I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Minister of State and I both know that Ireland is a nation of dog lovers. We love our dogs and we love our pups but the reality is many people in Ireland would be absolutely horrified if they knew what the back story of those pups was. They would be disgusted to know that those pups came from a nightmare situation the pup's mother is probably still living through. It is where a pregnant female dog can be bred over and over again in horrific conditions that are …

She is talking so much rubbish.

I thank everybody who contributed today. It is clear that this Bill is supported by most Members of the House. Most people can understand the need for it and the urgency with it. That is why, when the Minister of State spoke initially about a 12-month delay, I was concerned because that would mean that, over those 12 months, another 100,000 pups will be born in Ireland, many of them in horrific conditions. I understand the need to go through processes and I know a number of consultations are taking place. It is rea…

Today I want to raise issues in relation to special education needs in Wicklow. I am really concerned about children who have special education needs. I have been trying to raise this with the Minister of State and am really disappointed that he is not here today. I have been trying to talk to him on the floor of the Dáil for the past few weeks in relation to this issue. I am worried from a number of different perspectives but ultimately, there are three areas of concern. First, the NCSE has set up a new system thr…

I was hoping to.

I am finding this really frustrating. In the response the Minister of State gave – I absolutely acknowledge that is the response she was given and I know this is not her portfolio – she stressed that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to it after 1 October. First, how are children to be made known to the NCSE if the portal is closed? Second, this has not happened. There has been no contact at all in respect of those parents and children who were not able to get their letter of eligibility. Th…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I really welcome the opportunity to bring the Just Transition (Worker and Community Environmental Rights) Bill 2021 to Second Stage and have it debated here in the Chamber. As we move closer and closer to the 2030 and 2040 targets, as our world becomes more vulnerable and we can see much more clearly the impact of climate change and the need to change how we are operating, this Bill is becoming increasingly important. This Bill provides for the establishment of a b…

I thank everybody for their contributions this evening. It is a very important issue and debate. I take the Minister of State's point in relation to the current commission and the work it is doing. I understand that the Government is afraid that legislating for this now may distract from its current work programme but I ask that the Minister of State or the Minister go and discuss this with the commission. When we look at its first report, it is very clear about what needs to be seen. This is a really positive mess…

It is freezing outside and, as we sit in this Chamber, there will be people sitting at home - elderly people and people experiencing energy poverty - who will be afraid to turn on their heating because they know they simply cannot afford to. They will leave it as long as possible before they can make themselves comfortable, and that is not right in a wealthy country like Ireland. We are at a situation now where prices for electricity have almost doubled in the past five years. It has gone from €976 for an average b…

A week is a long time in politics and it seems my question could be out of date. It is on whether the Department has developed a contingency or plan B in the event that Ireland is not granted a further extension of the nitrates derogation.

The Minister mentioned the habitats directive has been a key part of these negotiations and that he had discussions in the summer with the Commissioner regarding incorporating the habitats directive into the plans. Can he give more information on exactly what that will mean for farmers, and what supports will be provided to ensure they can comply with that? The habitats directive is a robust compliance measure, so this is going to be very hard. This has been one of my arguments all along. We have had the derogation…

My understanding is the nitrates action plan has screened out appropriate assessments. Is that correct? How does the habitats directive fall into that action plan? The Minister is saying appropriate assessments may be part of this for farmers. I do not know whether that is on a catchment level or an individual site level. Our concerns have always been that farmers were being led to a cliff and there was a level of uncertainty for them. There is now a three-year gap but, unfortunately, I imagine we could be back int…

The Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, was asked about Mercosur on the TV during the week and he immediately went to the nitrates derogation. Can the Minister confirm there has been no deal done in Europe that the nitrates derogation would be given, contingent on his support for the Mercosur deal or not fighting or opposing it?

I am hugely concerned about the lack of ambition in the national transport plan that was issued yesterday. Luas Finglas, which received planning permission this month, will not start construction until 2029. This is not a complicated project; it is a 4 km extension. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach promised to accelerate the Cork Luas. There is no funding for it in this plan. Similarly, DART+ South West is also now on the long finger. That has had full planning permission but it will not start construction until 20…

The N81 did not get a mention.

That is a safety issue.

Could we even have 30 seconds to ask a question and then maybe the Taoiseach could respond?

No, but we could stay within the time.

It will come as no surprise to the Minister that I and the Social Democrats will not be supporting this motion. I am speaking specifically about the greyhound industry. This is not a technical matter, it is a question of ethics, accountability and the use of public money. The cruelty in the greyhound industry is well documented and undeniable. While on Irish tracks these dogs are regularly recorded with broken legs, crushed vertebrae, ruptured tendons and catastrophic spinal injuries. Some of these injuries are so …

The Deputy can get into his car and-----