I move amendment No. 20: In page 29, lines 17 to 19, to delete all words from and including “prescribe” in line 17 down to and including “with,” in line 19 and substitute the following: “prescribe a scheme for the due disbursement of amounts from the Fund for the purposes of lowering the electricity purchase costs to final domestic electricity customers, in accordance with”.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Anything that helps people in a cost-of-living crisis has to be welcomed. It is interesting that this Bill incorporates some of the amendments Sinn Féin tabled to last year's scheme. It is a pity - and it is always the case in this House - that when the Opposition comes forward with proposals, they are blankly refused and rejected rather than the Government working with the Opposition when the proposals are good, valid and coming from a constructive place. I am talking about the p…

Can I speak to the section?

As the Minister of State said, most of our amendments were ruled out of order but what they were seeking to do was improve the Government scheme. As I said, any measures at all that alleviate the cost of electricity where people are struggling to heat their homes are welcome. We thought with amendment No. 4 that those on hardship meters would have access to the same rights and entitlements as all other domestic electricity customers. It is disappointing it was ruled out of order.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 9, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “(3) Electricity suppliers shall remove any arrears limits placed on pre-pay meters until the Minister directs otherwise.” Amendment No. 6 is with regard to electricity suppliers removing "any arrears limits placed on prepay meters until the Minister directs otherwise". This is according to the most recent data from the energy regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, that there are 217,450 households in arrears, or…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 9, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “Review by electricity supplier 6. (1) Where an electricity supplier refuses to make an electricity costs emergency benefit payment then the final customer may request the electricity supplier, on or before 30 June 2024 to review its refusal. (2) The request under subsection (1) shall state the reasons why the person making the request wishes the refusal by the electricity supplier to be reviewed. (3) The electricity supplier shall w…

Section 1 sets out the types of products that would be covered by the Bill. The Bill aims to ban the deliberate or wilful destruction of brand-new or unused items. Those items include electronic products, textiles, clothes, shoes, furniture, ink cartridges, hygiene products, food preservation and cooking equipment, leisure products, books and school equipment. To set the context for why the Bill deals with those items and why it is necessary, online sales - or e-commerce, as they are now known - have been rising an…

I think she was refused.

I want to pick up on a couple of points that the Minister of State made. He is correct in saying that the EU is introducing a regulation but we already know from the trilogue negotiations that the proposal is for it not to be implemented immediately. There will be a delay in the enactment of the EU regulation. The first Amazon fulfilment centre opened here in October 2022 and we implored the Minister of State, when legislation on the circular economy was being brought forward, to act then before a problem was creat…

I meant to say this when I responded to the Minister of State. On the French law, he said it was not required to donate the items. However, we heard today that the French law was broken up into two sections. The first relates to essential items, which are hygiene products, baby food, nappies, children’s clothes and things like that. They are obliged to be donated under the French legislation. The reason other products, or non-essential items, were excluded in the French law is because France is a particular case in…

Next Tuesday.

I do not see any other Senator indicating, if the Minister of State would like to speak.

I understand Senator McGreehan has moved the amendment and spoken to it.

It does not need to be seconded, I am informed.

Because it is a Government amendment, it does not need to be seconded. We still have an opportunity to vote on it but my understanding is that it is a Government amendment so it does not need to be seconded. It was moved by Senator McGreehan earlier.

Through the Chair, please. The point of order was whether the amendment was moved and if it was seconded. I am informed the amendment has been moved by Senator McGreehan. It does not need to be seconded because it is a Government amendment. Senators will get an opportunity to vote-----

It is a Government party amendment. The House will get an opportunity to vote on whether it accepts the amendment that has been moved and, depending on the outcome of that, whether it accepts the amended Bill.

What is nonsense is that is not a point of order; it is just making a political point. I am going to hand over to the Minster of State now. Senators will have their opportunity to vote on the amendment.

I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, the convenor of the Italian-Irish parliamentary friendship group, Senator Andrea De Priamo, who is in Leinster House today for a meeting with the Irish-Italian parliamentary friendship group which is chaired by our colleague, Senator Rónán Mullen. Senator De Priamo is accompanied by the Italian ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Ruggero Corrias. I welcome Senator De Priamo, Ambassador Corrias, and their delegation to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. I hope they…

Perhaps Members could be circulated with copies of that speech to assist those contributing to the debate.