The Government has known for many years that the use of peat for horticulture must be phased out. It has known that this would require a transitional plan to ensure the horticulture industry had sufficient supplies of peat in the short term while sustainable alternatives were being identified and put in place in the medium to long term. Despite knowing this for years, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael failed to act, even though some members of those parties were in government. Today, we have the bizarre situation of hundre…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Today I am particularly interested in hearing the Minister of State's response to the plans for the offshore community benefit fund. The terms and conditions for the first offshore renewable energy support scheme, RESS, are out for consultation, but I would like to tease out how the scheme will be administered. While the consultation is ongoing, the Government has made a couples of statements that indicate its preference, namely a nationally managed fund. That is very different fr…

I welcome the Minister of State's provision of some clarity on these questions. I still encourage that the decision concerning a nationally administered fund be kept open. It is, once again, being said that the decision-making will come from the community, but the best model of community involvement is the one led by the community for the community. There is a job creation opportunity here for rural communities if we encourage people to learn skills in administration and funds management. Turning to the State aid r…

I agree with Senator O'Reilly that this legislation is the most disingenuous I have seen produced and it is not compatible with EU law. It will not get past the Attorney General. I want to offer solidarity to students throughout the country who are staging three days of protests as part of their Cost of College campaign. Students are being squeezed at every point due to the lack of affordable student accommodation while they struggle to pay their college fees. My party's position is that third-level education shoul…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I too welcome the Bill and commend the Senators in the Civil Engagement Group, Senators Ruane and Higgins, on their work on it. Many of us who campaign on climate issues have seen that the focus on individual actions is far too strong on encouraging the use of keep cups and other tiny efforts. The hypocrisy of that approach is made clear by the ongoing data centre debacle. We have a Government encouraging ordinary people to use less electricity while it offers massive tax incentiv…

Tairgim leasú Uimh. 12: I leathanach 11, idir línte 17 agus 18, an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach: “(1A) Aithnítear leis an Acht seo nach gá go mbainfeadh leagan ainm i dteanga oifigiúil amháin le leagan ainm sa teanga oifigiúil eile, agus go bhfuil sé de cheart ag gach duine a ainm féin nó a hainm féin, déanta d’aon litreacha nó síntí fada atá in aibítear an dá theanga oifigiúla, a úsáid agus a bheith aitheanta in aon ghnó atá ar bun aige nó aici sa Stát.”. Gabh mo leithscéal, my Irish is not as good as my colle…

I want to raise the launch of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Impossible Choices appeal because we are in no doubt now that winter has finally arrived in Ireland with freezing temperatures being felt throughout the country. This is at a time when inflation and rents are rising and energy costs are skyrocketing. In its report released today the Society of St. Vincent de Paul said it is expecting as many as 200,000 calls to its organisation by the end of the year. It is talking to people who face the impossible ch…

I remind the speakers to keep to their time.

I thank the Minister of State for her contribution and for being here today. I also thank Senator Boyhan for his heartfelt contribution.

The Central Bank motor insurance report clearly shows that while most of us were pulling together during the Covid-19 pandemic, the insurance industry was pulling a fast one by pocketing the vast savings they made. In 2020, traffic fell by 37%, the number of claims fell by 26% and the cost of claims by 20% and yet insurance premiums have only fallen by 7%. I am sure not a single Member of this House has not had personal experience of trying to renew his or her insurance or of being contacted by members of public or…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, lines 25 to 28, to delete all words from and including “date;” in line 25 down to and including line 28 and substitute “date.”.

I am sorry for being late. Have we already spoken to amendments Nos. 1, 2, 8 and 9?

The amendments are all interlinked. Amendment No. 3 is a consequence of amendment No. 6, which deletes section 3 in its entirety, and is consequential to the reference to that section earlier in section 2. Our concern, which we raised on Committee Stage, is that the Bill repeals the prescription period of 12 years given to users against private owners of land but seeks to retain the prescription periods of 30 years and 60 years for foreshore in respect of land owned by a Minister, the State or the Commissioners of …

I am speaking to amendment No. 3, on which amendment No. 6 is consequential.

Then I will discuss this matter when we come to amendment No. 6 because these amendments are interlinked.

There is actually an error in our amendment No. 3, so I will withdraw it and our team will move it in the Dáil.

I will cover it when-----

I will leave it there and speak to the other four amendments later.

I take umbrage at the fact that the Law Reform Commission of Ireland was the only stakeholder consulted. We consulted Coastwatch Ireland, which pointed out that the people who are harvesting seaweed, mussels, kelp, sea vegetables and periwinkles by hand have not been consulted on this legislation. They will be directly impacted by it and want their concerns about the dismantling of the provisions of the 2009 Act raised. They had expected to benefit from that as of 1 December 2021. We want to work with the Minister …

I made a mistake in the drafting of the amendment so I will withdraw it.