and furthers the cause, rights or conditions of women or children or our understanding of these. It is also appropriate to reflect on, commemorate and educate people about the women who have gone before us whose contribution to society and our communities has gone unmarked and uncelebrated or whose contributions may have been entirely unknown about or misattributed through ig…

Enough is enough. More than 300,000 people in this State are already in arrears on electricity bills. The Government has already withdrawn energy credits only a few short months ago. It did so on the basis of projected inflation rates that underestimated the actual rate by as much as 50%. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael believe that they could simply declare the cost-of-living crisis finished. In doing so, they placed the State and ordinary workers and families in the worst position to respond to the worsening crisis. Th…

When?

Hear, hear.

The Minister and Minister of State have admitted that post offices provide vital services in our communities and support local economies. However, there has been a spate of closures in recent years. Over the past decade, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have operated hand in glove together in government. We have seen the closure of more than 250 post offices, predominantly in the rural communities. This does madden rural communities, in particular, many of whom have seen schools and Garda stations shut, accident and emerg…

The Minister may want to try to deflect from her statement today but Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are responsible for the SNA crisis. It is of their own making and is compounded by their chaotic, uncertain handling of the mess. Letters did go out. It would be something if they recognised the distress caused to parents, children and SNAs, held their hands up, recognised their mistake and apologised. They should not try to blame the NCSE. It is not its fault; the Minister is in charge. She should apologise and make clea…

Which one?

Will the Minister provide an update on SEAI grants, the length of time applicants will have to apply for these grants and how the scheme will work up terms in relation to upfront payments and reimbursement?

I thank the Minister. He has basically answered the next questions I had for him. I am delighted that the grants will be upfront, and people will not have to provide the money. That is what he said. That is correct. There will also be no loans required. People will not require a loan in order to get the grant. It will be paid upfront, and people can go to get their windows or doors, or whatever retrofitting is required. Is that correct?

I thank the Minister and welcome it. If you require the State-backed loans, are these available to everybody in rural Ireland and has rural Ireland applied for these grants in large numbers before? Another issue I have is of a household that had received a SEAI grant previously for cavity bead insulation 30 years ago. Are people like this allowed to go again and reapply for the new upgrades?

Biosecurity incidents have the potential to devastate farm enterprises. Our farmers do their utmost, investing their own time and labour and complying with biosecurity restriction in order to best avoid outbreaks of TB, avian influenza or any other similar threats. Has the Minister examined if bluetongue can spread in deer? It is crucial to the State that he do so because wider outbreaks have the potential to devastate entire sectors. It is equally crucial that the State live up to its obligations and have in place…