Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to be associated with the comments made and sympathies expressed to all the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the ambassador and his team in Ireland and all those British people in Ireland and, of course, in Northern Ireland. The late Queen played a significant role, particularly in 2011, in improving and working with us all in the reconciliation process between ourselves and our closest neighbour. We all probably have friends and family living in the UK. I certainly do and I am sure many other people do too. We have great connections with our closest neighbour and Queen Elizabeth II certainly helped to improve those relations.

I welcome everybody back. It is an important time in our country and we need to be examining the issues affecting us. Most of them have been addressed. We have talked about the cost-of-living crisis. In that context, I would like to see a debate on retrofitting and other ways we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Many people would like to undertake retrofitting. Some do not have the cash, but, equally, there is a shortage of people available to provide these services. I would like to hear from the Minister how we are ramping up delivery in this area. Senator Moynihan referred to houses that were badly built from 1991 to 2013, but we all know of much older houses that also have poor insulation. People want to do this type of work, and not just for their budgets but also to improve their standard of living and the quality of life they experience in their homes. The problem is the labour is just not there to do this.

I also echo Senator Craughwell's support in the context of the issue concerning secretarial assistants, those who help us in everything we do. I refer especially to those here in the longer term. It is, of course, great that the new entrants are having their rates of pay improved, but it is also important that those who have been here longer, and who have shown just how valuable they are, also be recognised for all their contributions.

I mention as well today's State of the Union address by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She outlined the potential of windfall taxes and money being available to divert back to all of us, particularly to those most in need. Reference was also made to the EU's solidarity with Ukraine. The news coming from there in recent days has been positive. I am not sure if anyone else has mentioned this point yet. I refer to supporting the people of Ukraine and their President in all they are doing to try to re-establish control of those territories taken over during the illegal invasion in recent months. I thank the Leader and wish all of us the best for the next few months.