I want to ask the Minister about the status of the ongoing review of the Navan rail line, the date on which the review will be completed and the date on which the results of the review will be published.

Last night, my party and almost all of the Opposition supported the climate Bill. It is not easy for the Opposition to support the Government. Our party did that because the Bill states that this State is taking climate action seriously and that it recognises climate change as a challenge. In addition, targets for 2030 and 2050 are enshrined in the Bill. How we get there will be contested and so our support was reserved support. We will continue to fight for just transition. The Navan rail line will be a measure of…

Meath County Council and the people of Meath are doing everything right with this project. They are putting their hands up and preparing plans. The focus on Dunshaughlin and Navan for compact and transport-led development is entirely consistent with existing policies. The people of Meath, the local authority and the representatives are doing the right things and they should be rewarded for that if the policy means anything. On the selection of the route, there was an argument initially that this project was designe…

A number of weeks ago, I raised the proposed acquisition of Smurfit Kappa News Press in Kells by KIP Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corp. The matter is currently with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. At that stage, I told the Tánaiste there were concerns the terms and conditions of employment and redundancy would be under threat and he said he would ask his officials to contact the company. Now, regrettably, those concerns have been heightened and it is feared the company will close i…

I welcome the fact that the House has made time for statements on international travel but it is more than statements that we need. We have had statements on the matter on several occasions, not least in recent weeks. There are many people interested in this sector. More than 140,000 people across the State are dependent on it, directly or indirectly, and to a man and to a woman they are very anxious for the Government to outline and present a plan and, in the meantime, for it to provide supports for the sector and…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, line 8, to delete “the transition” and substitute “a just transition”. I am disappointed to see reflected in the Bill that the Government has taken nothing on board from the 12 hours of Committee Stage scrutiny we had on this Bill last week. Some 231 amendments from Opposition politicians were put forward and not only did the Minister refuse to accept any of them, he also failed to bring forward any of his own based on what was said at the lengthy Committee Stage hearings. We high…

I am sorry, but we have had a three-hour debate on this group of amendments. The first amendment is in the names of a group of Sinn Féin Teachtaí Dála. I would like to push that to a vote at this stage. I think Standing Order 78 provides for that.

Does Standing Order 78 provide for termination of the discussion at this stage? We have had three hours of debate. I think Members would like the opportunity to have their say.

All right.

I have no interest in stymieing debate at all but I am very conscious we have spent the past three hours and 20 minutes speaking to three groups of amendments out of more than 160 amendments. We are discussing amendments Nos. 1, 3 and 19 to 23, inclusive. Many Members who went to the bother of tabling amendments have not yet had the opportunity to speak to them, although they are speaking to other amendments on other important matters. I thought if we could move from this group of amendments, we could move to amend…

I want to raise the crisis facing our aviation sector. The collapse of Stobart Air last weekend came as another major blow for the sector and for our regional economies. The announcement followed the recent Aer Lingus base closures in Cork and Shannon. After 15 very difficult months, hundreds of workers have been made redundant. It is now reported that Nordica, the Estonian state-owned airline, may take over the Kerry-Dublin route. This is welcome, as any future re-establishment of public service obligation, PSO, r…

I too commend Deputy Mac Lochlainn and Deputy Doherty for bringing forward this motion. It is timely and very important. I extend my solidarity to the people of County Donegal who came in such great numbers today and commend them for everything they have gone through to fight their corner. It is clear the scheme in place is not fit for purpose. Deputy O'Reilly referenced how the experience of building, creating and investing in one's own home, full of hope and plans for the future, only to see that literally crumbl…

What are the Minister of State's plans to increase funding and resources for the NCSC? When will the capacity review of the centre be published? Will he make a statement on the matter?

May I ask about the position of director? What moneys are available to fund that role? When will it be filled? There is considerable interest in that. At what stage are the risk analyses of critical infrastructure that are under way or that have been conducted? When will they be reported on? Is the Minister of State satisfied the review is comprehensive enough in scope? The remit extends beyond the NCSC. There are some indications from expert witnesses that we need a new regulatory structure, the equivalent of the …

I thank the Minister of State. I ask him to revert to me on the regulatory framework within which cybersecurity operates. The NCSC has an important role and needs to be resourced and equipped but it is one piece in an overall jigsaw. Is the Minister of State satisfied? It was suggested by experts that the system is of a type that needs to be taken within the Department of the Taoiseach. Is the Minister of State satisfied that the overarching systems are being reviewed and assessed? On a related matter, bearing in m…

When will the review of the North-South interconnector be published? Will the Minister request that EirGrid halt all activities relating to the construction of the interconnector, including stopping procurement processes, until such time as the Government review into the project is undertaken and reports? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

On the current review, has the Minister appointed a review team yet? If so, who is involved and when were they appointed? If not, when will the team be appointed? What is the timeline for its work? When and where will it meet and who will it engage with? I read the terms of reference for the review. This is a missed opportunity to get the project back on track because it does not do the two things that are needed. The first is to provide assurance that the best and most up-to-date evidence is being used and the pro…

Energy needs in the North have changed substantially according to the information presented. That points to the need to have some analysis and a review of this project that is up to date and takes on board current and future demand. I note reports in the Sunday newspapers on the prospect of blackouts and concerns about energy security. I believe the North-South interconnector is a perfect example of the failed efforts of EirGrid, supported or enabled by Government, to deliver needed projects. Will the Minister ackn…

I raise the vaccine roll-out in County Meath. Everyone wants the roll-out to be a success and I welcome the comments commending those involved in the roll-out. I of course encourage people to take their appointment when they get it. However, in County Meath there is an acknowledged capacity issue at the testing centre in Simonstown. This is in part because County Meath has suffered from years of under-resourcing in public health and primary care, which I know from my time working in the health service and from the …

Will there be a second vaccination centre?