I am very glad that such a mechanism is there. I think it will be very important. Not everything always benefits from a competitive process. At times a collaborative process is a more useful approach. In other aspects of community development, competitive tendering has on occasion led to a loss of a sense of empowerment whereby funding needed to be given to projects from the ground up. It is useful to recognise that other funding mechanisms are sometimes more appropriate in order to get engagement, empowerment and …

I move amendment No. 9: In page 16, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: “Amendment of Principal Act - Report on levy 28. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following after section 64: “Report on levy 64A. Within 24 Months of the passing of the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Act 2020 the Minister shall publish and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on a review which will have considered— (a) the effectiveness and approp…

I very much welcome the Minister's commitment to bring these issues to the tax commission because that is important. There are many issues I would like to bring to the tax commission and I am aware that the tax commission review will be large and will deal with many issues. I am glad that the Minister intends to bring these issues to the tax commission and I hope that some of the points I have put forward are useful in that regard. However, I wish to emphasise how important I think this is. The Minister can take it…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 16, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: “Amendment of Principal Act - Report on palm oil 28. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following after section 67: “Report on palm oil 67A. Within 12 months of the passing of the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Act 2020 the Minister shall publish and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report setting out analysis and direction as to whether palm oil, incl…

I am very glad to hear the Minister is considering a strong interpretation of the directive. Of course the directive should not set the ceiling but should be the start of what we want in our ambition. I certainly agree that 2030 is far too late to wait and it will be a major issue next year. We really need to be looking for this exit and I hope we see it in the lifetime of the Government at an absolute minimum. Will the Minister give me a little assurance not so much directly related to palm oil as a feedstock but …

As the Minister is looking to engage on this next year I will withdraw the amendment for now.

I warmly congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, on his appointment to his new role. I welcome the statements that have been made recognising the importance of solidarity and of stimulus. It seems that at least some learning has happened from some of the failures and shortfalls in the European response to other crises in that there is now a very wide international recognition that stimulus, and the recognition of our interdependence and solidarity, are core to recovery in our navigating of this crisis. …

I will speak to the section. I also wish to highlight some of the issues that will arise if we continue with the practice of trying to bring legislation through all Stages at once. I hope that practice will not continue because it fails to allow for nuance in the debate. When, for example, all Stages of a Bill are taken together, the Government is unable to bring forward amendments in response to amendments tabled on Committee Stage. When a Bill is dealt with properly, there is time between Committee Stage and Repo…

-----relates directly to a section and to the functions outlined therein, which is------

The amendment relates to section 12.2 of the fund description and the specific powers allocated thereunder which, as such, can be considered to form part of the Bill. The mechanisms by which decisions will be made in terms of a change in the beneficial mix are set out on page 39 of the Bill.

I am speaking to amendment No. 2, which relates to section 10. I am speaking to the section.

No, I am speaking to amendments Nos. 1 and 2 which have been ruled out of order. I am speaking to the section they were intended to amend. This issue is not simply about an amount that goes in and I am certainly not simply talking about the amount that comes out. Rather, it relates to the processes for managing that. All of those processes are dealt with in the Bill. The Bill does not just stipulate the agreement that Ireland makes, it also contains a description of the fund, details on how the beneficiaries are al…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “Support for Public Services and Public Infrastructure 12. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas, a report outlining how Ireland will seek to use the Fund alongside the EU Covid-19 Recovery Fund to support investment in Ireland’s public sector, public services and public infrastructure.”. The three months that I have set out here is a narrow period of time for a…

I thank Senator Gavan for his support and I thank the Minister of State for his recognition of the importance of the points made. If he is not taking them on board, I hope he might be able to make a commitment on reporting. It is one thing to say that concerns will be taken on board in the budget, but it is another to say what I propose. Our second concern - it is an overriding concern - relates to transparency. I have mentioned groups such as Counter Balance, which has highlighted that the EIB is one organisation …

I have a specific question. I appreciate the point about the private affairs of each company, and that is not what we would look for detail on. In the report the Minster of State has already committed to doing, can I confirm that will include the main objectives that are listed for the fund? I mentioned the ones I like, but there are lots of other objectives that Members will like, such as regional development, and which are also important. The main objective listed in part 2.12 of the platform rules is that those …

In that context, I would be happy to withdraw the amendment to facilitate speedier passing of the Bill.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for offering me the opportunity to speak on it but I am hoping that elements of it might be reflected in this report that we are looking forward to receiving.

I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and all those who have worked since the leaders' meeting to ensure that we are able to perform our work in this Chamber of course but, most important, in ensuring that all Members of the Seanad are able to fulfil their constitutional function by scrutinising legislation and decisions made in the context of that legislation. While much recognition has been given to this historic Chamber, it is important to remember that the First Dáil did not necessarily sit here and th…

It is welcome to see an approach based on stimulus. There has been recognition of and learning from some of the mistakes made in the recessions of the past. ICTU, SIPTU, the Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC, and other important groups have always presented the alternative and made the case for stimulus but now the OECD, the IMF, the European Commission and others recognise that it is by stimulating growth in our economy and by investing in society that we regroup and we grow. This Bill will increase the…

Many of us who were elected to this Seanad conducted our campaigns during the early stages of the pandemic and, indeed, during lockdown. As we now convene and start our work, many months later, the virus is still very much with us. While we may be very happy that the curve has been flattened in Ireland, there are many, including myself, who have concerns about the pace at which we have opened up certain aspects of business and about some of the decisions taken as to the speed at which we are attempting to return to…