The Government will have to withdraw these amendments. It is proposing significant new amendments here relating to fossil fuel infrastructure. We strongly oppose the rushed introduction of amendments relating to LNG and they should be removed. The Government amendments provide for an LNG terminal to be designated as strategic infrastructure, potentially allowing for the normal planning process to be circumvented. If approved and applied, the provisions may also allow for LNG development to be fast-tracked and for n…

A total of 57 tonnes of weapons have been transported through Irish airspace on its way to Israel without clearance from the State. What is the Government doing to challenge Israel and its collaborators regarding this illegal use of sovereign airspace? Irish airspace is being used to transfer weapons of war to commit genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. If it were not for The Ditch , we would not even know about it. The Ditch has laid bare the truth that successive Governments have failed to prot…

I will speak to amendments Nos. 59, 62 and 74. Amendment No. 62 would ensure the protection and promotion of the use of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht and beyond would be central to the national planning framework as an objective and when identifying national strategic development requirements. Conradh na Gaelige makes the point that the Minister’s guidelines in section 28 of the existing Act are strong in relation to the Gaeltacht but that they are not being enforced in the development plans. There are signif…

I move amendment No. 59: In page 66, line 29, after “and” to insert “with the approval of both houses of the Oireachtas”.

I will speak on amendment No. 116 on regional spatial and economic strategies. They should include a specific strategy for cultural matters, including space, infrastructure and facilities for creation, performance and culture engagement. Access to space is a big issue in the cultural and creative sector. Culture begins in the local community. It begins at home and in school with friends and family. Consequently, cultural activity is built on community. Local authorities have a big role to play in cultural engagemen…

I move amendment No. 116: In page 78, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “(s) a strategy relating to cultural matters, including consideration of requirements for cultural spaces.”.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I will reflect on the fact that we want a planning system that makes good decisions in a timely manner with good public participation. We want a planning system that allows the public, and the semi-State and private sectors, to meet the social and economic needs of our country, one that delivers good-quality, affordable homes, renewable energy projects, improved public transport and critical infrastructure. It should be a planning system that ensures the development of …

I move amendment No. 16: In page 43, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “Report on impact on heritage 7. An Chomhairle Oidhreachta shall, following consultation with experts on heritage, produce a report and submit it before both Houses of the Oireachtas not later than six months following the enactment of this Act, examining the impact of this Act on built and cultural heritage and the consistency of this Act with the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, and pr…

Amendment No. 19 relates to rent pressure zones and short-term letting in these zones. It is well established that there are more short-term lets being advertised in RPZs than long-term rentals. The vast majority of those short-term listings are in breach of planning law, yet the owners and online platforms that facilitate them are profiting from what are clear breaches of planning law. Sinn Féin proposed legislation in the Dáil two years ago, which the Government supported, but nothing has happened since and no ac…

I move amendment No. 19: In page 44, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(5) Within 6 months of the commencement of this Section the Minister shall law before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report detailing the enforcement of the restrictions on short-term letting in Rent Pressure Zones and further measures to ensure such enforcement.”.

Senator Higgins-----

The Senator has gone too far.

I move amendment No. 33: In page 48, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “(g) or any other person why has a martial interest in the development.”.

I welcome the Bill. I wish to make a couple of wider points that do not necessarily apply to the Minister of State's Department but certainly do apply to the Government. Sinn Féin welcomes the Bill. We believe greater flexibility in registering major life events is to be welcomed. The Bill brings us into line with other countries by allowing us to register life events online in addition to being able to do so in person. I hope the advancement will make it easier for people in times of joy and grief. We welcome the …

I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment to Cabinet. My questions relate more to how the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act ties in with this Bill. My only question on the Bill is whether the Minister of State has an indication of how much the levy will raise to support the overheads and expenses of Coimisiún na Meán. As I understand it, this is the second levy that has been introduced to cover the overheads and expenses of Coimisiún na Meán, the new media commission. However, in the Online Safet…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Sinn Féin wants to get planning right. We want a planning system that makes good-quality decisions in a timely manner following meaningful public participation. We want a planning system that allows the public, semi-State and private sectors to meet the social and economic needs of our country, that ensures the delivery of good-quality and affordable homes, renewable energy projects, improved public transport and critical infrastructure and that ensures the development …

I welcome the Minister of State. While there are many elements to the Bill that Sinn Féin supports, we are concerned that it is but a plaster and fails to address the underlying issues that are driving the need for such legislation in the first instance. We fear the Bill represents the lack of imagination within the Government in tackling crime and protecting communities. It is a clumsy attempt, not to ensure public safety, but to rescue the political future of Fine Gael as a law and order party. This is particular…

In 2002, the Hederman review into the Offences against the State Act was published. It made several key recommendations, including to repeal the existing Offences against the State Acts and to replace them with one single, consolidated Bill that should contain significant reform of the Acts. The most recent review of the Acts, published just under a year ago, reflected the recommendations of the Hederman review. More than 20 years have passed since the review. Another year has passed since the most recent review, a…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, back to the Seanad. I thank Fine Gael for bringing forward this very important motion. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Ireland. It is a sobering fact that one in two people will develop it in their lives. To put it another way, 42,000 people a year will get a cancer diagnosis. What is even more sobering is the fact that Ireland has the third highest mortality rate from cancer in western Europe, yet despite this, approximately 70 out of 240 radiation therapy pos…

I pay tribute to Cian O’Brien, who steps down as artistic director of the Project Arts Centre. I have always loved the fact he began his time at the Project working behind the bar in 2005. A year later, he produced his first show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch , before scaling the heights of artistic direction at one of Ireland’s most important cultural centres. His rapid, vertical progression in the job is proof good ideas, a wild imagination, collaborative spirit and dedicated focus will always be rewarded. In his 13…