I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As he will be aware, extraction of peat for the Irish professional horticultural industry in recent years has been challenging from a legal and regulatory perspective. A series of High Court judgments, beginning in the early 2010s, that dealt with peat extraction and lack of compliance across the extraction sector has generated supply challenges for the horticulture sector, which continues to rely on peat as a raw growing material. I want to highlight the importance of th…

I assure the Deputy that we certainly accept his concerns and those he has raised for the sector. I am acutely aware of the key importance of the professional horticulture sector and he has highlighted the significant number of jobs and value to our economy. I want to assure him that the Government is working as a priority to assist the horticulture industry in resolving these issues. I cannot speak for Bord na Móna and its supplies but this is one of the aspects the working paper will examine in terms of available…

We have listened to the sector many times over.

Last week, I attended Ireland's second national biodiversity conference at Dublin Castle. It was greatly encouraging to see the level of engagement from academic experts, voluntary organisations and public servants about how best we can protect, restore and enhance our biodiversity. In his keynote address to the conference, the Taoiseach spoke of a growing realisation that our fortunes as a species and society are inseparable from the fortunes of our natural world. The Taoiseach also commented that biodiversity los…

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. For the month that is in it, I want to talk about Pride in 2022. I recall having an overwhelming sense of pride in my country when Ireland passed the same-sex marriage referendum. After all, love is love. However, seven years on I am prompted to reassess. It is my wedding anniversary today. I have had 21 happy years with Mark. Never once in those years, or the time preceding them, have I or we ever considered our safety while expressing our affection in public. It might ev…

I thank the Senator for his question. He is right that I am familiar with this stretch of road. As he is aware, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in regard to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local auth…

It is good to be the bearer of some positive news, which is not always possible when there are particular difficulties. I am glad the Senator is happy with the response and that he recognises the positive and proactive measures that have been undertaken. Approximately €51.6 million has been allocated to the N5 upgrade. It is a significant project and it is important that it be completed as soon as possible. I hope to see the tender process completed and construction starting, as projected, in the first quarter of 2…

I thank Senator Buttimer for his Commencement matter. The Port of Cork is currently a designated border control post, BCP, approved for container shipments of wood and wood products. Inspections take place at the Tivoli container terminal near Cork city where there is a leased Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine office and inspection room, where unloading bays have been shared with the Revenue Commissioners. The Port of Cork is currently developing new facilities approximately 20 km from Tivoli at Ringas…

I thank the Senator and can see the passion he has for this issue. I am sure the Port of Cork welcomes his support for its submission. The issue is still under consideration. I cannot say whether it is ruled in or out. It is still open and the submission from the Port of Cork seems justifiable. The Senator's pleas for it to happen are justified. We are continuing to analyse the requirements of the facility and there is a valid case for it.

I thank the Senator for raising this issue today. On 19 January, the Government announced a Covid-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise the unique role they played during the pandemic. The payment will not be subject to income tax, universal social charge or PRSI. The measure will be ring-fenced to staff who worked ordinarily on site in Covid-19 exposed healthcare environments for at least four weeks within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. Among those …

I share the Senator's frustrations. I assure him that all those eligible will receive their payments, though I accept that it has not been very quickly delivered. Department of Health officials are working hard to roll this payment out as soon as possible and the Minister looks forward to this progressing very shortly. Getting back to the original point about recognising that so many people put their lives at risk to support our nation and our citizens through the Covid pandemic, it is worth remembering that from F…

Today marks the start of Bord Bia Bloom 2022 in the Phoenix Park. It provides a fantastic opportunity for people to engage with nature, gardening and biodiversity. Bloom is open from today until bank holiday Monday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. It is to be hoped there will be plenty of opportunity for people to attend and enjoy the show. This year's show incorporates 19 show gardens and nine postcard gardens, more than 80 Irish food and drink producers, 17 nurseries in the nursery village, more than 25 cookery d…

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I thank the Senators who have contributed. I welcome the visitors to the Gallery and acknowledge their genuine passion to protect Apis mellifera mellifera . On behalf of the Government, I acknowledge also Senators' commitment to protecting the native Irish honeybee. Clearly, the support across the House is stark; it is across all parties and none. While I was in the Chamber earlier for the Order of Business, officials from my Department met the representatives of the Native Iris…

Well done.

The window we have for climate action, especially in the midlands, is very exciting. It is an opportunity for us to define our identity for decades ahead. It is imperative for us in government to bring people along the way as we do this. Henry Ford's combustion engine drove the transport revolution in Ireland in the early 20th century. It led to a move from horses to cars that were available in any colour as long as it was black, and available to people who could afford them. There was no State aid and no possibili…

Like the Minister, I will also begin by speaking about Ukraine. We cannot forget the thousands of people who are suffering there as we speak this evening. We must also think of their fellow Ukrainians who have been forced to flee to Ireland and across the world to avoid the wanton death and destruction forced on their country by the illegal invasion by Russia. We as a Government are committed to welcoming people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland. Work is ongoing across the Government to p…

As a representative from the midlands, it has been a very busy few weeks in my office. Many people have been in touch to say they must burn turf to warm their homes. People with turbary rights have been in touch concerned that they were at risk of criminalisation. This narrative fuelled by some who should know better. My office has replied to the majority, outlining my position, and where possible, we have been able to alleviate concerns. A few weeks ago I stood in this Chamber and I committed to advocating for a b…

In February I welcomed my Green Party colleague, the Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, to Portlaoise to unveil a powerful Pride mural on Lyster Square to mark one year of the midlands LGBT+ project. After the Laois launch in summer 2021, Midlands LGBT+ Project identified the huge need for similar support for people in Offaly, Kildare and beyond. In response to this the group has expanded its services to Offaly and at the weekend arrived with a splash of colour at its launch event in Tullamore. I was lucky enough t…

Members of the LGBT+ community have the right to feel safe and be safe in their homes, on our streets and online. Research by the Hate and Hostility Research Group, HHRG, at University of Limerick, identified that one in five of those surveyed had been punched, hit or physically attacked in public for being LGBT+ and one in three had been threatened with physical violence. We must change this now. It is for all of society to deal with. I am grateful that Councillor Mark Hackett is pursuing the issue of gender-based…

In light of this morning's historic, powerful and emotive address from President Zelenskyy and at a time of increasing pressure on homeowners, businesses and farmers, it is crystal clear we must do everything we can to starve Russia from its fossil fuel funds. One way we can do that is by increasing our rates of renewable energy production in any way we can. Each of us has a potential role to play in this. It can start very locally, on the rooftops of our homes in towns and villages across Ireland. I have had a lot…