This question refers to our forthcoming membership of the UN Security Council. I commend the Minister on the massive effort he and his team in the Department all over the world and here put into this. It is a significant achievement for a small country. Now that we have it, what are we going to do with it? Will we make a difference and leave a legacy behind after our two years?

The Minister mentioned the incredibly complex agenda. That is why, in the context of the two years we have, we do not have a significant opportunity to make an impact. I suggest the issue of climate justice should be at the heart of everything we do. The Minister will see that is at the root of the growing complexity of many of the issues he just mentioned such as peace. I listened to the exchange between the Minister and Deputy Brady around natural resources, Cyprus and Turkey. There is also the impact of the wors…

Young people internationally would put climate justice on the agenda, even in those five permanent member countries. In terms of the complexity of the issues involved, what resources is the Minister intending to apply to the membership in terms of extra staff and investment? Will there be an allocation in next week's budget specifically towards serving our membership and maximising our voice at Security Council level?

I thank the Minister for his impassioned response. Rail freight does win the case and the Minister does not have to doubt his belief in it. Deputy Canney and I emphasised that point when we spoke to him at the West-On-Track meeting some weeks ago. A total of 1,000 freight trains per year leave Mayo to serve Dublin and Waterford ports. Those freight train journeys displace 20,000 long-distance truck movements annually but there is potential for much more. The Minister is absolutely on track, if I may use that phrase…

Seo an chéad uair go bhfuil mé sa Seomra agus an Leas-Cheann Comhairle sa Chathaoir. Guím comhghairdeas agus gach rath di ar a post nua. This is a timely debate and I have been listening to many of the contributions from my office. It is now six months since the first phase of the first lockdown. We are coming up to the preparation of the budget. This morning's report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is useful in considering the direction of public expenditure around Covid and what we need to do in budget 202…

I join colleagues in complimenting the Minister and her departmental officials on the superb job they have done to date in getting our schools up and running. I also compliment school communities throughout the country, including principals, teachers, special needs assistants, caretakers, secretaries and boards of management, who worked late into many nights over the summer to get their schools reopened. It is vital that we keep them open and operating safely and that we have full rapid testing facilities in place …

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this very important issue. Many Members of both Houses have been raising it with me. Along with the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, who has direct responsibility for forestry, I brought a memo to Government earlier this week proposing a number of initiatives for the forestry sector with a particular emphasis on licensing issues. These initiatives implement some of the commitments in the programme for Government on forestry. Their early consideration reflects the importance we…

I thank the Deputy once again for his suggestions. I am happy to confirm to him that we are in the process of appointing ecologists and we will have a number of new ecologists in place in the Department by the end of the month. We have a detailed project plan in place for dealing with the backlog and new applications which includes significant extra resources. As I said, these will include ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff. The project plan is a targeted, process-driven approach which will pr…

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this matter and for his contact over the past days. As the Deputy has said, the pier in Union Hall is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its operation, maintenance and development lies with Cork County Council and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I have, therefore, no direct remit in this regard. As part of our annual fishery, harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme my Department provides limited …

On Union Hall pier, my Department has no specific remit on the matter but we will reach out to Cork County Council given the case the Deputy has made to me over a number of days to ascertain the viability of those alternatives. With regard to Dinish pier, my Department is engaging with the company and much discussion is under way. I am anxious to see the project proceed. I will take the Deputy up on his invitation to visit that part of the country as early as I can to see the facilities for myself and to meet the v…

There are no marine piers in Tipperary.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the Orders of the Dáil of yesterday, that a motion re approval of nomination by An Taoiseach of a member of the Government shall take place immediately following Leaders' Questions today, the proceedings on the motion shall conclude within 40 minutes, speeches shall be confined to a single round of five minutes each by An Taoiseach and the leader of each Opposition party or group or a Member nominated in his or…

Or three.

If the Business Committee wishes to consult, I can see what ministerial availability there is. The only time we have is late Thursday evening, from a quick look at the schedule. If you want to consult and advise me, I will see what ministerial availability we can organise.

I will not commit to Thursday night but I have no difficulty with statements.

It could be next week, yes.

I move: That Dáil Éireann, noting that the Government, on 18th February, 2020, agreed to the appointment of Sinéad Gibney as Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and, on 12th June, 2020, agreed to nominate Rosaleen McDonagh, Ray Murphy, Lucy Michael, Jim Clarken, Adam Harris, Kathleen Lynch and Michael Finucane and, on 6th July, 2020, agreed to nominate Sunniva McDonagh, for appointment by the President as members of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, recommends, pursuan…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 7th July, 2020, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those next set down to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Minister for Education and Skills whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 7th July, 2020, shall continue with Ques…

Ceapadh mé mar Phríomh-Aoire agus mar Aire Stáit don Ghaeltacht, don Ghaeilge agus don spóirt agus tá mé thar a bheith sásta a bheith anseo ag labhairt faoi Mheastacháin Athbhreithnithe mo Roinne. Táim ag súil go mór le tús a chur le mo ról agus a bheith ag obair leis an Aire, an Teachta Catherine Martin, sa Roinn mar aithním an tábhacht faoi leith atá ag baint leis an nGaeilge mar chéad teanga na tíre, mar theanga beo agus mar chuid riachtanach d’ár n-oidhreacht mar oileán. Beidh mise i mo ról mar Aire Stáit diong…

Aontaím leis an Aire, an Teachta Martin, faoin obair atá déanta ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh agus ag a chlann. Maidir le cúrsaí an údaráis, tuigim an brú faoina bhfuil sé ach bhí ardú sa bhuiséad deireanach. Beidh muid ag obair leis an údarás chun go mbeidh sé san áireamh sa phacáiste spreagtha a sheolfar i mí Iúil chun an dochair atá déanta ag Covid a réiteach. Bhí airgead breise ag an údarás sa bhliain seo. Tá sé ag déanamh an-obair leis an airgead sin. Labhair mé faoi na comharchumainn agus Gteic. Beidh siad sin an-…