We very much appreciate that the Minister of State, along with the other Ministers of State, Deputies Butler and Feighan, and the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, come to this House regularly. She is willing to listen to the views of all Members of this House. I join her in commending the front-line workers. This vaccination programme is the biggest ever in the history of the State. We sometimes forget that, nine months ago, we did not even believe we would have vaccines. While it has to be acknowledged that there are pr…

I thank the Minister for coming before the House and I echo the comments of others in thanking him for his commitment on this rather tricky issue. I also thank all of the officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and other Departments for their work in this area. Some of my colleagues have already covered a number of the issues involved. At the Brexit committee, I raise four issues on a regular basis, namely, data, flour, the question of Rosslare Europort and education. On a previous occasion, I raised the iss…

Today is the national independence day for Bangladesh; in fact, it is the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence. I commend the Limerick councillor, Abul Kalam Azad Talukder, on his organisation of a series of events today to mark the contribution of the Bangladeshi community here in Ireland. We have often discussed in these Houses the impact of the Covid pandemic on young people and we have heard it again today. In our recovery it is essential that we hear the voices of young people. As part of our recovery, …

I move: That leave be given to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to reduce to sixteen years the age at which a person is entitled to be registered as a European Parliament and Local Government Elector, and to provide for related matters.

On Good Friday, 2 April.

I thank the Minister of State for being here for this debate on procurement. I also join colleagues in thanking Senator Higgins for bringing this legislation before the House because it is very important that we consider the principles raised therein. It is unfortunate, however, that Senator Gavan has used this debate as an opportunity to attack the Government again. He referred to what centrist parties had done and then asked what difference the Green Party has made in government. We must ensure that we build envi…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the issue of the CETA deal, a very important trade deal between the European Union and Canada, the importance of trade between Ireland and Canada, and to debunk some of the misinformation that has been spread about this deal. People sometimes have the idea that trade deals are something particularly negative. All the international evidence, including from the OECD, shows that trade deals result in more employment, higher average pay, raised incomes, i…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I strongly agree with him. When we have trade deals, there have to be mechanisms for arbitration and dispute resolution. What is proposed in CETA is an updating of those mechanisms, which will make dispute resolution more transparent and more efficient. It is not going to force member state governments to change any laws. This is a small island nation. We rely heavily, as the Minister of State said, on trade. If Brexit has taught us anything, it is about the importanc…

I thank the Minister for coming in for the debate on the national development plan. A review of the plan will be crucial as we emerge from this difficult period. I encourage him to be ambitious, imaginative and creative. I wish to refer to six general themes under the plan that I think the Minister must consider. There is the post-pandemic social and economic recovery, the question of climate change, to which colleagues have referred, the rapid pace of technological developments and an ageing population. It is a fa…

Cuirim fáilte roimh mo chara, an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Rabbitte. Gabhaim buíochas léi as an ábhar seo a ghlacadh ar son an Aire Oideachais. I endorse the remarks of my colleague, Senator Dooley, about the importance of designating family carers as key workers. I know that the Minister of State is very passionate about doing this as well. I am raising the issue of higher education funding. This country's economic success and many of its social developments have been built on the fact that we have a highly educated…

I thank the Minister of State. We all know how important higher education is. I accept that the Government has made a good start with the new Department and increased public funding. However, while it talks about the scale of the ambition, we have to be able to put the resources behind that. I plead with the Minister of State to take back to the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, that we finally have to address this funding question. We could commission many more reports and t…

Aontaím leis an Seanadóir Black faoi thionchar Covid ar ealaíontóirí. Is rud an-tábhachtach an díospóireacht sin. Tá trí hábhar le hardú agam inniu ach, roimhe sin, I am glad to note the latest shift in Senator's Keogan's position. On Monday she wanted everything locked down but now wants the construction industry open. The first issue I will raise is the impact of Covid on young people and their return to school. The impact Covid has had on young people has not been trivial. While I welcome the return to school an…

Hear, hear.

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health Insurance Act 1994 (as amended) to introduce a new definition of a health insurance contract to that contained in Section 2 of the Principal Act so as to exclude international students who are not ordinarily resident in Ireland; and to provide for related matters.

Next Friday.

I commend Senator Wall. He and I have been chatting on this matter and we had a race to try to bring our own legislation forward. I know Senator Keogan was also trying to get this issue addressed. Ultimately, I am sure everyone in this House wants to see the scourge of illegal dumping addressed. I take some issue with what Senator Black said about concern in working-class areas. I get several complaints from working-class areas about the dumping that is happening in their communities, as well as what is happening i…

I am very grateful to Senator Daly for sharing time with me. I will echo some of my colleagues' comments. I question the reason this is a health measure as opposed to a justice measure and I also have concerns around civil liberties. I particularly agree with the remarks made by Senator Ward on the need for oversight because while people are in quarantine they do have rights and it is important that those are protected. In the operation of this measure, and I raised this point with the Minister for Transport also, …

I echo the comments of Senators McDowell and Ó Donnghaile when they talk about reimagining our transport system. We have an opportunity to do this post Covid and particularly post Brexit. I ask the Minister to be even more imaginative. Senator McDowell referred to hydrogen fuel, but we need to look at how technology is going to shape our transport networks over the next ten years. For instance, we have seen the use of drone technology in Oranmore to deliver food. We will see drone technology used to a far greater e…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement Matter for discussion. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to deal with it. As he will be aware, Rosslare Europort has expanded quite rapidly as a result of Brexit. Continental ferry traffic year on year increased by 447% in January. There are far more direct shipping routes and it is obvious that Rosslare Europort is continuing to expand. In a post-Brexit environment, the port will grow in importance. I sincerely hope that, in the lo…

I think the Minister of State realises the importance of this road and its completion. Again, I am concerned about the timeframe we are talking about. There is an ideal opportunity now in the context of the review of the national development plan, because obviously we are in a very different world from when the NDP was drawn up, and a number of submissions have been made about the importance of this. I ask that the Minister of State conveys to the Minister for Transport that this project is not just important to Co…