Now that we have had a spokesperson from each party in the House, it is my great pleasure to invite the Minister to address the issue.

I understand Senator Maria Byrne proposes to share time.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I have received notice from Senator Pauline O'Reilly that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide multi-annual funding streams to community environmental organisations, including Green Sod Ireland. I have also received notice from Senator Garret Ahearn of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to outline his plans to bring forward new legislation on organ donation …

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler. I invite Senator Pauline O'Reilly to address her Commencement matter.

I thank the Senator, including for her impeccable timing.

I thank Senator Craughwell. I can only assume that he was extremely successful at collecting tips at the Castle Inn.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for accepting this matter for discussion. It relates to a very pertinent contemporary issue, and I appreciate the fact that he recognises this. I thank the Minister of State for being here to answer questions on it to inform the House of any developments. We can be thankful that the debate on the science of climate change is effectively over. There are very few naysayers left. It is now a matter of implementing solutions and deciding how to address the problem. To be technical, there is wh…

I thank the Minister of State for that response. It is a very positive and encouraging response because one of the things people outside this building will be wondering about is where the action is. The Minister of State indicated that the Minister has committed to publishing a consultation on the development of a green hydrogen strategy in the first half of this year. He also stated that as part of this strategy the Department will look at areas of demand where we think green hydrogen will be necessary, competitiv…

I thank my colleague, Senator Maria Byrne, for giving me her place in this debate and waiting until later to speak to allow me to go to see Gabriel Byrne in the Gaiety Theatre. My wife has come up to go to that show so I cannot reasonably avoid the appointment. I welcome the Minister to the House. I am very happy with the fact that she has unequivocally stated that there will be a policy of zero tolerance. It is the unanimous view of this House that that is how it should be. The Minister will lead on that. In light…

I welcome the Minister to the House. It is worthy of note that he turns up in person to address these issues on a consistent basis. In doing that, he recognises the seriousness of the issues, but he is also very consistent in being here to address them. That should be acknowledged and welcomed. Apart from acknowledging my colleagues on the select committee on Brexit and what a pleasure it was to work with them and how seriously everyone took it, all colleagues would agree that special thanks are due to the Chair of…

That was important. When Brexit was discussed a few years ago, there was a sense of it being Armageddon, in particular in the region I come from. There was a fear that we would have a hard border and that the Good Friday Agreement would be in peril. There was also a fear of a return to violence in the country and east-west tariffs and customs. It was a very bleak scenario. It is a great tribute to the Government, the Minister and the diplomatic services, and to all of us in our own roles, in that when we went abroa…

I thank Senator Buttimer and I call now Senator Horkan to speak.

It is my pleasure to welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ossian Smyth, to the House and invite him to respond to the debate so far.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive and very positive response. As I call my colleague, Senator Malcolm Byrne, to speak, I warmly congratulate him on the legislation and piloting it through the House with such a level of unanimity. It is a great personal achievement by him and I offer him my congratulations on that.

I thank the Senator. I congratulate Senator Wall on his pioneering work in this area.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to sit again?

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House.