On this occasion, the Deputy did not.

Deputy Healy-Rae did not-----

-----declare it today.

I am not saying that. He needs to declare it.

On this occasion, the Deputy did not.

Deputy Healy-Rae did not-----

This is not the first time I have raised this issue. In fact, I have been raising it for more than two years now, during which time many people have had to suffer unnecessary and avoidable difficulties in pregnancies because of hyperemesis gravidarum. It is not just difficulties, which is such a light word to use when it comes to what hyperemesis can do to people who are pregnant. I have spoken to pregnant women who have said that it leaves them vomiting hundreds of times a day. They vomit so much and so hard that …

I thank the Minister of State. I understand that this is not within his remit but it has taken the Minister two months to come up with a response that he gave me two months ago. It is an absolute disgrace. I would also like to point out that I cannot recall the last time the Minister for Health came into this Chamber to respond to a Topical Issues matter and gave the Members raising these issues respect. It is not only for us as Deputies, but for all the women who are suffering from this. It is absolutely disgracef…

Greystones Community College, North Wicklow Educate Together School, Blessington Community College, Gaelcholáiste na Mara in Arklow, Blessington Educate Together National School and Wicklow Town Educate Together National School are all located in my constituency of Wicklow. They have all had their permanent builds or temporary accommodation delayed, with no information being given as to when the projects might start or if they will start up again. Some schools do not know whether they will have accommodation availa…

We stand here today, as spokespeople for the climate within our respective parties, debating not climate initiatives, climate actions or climate targets but an accounting exercise. It is an accounting exercise where Ireland will purchase 4.1 million carbon credits that will cost €2.9 million to give the pretence that we are doing our bit for climate action and to ease our collective climate consciences. This is on top of already spending €50 million through a similar exercise with transfers from Denmark and Estonia…

This morning, I was at a briefing from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at which the speakers talked about energy poverty and expressed their concerns about what is going to happen to people regarding the high costs of energy. They said that over the course of the past year, the organisation had 230,000 requests of help, including 1,200 a day in December. I would imagine that for those thousands of people, hearing about the €847 million profit of the ESB today must be absolutely gut-wrenching. That increase the E…

This is less than the amount we are expecting in respect of the windfall tax.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, to delete lines 16 to 23 and substitute the following: “82D. The Agency, in considering designated applications, shall do so in a manner consistent with the plans, strategy, framework and objectives referred to in section 15(1) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.”.”.

I heard the Minister's response regarding this amendment meaning there would be a strengthening of the obligations and I do not agree. This amendment states that the Act and its provisions must be considered when this is being done. Those provisions outlined in the Act state that the Minister must "have regard". All I want to see happening is these provisions being taken into account. When this work and the assessments are being done, regard should be had to this section in the climate Act. As I said yesterday in t…

All my amendment does is to say that the Minister and any relevant body shall in the performance of its functions have regard to the national mitigation plan, the national adaptation framework, the approved sectoral and adaptation plans, the national transition objectives and the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. We all realise this is an emergency situation when it comes to our energy generation. I will also make the point, though, that we are also in an emergency situation when it comes to climate…

I am sorry, but I am talking about amendment No. 7.

Even when we say-----

The first point is that the plan is not a statutory instrument. The plan is a plan. It is a policy. What I am talking about here is the Act and the legal requirements under it. I think the Minister just said that he thinks this legislation is consistent with the Act. Therefore, if he believes that it is consistent with it, I do not understand why he would argue against having a component or amendment saying that it should be consistent with the Act. I have essentially included an amendment on something the Minister…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 8, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Report on Implementation 9. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the application of the provisions of this Act. This report shall include, but not be limited to— (a) the current and future status of energy security in the State, and (b) an analysis of the levels of CO2 emissions resulting from the application of this Act.” This is similar to the previous…

I am not asking the EPA to come in; I am asking the Minister to come in, present that documentation and have a debate on it. I listened to what he said and hope and assume that the McCarthy report will be laid and there will be debate in the Chamber. I am happy to withdraw the amendment if the Minister makes a commitment to have a discussion in the Chamber on the McCarthy report and energy security and, as part of that, provide the specific emissions resulting from the implementation of this Bill.