I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The results of the EPA report on the circular economy and waste statistics that were published last week very much threw into sharp light just how much needs to be done with regard to what can be recycled and what is being recycled in Ireland. In fact, the report shows that Ireland is going backwards, not forwards, with regard to recycling. This is particularly so when we see our recycling rates have remained unchanged at 41%, our packaging recycling is going d…

I am supportive of all the initiatives the Minister of State outlined. However, a piece of the jigsaw is missing. We are talking to the people who want to do more, but there are people who feel they cannot do more, for a variety of reasons, or will not do more. This is not about the individual, rather, this is about the overall provision of services. At the moment, local authorities are cleaning up the mess left behind because we have such a fragmented system. The missing piece of the jigsaw has to be brought into …

I will move and withdraw the amendment with the right to resubmit it on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 23, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(5) Nothing in this section confers on a member of Garda personnel a power that he or she does not have by virtue of another enactment (including other provisions of this Act) or at common law.”. I withdraw the amendment with the right to resubmit on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 23, to delete line 27 and substitute the following: “(i) independently, impartially and in accordance with law,”. Section 4 sets out the policing principles. Our amendment is very basic and simple but is important and needs to be said nonetheless. The principle is that policing services are to be provided independently, impartially and in accordance with the law. We ask that the Minister would consider including this. It is an important message to send in the context of the legislati…

I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber. I pay tribute to all those who came to the aid of the victims of the horrendous events that took place last Thursday - Leanne, the other crèche worker and the teacher who were there with the children, Caio Benicio for his bravery in bringing down the attacker, and Siobhan Kearney for her incredible presence of mind, so justice will now be done to the assailant, and all those who helped in those shocking and frenzied few minutes. I also pay tribute to the gardaí, our f…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I will speak to section 1. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, for coming to the Chamber. I am delighted to welcome Newbridge active retirement. I thank members of the INTO for attending this evening on what is-----

We have all bases covered. This has been a long road with regard to this legislation. The Labour Party introduced it in the Seanad in May 2021. We had Committee Stage in January 2022 and I am most grateful, particularly to the Leader of the House, Senator Chambers, and her office for giving Government time to this Bill this evening. We know from listening to the many stories of women who have had the trauma of experiencing miscarriage or going through the tortuous journey of fertility treatment that not only is thi…

I know the Acting Chair has. I am concluding and am just saying thank you.

It is fine. I am concluding but it is important that I put my thanks on the record.

I know.

My question relates to Clonturk Community College on the Swords Road in Dublin 9. To give some background, this is a fantastic school which opened in 2016. In the short intervening period it has grown to 920 pupils and by next September, just eight years after opening, it will be a 1,000-pupil school. It is a great credit to the principal, the school staff and the entire school community that it is in such high demand. Indeed, it has been oversubscribed by about 2.5 times its intake capacity every year for the last…

I thank the Minister of State. In particular, there are dates in his response that are to be welcomed in terms of the tender process for the design team in quarter 1 of 2024. My experience with other schools has been that following the appointment of the design team, we do not see fixed dates set down by the Department, or there is a reluctance by the Department to set down fixed dates as to when it needs to report back and when planning should commence. I really urge the Minister of State because political priorit…