I support Senator Higgins. It occurs to me that while we may disagree on many aspects of how we go about this, I do not think anyone doubts the Minister's bona fides in facing the challenge of climate change. However, he will not always be the Minister. To be frank and party political about it, if we have conservative Ministers from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, there is no doubt this will be a get-out clause for them to say it is just not practicable to continue with a particular policy and they would like to go furth…

It is hard to follow the speeches that have been made because they encapsulated everything I am going to say. I am going to be political in what I say because we are politicians, if anyone needs to be reminded of that. As Senator Boyhan said, a hell of lot of people were here this morning to speak up about the farmers, and rightly so because their concerns are important. We are, however, now talking about just transition and the concerns enunciated by trade unions across the country and it is a different Chamber. I…

I wish to correct the record as a matter of fairness. Amendment No. 16 is not only a Sinn Féin amendment. Our colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group signed up to it as well. I recognise that and emphasise that all we are asking for is what is already in the Scottish environmental Act. Sinn Féin has put forward several detailed amendments relating to just transition, not simply a proposal for a one-word change.

We are not here making personal points this afternoon. We are making political points and there is one very clear political point that is beyond debate and is hugely disappointing, and that is that the Green Party is rejecting defining just transition in this Bill. I find that very surprising. I invite the Minister to take on board what Senator Higgins has just suggested. Why not try to work collectively on this? The Minister should come back to this issue on Report Stage and look at the definitions in the Sinn Féi…

I move amendment No. 15: In page 7, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “ ‘just transition’ means the bringing together of workers, communities, employers and government in social dialogue to drive the concrete plans, policies and investments needed for a fast and fair transformation to a low carbon economy and to ensure that employment and jobs in the new economy are as decent and as well-paid as those left behind;”.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 7, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “ ‘just transition principles’ are the importance of taking action to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases in a way which— (a) supports environmentally and socially sustainable jobs, (b) supports low-carbon investment and infrastructure, (c) develops and maintains social consensus through engagement with workers, trade unions, communities, non-governmental organisations, representatives of the interests of business and industry …

This morning's news regarding uncertainty over reopening brings into view again the fact the Covid crisis has some way to run. I want to raise the morally indefensible stance of the Government on the issue of intellectual property rights for vaccines. World leaders at the G7 summit two weeks ago proudly proclaimed they would give 1 billion vaccines to poor countries across the world, and that will be welcome if and when they are delivered. However, the world needs 11 billion vaccines. To put it in context, the peop…

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that we take No. 19 ahead of No. 1. I am seeking leave to introduce the Worker Co-Operatives and Right to Buy Bill 2021. I raise the issue of the review of the eighth amendment and the termination of pregnancy legislation. Last Thursday evening, I attended and spoke at a webinar organised by Together for Safety in Limerick. Two particular issues concern me. First, we need safe access zone legislation. Protests were held outside the maternity hospital in Limerick ever…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the law relating to industrial and provident societies and for that purpose to amend the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 and to provide for connected matters.

Next Monday.

I welcome the Minister of State. First, it is important to state for the record that Sinn Féin will be supporting this Bill. I want to pay tribute, in particular, to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action for beefing up this Bill, and to my colleague, Senator Boylan, for the leading role she played. It is important to acknowledge that the language has been amended to ensure obligations are clearly stated and the relationship between the various mechanisms is more explicit. Key principles s…

Earlier this year, a briefing paper was produced on unemployment blackspots in the State. The CSO defined an unemployment blackspot as an electoral division whose labour force exceeded 200 persons and where the unemployment rate exceeded 27%. The results from this paper tell a shocking story of political failure to address issues of social inequality in Limerick going back 20 years. It is the front-page story of the Limerick Leader this morning. We know that for many years unemployment has been systemic in certain …

The Minister of State has rightly mentioned many success stories around Limerick and we must acknowledge that. The IDA has done a good job around much of Limerick but it has not done anything for the north side of the city. It is a glaring failure in an otherwise good record of success across the midwest. The Minister of State mentioned a number of positive initiatives but I must say, with respect, we have heard this stuff before. More of the same policies are not going to change what is wrong in Limerick city, wit…

I would like to begin by referencing football. I am sure that, like me, other Members of the House are enjoying the European Championships. I would like to put in a word for our local League of Ireland football, which is well under way at this stage and going well, particularly so for Limerick. The success story of Treaty United FC is a great story of a rebirth of football. It is a new club in its first season and now in the dizzy heights of second in the first division. The point I am making is that, when permitte…

It is nice to see the Minister of State. She is always welcome here. I hope she will not take it badly when I say we were told last week that her colleague, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, would come to the House. I am conscious I have given the Minister of State a hard time on many occasions on this subject, so I would not mind giving the Minister a hard time as well. However, it cannot happen. I appreciate what the Minister of State said today and I certainly welcome the pilot programme for antigen testing. Incidental…

Well said.

Senators Craughwell and Keogan have swapped.

I listened this morning to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, announcing a task force report for Shannon and my heart just sank. We have already had an aviation task force report on top of which we have had an excellent report by the all-party Committee on Transport and Communications Networks on the aviation crisis which had specific suggestions on Shannon. We have also had a review by the Minister’s own Department on Shannon which was announced last August. Yet we are here, in the teeth of the worst crisis …

I welcome the Minister. This Bill is certainly welcome. It has been spoken about for a long time and, as the Minister acknowledged, much work has been done previously on this topic. It is good to see it introduced here today. As my colleague, Senator Warfield, said, we will be supporting the Bill. The important role both the trade union movement and the National Women's Council of Ireland have played in championing this issue for many years must be recognised. When I joined SIPTU in the mid-2000s, I remember being …

It is nice to see the Minister of State. He is very welcome. I welcome the Bill on behalf of Sinn Féin. It was very hard fought for. The negotiations by the trade union movement were intense and, at stages, looked like they would not be successful. Thankfully, they were successful in the sense that enough was delivered for the trade unions to go back to their members. I pay tribute in particular to the leadership of the major unions and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for negotiating a skilful agreement. There a…