That is hugely important. The other thing I worked on in my previous role was dedicated heritage teams. That is starting to roll out, whereby we have archivists, archaeologists, architectural conservation officers, ACOs, and heritage officers. Crucial to all of this, however, and this goes back to the comments other Members have made, is around the role of elected members and the responsibility. Sometimes, bad decisions which are pushed by the executive fall back on local authority members. As we have discussed pre…

I welcome the Minister of State. This probably is the first time we have had her with us formally so I wish her the best in her work ahead. The OPW gave a tour of the biodiversity of Leinster House this afternoon, which is why I was late to this debate, so I apologise for that. It is the International Day for Biological Diversity. I will make points on that. Before that, regarding points that have been well made by other Senators about the purchasing power of the State and how important it is that small local compa…

There is a vote in the Dáil. I ask the Acting Leader to move the suspension of House for the duration of the vote.

Fáilte to the students from Buncrana. They are very welcome to the Public Gallery. I hope they enjoy their day here in Leinster House. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The second Commencement matter is from Senators Scahill and Boyle.

I ask the Minister of State to be brief. We are trying to get one more Commencement matter in before the Order of Business.

Yes, there is.

The next matter is in the name of Senator Tully. I apologise, but time is going to be limited.

We are waiting for the Minister of State.

I might have to cut short the Minister of State, if that is okay, because we must finish at 3.30 p.m.

Unfortunately, we do not have time for the Senator to come in again because of the Order of Business.

I seek leave to amend the Order of Business to have No. 9 taken before No. 1 to introduce the cross-party Bill on dereliction and building management. Ibrahim Ammar Saad Al-Qara, Karam Amjad Hafez Shamlakh, Rafif Mahmoud Aref Al-Faqaawi, Al-Anoud Suleiman Jaber Al-Qirinaawi and Hour Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Mamlouk are just five names of infants who never reached the age of one. I thank Senator Stephenson for providing us with this list. It is important to put names to the statistics because the statistics can numb us a…

I move: Bill entitled an Act to provide for identification, management, restoration and bringing back to use of derelict buildings and to simplify and expedite applications to refurbish or change the use of upper floors or ‘over the shop’ for residential use by establishing in each local authority a special planning and building control approval system to be called a Town Centre First application process.

Next Tuesday.

I welcome our visitors in the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit to the Dáil and Seanad today.

I welcome to the Visitors Gallery pupils and teachers of Ballycanew National School in Gorey, County Wexford. I hope they enjoy their visit to the Dáil and Seanad here today. They live in a beautiful part of the country and I hope they enjoy the sunshine down there over the weekend.

I reiterate the call I made yesterday regarding the occupied territories Bill. Every nation and state must play a part. My party leader confirmed at the weekend there is no impediment to the existing Bill and it needs to be brought forward as a matter of urgency. We need to put every pressure on the Israeli Government over the atrocities it is carrying out in Gaza. This morning, I wish to raise a pretty damning Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, report on septic tank inspections across the country. First, there …

I extend my sympathies to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, on the passing of his sister Anne. I am delighted with his appointment. He has the same grá for this post as I did. I thank the Members for their kind comments on my small role over the past couple of years in stopping the rot. We had a poor track record up to that. I thank the Taoiseach because he gave me great support during my time in office and I had cross-party support as well. I will start National Biodiversity Week on Friday on Lough Ree wit…

The Minister of State is wearing the Kilkenny colours.

Never.

On behalf of the Green Party, I want to be associated with the expressions of sympathy for Garda Kevin Flatley. I extend my sympathies to his family, colleagues and friends. Earlier today, some of us attended a packed briefing in the audiovisual room, held by Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine. We sat through one of the most harrowing presentations I have ever seen in these Houses. The figures are quite staggering. A total of 300,000 children are malnourished, of whom 3,000 are acutely malnourished. There are m…