The Government banned onshore fracking under pressure from not only Deputies in this House but the wider movement in society. Unfortunately, the Government did not back amendments from left-wing Deputies to ban offshore fracking, which should be done as well. The Government has indicated support for the project in Shannon, but said it will not proceed, pending an energy review. Will all work related to the importation of fracked gas be frozen while this energy review takes place? If Next Decade submits a planning application for a floating storage regasification unit at Whitegate in Cork Harbour while this review is taking place, will the application be processed or frozen? The Taoiseach should be able to answer that because it is a Government review. Unless it changes course, the Government will walk into a storm on this issue. More than 2,000 people have already signed a "Not Here, Not Anywhere" petition against fracked gas in Cork Harbour. If a planning application goes ahead, it could and should be a signal for that campaign to move from cyberspace to the streets.

We live in a democracy, although the Deputy is at best ambiguous about his support for that concept.

Withdraw that comment.

No. Deputy Barry has been very supportive of far-left regimes in Venezuela, Cuba and other places, which are not democratic.

The Taoiseach should withdraw his comment.

Deputy Barry, please.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle should ask the Taoiseach to withdraw that comment.

The Taoiseach should withdraw the comment.

This is a democratic Chamber.

It is a political charge.

If the Deputy condemns Venezuela, I will withdraw the remark.

The Government has blocked 55 Bills but it claims to be democratic.

Political charges are admissible. It is a political charge.

On a point of information-----

Cuba and Venezuela are bastions of democracy.

There are no points of information or points of order during Leaders' Questions.

On a point of information-----

There is no such thing as a point of information-----

On a point of order-----

------or a point of order during Leaders' Questions. Perhaps the Deputy will acquaint himself with Standing Orders.

Socialists in this country fought for democratic rights

Deputy Barry did not do so.

The supporters of capitalism have condemned-----

The Deputy should take an opportunity to acquaint himself with Standing Orders. We will move on.

I will be happy to withdraw the remark if the Deputy can show me evidence of his campaign for free and fair elections in Cuba and Venezuela.

Members of the Taoiseach's party in the 1930s were Blueshirts. The cheek of the Taoiseach.

Peace has broken out.

I am not talking about the 1930s; I am talking about now.

Fine Gael has a basis in fascism.

Democracy.

I am not talking about Lenin, Bolsheviks, gulags, Stalin or anyone or anything else the Deputies admire. I am talking about now.

There should be no more interventions.

He is withdrawing it.

I would like to answer the question.

The Taoiseach should do so.

It would be helpful if there was silence. Deputies should listen to the Taoiseach.

I am forever trying to answer questions between interruptions.

The Taoiseach suggested that he might withdraw the remark.

I will.

Will he do so unconditionally?

No.

Certainly not. To answer the Deputy's question, we live in a democracy and have an independent planning process. If an application is made, it must go to Cork City Council or Cork County Council or directly to An Bord Pleanála. In a democracy, people have the right to object. An oral hearing will take place and a planning decision will be made. That is how things work in a democracy. It is not about protests, riots and all those things. Rather, it is about people engaging in a proper democratic process.

The Taoiseach does not know the difference between a riot and a protest.

On the importation of fracked gas, it is something I need to check out. I do not know whether it is possible to ban the importation of fracked gas into Ireland but it is something we will examine.