-----the National College of Ireland is also a northside institution now, so hopefully it will be designated by that stage as well. I would certainly agree with the Minister in terms of the register of electors. Most universities are even moving to that situation now whereby they are ready to encourage people and ask them as they sign up to graduate whether they would like to be added to the register. In the future, it will be a relatively easy proposition. I certainly imagine any of those who are on existing regis…

It is, so I have no doubt that will start to happen. What is being proposed makes sense, but it is the supporting campaigns of information and so on that will be critical.

I have some sympathy, but the question here is around the purpose of the advisory committee. The purpose of the advisory committee is not to advise on higher education policy more generally. It is on the functioning of the register of electors and how this electorate is constituted. It is also critical to remember that it is electing Members of the Seanad. They are not representative of any sector in the sense that they are not representative of students. It is slightly different as well, in that we are looking her…

I have sympathy with Senator Higgins in the context of where she is coming from. Again, this is not prescriptive. For example, there is no requirement that it shall include a nominee of employers’ representatives or particular grades of staff, whether academic or non-academic. It comes back to the core question around competencies. I disagree with Senator Higgins on one point. I think higher education institutions have been particularly good at promoting student participation and student inclusion, and their record…

I have some sympathy with the idea of An Coimisiún Toghcháin conducting research on who votes, but it is probably going to be slightly more challenging in Seanad elections given the nature of the electorate. For instance, An Coimisiún Toghcháin has already started to conduct qualitative research. Both in the local and European elections and during the referendums in March, somebody was conducting surveys on behalf of An Coimisiún Toghcháin in my local polling station in Gorey, County Wexford. I have a lot of sympat…

I wish to speak briefly because I am conscious we are out of time. I know An Coimisiún Toghcháin has been asked to look more generally at the issue of list systems rather than by-elections. I raised with the Minister the question of whether list systems will apply more generally and whether it is his view it should apply more generally, whether to other Seanad elections or indeed to Dáil elections in the same way as it applies in European elections.

These are not requirements that are too difficult. If you are not able to get 60 names to assent to your nomination, and I appreciate we want to encourage people to run, but 60 is not a huge number to get when we are talking about a potential electorate of up to 1 million. While we want it to be as broad as possible, if somebody is serious about contesting an election they will be either able to raise the necessary funds to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak, or be able to contact 60 people to do it.…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. Given the rapid growth in population in Ireland, one of our key requirements is to ensure that we have an adequate number of school places at primary and second levels. I am aware that there is a forward-planning unit within the Department. My question is to look at how that unit operates, particularly in terms of looking at areas where there will be high population growth over the coming period. I am specifically asking to loo…

I thank the Minister of State. I am always heartened when I hear that the Department is having regard to local area plans and national plans. As he is well aware, however, just because the Office of the Planning Regulator and the national planning framework state that a particular location is where population growth will happen does not mean that is always the case. I want to avoid a situation whereby communities must actively campaign in the context of overcrowded schools or circumstances where children cannot get…

I note that this week marks the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States. It is fitting that the Taoiseach is meeting with President Biden. It was for a new State when the United States recognised Ireland and established those diplomatic relations. It was important. Our relationship has had its ups and downs, but the United States and Ireland have always been very strong friends. It is something that is right of us to celebrate. We think of the many people of Ireland who hav…

I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I too welcome the delegation from Stormont who have arrived for an important discussion on electoral reform of this Chamber. There is nothing politicians like to talk about more than electoral reform and changes to the operation of politics and so on, but this is a piece of reform that is long overdue. I suspect there are a few in this House who would even remember the referendum in 1979 on the seventh amendment of the Constitution which provided for changes that would allow an expansio…

Is a new group being formed?

Next Tuesday.

I second Senator Dooley's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I will also say that I am not a spy. I have no doubt that Senator Dooley is not a Russian spy either. He and Deputy Cathal Crowe are spending so much time keeping an eye on each other-----

-----the Russians would not be up to them.

I wish to raise the question of retail crime, which ISME reckons costs this country more than €1.62 billion per year. This has been a concern for retailers all over the country. Even in terms of Garda statistics, however, the Garda estimated that in the year to the end of March, 6,772 theft from shop incidents were reported to it, which was up from 6,228 in the previous year. In addition to that, there were 49 assault incidents, 54 public order incidents and 19 criminal damage incidents. Indeed, RGDATA estimates th…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to this important debate. I share the concerns of my colleague, Senator Dooley, about whether we are moving quickly enough. The State's objective is that we will have 5 GW of offshore wind energy connected to the grid by the end of 2030. In his concluding remarks, will the Minister of State indicate whether he is still committed to that objective and, more important, how realistic it is? It is an important goal for the country, because we will have green energy, it will be a…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. He will be aware of the Courtown-Arklow Coast Guard unit. It is one unit. I raise the question of the facilities for the Coast Guard stations in Arklow and Courtown. In the case of the Arklow Coast Guard station, the Minister of State will be aware that in December last year Wicklow County Council granted planning permission for upgrades to the building. This extension would allow for a disabled toilet, a shower, a changing room, extra storage and a canteen-cum-meeting room. Since…

I thank the Minister of State for his response on the question of the Coast Guard station in Arklow. The fact that the contract will be awarded from Q1 of 2025 is welcome and good news. The Minister of State said that once the contract is awarded, there will be nine months of construction. Therefore, there is a possibility that all going well, the project will be completed by Christmas 2025, subject to the wording in the contract. At worst, it could be finished in 2026. Unfortunately, in respect of the Minister of …