I acknowledge that the Minister answered a similar question earlier and went into great detail. I just want to seek his response to and comments on reports regarding the Hungarian justice minister's comments on reported plans to set up a rule of law institute, hitting back at criticisms regarding the decline in democratic norms in the Poland and Hungary. She also stated that it was "hoped to bring other countries in the region into the initiative". It is quite inflaming, to say the least, and I would like to hear t…

I thank the Minister for his reply. I reiterate, from my perspective and that of many others, our acknowledgement of the ongoing politicking taking place within the EU in an effort to address this issue, notwithstanding the ongoing efforts to which the Minister referred and the hearings that have been taking place for the past two years. Our ability to respond effectively to Covid-19 and its impact on economies across Europe is now being threatened by the protracted delay in respect of this issue. Next generation f…

No. I thank the Minister; he has been more than forthcoming.

My question relates to the scheme to support businesses and self-employed people who trade from a premises impacted by level 3 plus restrictions. The scheme is very welcome and is another example of the expensive but necessary financial interventions that have been made by Government. I would appreciate if the Minister could relate the details of the uptake of the scheme, including applications made and awards afforded, in my constituency of Laois-Offaly.

I thank the Minister for his response on the state of play nationally, as well as in my constituency. I ask him to consider to consider a situation that has arisen in recent weeks. I received a representation from a hotel in my constituency. Unfortunately, many hotels, restaurants and pubs cannot meet the payment demands of suppliers. Yes, they are gladly availing of the schemes the Minister mentioned, such as the temporary wage subsidy scheme, rates breaks and the Covid restrictions support scheme, but they still …

Many of my constituents involved in businesses that have been severely impacted by the restrictions greatly appreciate and acknowledge the commitment the Government has made in its response to the pandemic by virtue of the massive amount of funding being pumped into business to give businesses an opportunity to be in a position to take advantage of the uplift if and when the restrictions are eased, and we hope that will be very soon. I have been in touch with the Department and officials specifically in respect of …

On balance, our nation has responded well to the pandemic. We owe our relative success to our front-line workers and the Irish people. I recognise the leadership and decision-making - initially of the caretaker Government and then the new Government - that sought to protect the vulnerable primarily and assist the economy by means of many expensive but worthwhile interventions in a wide and varied number of sectors and services, be they business, cultural, sporting or community-based. We have become more accustomed …

I thank the proposers of tonight's Bill, which I welcome. I agree with many of those who have proposed it that it complements what we had sought in opposition. It also complements remarks I made six weeks ago, as a previous speaker noted, when I sought an intervention similar to that proposed to deal with the issues around the Shannon flood risk management agency. The response from the Government this evening and discussions I have had with officials with relevant expertise in the Department and the Minister illust…

Not everybody will agree with the Government's decision on Monday to move the country to level 5 restrictions. However, not everybody was privy to the reasoning, methodology and science the CMO and NPHET used to support their call for a six-week period of level 5 restrictions. Both the Government and society are better conditioned and prepared to meet the severe demands of level 5 than they were two weeks ago. There are differences between the current lockdown and the complete lockdown in March. For example, it is …

Will the Minister update us on the implementation of the recommendations of the report by the just transition commissioner?

I thank the Minister for his response and acknowledge the progress that has been made to date on foot of the arrangements emanating from last year's budget. Other commitments contained in the programme for Government will build upon that progress. We look forward to seeing commitments in the forthcoming budget in addition to the funding that has been provided to date, as outlined by the Minister. I want to focus specifically on the final part of the Minister's answer concerning the exploratory process for providing…

Obviously applications for such funding cannot be forthcoming because there is no potential for a legal interest in the applicant while the present situation continues. While I accept the bona fides of the Minister's response, I would have thought it would be impossible for the ESB to make an application for permission to retain the structures which would supersede the previous permission and the conditions associated with it. If I am to take it at face value, the Minister is telling me that despite the publication…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue and I thank the Minister of State for making himself available to respond. I am aware of about 200 farms in south west Offaly, and some in east Galway and in Westmeath, that have been under water since July. This is not an occurrence that happens every few years. It is, unfortunately, an annual event now. Some of these areas have been designated as special areas of conservation, SACs, and restricted agricultural practices, in the best weather and circumstances, ordina…

I thank the Minister for the details in his response. In order to deal with this issue, I will concentrate specifically on the fact that the Government established a Shannon flood risk State agency co-ordination working group in 2016. Its specific remit was to support existing plans in place to address flooding. As the Minister of State alluded to, measures that have been undertaken further to that include €7 million towards a strategic programme of maintenance and the removal of constrictions or pinch points on th…

Under which Standing Order did Deputy Paul Murphy make a point of order earlier?

I agree that Deputy Ó Laoghaire said "Níl". He called a vote.

I do not need to go over the ground already covered by me and others on the devastating impact of accelerated decarbonisation in the midlands region, particularly in my constituency of Laois-Offaly. Neither do I need to go over ground already covered by me and others relating to the subsequent specific needs of the region, which will be accommodated, we would expect, by just transition funds, climate action funds and the EU coal and peat regions in transition fund. I continue, as I did last week, to insist the main…

I thank the Minister for her response. I have no doubt, based on the information she has provided to the House tonight, that there may well be a comprehensive and detailed analysis and evaluation of applications and that information is sought from relevant Departments regarding such applications. I would expect in this case of a proposed meat plant, and I do not expect the Minister to discuss this case specifically, that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine would have been consulted. I ask the Ministe…

Like previous speakers, I acknowledge and appreciate that this amendment provides for funding to be allocated from within the climate action fund to meet the demands associated with the rewetting and reinstatement of peatlands associated with Bord na Móna and the extraction of peat for various uses. However, in welcoming this provision, I ask the Minister to tell the House whether the commitments made by the previous Government on the repatriation of part of the public service obligation, PSO, funding, amounting to…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to make a personal statement to the House and to officially put on the record the facts relating to an incident that took place four years ago, in September 2016, and which has been the subject of media controversy over recent days. While I have co-operated with print and broadcast media inquiries since the issue emerged last Friday, I felt it was necessary and important as a matter of courtesy and respect to offer the Ceann Comhairle and all my peers in Dái…