I thank the Minister of State for her response on Second Stage, particularly to my question about the relocation of the Central Mental Hospital, albeit that the first half of 2021 is still unclear. From what she said - and I appreciate she is just being realistic - it seems it could be as late of June of next year. Given the urgency with which this Bill is being taken through, to which we do not object, it seems unfortunate that it will take so long to have the relocation carried out. Senator McDowell's amendment s…

The Senator famously said that.

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for appearing in person to address this Commencement matter. It calls for an update on the status of a school's application for the construction of a permanent building and a timeline for the commencement of construction. The school, details of which I have supplied, is the new Harold's Cross Educate Together Secondary School, ETSS, which opened in August 2020 with a view to eventually teaching 1,000 secondary school pupils. It will be a big school. It is currently …

I thank the Minister for the update. It is good to hear some clarity on the date on which the planning application is expected to be lodged. I will certainly keep in touch with the Minister on this issue on behalf of the school, if requested to do so. I am very conscious that there will be significant demand for places in the school in the coming years. The authorities are particularly anxious to expedite matters because no space is available in the current temporary accommodation for any incoming students in Septe…

I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her on her personal news. I am glad that I had the opportunity to congratulate her personally. I note that my former Labour Party colleague, Niamh Bhreathnach, writing in today's edition of The Irish Times , has pointed out the need for a debate on supports for women in public office. I was first elected when I was pregnant with my second daughter, and I know how glad I was that there were female Oireachtas Members before me who had fought for an Oireachtas crèch…

I welcome the Minister of State. I echo the words of Senator Wall. As he rightly said, we in the Labour Party entirely support the Government's efforts to ensure a deal is reached with regard to Brexit. We know what a critical time we are at this week. We understand and acknowledge that. We are certainly not opposing the Bill but, as Senator Wall has said, our amendment on Committee Stage last week, amendment No. 4, was not opposed by any Government Senator. It was passed. I know things can happen and that it may h…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I am standing in for my colleague, Senator Sherlock, who cannot be here. I promise that I will not mention the VAT rebate scheme, although the Labour Party was disappointed that the Government amended the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 earlier today. Of course, the Finance Bill is an annual occurrence but, as previous speakers stated, its edition this year …

I thank all colleagues who spoke last night and who supported the Labour Party's Private Members' Bill on citizenship. I very much appreciate colleagues' support in ensuring the Bill makes further progress. I look forward to working with the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to ensure we have time for this early in the new year. I thank the Leader for her personal commitment to ensuring that Government time will be made available for that. On behalf of all my Labour Party colleagues, I thank everyone for their …

I welcome the Minister. I want to first thank her for her very constructive engagement with me on this Bill, which I welcome. It is a very positive way to approach Private Members' legislation. I thank colleagues across the House for their support for the Bill. I will speak briefly about the history of the Bill and the reason we brought it forward. The principal Act we are seeking to amend, as section 1 sets out, is the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, so it is helpful at the outset of Committee Stage to…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, line 3, after “submissions” to insert “online and”. I am standing in for Senator Higgins whose rationale for putting forward amendments Nos. 7 and 8 is as follows. As we are in an emergency period, it may not always be possible for persons to engage as directly with the planning process as they normally would. However, they may still wish to submit, in writing, their views regarding the planning and development process and they should not face barriers to submitting submissions. S…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response which I will pass on to Senator Higgins. I will be withdrawing these amendments on behalf of Senator Higgins.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, line 4, after “and” to insert the following: “shall ensure that where a member of the public chooses to make a submission in writing online they are not subject to a limitation in terms of length of submission, and”.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 4, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(iii) shall take active steps to support equality of access to participation in public consultation, in relation to a proposed development plan, with particular regard to obligations under the Public Duty on Equality and Human Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability and the Aarhus Convention.”.”. I am moving these amendments and withdrawing them on behalf of Senator Higgins, who apologises as…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 4, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(iii) will support full equality of access to participation to public consultation in relation to a proposed development plan and, where particular communities, marginalised groups or age cohorts impacted by a development plan are significantly underrepresented within initial public response to a consultation, will develop further strategies to actively encourage their participation.".".

I move amendment No. 11: In page 4, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(iii) shall take active steps to support full equality of access to participation in public consultation in relation to a proposed development plan.".".

I move amendment No. 12: In page 4, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(2) The amendment effected by subsection (1) shall continue in operation until the date specified by order under section 251A(4) of the Principal Act.". On behalf of Senator Moynihan, I propose to withdrawn the amendment with a view to resubmitting it on Report Stage. I am aware it has been discussed already.

I move amendment No. 14: In page 4, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(iii) different categories of activity to which an emergency period might apply.”. I am moving the amendment on behalf of Senator Higgins. She asked me to say that the Government needs to recognise that in some circumstances not all forms of construction or construction activity are equal and there should be differentiated priority, for example, social housing development taking priority over commercial development during this em…

I move amendment No. 18: In page 5, after line 38, to insert the following: “4. The Minister shall, within two months of the passing of this Act, publish a report setting out a proposal for what new or existing resources might be made available to support local authorities to support the processes set out in section 2 .”. I am withdrawing the amendment.

I support my colleague, Senator Moynihan, who spoke on the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018, Committee Stage of which will be taken next Wednesday. I know that the Deputy Leader responded previously when I spoke on it, but we are very anxious that the Government supports its further passage. Amendments will be tabled, including one on the issue of the citizenship fee that Senator Moynihan mentioned. The crucial thing about this Bill is that if passed, it would r…

I commend Senator Ó Donnghaile and his Sinn Féin colleagues on putting forward this important motion which I am delighted to co-sponsor and co-sign on behalf of my Labour Party colleagues and the Labour Party group in the Seanad. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and thank him for his fine words. We were emailed a copy of his speech which I was just rereading. He pointed clearly to the urgent need for the establishment of this inquiry. It is welcome to see such strong support for the motion and calls for the …