That is not possible.

Is it Sinn Féin policy to cap them?

And the Deputy paid a 34% increase?

Did the Deputy pay any more?

Mr. Angry.

What were the companies' profits in 2020, 2021 and 2022?

Not agreed.

Níl.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The Minister sends his apologies. Unfortunately, he is in Brussels at a European Affairs Ministers' meeting so he cannot be here. He asked me to take this matter on his behalf. In relation to court sittings at Harristown courtroom, which is what it is known as at Castlerea Prison, the Courts Service has advised that there has been no change to the scheduled sittings taking place in that location. The court is scheduled to sit on the fourth Friday of each month, which it …

Where the District Court sitting at Harristown is dealing with remands from other districts, it should be noted that it has no jurisdiction to finalise the charges or hear the trial and the matter must be remanded back. That is obviously the reason some prisoners are remanded back to their original location. Physical attendance for remands is a matter for the Judiciary. As the Senator rightly says, it was introduced in 2020 as a measure to help with Covid. It should be used, but it is a matter for the Judiciary its…

I thank Senator O'Reilly very much. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, sends his apologies. He is at the UN this week so he cannot take this Commencement matter. Electricity storage systems are part of the renewable energy future. Together with wind, solar and grid infrastructure, they are a key element of Ireland's transition to a low-carbon electricity system by delivering ancillary services and facilitating a more efficient use of our existing grid. Grid-scale electricity storage systems, including battery el…

I thank the Senator for acknowledging the important of battery electricity storage systems. They are vital assets to the overall operation and reliability of our electricity network during Ireland's renewable energy transition. It is not correct to say that there are no guidelines in place. The electricity storage policy framework for Ireland was published in July 2024 in line with the climate action plan. Chapter 4 of that policy framework provides an overview of the existing safety and regulatory framework in pla…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 before the House. The Bill was initiated as a Private Members' Bill by Deputy Catherine Ardagh in February and, with her agreement, the Government has decided to use Government speaking time to prioritise its introduction before the recess and make the relevant amendments on Committee Stage. The legislation not reflects only a programme for Government commitment but is the right thing to do. We are ensuri…

I thank all Members who contributed to this important debate on the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025. It is fair to say the tone of the discussion, by and large, has been thoughtful, constructive and, above all, compassionate, reflecting the seriousness and humanity of the issue at stake. This Bill is not just about insurance regulation but fairness, restoring dignity and ensuring those who have survived cancer are treated with justice, not judgment. I acknowledge the contributions from across the political spect…

I thank Deputy Timmins for providing me with the opportunity to speak on this matter. Ireland’s equity markets are diverse, encompassing public and private participants and a wider ecosystem that includes a large number of professional services firms. It is clear that public equity markets in Europe, including Ireland, have faced significant challenges over the past decade for a variety of overlapping reasons, including competition from private equity and from more liquid US capital markets. The increasing importan…

I will outline one EU-level capital markets initiative that officials in the Department of Finance are working on. That is the Listings Act. It is a package of measures agreed late last year and currently being transposed by the Department of Finance and the Department of enterprise. It supports improved access to market-based sources of financing for EU companies, particularly smaller firms such as those listed on SME growth markets. Key elements of the Listings Act include the introduction of simpler prospectus r…

I thank the Senator for highlighting our home area and the beautiful villages of Ardagh and Colehill. While he may have left those areas, I can report that they are ably represented by Councillor Mick Cahill and Senator Joe Flaherty. I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. Ireland faces a challenge at present in maintaining its internal influence in the EU. The reasons for this include but are not exclusive to recent and upcoming retirements of Irish officials at the most senior levels within the ins…

I reiterate once again this Government’s commitment to increasing the number of Irish officers in EU institutions, as outlined in the programme for Government. We have maintained a strong focus on the implementation of the career for EU strategy to support Irish officials working in EU institutions. The strategy was published in 2021. It was not a to-do list that we are doing now. It was renewed in 2024 through the launch of a new EU recruitment portal for Irish applicants. The Government has dedicated significant …

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating me to speak. I welcome the visitors in the Gallery. I thank the speakers who contributed so passionately to the debate. I recognise the profound and adverse impact endometriosis can have on the life and health of women affected by this chronic disease, which is one of the most common gynaecological conditions in Ireland. It is difficult to determine exactly how many women are impacted. There is a long pathway to diagnosis for many women and long-term follow-up care, incl…

They include specialist consultant roles-----