Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I want to be associated with the comments of Deputy Coveney in underlining our full support for the greener homes scheme, which we support. I do not want this debate to be twisted to suggest we are not committed to that scheme. We are disappointed by the Minister's emerging plans to slim down that scheme if not now, next year.

It is interesting that the Minister is alone in the Chamber without any Cabinet Ministers or Deputies on the benches behind him. In many ways that shows the interest of his Government colleagues in the importance of energy conservation. If the Minister does not know it, I also point out that Fingal County Council was one of the first councils to introduce extensive and stringent building control measures to improve energy——

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