As already stated, the Companies Act is reviewed regularly. This is to ensure that the original objectives remain valid and are being achieved. To that end, my Department is seeking views on a proposed companies (corporate governance, enforcement and regulatory provisions) Bill 2023. The primary focus of the latter will be on four areas of company law, namely, corporate governance, company law enforcement, company law administration and corporate insolvency. A public consultation was launched on 8 May, with members…

It is important to stress that where there is a view that there has been a breach of the Companies Act 2014, a notification to that effect can be made directly to the CEA. I encourage the Senator to follow up on the matter he has raised. The CEA is a superb organisation, which the Government has resourced significantly to carry out its new powers. I encourage the Senator to engage with it.

I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Although I have been in the House on a number of occasions in recent months, this is my first occasion to be here with you in the Chair, a Chathaoirligh. I congratulate you on your election and wish you success for your term, however long it may be. On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Senator for raising this issue. As he knows, the Department builds its water services strategic policy and infrastructure delivery progra…

I thank the Senator for his remarks. I am aware of the Clarinbridge issue. Councillor Martina Kinane has kept us up to date on that. We will refer the Senator's remarks back to the Minister as well as the list of other schemes he made available.

I join the Acting Chair in welcoming Councillor Murphy. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I thank Senator Carrigy for raising the issue. The Minister acknowledges the funding pressures on local authorities, specifically the negative impact on commercial rates income caused by the closure of Lough Ree power station in County Longford. It is recognised that Longford County Council was reliant on commercial rates from the …

We fully agree that Longford is different as regards this funding issue. That is why €4 million in extra funding was allocated over the past three years. As I said, the review of the current LPT baseline is under way. The Senator's call and requests for multi-annual funding will be looked at in the context of what comes out of the review. There will be very direct engagement with Longford County Council about this particular ask.

I thank the Acting Chairperson and join with him and Senators Gallagher and O'Donovan in paying tribute to our fire services and its members. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who is aware of the challenges associated with the recruitment and retention of retained fire personnel being experienced by some local authorities. That is why the Minister directed the management board of the national directorate for fire and emergency management, NDFEM, to review the delivery and su…

I endorse what the Senators have said. These people are our family, friends and neighbours. Every time of year, they are available to put themselves in danger to save us. That is particularly true with the gorse fires at this time of year. Senator O'Donovan is right that they do not want to be on strike. I will reflect to the Minister when I meet him the strong feeling of the House.

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Agreement Establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation, signed at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 25th October, 2016, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 30th March, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which, not later than 13th June, 2023, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 101, and Standing Order 100(2) shall a…

Táim anseo ar son an Aire Oideachais, an Teachta Foley. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the major building project that will be undertaken at Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin. A major building project to provide new suitable accommodation for Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin is included in the Department's construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan as part of Project Ireland 2040. As the Deputy said, this project will be deli…

I will bring this issue to the Minister's attention. In fairness, she has transformed the capital delivery of projects under the Department. She has secured budgets and processes. The appointment of a project manager and design team will move this project along. The project manager and design team will keep the school authorities and the patron body apprised of all developments in this major project. I am sure the Deputy will keep the pressure on the Minister.

In Carlow.

It is like a Carlow-Kilkenny fest here this evening. I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for proposing this question and providing me an opportunity to update the House on the plans of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to respond to the issues she has raised. The Minister, Minister of State and their officials are actively addressing the availability of student accommodation, given the challenges in the wider …

Far be it from me to confirm the diary of the Minister, Deputy Harris, but I am sure he will accede to a request to meet Deputy Murnane O'Connor on this issue. As she is aware, the student accommodation problem is part of the crisis currently being experienced in the overall housing market. The increasing cost of construction and financing are compounding the challenges in supply faced by all the higher education institutes in accommodating their growing student population. In responding to these challenges, the Mi…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle, leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle, agus leis an Teach, as an deis seo. Cuirim fáilte roimh mhuintir Uí Threasaigh, Cloonan agus Byrne agus roimh chairde Noel. It is not normal to travel from Ballina to Tuam via Glenamaddy, but that is what we did on 11 July 1982 as a family. We were due to go to the Galway-Mayo match that day, but my father had to go to Glenamaddy to canvass for someone called Noel Treacy, who was our candidate in the by-election then. He knew Noel through sch…

Regional development is at the centre of the Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the White Paper on enterprise, and is the key focus of our Department's work on developing and implementing the regional enterprise plans. IDA Ireland is committed to the pursuit of more balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. IDA Ireland is targeting that at least half of all investments - that is 4…

I am very well aware of the work of Shannon Chamber and Helen Downes, who does excellent work. I would point out that the biggest job announcement so far this year was made by the Minister last Friday for Dexcom in Athenry, which will benefit workers and industry in Clare with 1,000 jobs over the coming years. IDA Ireland continues to target that kind of investment into the regions, into the western side of the island as well as the eastern. We will absolutely continue to work with groups such as Shannon Chamber. L…

In fairness to IDA Ireland, given its track record, there is no need for it to pull up its socks. It is absolutely committed to delivering on this. With regard to Clare, the Shannon Estuary task force will be finalising its report and amazing opportunities are being identified. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been driving that, particularly in the offshore area. As the Minister said, we are making significant announcements there, and Clare will benefit from that. I would also point to the funding available throug…

I thank the Deputy for her question. The south-east regional enterprise plan covers Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. It was launched in Wexford on 24 March 2022. As the Deputy knows, each regional enterprise plan is overseen and monitored by a steering committee made up of regional stakeholders and chaired by a senior-level private sector businessperson. I attended the most recent meeting of the steering committee for the south-east regional enterprise plan on 23 March. The meeting was hosted in workLAB in …

I do not doubt the beauty of the park, given that it is in the Deputy's home county. It is a testament to the Government's investment in IDA Ireland's regional property programme that we can make those kinds of investments in bringing those IDA Ireland business parks up to the level they are now at. We are not building them for decoration; we are building them to attract investment and to ensure we have the best possible facilities. I am more than happy to engage with IDA Ireland on site visits to Carlow but given …