The amendment relates to the order that appoints a Minister as the majority shareholding Minister. As I said, at present, the Bill provides that a Minister could become the majority shareholder. This relates to the functioning of Gas Networks Ireland, GNI. I was not able to move amendment No. 4 in respect of amending the functions and mandate of GNI. We have previously discussed how we ensure that bodies such as GNI, Bord na Móna, Coillte and so forth are operating in a way that is consistent with Ireland's goals, …

Could I just check on the grouping? Are amendments Nos. 6 and 7 being taken separately?

Then I will not go into some of the additional subject matter on amendments Nos. 6 and 7. Rather than just simply being able stop the inappropriate transfer of power, we hope the Minister would have an ambition whereby we could actually seek out and promote what is appropriate. Again, we are not necessarily going to know what the intentions, priorities or vision of a Minister are going to be unless a standardised engagement takes place. Having a situation where we think a Minister is thinking terrible things secret…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 8, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: “(4)The majority-shareholding Minister shall, prior to issuing a shareholder letter of expectation to Gas Networks Ireland, lay such a letter before both Houses of the Oireachtas.”.

Amendment No. 6 would require that prior to any shareholder letter of expectation being issued that it would be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. This is important from the point of view of public transparency and accountability and given the context that shareholder letters to other semi-State bodies such as Coillte and Bord na Móna, have shown very little regard for climate and biodiversity and have opted for the prioritisation of profit. The Minister of State is aware that value for money is quite a wid…

There are concerns regarding the actions. There is potential for tension, with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, calling for a shift in policy and Gas Networks Ireland apparently being able to ignore that call. Some unknown Minister, however, will be able to send a non-public letter. When I brought forward my Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023, which proposes changing the mandate of Coillte and Bord na Móna, the discussion in the Chamber gave the impression that the shareholder l…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 8, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: “(4) The majority-shareholding Minister shall, prior to issuing a shareholder letter of expectation to Gas Networks Ireland, lay such a letter before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach and the Committee of Public Accounts.”.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

These amendments are not outside the scope of the Bill as they are all in order. These are attempts to offer assistance in terms of progressing this and taking action. Rather than looking for reasons these amendments might be dismissed, what we should be hearing from the Minister of State is what urgent actions are being taken. The CRU did a review four years ago. I know this because I put in a submission. The CRU was given three options then. One of those was to stop escalating the connection of data centres and i…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I pushed strongly for "Yes" and "Yes" on the last referendums and was deeply disappointed with the results. It is probably one of the biggest votes for inequality since the citizenship referendum. I do not believe that was the intention of all those who voted "No" but that is the effect. The care proposal was disappointing but I look to everything on balance. I weigh up my positions. I will be honest and say that regarding the patent court, I am currently weighing up and considering my view. I have a number of ques…

Fáiltím roimh an deis atá againn an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht a phlé anseo inniu. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge againn. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar chuid lárnach dár gcultúr náisiúnta agus feiceann muid inár gceantair féin an stór a bhaineann lenár dteanga. Is rud fíorthábhachtach í. Is mian liom aitheantas a thabhairt don obair thábhachtach a rinne ár n-iarchomhghleacaí, Niall Ó Donnghaile, ar mhaithe le cur chun cinn agus neartú na Gaeilge agus an chultúir le blianta anua…

We are speaking about International Women's Day on Friday when the central focus has to be the fact that we will be making really important decisions. Senator Flynn outlined the multiple areas where policies and services are still falling short and the many really good actions that we set out. I was proud to be a member of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality. Instead of producing a report, we produced an action plan. We listed the many things that could be done in terms of gender equality and supporting care and…

The importation of coal from the Cerrejón mine in La Guajira, Colombia, has been the subject of long-standing serious concern especially when, having previously ceased imports, the ESB resumed purchasing coal from the controversial mine in 2022. Cerrejón is the largest open-pit coal mine in Latin America. There is a litany of documented human rights and environmental harms and damages associated with the mine and its activities. A 2020 report by Christian Aid found that "Over the course of its history it has been l…

We stopped importing coal from Russia because of human rights concerns and international law and we fund the importation of coal from other places that are committing human rights violations. That is gross hypocrisy. As for the idea we are following developments and engaging with all sides, let us be clear we are driving human rights violations and we are funding a company that commits them. We are not dispassionately observing what might be happening. We are putting our money on the side of a fossil fuel company t…

The Government is undermining our credibility in that respect.

I move an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 9 be taken before No. 1. Today we are seeking leave to introduce the Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024, which is emergency legislation that would ensure Ireland is not complicit in arming Israel and would help to curb the flow of weapons being used in Gaza. Since Israel began its relentless bombardment of Gaza, arms exports to Israel have dramatically increased. In November, the United States organised a €14.5 billion military aid package for…