I second that it would be useful to have a debate on forestry, which would also look at reforming forestry policies, including the mandates of such organisations as Coillte. We have seen that monoculture does not work and is dangerous. We do not simply want a short-term solution where we replant more of the same. We need to move, within Coillte and our wider subsidised forestry policy, towards the idea of something that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable, rather than have short-term, commerci…

I just want to check something.

Okay, so my colleagues will both get to speak.

Maybe I can give two minutes to my colleagues as I am not going to be very long, and then the others can share the ten minutes between them, if that is okay.

I will be very brief because I do not have amendments in this and those who do have amendments will be speaking and putting forward very good cases for why we need very good cases when making such a decision and, given, in fairness, some of what has been put forward by some of the Members regarding the arguments for why we need the Ministers of State, the importance of us actually having and being able to look at the information on what the additional value will be, what the role will be and how it will be envisage…

I join in congratulating everybody who has been elected and re-elected. Specifically, I congratulate the Cathaoirleach. He understands very well, of course, that the mandate as Cathaoirleach is not a mandate from Government but a mandate from the House and from all across the Seanad. In his previous term as Cathaoirleach, he showed that he understood very well that responsibility to the Seanad and recognised the crucial role the Seanad plays as a check and balance within our political system. It is not the property…

What inspections have taken place under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order since May 2024 to enforce the prohibition of the use of Irish airspace for the carriage of munitions of war, weapons, ammunition and dangerous goods, including dual-use goods? What exemptions have been granted under that order? This is important. I have included that date because, as the Minister of State will be aware, I introduced the arms embargo Bill in June. At that time, the Minister, D…

What I am hearing is that the "eyes wide shut" approach is continuing. There is a suggestion there has been no inspection despite the litany of reports we have seen. We are not calling for random inspections, we are calling for very real and reasonably targeted inspections of flights coming from countries such as the US and Germany in particular, which have been shown to be carrying arms. We have seen a pattern of arms being carried. Aircraft such as Challenger have been shown to have carried munitions through the …

It would be more credible if the Government took the powers it has and used them to the fullest extent. That the legislation is from the 1970s and 1980s does not tell us anything. I have explicitly read into the record the powers that are there at present. Obviously, we should have stronger powers, but we should certainly have a first step which not only looks at the legislation but begins to look at some of the flights.

I join my colleague Senator Flynn, who mentioned everyone who works in these Houses, the many people who make what we do possible and support it, in thanking all of them. I also thank my staff, Ciara, Georgia, Robbie and Sebastian and the wonderful Saran Fogarty, who recently moved on to new exciting jobs but who was a great partner in the work in the past few years. I thank my colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group. It has been extraordinary to work with Senators Black, Ruane and Flynn and see the passion, insig…

First, I welcome the Minister to the House. I look forward to engaging with him within the same period of time. It is always unfortunate when Bills are pushed through on all Stages, but hopefully we will get to Committee Stage this afternoon. I hope to have the opportunity to engage with the Minister on a number of amendments, one or two of which are recommendations regarding procurement. Unfortunately, the Minister of State with responsibility for that area has just left the Chamber. Some of my amendments have bee…

That is no problem. As I said, gender- and equality-proofing of pensions are particularly crucial when we consider the very worrying proposal on the social protection side to potentially extend the requirement from 20 years' worth of contributions to 40 years' worth will leave many people, particularly women, on reduced-rate pensions because they will not have 40 years of contributions in many cases. We know that many women are already on such pensions under the current regime. At the same time we are effectively f…

I will speak a little further to recommendation No. 36, which is in this group. The purpose of this recommendation is to seek a report. The Minister mentioned the issue for report and the many reports that have been compiled, but the issues I am asking to be properly reported on and examined are those in respect of which there is a real lacuna. My proposed report would look to an assessment of the cost to the Exchequer of the various changes in policy on private pension tax relief, including the proposed changes th…

I welcome that those factors will be considered. It is in line with what we saw in terms of equality budgeting in Scotland, where there was a move from original expenditure to looking to tax expenditures in terms of tax reliefs and so forth. Will there be an explicit gender disaggregation in the context of that equality analysis?

I would appreciate any correspondence in that regard.

I thank the Minister.

I will not go over these aspects in detail again. I had some discussion in this regard with the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, when he was in. I just wish to signal this issue again in response to his response. I refer to the auto-enrolment retirement savings system. I am significantly concerned regarding what I believe is a lacuna concerning ethical oversight in respect of those funds. I know that the position, as the Minister of State described it and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, indicated, is that these …

No. I was speaking to the section. I think the Minister was remarking on Senator Gavan's recommendation.

I believe a mistake has been made and I have signalled this very clearly to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I am now signalling it to the Minister and his Department. This scheme is not the same as a private or occupational pension scheme in that the State is determining, in effect, the eligible vehicles in this regard. The State is contributing a great deal of the money in this context too. I believe the Department of Finance does have a responsibility in this regard. As the Minister said, it is, ultimately, respo…

I will speak briefly in support of this recommendation. As a member of the finance committee, I know it is an issue we have examined. This backlog has caused considerable distress both for those who work for the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal and, crucially, for the disabled drivers who have found themselves in limbo waiting for their appeals to be addressed. I endorse this recommendation.