It is a fundamental principle of any enforcement regime that sanctions must be effective and proportionate. The IAA has available to it graduated enforcement mechanisms to respond to the particular type of non-compliance it faces. Its enforcement mechanisms scale up from restriction of a licence, suspension of a licence and revocation of a licence to criminal sanctions, including summary prosecution and prosecution on indictment. It should be noted that the IAA has the ability to withhold part or all of a licence f…

The three amendments – Nos. 4, 5 and 10 – are linked. In essence, we are trying to ensure a pyramid system in the approach. This entails an escalated form of enforcement. There are level 2 audit findings and then level 1 audit findings. An advisory letter is followed by a warning letter, the restriction of a licence, the suspension of a licence, the revocation of a licence and criminal sanctions, which would include summary prosecution and prosecution on indictment. What we are trying to do is ensure that the IAA h…

The IAA can restrict, suspend and revoke a licence, in full or in part, where there is a failure to comply with the regulatory requirements. It has done this. Also, the withdrawal of particular parts of a licence in respect of instances identified in the context of non-compliance relating to part of a licence is an effective and proportionate enforcement mechanism. It is important to state that administrative financial sanctions are more suited to economic regulatory roles. I can give examples of other Departments …

I cannot accept that amendment at this point because it is linked to the other amendments, but we can consider the oral hearings in advance of Report Stage.

I wish to advise the House that I am constrained by procurement law in publicly discussing matters relating to a live procurement process. For that reason, I will not be in a position to disclose any information relating to the procurement specifications or anything that is commercially sensitive or integral to this process. In addition, I reiterate that the Government is acutely aware that all major procurements must be managed in a compliant manner and that, to that end, safeguards are in place to ensure that the…

Are they not there? Sorry. I will-----

Yes. We will have them sent to-----

I note a number of issues raised today were previously addressed before this House under the Seanad Private Members' motion on 28 May 2021 and under a Private Members' motion and Government counter-motion on 2 February 2022. I would like to assure the House that this process is being undertaken in line with the Government decision of 27 July 2021 and with EU procurement law, most notably, European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulation 2016, SI 284/2016. There is no basis to support calls for Govern…

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this issue. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who is regrettably unavailable. I thank the Senator for giving me an opportunity to provide an update on the current status of the construction of a new school building for Curragh Community College and the provision of interim accommodation for the 2023-24 academic year. Curragh Community College is a multidenominational, co-educational school under the patrona…

I hear Senator O'Loughlin's concerns, which I will be relaying to the Minister. I again thank the Senator for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to outline the Department of Education's proposals to address a permanent and interim solution for the accommodation needs of Curragh Community School. As I said, plans are well advanced to initiate the architectural planning process for the permanent school building with the appointment of the project manager. Proposals are also being explored to address any…

I thank the Senator for giving me, on behalf of the Minister for Health, the opportunity to inform the House of the progress made to date regarding the provision of fertility-related treatment through the public health system. As the Senator will be aware, a commitment to introduce a model of care for infertility is in the programme for Government. The model of care was developed by officials in the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE's national women and infants health programme and approved by the Go…

I realise the importance of having these services in place. I will raise the Senator's concerns directly with the Minister. While it is not possible to give a definitive timeline for the passage of the AHR Bill through the Houses, this matter is a priority for the Government. Regarding current supports for those undertaking AHR treatment, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for such treatment is covered under the high-tech arrangement administered by the HSE. I am aware that such schemes can have a materia…

I thank Senator Conway for raising this really important matter which I am responding to on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I assure the Senator that services to support those in need of care due to long Covid are being put in place and expanded. Anyone who is concerned about long Covid should engage with their GP in the first instance for advice and referral, where needed. We know that both Covid and long Covid affect people in a range of different ways with varied symptoms, as Senator …

Again, I thank Senator Conway for raising this very important matter. We all know that long Covid can be a very disruptive and challenging illness. The most common symptoms, as the Senator outlined, are fatigue, weakness, breathlessness, anxiety, difficulties with memory and concentration and musculoskeletal pain. However, more than 50 different signs and symptoms have been identified. I understand that these symptoms can be unpredictable in nature and can fluctuate over time, which can make it challenging for pati…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On behalf of the Minister for Health, I am pleased to address the House on the Bill, which is fundamentally about health practitioners, the individuals who work tirelessly to deliver the health and social care services on which we, as patients, rely. It is about ensuring we have a safe workforce, that patients are protected and that if a complaint is made, it can be investigated as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. In Ireland, our regulated health professional…

I am taking this issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Tackling illegal dumping and other waste crime is a priority for the Minister and his Department, which continues to provide substantial support to local authorities dealing with challenging waste enforcement cases. The operation has resulted in the impounding of vehicles used for alleged unauthorised waste activities and the initiation of prosecutions. There are also investigations und…

I appreciate the seriousness of this issue and, as I said, DCC is actively engaged at a senior level with An Garda Síochána in the ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal dumping in this area. While enforcement action in this area is a matter for the local authorities, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications encourages a multifaceted approach to tackling the problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education. In that context, the Department provides significant funding to support …

I am taking this issue on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The Derrybrien wind farm was first referred by the European Commission to the Court of Justice of the EU in 2006, case C-215/06, and has been the subject of infringement proceedings, and the subject of a lump sum fine of €5 million and significant daily fines of €15,000 per day until the terms of the judgment are met, as a result of same. To comply with the judgment, the intention was for the operato…

The ESB is a commercial State company. It has accepted the decision of An Bord Pleanála and is in the process of preparing for the decommissioning and removal of the wind farm. As previously stated, the Government has explored all avenues and impacts in this regard and is satisfied that there is no legal basis for its continued operation. The Government is committed to pursuing the transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich and climate-neutral economy by no later than the end of the year 2050, as set out …

I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. As the Deputy will be aware, while the majority of public transport in Ireland is provided by the publicly-subvented bus and rail services funded through NTA's public service obligation, PSO, programme, the public transport system also includes non-subvented bus services provided on a commercial basis by bus and coach businesses of varying size. I understand the Deputy's questi…