Senator, it is brief comments at this stage.

I have been advised that this is just for brief comments at the end.

The Bill has passed. I am entitled to call another speaker, so I am respectfully asking the Senator to wind up. Otherwise I will call another speaker.

There were no allegations. There was nothing against a certain individual.

I ask everybody to conduct themselves appropriately.

When is it proposed to sit again?

When is it proposed to take Final Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I remind the Senator that we have three minutes left. If he wants a response from the Minister of State and if anybody else wants to contribute, he should note that our consideration of the Bill is due to conclude at 1.30 p.m.

Does anyone else want to contribute?

The Minister of State is welcome. I also welcome the Bill. It has been through pre-legislative scrutiny, which is always important to point out. I am going to go over the main conclusion from the pre-legislative scrutiny because I think it encapsulates everything, although I will find some other points to go through in my contribution. The pre-legislative scrutiny concluded that these streamlining provisions are urgently required to ensure confidence in the Irish planning system by eliminating surplus steps in the …

To first address the Bill on safe access zones, as the Cathaoirleach will know, I am a co-signatory so I very much hope that we can pass the Bill on Thursday. I also welcome Senator Clonan and congratulate all of those who ran. It was a stellar performance by an awful lot of people, including members of my party. I congratulate them for putting themselves forward. I am sure we will see them again in the future. I will also speak about carbon budgets. The IPCC report was stark. If we keep going the way we are going,…

I move: That Seanad Éireann shall approve the carbon budgets, copies of which were laid before Seanad Éireann on 24th February, 2022, pursuant to Section 6B(7) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021 regarding the approval of the carbon budget.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I feel passionately about this, as a member of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. We looked in detail at the carbon budgets and we had members of environmental organisations in as well. Fundamentally, as a committee, we recommended that the two Houses pass the carbon budgets. That is my position and that has always been my position. There may have been one Senator and one Deputy who did not take that position. However, it was the opinion of …

It is good to have the Leas-Chathaoirleach back in the Chamber. I thank Senator Chambers for outlining the Order of Business. Previous speakers mentioned that much has been achieved in the past couple of days in the context of greening Ireland and climate and biodiversity. I acknowledge both that and the historic step forward taken last night in the Seanad to finally end fur farming in Ireland. Fur farming is a cruel practice. Seventeen years ago, as a colleague pointed out, the Green Party tabled legislation to en…

It is important to remember that this legislation is born out of a passion for planting trees and for increasing the footprint of forestry across the country, and for ensuring that everyone can take part. That is where it is coming from. Sometimes, it is more appropriate to do things in regulations than in primary legislation. It allows one to do the appropriate assessments. I understand that this is where it is coming from. I agree with a lot of Senator Boylan's comments. People are looking for assurances, and tha…

Now.

The two main things that this Bill addresses are animal welfare and nature, through the planting of woodland. It is a positive Bill and a positive story. We have known for a long time that mink farming had to end, as it has in other countries. I would say it is a cruel practice, which is now recognised. Only by ending it do we enable businesses to be compensated. We must pass the legislation in order for that part to happen. In answer to issues around the ending of mink farming and small-scale farming, regulations …

I propose Senator Horkan.

I am sure we will all have an opportunity to extend our condolences to the Fitzpatrick family. On behalf of the Government, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his family.