I move amendment No 17: In page 16, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(3) In this section, “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals” means the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 to 17 set out in the document entitled “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2015” or any document which amends or replaces that document.”.

I move amendment No 18: In page 16, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(3) In this section, “just transition” means bringing together workers and their trade unions, communities, employers and public representatives in social dialogue to develop, agree and drive the plans, policies and investments needed for a fast and fair transition to a low carbon economy and includes; the creation of sustainable employment and replacement jobs of equal quality based on the principles of decent work, the establis…

I move amendment No 19: In page 16, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(3) In this section, “climate justice” reflects the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change commitments on equity and “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” and requires that the decisions and actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change should— (a) support the people who are most affected by climate change but who have done the leas…

I move amendment No. 24: In page 21, line 12, before “invest” to insert “directly”. We do not need to go through this in great detail but these amendments relate to the same core issue, that question of the use of external asset managers. As I said, I am uncomfortable with the State's reliance on the use of such external asset managers. The policy needs analysis and potentially a review. Amendment No. 24 will provide that the agency will have to be directly investing the assets, which is intended to improve account…

I move amendment No. 25: In page 21, lines 14 to 16, to delete all words from and including “in” in line 14 down to and including “managers),” in line 16.

I move amendment No. 26: In page 21, line 18, after “description” to insert the following: “following the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform”.

I move amendment No. 27: In page 21, to delete lines 21 and 22.

I move amendment No. 28: In page 21, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: “Report on external investment managers 29. (1) The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining how the use of external investment managers for the FI Fund, the ICN Fund and any other funds controlled by the Agency impacts on the State’s national divestment obligations under the Act of 2008 and the Act of 2018 and any future divestment policies the State…

I move amendment No. 29: In page 22, line 9, to delete “endeavour to”. Amendment No. 29 seeks to amend section 31(1)(a) relating to the investment of fossil fuels by removing the term "endeavour" and thereby creating a stronger obligation. This relates to the nature fund, a fund that is meant to be for climate, infrastructure and nature. There should be no caveats when it comes to the question of investing in fossil fuels and fossil fuel undertakings. I do not believe the Bill is adequate. Perhaps it is in line wit…

There are loopholes in this section about getting around having a climate and nature fund that invests in fossil fuels. That is what is happening in this section. The section states that that we should try not to invest indirectly if it is a large part of whatever we are investing in. There is then section 31(3), which states that, notwithstanding sections 1 and 2 where we were going to try not to invest directly or indirectly, we can still invest where the investment is intended to be consistent with the achieveme…

We are nearly finished. Maybe we can finish the Bill. I am happy to take a shorter response from the Minister of State.

I move amendment No. 30: In page 22, to delete lines 20 to 29.

I move amendment No. 31: In page 22, to delete lines 27 to 29.

I move amendment No. 32: In page 23, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “Investment in companies operating in occupied territories 32. (1) (a) The Agency shall ensure that the assets of a relevant Fund are not directly or indirectly invested in an undertaking operating within an occupied territory. (b) Where the Agency becomes aware that an undertaking in which the assets of a relevant Fund are directly or indirectly invested is, or becomes, an undertaking operating in an occupied territory, the Agen…

I move amendment No. 33: In page 23, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “Obligations under Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008 32. The Agency shall ensure that assets of a relevant fund are not directly or indirectly invested in a manner which would contravene Part 4 of the Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008.”.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “Report on seasonal work 3. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas reviewing the conditions and wages of workers holding a permit for seasonal work.”.

I note that in her amendments, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, offers a definition of "seasonally recurrent employment". I know the amendments are to move that definition. It is an aspect of the Bill that we have concerns about. It is important that we do not see a pattern of abuse of seasonal work permits where workers are left in a situation of constant precarity and insecurity. I emphasise that employment is more than just a source of income. It is the basis on which people build their lives. It is the sp…

Others have articulated the kinds of concerns we have and again, while I appreciate that the Minister of State indicated that there will be an analysis, there are certain other factors that are needed in that analysis. The question of wages needs to be part of it, so that we are not simply looking at analysis that addresses abuses but that we are also looking at the situation of the conditions and the wages, and where the wages pan out in terms of the wider national picture of wages. It is also really important to …

I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “Report on dependent permit holders 3. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining the labour market access available to spouses of employment permit holders, particularly looking to the gender impact.”.

This amendment provides that within 12 months of the passing of the Act, a report would be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas looking at the labour market access available to spouses of those with employment permits, and particularly the gender impact in the context of that employment. It is a constant refrain, but when we look to employment permits, it is important we remember that workers are not simply workers or units alone that can be applied to tasks. They are, in fact, members of families and part of s…