The Minister referred to a crisis that is playing out in fast-forward or at least in real time on media, including social media. There is also a catastrophe playing out in slow motion arising from the Russian aggression in Ukraine. We know Ukraine alone provides the wheat supply for more than half of the world food programmes and there shall be major implications for people across the developing world as expected crop crises unfold on foot of the invasion. Have we any plans for our overseas development aid in this …

The Minister of State rightly draws attention to the proud record Irish Aid has in regard to our overseas development aid programme. I know that we like to try to fund multiannual projects which is right and correct. However, exceptional measures will need to be taken for the forthcoming food shortages. We also need to look forward in respect of climate shocks, which are mentioned in the programme for Government. While we did not anticipate this level of military crisis, climate shocks are going to affect agricultu…

That draws attention to the fact that we need to have a short-term and immediate response to this crisis in terms of getting food to the most vulnerable. However, we also need to have a long-term response to food sovereignty and food security in developing countries. There is a reference in the programme for Government to vulnerability to climate shocks. We know we are going to see it intensify and worsen. There is an important role for Ireland in long-term overseas development aid and helping countries develop the…

There are various commitments in the programme for Government on land use. For example, there is a commitment to the effect that: Within 24 months, we will evaluate the potential for contributions towards our climate ambition from land-use improvements and set in train the development of a land-use plan, based on its findings. There is also a commitment to: A national land use review, including farmland, forests, and peatlands, so that optimal land use options inform all relevant government decisions. There is a fu…

That exhausts the list of speakers. I will, therefore, return to the Government slot and ask the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to close the debate.

In respect of amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, a recommittal is necessary as they relate to the instruction to committee motion. These amendments are related and may be discussed together, by agreement.

Pursuant to Standing Order 187(3), it is reported to the Dáil that the Long Title has been amended.

Amendment No. 4 is ruled out of order.

Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 are related and will be discussed together.

I will pick up on a couple of the points raised by Deputy Carthy, but will focus on them through a slightly different lens. I looked through the European Council agenda, which states that it "will continue its discussion on how to build a more robust economic base ... notably by reducing strategic dependencies in sensitive areas like critical raw materials, semi-conductors, health, digital and food". The food security piece jumped out at me. We are dealing with the immediate crises, which are physical security, mas…

If the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Minister of State remain lawyers despite their current occupation, then I remain a primary school teacher, and I am very much proud to be one.

Then I will endeavour not to waste it. That is the lens I am bringing to the Ukrainian crisis that is unfolding at the moment, the scale of which is shocking. The total number of refugees fleeing Ukraine reached 2 million people this week. More than 1 million people arrived into Poland, almost 500,000 into Romania and more than 100,000 into both Hungary and Slovakia, the four EU neighbours bordering Ukraine to the west. We have seen some arrive in Ireland but not yet in the numbers we expect. The words of the EU Ho…

What I understand from the answer is that we are talking about a default position where we fold these children into the general school population. If that is the considered position we arrive at with the best expert evidence, that is fine. I would be happy to support that. However, we have to acknowledge the huge additional pressures that would place on schoolteachers, staff and principals, in particular. It is something we need to consider. The Minister of State referred to that it is presumed we will have educati…

Four and a half minutes for you----

Very well.

I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss the report. It is particularly timely and fitting that it is discussed in the week we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the declaration of Traveller ethnicity. It was extremely important, symbolically and otherwise, in the history of the State to officially recognise the contribution Travellers have made to our society. The report lays out in stark terms what we all knew before we read it, which is that there is a persistent and systemic problem in how the State treat…

Ba mhaith liom aird an Taoisigh a tharraingt ar an bhfeachtas atá á reáchtáil ag Aontas Máistrí Poist na hÉireann, nó the Irish Postmasters’ Union. Bhuail mé le hionadaithe an cheardchumainn i bPort Láirge an tseachtain seo agus cé gur luaigh siad na fadhbanna atá acu, luaigh siad freisin na réitithe ar na fadhbanna sin. Tuigimid go léir an ról tábhachtach agus lárnach atá ag oifigí poist inár bpobail tuaithe agus i bpobail uirbeacha araon, agus an caillteanas ollmhór a bheadh ann dá gcaillfí an gréasán sin. Tá dús…

Bogfaimid ar aghaidh go dtí an páirtí Shinn Féin. Cloisfimid ar dtús ón Teachta Mary Lou McDonald.

Agus mé ag ullmhú do mo chuid cainte tráthnóna inniu, d'fhéach mé siar ar an óráid a rinne mé an bhliain seo caite ar an ábhar céanna. Dá mbeinn leisciúil agus mé ag ullmhú, d'fhéadfainn an óráid sin a phriontáil amach chun í a úsáid arís. Go deimhin, creideann na Glasaigh san athchúrsáil agus b’fhéidir gur rud dearfach a bheadh ann. Tá pointí tábhachtacha ann ar fiú iad a athlua anseo inniu áfach. Luaigh mé anuraidh nach leor é an Ghaeilge a úsáid uair amháin sa bhliain, nó mar a dúirt mé ag an am: ... tá baol ann…

The Deputy may not move an amendment until the Minister's amendment has been disposed of. In the event that his amendment is defeated, the Deputy will have an opportunity to move her amendment.