A number of issues arise. During the term of the last Dáil, there was a committee on climate change. I have detected that the commitment to climate change issues has waned since the current Government came into office. There is not the same sense of prioritisation of climate change that may have existed previously. The committee was chaired by the Ceann Comhairle. The current Government decided not to proceed with the committee in this office. I ask the Taoiseach to consider re-establishing the committee. He might indicate the progress on the climate change Bill. I remind him that in the programme for Government, there is a clear commitment to "legislate to give the relevant line Ministers temporary powers to take charge of State's actions in response to natural disasters, under the aegis of National Emergency Response Action Committee." What is the position on that legislation and when can we expect its publication?

We have a Cabinet committee dealing with climate change.

I referred to a Dáil committee.

Deputy Martin wants to establish another Dáil committee dealing with climate change.

There was one. The Ceann Comhairle chaired it.

There was a Dáil committee.

We had 20 committees and there are fewer than 20 now. There is a Cabinet committee dealing with climate change.

Will the Taoiseach restore it?

The heads of the climate change Bill are expected to be published by Easter. It will proceed to consultation and will be published later on in the year.

When?

I will give the Deputy an up to date assessment on the preparation of the legislation for temporary powers.

Does the Taoiseach know at what stage it is at the moment?

No. I will tell the Deputy where the work on it is at.

What I asked was whether the Taoiseach would agree to the re-establishment of the previous Dáil committee on climate change.

Climate change is part of the remit of the Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. That committee is entitled to focus on climate change or aspects of climate change as it wishes.

That committee has a very wide-ranging brief.

It is an Oireachtas committee. We had a plethora of committees before, with Deputies running from Billy to Jack, unable to complete their business properly.

Climate change is not a priority for the Government.