Some are more equal than others.

I thank the Minister, Deputy Harris, for his opening remarks and all the Deputies who spoke here today. As the Minister mentioned in his opening statement, this is an inflection point for skills in Ireland. The only constant is change. We can no longer treat knowledge as a fixed asset acquired during a certain phase of life nor expect that three or four years of study at tertiary level will equip us for working lives that last 30 to 40 years. Skills have an ever shorter shelf life. The average half-life of a skill,…

I thank the Chair and am delighted to be in the House to discuss this issue. CERN is the leading global collaboration investigating the fundamental composition of matter. For nearly 70 years, this Intergovernmental organisation composed of 23 member states, including most of the EU member states, and ten associate member states has been at the cutting edge of research. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, announced in November 2022 that Ireland would pursue…

I too acknowledge our guests in the Visitors Gallery and welcome them to the Leinster House complex and the Seanad Chamber. I also acknowledge, as the Chair said, those who are viewing online, particularly people from the international research community who are looking in at the discussion we are having. I thank Senator Doherty for her remarks, as well as Senator Malcolm Byrne, who has been very consistent in seeking to advance Ireland's participation in and membership of CERN. Not alone has he raised it here on a…

I thank the Deputies who spoke during the debate yesterday and today for their contributions and their broad support for the Bill. I will comment on some of the issues related to the Bill. As I said yesterday, the Construction Safety Licensing Bill will bring important reforms to the safety and health training of our construction workers. The Bill will reform how workers in the construction and quarrying sectors are certified to undertake specific activities, meaning that the sector will be moving away from the cur…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.”

I thank the Minister, Deputy Harris, for his opening remarks. I am pleased to have the opportunity to outline the development of the Bill and to present its main features. The development of this Bill has been supported by engagement with the construction industry in Ireland, including the undertaking of a stakeholder consultation at the beginning of last year. It built on consultative work in 2017 and a resulting report, which recommended a move to a licensed model. The 2022 consultation process was incredibly ben…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address the recent focus and speculation regarding the sale by Limerick County Council of land in Patrickswell, County Limerick, in 2008. I am in absolutely no doubt that my actions in respect of this matter were at all times legally correct. I was a member of Limerick County Council up to my election to Dáil Eireann in May 2007. The question of the potential sale of the property in question at Main Street in Patrickswell was brought before the Bruff area committee…

I thank Senator Martin for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. Before I address the specific issues raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout t…

I again thank the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on school transport for the current school year. I reiterate that all eligible pupils who applied on time this year have now been facilitated on board a service for the 2022-23 school year. In addition, there has been a 40% increase in the number of tickets issued to concessionary pupils for the current school year, compared with the number issued in 2021-22. As I mentioned, the Department is conducting a review of the school transport scheme. Wider …

On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Josepha Madigan, I thank Senator Clonan for raising a very important issue. I stress that it is absolutely vital that every child and young person with special educational needs is fully supported in the education sector, whether this be in mainstream education or in a special class or special school. Significant investment and reforms have been made to ensure this is the case. A priority for this Government is to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placeme…

I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue and providing the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education is committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. I acknowledge the excellent work done in our schools with, for and by students. There are significant challenges, and we all know and accept that. All of those who work in our supporting special schools and special classes see these challenges daily. The Government is committed to co…

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for the opportunity to update the House. Public health nurses play an extremely valuable role within the community healthcare system. It is vital that local communities, such as the community in Drimnagh, have access to public health nurses and the extensive range of services they provide. The public health nursing service in Dublin south-west is currently dealing with significant staff shortages. These shortages are…

The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, fully acknowledges the Senator’s concerns and those of the community in Drimnagh regarding the relocation from the Curlew Road Health Centre to the Armagh Road primary care centre. However, it is important to note this is a short-term measure to pool resources while recruitment challenges exist. The introduction of the measure will allow the service to provide better continuity of care while ensuring those with the greatest clinical need continue to be seen in the community. T…

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I thank Senator Davitt for raising it. The Minister is aware that there are provisions in planning legislation whereby an existing planning permission for development, including of rural housing, may be extended in duration under certain circumstances to allow development to take place. The Minister would like to clarify the position on such extensions of duration. Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, enables the …

Existing legislation provides for the extension of the duration of a planning permission, subject to certain criteria set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Specifically, section 42 enables the holder of a planning permission to apply to a planning authority for up to two extensions to the appropriate period of the permission, provided the combined duration of both extensions does not exceed five years. Further extensions are also currently permitted under section 7 of the Planning and Develo…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Specialised Committee on…

That is okay. It is no problem.

I thank the two Deputies for their contributions. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, this measure is essential to ensure the continued close law enforcement co-operation between the EU and the United Kingdom. It is vital we meet the highest standards possible when it comes to dealing with mutual legal assistance requests between EU member states and the UK. This proposal will see the establishment of a new standardised form to be used for such mutual assistance requests. The new form will standardise the manner …