Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Is the Bill opposed?

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

No, I am afraid not.

Is it a point of correction?

No, that is a debate.

The Deputy will have to take it up on another occasion. I am caught by the rules here. This is a motion to be taken without debate.

I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate. I will start with context and numbers. Since search and rescue, SAR, under Operation Sophia was ended in March 2019, 8,059 people have gone missing in the Mediterranean. If we take a slightly longer period, 26,377 migrants are missing in the Mediterranean as of 19 April 2014. Some 619 people are missing to date, including 58 children. According to the International Organization for Migration, IOM, quarter 1 of this year in the 21st century was the deadliest fi…

The Deputy might conclude in order to allow for the adjournment of the debate. He will be in possession when the debate resumes on Thursday.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Moynihan - to discuss the future of the courthouse building and complex in Kanturk, County Cork. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae - to discuss the introduction of statutory timelines for An Bord Pleanála to deal with appeals. Deputy Marc MacSharry - to discuss the need to introduce a tax-free allowance for landlords on the first €800 in rent received t…

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 26 April.

The Deputy can contribute again later.

Níl na Teachtaí anseo agus tá mé ag bogadh ar aghaidh.

Much as I would like the Deputy to go on, we are over time.

I am, but I have to keep the time.

Notwithstanding all those interventions, the Minister has one minute to respond.

We are going to run out of time. I hope to squeeze in three questions, with Deputies' co-operation. I ask Deputy Ó Murchú for his co-operation.

My question follows on from the Court of Appeal striking down Government policy, albeit on a very narrow ground. What is the status of the programme for Government commitment to ensure inshore waters are protected for smaller fishing vessels and pair trawling will be prohibited within the six-mile limit?

The blunt reality is that there is no protection and that was the case back in 2018 and 2019, when there had been 900 submissions with people sufficiently engaged to appeal to the Minister to do something. He did something in respect of that policy and fair play to him. It was set at naught by the Court of Appeal eventually. The Minister has been aware of this for a very long time and he has given me the same background. My concerns remain acute in respect of the lack of protection for our inland waters and the uns…

I disagree with the Minister. On every step of the procedure in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal, the courts held with the Minister. They said that he was within his powers to bring in this policy. It was the right thing to do for conservation purposes and on every step of the way the courts agreed with him. Unfortunately, the Department and the Government failed in their consultation process in respect of Europe and England. It is a vital piece of the Minister's obligation that he communicates with Europe…