This proposed addition to the list of steps that may be specified in an enforcement notice will permit the relevant authority to direct a person to return an archaeological or historic object to a specific place. This will help to contribute to the implementation of the 1970 UNESCO convention preventing the illicit import, export or transfer of ownership of cultural property.

This amendment was suggested in observations received by the Minister for Finance, who has advised that the relevant arrest, search and seizure powers under the Bill extended beyond what will be required by the Revenue Commissioners to carry out the import and export control functions as envisaged. The Revenue Commissioners advised that their existing powers are sufficiently legislated for under the Customs Act 2015 and that they did not need to be specified as a "relevant body" under section 199.

I note that I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath. I thank the Senator for her comments regarding the Housing for All policy. It is certainly beginning to take hold and have a significant impact right across the country. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and I are committed to ensuring we continue to deliver in 2023. I will try to respond specifically on the question the Senator asked, the…

I again point out that as the independent regulator, the Central Bank has indicated on many occasions that it expects all regulated firms to take a consumer-focused approach and to act in the consumer's best interests at all times. Last November the Central Bank wrote to all regulated entities to make clear to them that the firms are required to address potential risks arising from a changing operational and economic landscape and to ensure they have consumer service capacity and structures in place to meet expecte…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition of criminal offences and penalties…

On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, I thank the House for facilitating the motion today. I will try to respond to some of the Members' queries before I sum up. Consistency was mentioned by a number of Deputies. This directive will ensure that there is consistency across all EU sanctions through the shared definition of criminal offences so it is not limited to the sanctions on Russia. It is important to make that point. It is unfortunate that Deputy Michael Collins chose to use his speaking time t…

I have the answer. Tá an freagra agam.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine one year ago, and the invoking of the temporary protection directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked intensively as part of the cross-Government response to the Ukraine crisis. The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one we have seen over the past 12 months. As th…

I would again stress the importance of due diligence. That is why there are queries at times. As I said, the Minister has engaged with Pobal and the team that processes HAP. With regard to the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, contracts are agreed on capacity for an IPAS centre, as specified in the individual contract. Payments under the agreed contracts, inclusive of VAT, will be made every four weeks, as specified, and the Deputy mentioned that. This amounts to an all-inclusive sum in respect …

I thank the Deputy. I have noted the comments the Deputy made, as well as those made by Deputy Ó Cuív. The senior Ministers are not always available, but I have noted and will relay the comments back. I want to explain at the outset that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport but is not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision …

I note the points made by the Deputy, particularly on accessibility and lifts. It is critically important that these issues are addressed. It is also critically important that everybody has a right to public transport and a right to access employment services, training and childcare services. All of those are essential and key components of good functioning urban and rural areas. This is what the Government is setting out to achieve. There has been the 20% reduction in fees and additional measures such as the 50% r…

I thank the Deputy for his impassioned plea on this issue. It is a matter that exercises us all. In terms of champions, it is our collective responsibility here to lead. Tomorrow, I will be notifying the public of the ending of the hedgerow cutting season and of burning from 1 March. There are fires ablaze throughout the country at the moment. The Deputy rightly mentioned the impact on nature and water, including water quality. The nature of what is being dumped these days is shocking, including toxic materials. We…

I want to raise a couple of points in summary. I agree with everything the Deputy has said. On education in schools, the schools are at the forefront of this consistently, through the green flags initiative both in primary and secondary schools. Children are educating their parents. Late last year I met the Children and Young People's Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. They are appalled by this and want action on it as well. It is critically important that we work collaboratively. We need more prosecutions th…

I am delighted to be here to present the Bill. I look forward to the debate and the deliberations of the House and I thank Senators for facilitating Second Stage of this important Bill. Irish heritage is the foundation stone of our society. At an international level, our heritage provides us with a uniqueness and an identity that many states and societies hold in high regard. At a national level, it is a source of great pride and confers on us a sense of togetherness. In many ways, our heritage unites us and helps …

I thank Senators for their valuable contributions. I will try to get through all the points raised in the time available to me. I thank Senator Boyhan for his positive comments on the Bill. I acknowledge his presence this morning at the launch of the Heritage Council's strategic plan. It certainly was a positive event and there is no doubt the council has been a great custodian and promoter of our heritage. The plan will set it in good place to continue that work. We have increased the funding for the Heritage Coun…

As a former councillor who served both on a borough council, for ten years, and a county council, for 16 years, I agree with the sentiments expressed by the Senator in respect of the reinstatement of town councils. It is a matter for another day but they served a particular function, particularly in respect of the urban agenda, and would have a role in the context of the challenges local government is facing on climate and other issues. I agree with the Senator. It was a mistake to abolish them. I thank the Senator…

I thank the Senator for his continued advocacy for the rights of councillors. I welcome the engagement between the AILG and my Department. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell's, predecessor, Deputy Peter Burke, moved swiftly to implement the Moorhead report once a Government was formed. That was welcomed across the elected members. The role of elected members is critically important, especially at local level. This is not to say powers have been stripped. We are putting in additional layers of responsibilities …

I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I will not have time to respond to all the specific issues raised but my speech will address some of them and we will try to come back on some of the specific questions, particularly around the tenant in situ scheme and other elements that have been put forward by Deputies. Quite a number related to the tenant in situ scheme and the social affordable targets, which were raised by Deputy Seán Crowe. Deputy Mac Lochlainn requested that we meet Donegal county councillo…

I reiterate what my colleagues have said about a whole-of-government approach, led by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and supported by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Looking at migration trends, there has been a six-fold increase in remittances back to other countries. We are going to have to deal continuously with those issues. Those trends are only going to increase. It is important that we have a collective…

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline today the position on the LPT baseline review, which is an important piece of work that will be progressed in the Department this year. The LPT was introduced to provide a stable and sustainable funding base for the local authority sector, providing greater levels of connection between local revenue and associated expenditure decisions. LPT allocations to local authorities for 2023 amount to €609.9 million. This figure includes the Exchequer contribution …