I came from a committee meeting in order to come in briefly on this matter. It is something I have followed up on. It is now nearly three years since the Government committed to doing something in this area. A sum of €100,000 was made available for the feasibility study. The latter is concise in parts and unfocused in others. What is clear, however, is what was recommended, namely: the establishment of a wool council; training to be provided in respect of wool handling, presentation, sorting and grading; data colle…

My question is specific. I am looking for the status of the programme for Government commitment to ensure that inshore waters are protected for smaller fishing vessels. I ask this in the context of a policy that was readied in 2018. It is now 2023. In those years since, there has been a significant increase in the number of sprat caught. We need a drastic reduction in the annual sprat catch and that is not happening. The opposite is happening.

It might be sub judice , and I more than anyone appreciate that, but I am not prevented from commenting on this. This policy was brought forward in 2018 and 2019 for a very good reason, which was to have sustainable fishing, help local fishermen and reduce the unsustainable number of sprat that were being caught. Now, we have a good news story. The Minister of State is admitting and has set out that the judgment by the Court of Appeal in July, which was more than eight months ago, was substantially in favour of the…

I would like to take the Minister of State's assurances on a personal basis, but I cannot in view of what has happened since 2018 and 2019. It has gone through the courts. The people who took the case lost the case. The Minister of State admitted that the judgment was substantially in favour of the Government. We have to have some outline of what is going to happen when the Government gets the final judgment. We must have some explanation for how there was no stay on the order for the period of time given the impor…

Baineann mo cheist le hionad lae in Áras Mhic Dara i gcroílár na Gaeltachta atá dúnta le breis agus trí bliana anois gan chúis nó le cúiseanna atá ag athrú an t-am uilig. Deirtear gurb é easpa foirne, easpa spáis nó HIQA an chúis ach is é an príomhrud ná go bhfuil sé dúnta. Is scannal amach agus amach é. I am asking about the day centre in Carraroe i gcroílár na Gaeltachta, which, inexplicably, remains closed. Covid-19 was given as the reason for in the beginning, but it is three years later and the centre remains …

Seanad Éireann has passed the Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023, without amendment.

Tá an Teachta ag déanamh go maith. Fair play dó.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle agus gabhaim mo bhuíochas freisin don Grúpa Neamhspleách Tuaithe a lig dom an t-am seo a úsáid. Is maith an rud go bhfuil deis againn a bheith páirteach sna ráitis seo. Bheinn i bhfad níos sásta dá mba rud é nach raibh gá leo. Is é seo an t-ochtú bliain agus mé i mbun ráitis agus, i ndáiríre, táim bréan de. Rachaidh mé ar ais agus beidh mé dearfach i gceann cúpla nóiméad ach cén uair a dtiocfaimid go dtí an pointe nach mbeidh gá le ráitis, go mbeidh an Ghaeilge ina rud nádú…

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 Thomas Gould - to discuss the voids return scheme. Deputy Michael McNamara - to discuss the need for new wastewater infrastructure in Carrigaholt, County Clare. Deputy Joe McHugh - to discuss school building projects in Donegal. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor - to discuss the crisis facing recruitment for Carlow and Kilkenny’s children’s disability ne…

Dia dhaoibh ar Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan. Tá súil agam go mbeidh bhur tacaíocht agam. Táim ag tosú leis na Saincheisteanna Tráthúla agus is é an chéad ceann, in ainm an Teachta Michael Moynihan, ná to discuss the lack of availability of State-owned lands for industrial development in Charleville, County Cork.

Táimid thar am ach tá an Teachta chomh dearfach sin.

In my two minutes, I want to focus in. I have already wished everybody a happy International Women’s Day. The theme this year is to embrace equity, and it has been pointed out to us that equity allocates the resources and opportunities needed to get an outcome. While it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day, it is also important that that celebration does not obscure what we are talking about: the radical roots of International Women’s Day which started in 1911 and the changes that need to be made. At…

Amendment Nos. 1 and 7 are related and will be discussed together.

Is the Minister finished?

We are out of time. With the co-operation of the Taoiseach, I will take the last two speakers. I call Deputy Michael Healy Rae.

There are eight contributors, so I ask for their co-operation. Each may have up to one minute.

I thank the Deputy.

We are way over time.

Deputy, please.

For Members who are listening, this debate is moving quickly so they might keep a close eye on proceedings. There are many who want to participate who are not present.