As the Leader knows, I have stood many times in this Chamber and argued and advocated to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel. I stood in Foynes for five days with the protesters. I want to focus on home heating oil today. There was a debate in the Dáil yesterday and my colleague, Deputy Doherty, brought legislation through. Home heating oil has never been reduced. Not one cent has ever come off it. It disproportionately affects rural Ireland because in rural Ireland, there is no other choice. There is no gas netwo…

I cannot fault anything in the motion. It is good that we continue to speak about the issue.

Yes, I know - shock, horror. It is not like me to stand up and not give out about something, but there is a twist near the end. We need to keep talking about childcare because there are still issues. We can keep working and working but there will always be. If it is not the affordable side, it will be the accessibility side. I can see it from all sides. I went through the childcare system with my own children. Fourteen years ago, I had to leave my job because I could no longer afford it. What I had to pay for my ki…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I am probably the only person who will stand up and not necessarily advocate for vaping but I will advocate against the banning of flavours. As everyone knows, I am a former smoker and a current vaper. I have spoken to many people over the summer. It is funny. When you are on a night out and you leave the pub or you are at a wedding and you go outside to have a vape, because we have spoken about this so much in the House the first thing people say to me is: "Oh my God…

I second the amendment.

I will break the Internet today by not giving out for the first time.

Yes, I am not going to give out. Regardless of what is said to me I am going to be nice today on our last day. I echo what is being said about everybody enjoying their break and the thanks to all the staff in here. It can be very daunting when you first come in but everybody makes you feel like you can do it. It is great to work here. I am going to end by wishing the Limerick hurlers the best of luck on Sunday. I am proposing that everybody in Limerick gets a day off on Monday because there will be mighty celebrati…

I second the amendment.

I am going to speak to amendments Nos. 2, 4 and 8. Amendment No. 2 makes it absolutely clear that the strategic emergency gas reserve is exactly that: an emergency reserve. It cannot become another source of gas for day-to-day commercial supply or market management. As my colleagues have said, we need to know what "emergency" actually means when it comes to this reserve. If we are establishing this facility on energy security grounds, it must only ever be used in a genuine emergency, as defined under EU rules. Amen…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: " "Emergency use only" has the meaning as defined by the N-1 infrastructure standard defined by EU Regulation 2017/1938 only. A Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning cannot be used for management of day-to-day energy demand;".

I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “ “temporary” has the meaning that a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning shall be in operation for a limited time frame of 10 years only;“the Regulator” means the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities;”.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 10, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “ Expenses 4 . (1) The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure,Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. (2) The expenses to establish a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance a…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 10, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: " State-led 5 . (1) The Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve constructed, operated and maintained under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning will be a State-led asset. (2) Any permission granted under this Act and all future Acts relating to construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve must be explicitly limited to a public…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 10, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: " Gas demand 5 . (1) The Minister shall ensure that a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve established under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning does not lead to an increase in gas demand. (2) The Minister, within 12 months of the commencement of this Act, shall lay an annual report before both Houses of the Oireachtas which demonstrates that the Strategic Emergency Gas …

I move amendment No.8: In page 10, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “Temporary and emergency use 5. (1) The Minister shall ensure that a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve established under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning is temporary and for emergency use only. (2) The Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas annually which demonstrates that the Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve is temporary and for emergency …

I move amendment No .9: In page 10, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “Meaningful public consultation 5. The Minister shall ensure meaningful public participation, including— (a) accessible publication of all technical material, (b) community impact assessments, and (c) public hearings where significant local effects are identified.”. This amendment is around consultation. Communities deserve to be properly informed and consulted about infrastructure of this scale. This amendment provides for access…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 10, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “Decommissioning 5. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the commencement of this Act, outline a plan for decommissioning any Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve constructed, operated, maintained or decommissioned under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning.”. Amendment No. 10 is around decommissioning. If this is a temporary reserve, which is in the name of the Bill,…

Just in case.

It is about having a plan in place for if or when we do not need the reserve and that it is not left up to the Government of the day.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 10, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “ Review 5. Any approval granted under this Act shall be subject to review every 3 years.”. Amendment No. 11 concerns review, in particular, a three-year review. Given Ireland's energy landscape changes throughout time, it proposes there would be a mandatory review every three years to ensure the reserve remains necessary and appropriate in light of developments of renewable energy storage and interconnection. It is really just t…