Apologies, I did not realise Senator Higgins wanted to come in.

We have heard a lot in recent times about maternity leave not being available. It is in that context that I wish the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and her husband, Paul, who is a good Roscommon man, every good wish for the future. In today's edition of the Irish Independent Lorraine Hall, a Fine Gael councillor, talks about the treatment of pregnant Deputies. She stated that she had to return to work when her baby was three weeks old. That is appalling. I cannot stress strongly enough the urgent need to dea…

I welcome the Minister. As many speakers have said, he is an honourable man. One of the most important qualities in politics is to be able to listen and understand people. I have often defended the Minister in rural areas, particularly with some farming groups. I have said the Minister will listen and understand and knows we have challenges, particularly in agricultural areas. From speaking to him, I know what the Minister wants to do for small and medium-sized farmers. He wants to make farming pay for them and com…

In the Ballinasloe area, a number of residents were woken in the early hours of Sunday, 22 June 2020 by a low-flying aircraft. It has now been established that the aircraft belonged to the RVL Group, an English-based firm that specialises in aerial surveys. It was previously reported that the firm had completed survey flights over parts of Westmeath in the early hours of 4 November. Online flight records show that a Cessna 404 Titan registered to RVL Aviation took off from East Midlands Airport near Derby in Englan…

Senators Buttimer and Chambers have indicated so I call Senator Buttimer. Anybody else who wishes to speak on this amendment should please give me his or her name.

As this is Committee Stage, Senators can speak as often as they wish.

I remind Members that because we are on Committee Stage, they can speak as often as they wish and for as long as they wish. I do not want to over-encourage Senators, which could be dangerous. I welcome the Minister of State. I have a long list of speakers. The next speaker is Senator Chambers.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

It cannot be moved, but the Senator can speak to it.

I thank the Senator. I am very proud to hear him speak about Strokestown Park House and Gardens, the National Famine Museum and County Roscommon.

I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Fitzpatrick. Every morning that I walk from a hotel to Leinster House, I see people on the streets having slept there overnight and I ask myself why that is with so much money and so many agencies around the city. People down the country who do not like to see people on the streets ask me constantly why they are still there. It is time to look at that and see how we can avoid that situation. I agree with Senator Hoey regarding young people who are carers. It was a mo…

I agree with much of what Senator Seery Kearney has said. This debate is important and it is very important that everybody states what they think of this Bill. If Members have doubts about certain sections of it, this is the way to have the debate but I do not agree with my good friends on the other side of the House. The provisions in this section will enable further engagement with the public. It will not remove engagement from the equation. Senators from Fine Gael, the Green Party and Fianna Fáil would not suppo…

The Senator might allow me to make my point. The definition of the word "shall" legally means something must be done as opposed to the term "may", which simply means that something is allowed. In other words, "may" means it can be done but it does not have to be done. Surely the interpretation and legal definition of the word "shall", which is clearly stated in the Bill which provides that a planning authority "shall consult with members of the public in such manner" and so forth, is in black and white and means th…

I understand that Senator Craughwell is spokesperson for the Independent group.

I simply wanted to clarify that the Senator has eight minutes.

I welcome the Minister of State. He has had a keen interest in education over a long period. I know that with him and the Minister, Deputy Harris, we have two people who will drive this project. It is in safe hands. So many speakers have mentioned that it is great to have the development that we have now. To have the ongoing consultation and drive to make things happen following this announcement is important. This project is really exciting for the west and north west. We often ask in the west and north west what …

I fully endorse the comments of Senator Ó Donnghaile regarding the disappointment we all feel in respect of the appalling death of Pat Finucane. The Senator is correct. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and both Houses of the Oireachtas have been snubbed by the British authorities. I do not want to go into all this again, but there is clear evidence of the collusion that went on. It is appalling that, even at this late stage, the British authorities will not own up and give in to this pu…

I welcome the Minister of State. We have met outside the House but not inside it. I offer him all good wishes in his portfolio.

Before the Minister of State responds, I note Senator Cummins wishes to make a comment.

If Senator Boyhan wishes to come back in after the Minister of State replies, he can do so. Would the Minister of State like to comment at this stage?