I am relieved that Deputy Ó Murchú has left the Chamber because I was intimidated by the stellar heights of grade 5. I could manage the right hand and the left hand but playing two hands together at any given time always eluded me. Preparing for this debate I read through the Boaden report. It begins with a series of quotations from different periods in Irish life, starting with one from a Department of Finance memorandum of 1937, which states: ...public attendances at Symphony Concerts, and consequently the necess…

We would accept one in a row in Waterford if we could get it, never mind five. I was very encouraged to hear Paula Hilman, the assistant commissioner for roads policing with the Garda traffic bureau, tell the justice committee yesterday that she and her colleagues are fully supportive of introducing an online portal for members of the public to upload evidence of road traffic infringements such as illegal parking on footpaths and in cycle lanes, bus lanes and so forth, with the intention that the portal will go liv…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this Bill during its last lap through the Houses. It is once-in-a-generation legislation, as evidenced by the fact that the legislation it is replacing is some 50 years old. When one thinks of the sea change that has happened in third level provision since 1972, imagining ourselves 50 years into the future is difficult. These amendments are in keeping with how the Bill has been approached during its journey through the Houses. There has been good cross-party engagement. Th…

Deputies Higgins and McAuliffe are sharing the next slot. A third Deputy may also be speaking in the slot but he is not as yet in the Chamber.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Níl aon dabht ach go dtarlaíonn an cháinaisnéis seo i gcomhthéacs idirnáisiúnta atá thar a bheith dúshlánach. Chuir cogadh mídhleathach na Rúise san Úcráin ardú ar phraghas an fhuinnimh ar fud na hEorpa agus ar phraghas an bhia ar fud an domhain, agus sa domhan i mbéal forbartha go háirithe. Níl aon amhras orm ach gur iarracht d'aon ghnó í seo chun daonlathais an iarthair a dhíchobhsú agus chun deighilt a chruthú inár dtacaíocht don Úcráin. Tá bia agus fuinneamh á …

I was tickled to hear my own school, Glór na Mara in Tramore, listed among the Minister's exemplars. It is the school I taught in and the one my children attend. The programme has been very successful although it has received pushback. I am delighted to hear Deputy O'Rourke's enthusiasm for school street projects. I very much hope that he is communicating that enthusiasm to his party's local representatives on the ground. However, while the front of schools is becoming much safer with school street projects and the…

It is just as well I was in the Chamber and listening with interest. I join others in congratulating the Minister of State on his new position. This is an important piece of work the Minister of State has brought before the House. If it was not as immediately and transparently important prior to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the need for this legislation is now clear and obvious to everybody. I very much agree with some of the points made by Deputy Ó Ríordáin on the primacy of the state in terms of acting i…

Four minutes is very little time to do justice to an extremely significant and far-reaching piece of legislation. I understand it has received very detailed scrutiny on the Seanad Stages. I know the committee has been extremely active in that space and that the Minister has been very responsive in respect of the amendments that have been suggested and put forward. I was thinking about smartphones like the yoke I am holding in the context of this debate. The iPhone only went on sale first in 2007. It is difficult to…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Patrick Costello - to discuss the need for a co-ordinated Garda response to stolen cars rallying and ramming a Garda car in Cherry Orchard; (2) Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív - to discuss treating offshore islands as one area with a local action group under the LEADER programme; (3) Deputy Louise O'Reilly - to discuss the pay and condi…

The Deputy has 30 seconds to put the question, the Minister will have two minutes to respond, after which the Deputy will have one minute, the Minister another minute and the Deputy an additional minute.

The Minister's time has elapsed, so the Deputy might as well continue with his questions.

We will take the Minister's-----

Please let the Minister answer the question.

I thank the Minister. He is out of time on this question.

We will hear the Minister's answer.

Deputy, please.

Deputy-----

I ask you to hear the Minister's response, Deputy Fitzmaurice.

Thank you, Deputy Fitzmaurice.

Deputy Fitzmaurice, please.