The Minister of State has the floor.

I ask both Members to respect the House. The Minister of State has the floor. Senator Mullen has had his opportunity.

I am afraid the time is up. There are to be no more interruptions as we have a schedule to keep to.

Cuidím leis an leasú.

Cuidím leis an leasú.

Cuidím leis an leasú.

Tacaím leis an leasú.

I move amendment No. 1: To insert the following after "20th October, 2021": “; that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine shall: -conduct a full review of the Exchequer funding to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund with a view to examining the social and economic impact of the fund, including the efficacy of the fund in supporting the development of both sectors, the broadest cohort of those involved in both sectors and rural communities; also examine whether the use of the fund to subsidise prize fund…

There are no vets at trials. That is the bare minimum.

I would not boast about that.

Yes. Declare an interest.

As someone who lives close to Newlands Cross, which is almost in Kildare, I think that qualifies me to speak on this motion. I would like to express Sinn Féin’s support for the motion. I commend the Green Party on tabling it. It would be welcome if Ireland joined the treaty. Not only would it be of great benefit to our research community, but I believe Ireland could play an important role in shaping the future of Antarctica and preserving it as a wilderness for future generations. I commend the arguments put forwar…

This is not the first time that I have raised the issue of the Energy Charter Treaty with the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth. I would like to tease out today some of the issues around the news that the Government is going to install 2,000 MW of thermal generation capacity. The International Energy Agency have forecast that if governments are serious about achieving the climate targets, then there can be no new oil, gas or coal development. Here we are, however, a few months later and the Government are proposing t…

I am not reassured at all, with all due respect to the Minister of State. The question concerns what these gas-fired power plant companies being told when they are set up here. Are they being given a deadline and being told this is a short-term investment? Most of these large infrastructure projects would have a lifespan of 30 or 40 years. What assurances have they been given or what have they been told? What financial guarantees have they been given that this is going to be a secure investment if we are being told…

It is being ignored by the tribunals.

They are not. The tribunals are proceeding. That is the fact.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Second Stage debate on what others have called once-in-a-generation legislation that will define all planning applications for an area seven times the size of the State's landmass. I know the relevant committee has spent a lot of time getting into the details of the 245 pages and 181 sections of the Bill. I wish to focus on just a number of key areas I am concerned about. First and foremost is the progression of the Bill while we do not have legislation on protected ar…

Maybe following the EU.

I start by wishing Homeless Period Ireland a very happy birthday. This was set up five years ago in response to the very real need for access to period products in this country. It is a small grassroots organisation I am proud to volunteer with. Ms Claire Hunt, its founder, will not mind me saying that Homeless Period Ireland should have long left the stage and it should not still exist. The programme for Government committed to rolling out free period products and in February this House had not one but two period …

There is a lot of focus in the media this morning, rightly, on the mica redress scheme and the sliding scale. According to a Fine Gael Deputy on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning, even the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, accepts it is a flawed scheme, despite the same Minister bringing it to Cabinet this week and announcing the details yesterday. Make of that what you will. I call on the Minister to make a statement as to when we will see the report of the working group on latent…