I have received notice from Senator Erin McGreehan that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for gynaecology services. I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the process for making submissions on proposals for i…

I thank the Minister of State. I thank Senator McGreehan for raising the issue and bringing her own personal experience to the floor. I hope that all of that will bring impact and change for other women who are in a similar situation.

The next matter concerns the inclusion of buildings and structures in the record of protected structures in the current Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county development plan.

Now we will deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Finance Bill 2020. On Tuesday, 8 December 2020, on the question that the Bill be read a Second Time, a division was claimed. That division must be taken now.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before calling on Senator Higgins I wish to congratulate the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on her great news. I hope that all Senators have wished her well. I am sure she can expect a lot of gifts from the Seanad.

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for coming in to discuss his very important issue. At one stage during the debate on climate change in 2015, the Pope said it was the most serious threat to humanity. That same week, the Pentagon stated that climate change was a greater threat to humanity than global terrorism.

I thank the Minister for his very insightful overview of the challenges that lie ahead of us all.

The Minister was ad-libbing.

I call Senator Garvey and she has six minutes.

I call the leader of the Opposition, Senator Victor Boyhan.

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising that issue. I have had the pleasure of meeting the Bell family. They have done extraordinary work on this island to bring some comfort to the bereaved families of those who die abroad.

It is up to the Leader to allow other Senators in. If she wishes to allow Senators in, I will accede to that although it is not usual to do so.

Members may contribute once, aside from the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to the discussion on the amendment.

Members may indicate when they wish to come in. There is one amendment.

We will be dealing with an amendment.

That is okay but there is only one amendment so the Senator is only allowed to speak once.

I will allow the Senator speak to the amendment, with a bit of latitude. I remind the Senators that a Member may speak only once on Report Stage, except for the proposer of the amendment, who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. On Report Stage each amendment must be seconded.

The Senator is talking about this in the context of a review.