I want to raise two issues relating to energy. The first, which I have raised on numerous occasions, is the need for Ireland to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty. Once again, the European Commission is going to make a proposal that the EU withdraw from that treaty as a bloc, which would, of course, be the most effective way for a withdrawal. Once again, the Government seems to want to hold back and say that it will wait until there is a majority. However, there will not be a majority unless Ireland joins thos…

Before we move to our next speaker, I welcome pupils from Deravoy National School to the Seanad. We are discussing the windfall tax on energy. I hope they can understand what we are saying. Our next speaker is Senator Seán Kyne.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The introduction of this measure and the process leading up to this legislation has been quite the saga. We are aware the EU introduced its regulation in October 2022 and the Government announced its intentions in November. However, here we are and it is coming up to summer recess and the finishing touches are still only being made to the Bill. We saw the first draft in March and pre-legislative scrutiny was completed in May. Almost one month later, the Minister announced he would…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I also welcome our guests from VOICE, the environmental NGO. This is an important debate. The Sinn Féin Seanad team has tabled this Bill because we are fully supportive of the need to move to a circular economy. Our planet has finite resources and we cannot continue to waste them in a take-make-waste business model. A key problem that we believe was not addressed in the circular economy Bill is that big corporations are dumping pe…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I will pick up on the EU regulation element. The Minister of State has confirmed it just applies to textiles, which was my understanding. That is deeply disappointing. As he rightly pointed out, France has gone further than that on a national level. The argument that products will simply be shipped to another country does not stack up. If that was the case then France did not have those concerns despite it having a rail network that would make it easier and cheaper fo…

Next Tuesday.

I am speaking in favour of the amendment. It is a very good suggestion. Access to justice is such an important issue and fees should not be a barrier to it. However, we need consistency across the board. I look forward to hearing what the Minister says about this particular amendment. We should also open the discussion up to forestry, planning and freedom of information complaints. If somebody puts in a complaint and it is upheld, they should have their fees reimbursed.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. As the Minister of State is well aware, the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss has completed its work, and I want to acknowledge and commend the remarkable 100 individuals involved who, over the seven meetings from May to January of this year, produced a report which includes 159 agreed recommendations from its 99 members. It is crucial for all of us, as Members of the Oireachtas, to thoroughly study the report and consider its recommendations, and for the Government to take …

For some reason, the Minister of State seems to think that a review of the Arterial Drainage Act means a complete cessation of all flood management works but that is just scaremongering. It is the same type of scaremongering that we are seeing with regard to the nature restoration law by the European People's Party group in Brussels. What we are talking about is a review of the Act so that it is fit for purpose and protects properties, towns and villages while also protecting our biodiversity. The Minister of State…

It breaks the law.

I have the proof. I have the proof and it has been printed in the newspapers. If it is not true, the OPW would have taken a case against-----

The OPW breached the law and was not prosecuted.

That is why I am getting so hot and bothered about it.

I brought the evidence to the Department.

On a point of order-----

On a point of order-----

On a point of order, I have the evidence-----

I have it from the Office of the Information Commissioner that it recommended a prosecution against the OPW and the Minister of State knows that. The Minister of State knows that. He knows I have the evidence.

I add my congratulations to Kilmainham Gaol. I echo that there are incredible workers in the OPW. Many of the tour guides - I have raised this in this House before - are on contracts that prevent them from progressing beyond a certain grade. That causes them to leave because no matter how experienced or qualified they are, they cannot progress beyond that point. There are incredible people who work in the OPW. This morning during a Commencement matter I raised concerns that senior management in the OPW break the la…

The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, as it is the National Parks and Wildlife Service.