I welcome the Minister to the House to speak on this important matter and acknowledge that Senator Ward has previously tabled a motion on this issue. I do not need to repeat the litany of actions that have eroded democracy in Belarus. They include the extension of the number of years that a president can serve from five to seven, in 1996; the referendum to remove the constitutional term limits in 2004; the arrest and beating of his opponent, Alyaksandr Kazulin, in 2006; and the widely condemned way that the electio…

I formally second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Ruane to introduce the Companies (Emission Reporting) Bill. The legislation is very important. We have clearly seen in the debates this week that our conversations cannot simply be discussions on energy supply and what we might substitute for something else. It must be about demand, and specifically commercial and industrial demand. This Bill would shine a light into different sectors that all need to be challenged to consider their consum…

-----was one of the greatest steps towards us being a genuine nation of equals. It was one of the most fundamental contributions to our laws and culture, and conveyed to our citizens that this is a nation of equals.

I welcome the Minister of State. This matter relates to the negative consequences of schedule changes for the registration of rights of way after 30 November. What plans does the Government have to initiate or support legislative change to extend this deadline and prevent these changes? What the timeline is there for that action and what further engagement will the Department have with civil society, Oireachtas Members and the Law Reform Commission? This is an issue I have been working on for over a year. I engaged…

The concern relates to instances where a person might have had a right of way that has been used for many generations. The initial response I received from the Department was that people would still be able to register. However, the clock resets to zero which means that even if you have had 30 or 40 years of usage, it counts for nothing. We know that some have been moving blockages into place in certain rights of way and things have been set up for problems in anticipation of that. I welcome that the Department is …

There is positive potential here too for the reimagining.

It is important that we distinguish that this is not a Bill related to trafficking. There is, of course, an overlap but trafficking is quite a distinct matter, and one where Ireland has rightly taken some action and can strengthen its actions. This relates to the smuggling of persons which is at their request. It is, of course, an area which needs to be carefully addressed. There are very serious concerns around the smuggling of persons illegally. We need to place it in context. The reality is that across the world…

We have engaged extensively with the Minister of State and the other Ministers in the Department on the detail of the issues involved. Unfortunately, a number of concerns we flagged when dealing with the legislation before the House prior to the summer recess still remain with regard to the Housing for All plan. I acknowledge there are positive components in the plan. I note the investment in the Housing First approach. That could be increased further. We know that approach has worked in other countries. I suggest …

I echo the comments made on International Safe Abortion Day and note the launch today of an atlas of where safe access is across Europe. It is notable that countries like San Marino and Gibraltar have followed Ireland's example in seeking to ensure access, but there are practical barriers still in place. It will be important that in the review we address the practical, de facto barriers for people seeking to access their rights and avoid introducing any of the pitfalls we have seen in other countries which limit wo…

I move: That leave be given to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 to provide for an amendment to section 38 of the same Act to extend the period for the registration of easements and profits à prendre.

Next Tuesday.

I join others in welcoming the commitment to holding an independent review regarding the experiences of the Women of Honour. It is correct that there is a need for cultural change and concrete protections. Both are needed. Cultural change is crucial within the Defence Forces. As Senator Martin, I think, referred to, however, there is also a need for a wider cultural shift concerning how we treat those who have experienced sexual abuse. I note that legislation is also going through the Oireachtas in respect of whist…

They have joined a German-commanded force. The key point is that this is slippage. Where is the clarity about our UN and humanitarian mandates? How can we reinforce this, given the discretion that the Minister asks us to give him under section 2 of the Bill to allow operational control to be delegated? The limitations and exemptions that the Minister mentions relate to important issues regarding the security of forces, the safety of staff and the reallocation of services but I want to see safeguards, limitations an…

I specified that that was under a different section from the one about which I have a concern. My concern relates to Part A, which involves the delegation of the secondment of forces. It is Part F that relates to humanitarian concern. This is just for clarity.

I was also very disappointed by the decision regarding the supervised injection facility. A plan B is urgently needed. However, I note that while we may be disappointed by that High Court decision, as others may be about other decisions, it is also very important that, regardless of our feelings on the matter, we recognise the independence of, and checks and balances within, our judicial and planning systems. I say that in the context of the many statements we hear that the system needs to change. That system is pa…

I join colleagues in thanking the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his work in recent months. We need a wider array of wealth taxes in Ireland. That need has been driven home in the past year as we saw the very wealthiest become much wealthier during the pandemic. We have seen an increase in the wealth of many of the people on the rich lists at the same time as a large part of the population has been experiencing incredible financial stress. I am in favour of wealth taxes. We need to look to the wide array of assets, includ…

No.

It would be done on a legislative basis.

It is important to say that not everybody feels the confidence in terms of accessing the exemption and that there would be measures. Again, I am noting that the section contains the words "may require", which will be really important. It will be excessive if it is required for a person to provide an engineer's report in every instance. We are going to create a situation where people will have to spend as much or much more to get that exemption. I have a single point, of which the Minister will be aware, about the l…

I will briefly note I did not actually get an answer - I might not get it now and that is fine - in respect of those people whose property tax has decreased and the statements that were made. This is when we are into the midpoint in valuations. We have been told that due to the change in the midpoint of valuations, we are maintaining progressivity. However, I am concerned that, for example, as I mentioned, the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and others told us that those with properties of €1.6 million will potentially …