I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Minister for Education sends her apologies that she cannot make it to the debate because she is in Cavan today, but she would like to have been part of the discussion. In March, she announced a major expansion of the DEIS programme, for the first time since 2017, which means eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This is the largest ever single investment in the programme and it will extend DEIS status…

I thank Senator Crowe for raising this issue. It is important that we have this discussion given the importance of pubs and restaurants in the hospitality sector, and all they do for this country. The pub trade has been very much affected during the Covid-19 pandemic. I thank all involved in both representative bodies for their work in assisting the Government. I am conscious that Padraig Cribben has moved on as chief executive of the VFI, and John Clendennen is the new chief executive. It is great to have those as…

I thank Senator Crowe for raising this issue. I will close by reminding the House of the importance the Government has placed on supporting business, including publicans, during the pandemic. Most businesses recognise that too. We want to support businesses and jobs, but we also recognise the pressures on the SME community when its trade was restricted. We are aware of the importance of small businesses such as publicans and others in the hospitality sector right throughout the country in terms of creating jobs and…

I am glad to take this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, who is at a Cabinet meeting and could not be here. The Senator raises an important area because there has been a significant focus on passports in the past four or five months, with much pressure on the system. All online applications are processed in the same way. This includes all applications from throughout Ireland, North or South. Renewal applications, since citizenship has already been established, are generally processed wi…

I certainly will. I will bring them back to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Brophy. The point the Senator raises about extra resources and access to the hub for our political colleagues is fair. I will raise that because it would make sense for when applications are processing. The arrangements in the South with members of the Garda as witnesses can cause difficulty with tracking witnesses too. That area is being examined to see if we can improve and streamline it. There has bee…

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Article 29.5.2° of Bunreacht na hÉireann, approves the terms of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, signed by the Government of Ireland on 27th January, 1967, and laid before Dáil Eireann on 30th June, 2022. Apart from the reason we are here, it is great to have the chance to focus on the great work many are doing from an education point of view, a research point o…

There is plenty of space here.

I thank the House for its support. I thank the contributors to the debate on this very important matter. It is very clear from all of the contributions from the members of the different parties that there is great support for the hospitality sector and acknowledgement of its importance and that of all of those who work extremely hard in it. Many of us have worked in the sector over the years. For many people, it is their first or second job as they go through education or find a new career. We would like to develop…

I am delighted to have the chance to thank Deputy Higgins for this Bill, which has allowed us all to focus on a policy priority of the Government. It addresses a very important issue and one I know the Deputy is dedicated to. As with all the work she does, it is extremely well researched and based on evidence. I thank her and her team, some of whom are here, for their work on bringing forward this Bill. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and I have listened to the contributions. It is clear we are all in agreement and …

I thank the House for facilitating this discussion. We were anxious to get this legislation through before the summer break of the Houses, so that is important. I thank everybody for their help and for all their work. I thank the officials. Ms Wendy Gray who put a lot of work into this legislation over a long period of time could not be with us today. I want to give her a shout-out because she put a lot of work into this important Bill that both Houses wanted. Approximately a year and a half ago the Tánaiste commit…

I am glad to have a chance to address Senator Victor Boyhan on the important issue raised today around increasing the participation of women and diversity in local government. It is essential and I am delighted to be able to respond on behalf of Minister of State, Deputy Burke, who successfully brought his proposal through Cabinet yesterday in relation to maternity leave, which should have been there for many years. I am glad he has achieved that now. It will again assist with the participation of women and people …

As I described, a range of measures are being taken to promote gender balance and diversity in local government, including supports through local authorities for women’s caucuses and political parties. Like the Senator, I recognise all those who have been involved in promoting this, whether in the Department, local government, the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, or any of the other various councillor representative bodies, to make it happen, along with the Senator himself. Deputy Peter Burke has been a Mi…

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to provide an update on the position regarding a letter of formal notice that was adopted by the European Commission on 19 May 2022. The case concerns European works councils and the transposition of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996. The 1996 Act provides for the establishment of a European works council, or other mechanisms, in community-scale undertakings and community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consult…

The question as set out asked me what departmental processes are involved in this. The Department's involvement with the EU Commission is a process and that is exactly what I have updated the House on. To be very clear again, the Department's position is that the provisions of the 1996 Act, as amended, meet the requirements of the directive. That is our opinion as a Government and a Department.

There is currently no evidence to support an assertion that the rights afforded to special negotiating bodies and European works councils under the statutory provisions mean there is a lack of access to justice or an absence of dispute resolution mechanisms concerning their rights. However, we will engage with the European Union, as we do. Departmental officials will continue to engage with the European Commission on this matter. Should any amendments to the procedures be deemed necessary as a result of this engage…

It is good to be back in the House again to discuss this important legislation. I thank the Cathaoirleach for facilitating the debate. The issue of the definition was discussed in both Houses on a number of occasions previously. I understand the concerns that have been raised, and the Senator's amendment reflects those concerns. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, also raised the same concern. In our view, the amendment is unnecessary. The general rule is that where a term is not defined in legislation, the o…

Amendment No. 3 makes a minor but useful change to the Minister's power to set the number of sick leave days by order. As originally formulated, it would have required the Minister to specify the number of additional days to which employees would be entitled. This amendment means that an order can now simply specify the overall number of days of statutory sick leave. This reduces the risk of confusion. A single ministerial order will specify the entitlements. Amendment No. 8 aligns the language of section 6 more cl…

I thank Senator Gavan for giving me the opportunity to have this conversation and discuss the issue again. Others have also tabled amendments. The Senator quoted what Deputy Bruton said on Committee Stage. I participated in that debate and we had a good lengthy discussion on many amendments and the Bill. It was a worthwhile discussion and we teased through the issues. We introduced some changes on Report Stage in the Dáil that deal with some of the concerns, including those raised by Senator Sherlock. We have refle…

This legislation is not just because of Covid. Certainly, Covid is forced on our minds in the context of the Bill. One of the first discussions I had when I became a Minister of State was on a Bill of this nature. It has been recognised for a long number of years that Ireland does not have a statutory sick pay scheme. Therefore, Covid or no Covid, it is an important move in the right direction. I compliment all those involved and those who brought forward Private Members' Bills, including Senator Sherlock, that foc…

I understand the general purpose of the amendment and the case put forward by the Senator in the context of his son. Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 aim to alleviate the financial strain on lower-paid employees who do not benefit from having a medical card or a GP visit card. However, while I understand the intent of the amendments, it is important that there are safeguards for employers. With respect, the Senator referred to having a "full perspective". I repeat that is the job I have to do, as a Minister of State, as it …