The Senator's time is up.

This matter relates to Dublin Airport and the impact of private jets on the passenger cap that applies. There has been a great deal of talk about the cap on passengers at the airport, but there has not been much discussion of how private jets are feeding into that. The Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, told the transport committee that it would have to consider limiting so-called general aviation in order to remain within the passenger cap. However, we know that general aviation is a broad church and that it includes …

I thank the Minister of State. I know general aviation includes medical and military flights and such. However, I am sure the National Business Aviation Association is not writing to defend them. When it writes to and lobbies ambassadors in Washington and sends letters to the press looking to double the capacity for private jets, it is not for medical flights. It is specifically for those frivolous flights that people who believe they are above and beyond flying on a regular passenger plane take. I welcome the fact…

If the Minister of State does not mind, before she responds, I welcome the students from Sacred Heart Senior National School, Tallaght. I am also a Tallaght girl. It is great to see fellow Tallafornians in to visit us in the Seanad. You are very welcome to the Chamber.

I, too, want to raise the issue of Palestine this morning. At this point, our hearts are broken as we have watched the genocide unfold in front of our eyes over the last number of months. It has called into question the myth of western democracy when we sit back and watch what the Israeli occupied forces are meting out to the Palestinian people. There is a level of hypocrisy by the West in its response to the actions of Israel when compared to the swiftness - and rightly so - with which sanctions were introduced ag…

I move amendment No. 42: In page 24, lines 27 and 28, to delete “comments or observations” and substitute “comments, observations and potential amendments”.

I will press it.

I move amendment No. 43: In page 24, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(6) The Mayor shall, before finalising the Mayoral programme, undertake a process of non-statutory public consultation with the people of Limerick City and County regarding the Mayoral programme.”.

Is amendment No. 48 in this grouping?

I can speak to amendment No. 48, which is the Sinn Féin amendment. It proposes that members of Limerick City and County Council would be appointed by the d'Hondt system. With reference to local democracy, it is important that there is a democratic element to the selection of members of the Limerick mayoral advisory and implementation committee. We believe the current wording is too broad and has the potential for the mayor to only select councillors from his or her party. The introduction of a democratic selection …

It is interesting that Senator Cummins is making the argument for why the amendment should be supported.

I thank my colleague for speaking in support of the amendment and of the d'Hondt system. He made it clear in his contribution. What we seek to do with amendment No. 50 is to include a wider swathe of public opinion to these positions to ensure that communities, unions and employers would also be represented. It is a simple amendment to insert "including, but not limited to, businesses, trade unions, Community and Voluntary Sector organisations,”.

I move amendment No. 50: In page 25, line 12, after “subsection (4),” to insert “including, but not limited to, businesses, trade unions, Community and Voluntary Sector organisations,”.

I move amendment No. 65: In page 26, to delete lines 15 and 16 and substitute the following: “(9) The Mayor may at any time, subject to the approval of elected members, dissolve a committee or subcommittee established under this section.”.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I thank Senator Martin for bringing this Bill before the Seanad. Sinn Féin was pleased to sign it and add our names to it. There is a consensus across all political parties that we need to do more in relation to domestic violence in the State. We in this House are quite good at bringing forward legislation and having Members from different political parties cosign it. I have taken note of the Minister's concerns. In the briefing today we heard that the law reform review is nearly ten ye…

I want to call for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, about yesterday's report on the huge disparity across the country in local authorities in the collection of fines under the control of dogs regulations. Dublin County Council is doing a great job, with 105 spot fines being issued. Fingal County Council issued 90 but South Dublin County Council only issued 18 and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council issued a single fine. Some counties, such as Clare, Longford, Westmeath and Cavan, have issued no fines…

Apologies, I am trying to triple-job. As others have said, this Bill focuses on technical responsibilities for Gas Networks Ireland in the context of its separation from Ervia. I welcome section 21 and that the Freedom of Information Act is being amended to delete Ervia from the list of exempted bodies as GNI was already a relevant body and it is welcome that it will remain so. However, semi-State companies such as Ervia were exempt from complying with the climate Act because they were exempt from freedom of inform…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I am using today's Commencement matter to raise the important issue of wildlife crime. The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss was crystal clear in stating that the State has failed to adequately enforce existing laws and policies to protect biodiversity. Wildlife crimes, such as disturbing bats, illegal hare hunting, badger baiting or the destruction of habitats that provide clean water, clean air and healthy soils, all contribute to the loss of biodiversity. Weak enforcement…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am glad she agrees that a target is always useful to keep the focus. I welcome the official response, particularly with regard to the public consultation. Apart from being passionate about wildlife crime, I raise this question because I support an Oxfam-led initiative to help grassroots groups made up of communities, young people and ordinary citizens to hold elected officials like us to account. In this instance, the wildlife rehabilitation hospital was very helpfu…

I welcome that the Minister has extended the public consultation on the use of shock collars on dogs. I encourage all genuine dog lovers to participate in the consultation and make it known to the Government that they support a ban on the collars. Following the horrific attack on Alejandro Mizsan, there were calls across the board, and rightly so, to address the issue of aggressive behaviour in dogs. It beggars belief that anyone in this day and age would advocate for the continued use of shock collars, which use p…