I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I thank the Minister of State for attending. I will speak on amendment No. 60 concerning emissions and companies. I have spoken about this topic several times in this Chamber and I have also had some engagement with Departments on it. I would love to see it progressing as part of this legislation. Last Friday, I referred to an article in The Guardian which highlighted that 100 companies produce more than 70% of global emissions. It is worth bearing that statistic in mind when considering this amendment. When we tal…

I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber. I would like to add my voice to that of Senator Higgins. I also support Sinn Féin's amendment on climate justice. Climate and climate justice is not a subject I have always felt comfortable with, and this definition has shown me the reason for that. I have always felt somewhat on the outside of the conversation on climate justice. I come from a community experience where there is a lot of poverty, fear and a lack of climate literacy. I was always concerned that we did …

In 2017, The Guardian released its famous article referring to the fact that 100 companies are responsible for more than 70% of the world's emissions. Critics of the article pointed to the fact that if we did not buy what these companies were selling, they would go out of business or have to change their ways. The fact remains that it is simply not that easy. A just transition should be people and community centred. This means using the just transition to tackle inequality and raise standards of living through the …

With all due respect to Senator O'Reilly, it is important to say that, even though many definitions are being put forward, we have not put forward so many because they are difficult to draft. There is one which is our number one priority and which we stand over as the strongest definition. The others represent compromise and further compromise in the hope that, if our preferred solution is not accepted, one of these will be. The number of definitions is definitely not a result of difficulty in defining the term. We…

No, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, you just asked us to wait for the Minister to come in.

Now.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to the House. It is a big day for me. I am truly delighted to welcome the Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018 back to the Seanad. It is a real privilege and an honour to see the Bill, hopefully, pass its Report and Final Stages in the House tonight, especially in the likelihood that it will shortly be taken up by our colleagues in the Dáil. Much time has passed since November 2019 when the Seanad last debated this Bill. It was a different Seanad that…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

I welcome the Minister. Students have faced a litany of challenges over the past year as they have had to adapt to learning away from their friends and peers. Many of them have continued to work throughout the pandemic on the front line in retail, as student nurses and doctors or as apprentices on building sites. On top of all these stresses students have been faced with a number of accommodation challenges. It is simply not good enough that students and their parents have been put into positions where they have be…

I thank the Minister of State for being in the Seanad. I am raising an important issue relating to direct provision and the Government's commitment to ending the current system for the reception and integration of people seeking refuge here in Ireland from conflict and persecution. I commend the Minister of State on the work undertaken in this area to date, specifically in the preparation of the White Paper on ending direct provision, which was published in February of this year. We are all aware of the inadequacy …

I note the Minister of State indicates the Department does not plan to look at a pilot project. I am a little concerned that we are at the early stage of the tendering process, and such processes can take a long time. I am aware that the Minister of State has said the senior Minister plans to release that tender before the end of the summer. It sounds like there is a tight turnaround on the tendering process. I am aware of a number of different not-for-profit organisations that are ready to go with own-door accommo…

I thank an Cathaoirleach. When I drove in this morning, I listened to a podcast by two Dublin inner city lads. I listened not because I was unfamiliar with the story - I am very familiar with it - but because I was interested to hear an update on it. The podcast was about Terence Wheelock and the Wheelock family. The family has called again for an independent review into Terence's death. I first became aware of the Wheelock family when they lived in my estate before they moved into the inner city many years ago whe…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I wish to share my time with Senator Higgins.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House this evening. I thank my colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group for their support and sponsorship for this important legislation and for allowing it to be taken during our group’s Private Members' time. I also thank Sebastian McAteer in my office for drafting the Bill and everyone who has been involved in getting to this Stage, including the National Women’s Council and amazing activists on the international stage such as Dr. Julie Macfarlane, Zelda Perkins, Georgina C…

The Minister can come in and the Senator can come back. Is that okay?

I thank all present for their attendance and very positive contributions. It is a real sign that we are learning from the mistakes we have been speaking about for years in terms of people being silenced, victims not being empowered and cover-ups for perpetrators for whatever reason, whether it is reputation or because a culture has crept in. I will try to address some of the points made. Senator McGreehan spoke about how the law should always weigh in favour of the victim. That is very true but, unfortunately, it i…