I am familiar with the Blue Towns community-led initiative to which the Deputy referred. I was a director of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership at the time it was being developed. It is a very viable prospect. I will have to double-check the programme for Government to see whether we secured inclusion of an objective of developing a similar initiative for areas not covered by the national broadband plan, NBP. There is real potential in that. I understand Kilkenny LEADER Partnership had piloted, or was intending to pilot, …

I appreciate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle giving discretion to the Deputies to make their contributions, given that five Deputies brought it forward. It is very important and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is committed to meeting residents in Mayo and has met families in Donegal as well. The report concludes the disintegration of concrete blocks used in the construction of the affected dwellings in Donegal and Mayo was primarily due to excessive amounts of deleterious materials in the aggregate used to manufact…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving the Deputies the opportunity to have their say on this. It is across the parties and is coming across loud and clear. On the comparisons in relation to intervention and pyrite scheme costs, this scheme would be double that of the average pyrite scheme. The aim of the scheme is to help, insofar as is possible, to reinstate the average-sized dwelling to the condition it would have been in the original blockwork, had it not been affected by pyrite and mica. Mindful that the…

I thank the Senators for putting so well the case about the physical infrastructure of the bridge and the symbolism of bridging two communities. Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, are not available, so I am taking this topic on their behalf. It is important to note there is a Government commitment jointly with the Northern Ireland Executive to progress consideration of options for the development of the Narrow Water bridge project at the North-South Ministeri…

I understand the Senators' frustration regarding progress on this issue. It is of great importance on both sides of the Border, as has been stated. There are many moving parts in achieving progress on this issue. As I mentioned in my opening statement, the development of the Newry southern relief road is proceeding well. This would have a major impact on the robustness of any business case that would subsequently be developed for a vehicular Narrow Water bridge. It is likely that many of the benefits in the busines…

I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton. The relevant legislation that allows for the removal of abandoned vessels in Irish waters such as that referred to by the Senator is the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993, which gives effect to the International Convention on Salvage 1989, to which Ireland is a signatory state. Section 40 of the Act provides that the Minister for Transport, "shall have the general superintendence ...…

I take on board fully the points made by the Senator and he is correct in what he said. Particularly as we move towards legislating for marine protected areas, there is an opportunity not only to introduce legislation but to make sure it is aligned on the protection of our marine environment. In particular regarding the MV Alta , it was washed up on 16 February 2020 and Cork County Council took the lead in dealing with the wreck under the 1993 Act, as appropriate. The ministerial powers under the 1993 Act are indir…

I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the ongoing crisis in the aviation sector, particularly the recent announcement made by Aer Lingus concerning certain cost-cutting measures in light of the cumulative impact of Covid-19 over the past 15 months. First, I acknowledge the unprecedented challenges faced by Aer Lingus and its staff during this difficult time. The entire aviation secto…

Again, it is important to note that the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, chairs the aviation subgroup of the Labour Employer Economic Forum and that subgroup is continuing its work in investigating a specially extended wage subsidy scheme for the aviation sector. That work is ongoing. Specifically, on the Heathrow slots, Aer Lingus still holds its portfolio slots at London Heathrow Airport, LHR. The slots are protected and are unaffected by the recent announcement by Aer Lingus of cuts at its Shannon and Cork ba…

I am conscious that I am taking this Commencement matter on Bob Dylan's 80th birthday. The times they are indeed a-changing. From a political perspective, I very much welcome the Senator bringing this issue to the House because it is really important. At the outset, it should be noted that the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future contains a broad range of electoral reforms, including a commitment to establish an independent statutory electoral commission by the end of this year. The programme also contains a…

To finish that quote, Bob Dylan said, "Don’t stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall", so he was probably referring to giving an opportunity to everyone to take part in our political system. I am conscious the Senator rightly highlighted the role of young people in recent years, particularly as the climate Bill is now being brought forward. It was the climate strikes, it was the Fridays For Future, it was those young people who brought about this transformational change and demanded change from us, as politic…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thank the Senators for providing me with an opportunity to set out the provisions of the Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021. As I set out in the Dáil a number of weeks ago, this technical Bill is necessary to allow for the transfer of functions relating to heritage under a number of enactments to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Normally such transfers of ministerial functions are effected through orders m…

I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate for their comments and kind words. I thank Senator Garvey for what she said about the Department's work. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for what she said about the new city development plan. It is vitally important that development plans are aligned. I give my absolute commitment on Moore Street. Senator Cummins inquired about biodiversity officers. It is our commitment to roll out those positions over the lifetime of the Government. Funding is in place this year …

I will not be accepting amendments Nos. 1 and 6 to 13, inclusive. I reiterate that this is a technical Bill which is necessary to allow for the transfer of functions relating to heritage under a number of different enactments to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I will not be accepting any amendments which go beyond the very narrow technical nature of the Bill. The purpose of section 11 is to provide for the transfer and merger of the consultation functions of the Minister for Arts, Heritage …

Yes, I apologise.

It is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

It changes that, yes.

I appreciate the clarification from Senator Cummins. I appreciate the concerns Senator Higgins is raising as well because it is not about the good working relations of this Government but rather putting in place the checks and balances for future Governments. This is a technical Bill. The Minister with responsibility for heritage has a defined role. The Bill is aimed primarily at transferring the remaining functions across. I will comment on the proposed amendments Nos. 6 to 13, inclusive. The Senator referred to t…

I will not be accepting amendments Nos. 2 or 3. Sections 8 to 11, inclusive, refer to sections 177, 177Y, 177AB and 177AC of the Act of 2000. As stated in my opening address, Part XAB of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for consultation by the primary Minister under the Act, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht - this was the title of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media at the time of enactment - as…

I will address that concern. Certainly, as I stated, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, will continue to be consulted. It is important that those checks and balances are there and I give my assurance. The NPWS may be on a different statutory footing following the review process, but for now there are important checks and balances in place. I give that assurance to Senator Higgins in that regard.