I move:

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Statements on International Women's Day (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Energy and Fuel Costs, selected by Sinn Féin.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Media Regulation Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round)

Thursday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Structural Reform of Child Welfare Governance, selected by Independent Technical Group.

Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business:

In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:

(a) Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and Government business shall commence at the time when Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken;

(b) private members’ business shall be taken following the Statements on International Women’s Day;

(c) Parliamentary Questions to a Minister other than the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken; and

(d) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members’ business; and

2. the Statements on International Women's Day shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:

(a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);

(b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(c) members may share time

In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:

1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:

(a) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 111 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 169 shall be taken;

(b) private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 168(1) shall be taken for 2 hours following proceedings of the Media Regulation Bill 2026; and

(c) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members' business, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and

2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Media Regulation Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:

(a) the first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);

(b) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and

(c) members may share time.

Are the proposed arrangements for this week’s business agreed to?

Not agreed.

I call Deputy McDonald.

The Government's failure to act to assist families, workers and motorists as fuel prices skyrocket is completely untenable, unacceptable and unsustainable. We need to have accountability for its inaction as a do-nothing Government. More to the point, we need to hear concretely when and how the Government eventually proposes to act. We need statements and questions and answers on the most pressing issue at the moment for Irish families.

This evening at 5.30 p.m, my colleague, Senator Harmon, will lead a protest against the unconscionable planning decision we have seen at Bessborough. This site should become a site of national conscience. We cannot concrete over a site where 923 children died while the Government sits idly by. We need to have statements on this.

The Government has had plenty of time to put together what it is going to do for the cost-of-living energy crisis we face at the moment. Nothing has come forward. This week the Dáil should be discussing and passing emergency measures to help families and households under huge pressure with rising costs. There is a proposal from the Social Democrats for a €400 targeted energy credit that the Government should be adopting.

We have a deep energy crisis in this country with the price of fuel skyrocketing. We need a debate. We need the Ministers for energy and Finance before the Dáil. The seriousness of it surely evident in everybody's constituency. It surely is in mine. People are in desperate situations. The Government seems to be kicking the can down the road as if it is an issue that can be sorted down the road. Measures are urgently needed now. We have farmers who use fertilisers which is going to drive food prices and haulage companies mad.

The Chief Whip to respond.

Sorry.

Excuse me, Deputy Boyd Barrett. I passed over you. It is the jet lag.

As somebody who was born in a mother and baby home, I was lucky to have a good outcome. I am acutely aware of the feelings and sensitivities of people like those who suffered and were traumatised and of infants who lost their lives in places like Bessborough. There is urgent need to take on board the reason people are protesting this evening. I will be joining that protest. We need to listen to these people and acknowledge their concerns.

I thank the five parties and groupings for their comments. As they know, the Business Committee will meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow. We will certainly try to facilitate the statements on Bessborough, although it will not be this week as the Minister is away. We will certainly try to facilitate them next week.

In relation to the cost of energy, Sinn Féin has a Private Members' motion this evening. The Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy O’Brien will be here for that. The Order of Business stands.