However, we do not have that Bill at the moment. I ask the Minister to work with us on the Bill before the House. I appreciate that he has made some constructive comments in regard to the Bill. I am the first to admit it is not perfect, but it has been well drafted. In terms of the issues raised by the Minister, we should constructively engage on them. Will the Minister engage with us? I propose to write to the Minister tomorrow requesting a meeting with him and his officials where we can go through this Bill draft…

Next Tuesday.

I compliment Senator Black for organising a powerful meeting yesterday on the subject of six human rights NGOs in Palestine. Those are the Addameer prisoner support and human rights group, Al-Haq, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International – Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and the Union of Palestinian Women Committees. All those organisations have now been labelled as terrorists by the Israeli Government. That action has quite rightly been described as a b…

I second the amendment.

I want to emphasise just one point. The Minister made a very thoughtful speech on Second Stage in which he contrasted the approach of the EU in the wake of the Covid crisis with the approach associated with the austerity of the preceding decade. I believe he was right, and that is why I do not understand why there has been no change to the financial criteria for accessing the precautionary credit line. It does not make sense. Therefore, the requests made by Senator Higgins are very reasonable. I urge the Minister t…

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 endorse everything Senator Conway said on the Doolin coast guard. It is high time we addressed the issue of terms and conditions and ensure people are properly recognised for the amazing work they do. The issue I will raise this morning is that of the proposed public holiday, which all of us think is a welcome recognition for the incredible work that not only our front-line workers but the entire country has undertaken to face the challenge of the Covid pandemic. I am concerned by reports it may be a one-off. Let…

It is good to see the Minister, who is very welcome. He will not be surprised to know that Sinn Féin will oppose the motion. I wish to make it clear that we are not opposed to continuing reasonable levels of restrictions, such as face masks, testing requirements, travel restrictions and measures deemed essential to combating the spread of Covid-19. We accept that some restrictions will need to be maintained, but circumstances have changed since this legislation was introduced in the first wave in early 2020. We are…

Yes.

Well said.

It is no laughing matter, Senator Buttimer.

I welcome the motion. I have followed the debate from my office and I must say that it has been a good debate. It is really good to see people from all sides encouraging investment in public transport and it is a positive change. I take issue with my colleague, Senator McDowell, on one point and agree with another of his points. I am someone who is a forced owner of a car. I have two cars at home and my family does not want two cars. It is extremely costly to run them but the reality is that there is no other way t…

No, I am not.

Exactly. The northern distributor road in Limerick needs to be completed as it is absolutely essential. The project has been dropped from the national development plan and that has a huge impact in terms of some of the things that have been mentioned in the motion. I refer to the problem of a large amount of traffic at both ends of the city. A number of good points were made about cycling and now I will outline some of my frustrations. Parnell Street is a key thoroughfare in Limerick that runs along to the railway …

I second the amendment.