The intervention by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Deputy Connolly, on the events in Israel is significant, particularly her comments regarding the leadership shown by the Tánaiste. I echo those sentiments. I also want to put on the record that there is a very small Jewish population in this country that feels particularly vulnerable and fearful right now. I want to acknowledge that and put those words on the record. Those people are not forgotten in this country.

There are those who suggest that they favour spending and using windfall tax gains today while simultaneously claiming to be fiscally responsible. On Tuesday - and I welcome this- the Government introduced the infrastructure, climate and nature fund, the moneys in which are to reach €14 billion by 2030. Will the Tánaiste give some insight into the rationale behind the initiation of that fund?

I thank the Deputy. I concur with what he said about the Jewish population in our society. Our Constitution has always embraced our colleagues in the Jewish community. It is an important point that the Deputy made. I make the point that there is a variety of different strands of opinion within Israel, which we have seen recently in civil society there in the context of constitutional issues. That needs to be said.

On spending and the fund, the idea is that we can plan in a way that there will be a sufficiency of capital money available in order that when there are economic downturns, we can maintain the capital projects to which we have committed and that we will have resources to build the roads, public transport, provide the buses, water infrastructure and have the capacity to buy land in terms of biodiversity, nature restoration and meeting our climate targets and reducing emissions.