Hear, hear.

It is great to see Senator Buttimer in the Chair and to see the new Leader, Senator Chambers. I wish them all the best for the coming term. I want to raise an issue which probably will not surprise people, given it is about dog welfare. I put this down as a Commencement matter and I will appeal the decision taken because I think the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has a role in this case. It is in the Cathaoirleach's own county. Cork County Council issued a closure order on a puppy farm in Doneraile o…

Hear, hear.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I echo the concerns with regard to what we are hearing about proposals to try to restrict people's access to justice when it comes to the planning process. We all agree the process is much in need of reform. We are all conscious we have major infrastructural projects to be delivered and are in the middle of a housing crisis, but if the Government thinks it is going to stop people and communities being part of the democratic process that is the planning system that is deeply concerning. I commend the Green Party mem…

Yes, I am sharing time with Senator Warfield.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to introduce this legislation on behalf of the Sinn Féin Seanad team. No disrespect to the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, but it is disappointing that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, is not here. We have heard a lot of bluster in the past week about the importance of animal welfare to the Minister. We have requested a debate on the Oireachtas report produced in October but he has refused to come in to debat…

That is only for general licences, the larger licences.

I will not delay people any longer because it is one of those nice moments when we are in agreement. I thank the Minister of State for her comments. I am heartened to hear of the work that is going on and that the elements of this Bill are under consideration by the relevant Departments. I would caution about the information on microchip compliance. While we know that the law states one must have a dog microchipped, the problem is that a lot of people are not aware of the need to update that information. While we h…

I welcome the Minister, and while I was not in the Chamber when he made his speech, I was listening in. I thank him for the comprehensive update and outline of the loss and damage negotiations and commend him and the civil servants involved on the successful outcome of those negotiations and on getting a deal over the line. However, as with the Paris Agreement and all other agreements, the challenge now is to make sure there is no slippage. We need to build on the progress we saw at COP27. I want to use my time to …

Today I would like to echo the expressions of solidarity for nine-year-old Alejandro Miszan, who was attacked by a pitbull and is still recovering in hospital. It is deeply concerning that according to newspaper reports there has been a spike in dog attacks, especially by pitbulls. Some of the commentary and calls from people in positions of power, including the Taoiseach, for a ban on breeds are knee-jerk reactions. Such a ban would require years to phase in unless the Taoiseach is calling for a mass cull of certa…

I move recommendation No. 17: In page 104, to delete lines 16 and 17 and substitute the following: “ ”. As the Leas Cathaoirleach has just said, recommendations Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive, are all related. Recommendation No.17 reduces the excise duty applicable to petrol, diesel and home heating oil to the minimum permissible under the energy tax directive, which is €359 for petrol, €330 for diesel and €0 for home heating oil per 1,000 l. Recommendation Nos. 18 to 20, inclusive, deal with the issue of the carbon tax,…

I move recommendation No. 18: In page 104, to delete lines 18 and 19 and substitute the following: “ ”. Recommendation put and declared lost.

I move recommendation No. 19: In page 104, to delete line 20 and substitute the following:“ ”. Recommendation put and declared lost.

I move recommendation No. 20: In page 104, to delete lines 21 and 22 and substitute the following:“ ”. Recommendation put and declared lost.

I move recommendation No. 26: In page 198, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “Report on the Vacant Homes Tax 97. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the vacant homes tax, including an assessment of options to include derelict properties within its scope, to apply a minimum amount of tax greater than three times the lowest rate of Local Property Tax and to increase the amount of vacant homes tax to be charged in respect of …

This is about the defective concrete products levy. The levy will apply to specific concrete blocks and boring concrete. Precast has now been excluded. The measure was expected to raise €80 million in a full year when announced in budget 2023. However it is likely to yield less than this as the proposed 10% levy will now be implemented at a rate of 5%. It is about the impact of the concrete levy on the cost of housing. This is why we oppose the section.

I welcome the Minister of State. It is regrettable the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, could not be here. She sent her apologies. The reason I continually ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development into the House is that her Department has responsibility for the Control of Dogs Act 1986, which includes dangerous breeds. The dog breeding establishment licensing regulations also fall under the remit of this Department. One of the things the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine found in its r…