Whatever energy crisis we may face, it sits within the climate crisis, which is ongoing and non-negotiable. Unfortunately, I must disagree with some of what we were told on Second Stage. Senator Maria Byrne stated that this was just for keeping the lights on and existing businesses, but we know that extra energy capacity is being sought - this information came from the Department last week and I will keep referring to it for the record, as it is relevant - because the anticipated increase in demand next winter will…

I have been clear that of course we need to keep the lights on. That should be our priority and that is why we have not opposed the concept of emergency energy generation. What are the actual measures in prioritising how our energy is used and ensuring it is directed towards keeping the lights on that everyone is so keen on and that is so necessary? We must keep our essential services running and our public records in place. We must ensure the essential services families need in terms of energy, heat and electricit…

I am.

There is a piece of wisdom that Senator McDowell has mentioned previously - so often, we are told things are too early and then we are told they are too late at a point in between. The issue of data centres is a clear example of that. The Senator did not say that it did not matter and he made it clear that his comments were specifically in respect of glaciers. In that context, I probably still disagree with the law of tipping points as it relates to glaciers, given the volume of sea ice we have lost over the past s…

I will be very brief.

I will be.

Section 8 allows the Minister to "prescribe such requirements and such matters of procedure and administration as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in respect of an alternative assessment." I believe we may get another chance to discuss this legislation but I want to ask a question at this point. Does the Minister plan to use his power to "prescribe such requirements and such matters of procedure and administration"? This section also allows "information, including supplementary or additional info…

I had thought this amendment was ruled out of order so some of the issues have been discussed and I will not go into them in much detail. Since it is in order, it is important we get a proper answer. We still have not really heard what demand reduction measures are being talked about or looked at. The first time we heard about it at the committee, only demand reduction at busy peak hours was being discussed, and indeed that is the focus today. However, what of overall demand reduction versus the increasing growth p…

We have asked the CRU.

The Minister of State asked me a question, so I will answer it.

The CRU comes before the committee and we take our scrutiny of it very seriously. The CRU also engages with Government Departments. One clear example is the Energy Charter Treaty. We have repeatedly asked the CRU if it is examining the implications of the treaty. We have been asking for three years. We have been constantly told that if the Minister required the CRU to do work or examine the issue, it would, but the Minister has not, so it will not. We have been told it has not examined that issue. Now, we are at a …

In rising to mark the day I wish everybody a happy International Women’s Day, but International Women’s Day is also about people raising the demand and raising the voice. For many women and many marginalised women in Ireland, including those women who are facing homelessness, it is not a happy International Women's Day. I am very proud of the work of the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. The action plan produced by the committee is based on the 45 transformative, visionary and ambitious recommendations of th…

On one of the other issues that was raised previously, I might note that all development, including national and international development, is going to have to exist within the planetary boundaries we have in terms of climate. It behoves us to look to how we can adapt our development plans to recognise that. I wish to express my sadness at hearing the news that we may be losing another strong and constructive woman leader. I refer to Nicola's Sturgeon's announcement that she intends to step down. That is really sad…

-----about its humanitarian approach. It is not clear what we mean by that language. In terms of the word "hard", do we mean hard right individuals like Orbán and Meloni, members of the European People's Party, EPP, who were at that meeting along with representatives from Fine Gael? Do we mean it in the context of being hard-hearted? I refer to the vote by EPP members, including some of our own MEPs, to allow people to drown in the Mediterranean-----

-----when we previously used to rescue 8,000 people a year? Do we mean hard borders, something we do not want on our island but which the EU is funding right across Africa? It is pouring money into the wall between Syria and Türkiye rather than pouring money in, as it should, in order to cover the humanitarian needs of the 6.7 million people in Syria who have been displaced, including refugees from all around the world. The Taoiseach also used the word "fair". How is it fair that EU countries that have a long histo…

I seek more clarification from the Minister. I have amendments in this section also. The Minister indicated the employer can waive the requirement but I do not see where in the Bill this is allowed. In fact, the language is quite strong and clear in this respect. On page 14, subsection (4) states, "An employee's approved flexible working arrangement shall not commence before a time when the employee concerned has completed 6 months continuous employment with the employer concerned." The Minister will be aware that …

If there is no objection to employers putting such arrangements in place from the beginning, why not accept the amendment, which would allow employers to apply the statutory measure from day one? It is a choice. If one is choosing between two jobs, it would be good to know. I am happy for the provisions to be subject to an additional bar or to mutual agreement in the first few months but, if both parties who are relevant and affected are happy to waive the six-month period relating to the application of this statut…

I move amendment No. 24: In page 14, line 2, after “not” to insert “, subject to the approval of the employer and the employee,”. Amendment put and declared lost.

I move amendment No. 26: In page 14, line 27, after “certificate” where it firstly occurs to insert “, care order, voluntary care agreement”. Amendment No. 26 seeks to ensure that care orders and voluntary care arrangements are included as documentation that may be used as part of a request for a flexible work arrangement. This is to ensure that foster parents are able to submit such requests even if they do not have access to a child's birth certificate.

I am again surprised at the lack of willingness to take on constructive proposals. While the Minister may choose to understand that these documents are included, employers will not be experts on the foster care system, care orders and so forth. The concern is not that the list needs to be exhaustive. We have already spoken about the concerns regarding people who may not in fact be acting in loco parentis and may not be covered by that definition in another part of the Bill. Rather than putting it on employers, who …