I thank Senator Ruane for raising this issue and for providing such a detailed overview to the House. I apologise if there is an element of repetition in my reply with respect to what the Senator has already stated but I think it is important, for the record, to state the exact context and exactly what the Government is doing and has been doing in partnership with the Senator and so many other Members of both Houses. The former mother and baby institution in Sean Ross Abbey, County Tipperary, which operated between…

I am more than happy to do that and I will have the official correspondence sent to the Minister in due course. The main point is it is with the chief archaeologist in a different Department. I do not think any of us here are archaeologists, though I am open to correction, so we cannot put an exact timeframe on a review of a file like this, given the massive amount of work that goes into that office, with excavations, building works and reviews in many areas. When the work is completed, we will see a bit more progr…

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the debate. This is an issue that is emotive to many of us and not just from our work as constituency TDs dealing with so many different families on a daily basis who face such a range of challenges and need so much support from their local representatives. Those of us who are lucky enough to have children also see it in the schools they attend, their peer groups, and their friends. This is one of the biggest issues facing many. That is why I am so glad to follo…

I thank Senator Higgins for tabling these four amendments and for her clear rationale and motivation. Senator Higgins will understand that I am dealing with this legislation and have to respond specifically to it and address the issues that she raises in amendments as they apply to this legislation. I am not for an instant taking away from the points she has made. I accept her bona fides on them. Senator Higgins is right on many things and I would like to think we are in agreement with the thrust of these amendment…

I will come in briefly. As I said, I appreciate the sentiment of the Senator's contribution. She is right that I am in a position as a Minister of State in the Government to be able to ensure we get the reassurances required in this regard. To be frank, I do not think there is a need for a legislative requirement for a report. The legislation is clear on what the responsibilities are in respect of asset managers. It is a fairly black-and-white binary issue from the perspective of the Government. I am not going to g…

I thank the Senator for placing these amendments and for her very clear rationale on the justification and the very serious concerns that she holds in respect of current and previous or proposed investment strategies of the State. There is quite a bit in these amendments and I will address some aspects that the Senator did not directly refer to, if that is okay.

No, just aspects of the amendments themselves. The thrust of your argument is well made; do not worry about that. I think it is important for the totality of the debate to examine some of the impact of the entire drafting of the legislation and what considerations a government may have to take in hand in respect of utilisation, as per the middle part of amendment No. 32, in respect of the use of the fourth Geneva Convention and the protocols therein. It is important to state when we use any of these protocols withi…

Let me underline for the Senator that I am not here to relive any old arguments either. I did refer to them in the context of the debate and the definition. I take this very seriously. I do not believe any Member of these Houses is ever here to posture. Saying so might be easy but we are talking about deadly serious issues here. We do so every day in these Houses and that is what people across our constituencies and panels elected us to do. I referred to the grouping of the three amendments and that is why I referr…

I thank the Senators for tabling this amendment and I thank Senator Warfield for his contribution. This is a repeat of a debate we had a number of weeks ago with the relevant spokespersons from the Senator's party in the Dáil. My response will remain the same in that I fully accept the clear intention and focus on the need for the State to improve investment in many areas, including of infrastructure and housing. However, there is an element here of missing the purpose and concept of the fund. The fund will deliver…

I will always consider any amendment put forward by the Senator. Indeed, these amendments were considered and debated when they were proposed by his colleagues in the Dáil a number of weeks ago. The context of this discussion, which is key, is the real purpose of this fund. The point I am about to make might provide an element of reassurance to the Senator. Regrettably, we have seen in the past that at times of economic difficulty that we faced into in stark terms, including around the period when I first entered e…

Needless to say, I do not choose the grouping but I will speak to each amendment separately because they merit being treated as such. In any event, if there are votes, they will be taken consecutively. From the outset, I think it is fair to say, although the Senator may choose to disagree, that there will be an element of this on which we are just going to disagree. It is okay to disagree as long as we do so agreeably. Based on the experience of ISIF and taking account of the approaches taken by other funds in othe…

I thank the Senator for the proposed amendment. Under this legislation, there is a requirement for the NTMA to consult with the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and to have regard to the views expressed. This aligns with the existing requirements for the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, and the Minister can also consult with other Ministers as appropriate. In addition to this consultation process, as part of the Government approval of this…

I thank the Senator for the proposed amendment. I will provide some context as to where we are at. As has been discussed throughout the debate on the infrastructure, climate and nature fund, there are two purposes provided for under this Bill, namely, to support State expenditure in any year from 2026 where there has been, or is likely to be in the subsequent year, a significant deterioration in the economic or fiscal position of the State, and in the years 2026 to 2030, on designated environmental projects. Where …

I thank both Senators for their contributions. I will respond to the easy one first. Senator Kyne's presumption is correct. I would like to speak more widely to these amendments and acknowledge the contribution, as ever, from Senator Higgins. I would like to make a number of points about including these provisions. The main point to be considered for each of the additions is that only a finite number of resources are being deployed from this fund. By adding further objectives, we would dilute its impact in the exis…

I will take the amendments together as they relate to the management of the funds by the NTMA. The elements the Senator proposes to amend are very important operational positions that have been carefully drafted to ensure the effective management of the new funds and to align with the existing framework of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. Amendment No. 24 would prevent the agency from making indirect investment such as pooled or fund investments. The ability to make indirect fund investments is a key requirem…

I could go into great detail on all of the points the Senator has made. Throughout the course of this debate, she has a fair idea of what I am going to say and will appreciate the very clear position of the Government. There is a clear position which has been laid out not only in my remarks but throughout the Bill. I cannot accept the three amendments, but I am more than happy to engage with the Senator further to provide that reassurance in due course.

I am delighted to be given the opportunity to say a few words here this afternoon and to point out some of the excellent work that has been done by a slew of Ministers and officials across a number of Departments, led by the Minister, Deputy Burke, and following on, despite some revisionism, which we are used to, from certain parties across the Chamber, from a package announced a couple of months ago announced by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and following on from one of the most expansive pro-enterprise budgets in…

Sinn Féin's entire enterprise budget last year was €30.3 million. Within that, Sinn Féin says that there should be the creation of an Irish jobs agency. We have Enterprise Ireland. When we have a 15-minute intervention from the Sinn Féin spokespeople, and we will have more slating of this package, they really need to start looking at themselves and the sheer lack of interest Sinn Féin has for business. We hear talk about sectors and how this is pitting business against business, which is an absolute nonsense. Only …

No, they have also increased local property tax; Deputy Nash can ask the local councillors - even though the council has taken in more money and is spending more than ever, yet it will not reduce commercial rates or local property tax. That is something Deputy Nash can reflect on. I am more than happy to engage with the local Labour Party candidate when she calls to my door looking for my preference vote in due course. Before other speakers come in and Deputy Higgins concludes, it must be stated that the stats are …

I thank Senators from across the political divide who have contributed to this very important debate. I acknowledge the array of points raised and I will go through them individually in due course. The Minister, Deputy McGrath, and I look forward to engaging further with Senators, as has been flagged, on Committee and Report Stages on the issues raised this afternoon. As the Minister stated, the Bill legislates for two new funds, the future Ireland fund and the infrastructure, climate and nature fund. This is an im…