They are drafting their own legislation.

One of the recommendations of the AAIU, arising from a really serious accident which resulted in lost lives of loved people in this country, highlighted the fact that the Department does not have sufficient specialist aviation expertise to enable it to discharge effective oversight of the full range of IAA activities. The Department on two occasions accepted every single recommendation that was put to it yet we are still standing here with probably the biggest piece of legislation we are going to conduct for the av…

I do not want to put the question because we have not even got to talking about peer support crews in any meaningful shape or form. The Minister of State is right insofar as the bulk of this Bill does not relate to regulatory provisions. The bit we are stuck on does. The bit we have been talking about for months now in this House and externally at private meetings is all about regulation. The charge in the letter today from IALPA that was received by the Minister of State and copied to all of us is that the only ex…

That is not true. On the website the other day, the Minister of State's spokesperson indicated on the Minister's behalf that the recommendation was accepted. This is boasting in respect of recommendations 29 and 31. The relevant statement goes on to say that the Department will buy expertise as and when it needs it and does not see the relevance of having somebody contracted 40 hours a week - week in and week out - as being of benefit to it. That is not in progress. Putting a last line on a recommendation where peo…

That is not in the legislation.

I am conscious that the Minister of State has been at pains to say that this legislation is not about regulation. The amendments that have caused the delay to this legislation progressing in the past number of months are all about giving powers of regulation to the IAA. I am mindful as to why the Minister of State indicated that she took on board contracted special aviation expertise in her dealings with the IAA. Whether it is the IAA's own functions or whether it was with regard to developing information in respec…

I propose to suspend the House until 5.05 p.m. in order that I can take advice on what she said.

I propose, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or in the Order of the House today, that Committee Stage of the Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020 now adjourn to allow the House to receive legal advice on the impasse of the past hour and a half of debate and to allow for the Minister of State to come back to the House with her legal advice on the drafting of the Bill.

Next Tuesday.

I move: That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the Order of the House today, Committee and Remaining Stages of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022 shall be taken on the conclusion of Committee Stage of the Sick Leave Bill 2022 and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments set down, include only those accepted or proffered by the Governm…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the proposal for a Council decision on adding the violation of Union restrictive measures to the areas of crime laid down in Article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Institutional Burials Bill 2022 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 2.45 p.m. or on conclusion of No. 1, whichever is the later, and to adjourn after three hours, if not previously concluded; No. 3, t…

That was a quiet opening to this week's proceedings. To respond to Senator Sherlock, I think I heard the Tánaiste clearly state that our public servants deserve a pay rise. The offer made was very generous, although the talks stalled insofar as it was rejected. I think it would be expected that any union would reject the first offer. We all know how these negotiations play out and I assure the Senator they will end very shortly in a productive pay increase for all our public servants. With regard to the announcemen…

I move: That Seanad 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 adding the violation of Union restrictive measures to the areas of crime laid down in …

The Order of Business is No. 2, motion regarding the arrangements for the sitting of the House on Tuesday, 28 June, Wednesday, 29 June, and Thursday, 30 June 2022, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 3, Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. and to adjourn at 4.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 4, Institutional Burials Bill 2022 - Second Stage, to be taken at 4.45 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks …

A number of colleagues this morning, namely, Senators Seery Kearney, Maria Byrne, Fitzpatrick and Kyne, led today by Fianna Fáil's Senator Crowe, sought a debate on childcare. It is very welcome that we will get significant investment this year, particularly to support subsidies for parents for the costs associated with childcare. We all know and very much welcome finally an ERO for the sector to make sure there is a proper structured career and payment schedule from a salary perspective for the people who work ver…

-----but that does not mean I do not respect the media and journalism. At the end of the day, they are only doing their jobs in the same way we are trying to do our job. However, the transparency with regard to how they report and what they report on is vital to a functioning democracy, so I thank the Senator for raising that. Senator Boyhan highlighted not only the Patients Deserve Better campaign, which he applauded, but also the significant debate taking place in the housing committee for seven hours today to di…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, unless otherwise ordered, the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the sittings of the Seanad on 28th, 29th and 30th June, 2022: (1) The Seanad shall meet at 12 noon on Tuesday, 28th June, 2022, and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) Commencement matters shall be taken at 12 noon and up to six matters may be selected by the Cathaoirleach for discussion; (b) Standing Order 30 shall stand suspended; (c) Th…

The ambassador is very welcome. I wish him and all Slovenian citizens, whether living in Ireland or in Slovenia, a very happy national day. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion of instruction to committee regarding the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019 - Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded…

I thank Senator Warfield for paying a nice tribute to Dennis Cahill. May he rest in peace. Senators Warfield and Dolan spoke about festivals and it is that time of year. The sun is supposed to shine but it is not doing its job. It is very welcome to see open air and small festivals in local towns and villages returning to us. Now more than ever, given the impact of Covid, artists and creative people need the support they have heard us talk about for the last couple of years. They need to start seeing that support n…

Senator Dolan touched on the fact that events celebrating Pride month will take place this weekend and not only in Dublin, although Dublin Pride will probably be the largest festival and parade in the country. The Equali-TEA event in Leinster House this morning was our attempt to support Pride. During this month, we must be mindful and recognise that there are people among us who do not enjoy the dignity of treatment that we all expect to get. It is important for us all to be advocates for our friends, neighbours a…