Yes. I would like to share time with Senator Aisling Dolan.

I welcome former President, Mrs. Robinson, back to the Seanad Chamber. As a fellow west of Ireland person, I am particularly proud to be here today to engage with her. First, I wish to acknowledge the years and, indeed, lifetime of advocacy for social change in respect of the rights of individuals, which is exemplified in her Seanad record, and all the advocacy that has happened since then in the life-changing referendums that we have initiated in this country. I also wish to acknowledge Mrs. Robinson's advocacy in…

I welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter. I have had some correspondence and have met with oyster fishermen in the Clarinbridge area. They have a good working relationship with the State agencies overseeing them such as Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. They do a small amount of commercial fishing. It is something that has been passed down through the generations. As a former Minister of State with responsibility for…

I thank the Minister of State for that response from the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. I will certainly convey it to those involved in the sector to see whether there is any way of streamlining the processes, not to in any way reduce the compliances that are necessary for food quality, safety and regulations but to make the processing somewhat simpler for those involved. There is a view that there is duplication in what is a very small sector, so I will go back to those involved. I hope there can be agreement or so…

The combined opening speeches of the proposer and seconder shall not exceed 16 minutes; all other Senators have six minutes; the Minister has 15 minutes; and the proposer has five minutes to reply. I understand that Senators Higgins and Ruane are sharing their time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I wish to refer, briefly, to section 20 and the designated environmental projects. It states that a Minister of the Government may designate a project. Is that what is called additionality rather than substituting for projects that were proposed? I apologise if this may have been discussed during pre-legislative scrutiny as I am standing in for Senator Byrne. I presume it is additonality. It is over and beyond whatever requirements and not just using this fund to supplement or replace funding that was earmarked and…

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter this morning. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House. I wish to raise the matter of a relief road for Claregalway. I can go back to 2008 to when my then colleagues, Pádraic McCormack, former TD, and Fidelma Healy Eames, who was a Member of this House, both raised this matter with the Department of Transport. At that stage, the bypass at Claregalway was being talked about in the context of the Gort to Tuam motorway, which …

I welcome the fact a funding application has been made by Galway County Council. Unfortunately, we heard the same thing in 2008 and on numerous occasions since then. I am concerned this is another stalling position and after the series of elections will still have made no progress. The people of Claregalway need to know this will progress, go to TII and be funded. The concern is we hear anecdotally and from different parts of the country that there is a slowdown on capital spending on road projects. I know the Mini…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, to the Chamber.

Amendments No. 1 is a Government amendment. Amendments Nos. 1, 2, 17 to 26, inclusive, and 35 to 37, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Amendments Nos. 3, 10, 11, 13 to 15, inclusive, 38 and 39 are related and may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.

How stands the amendment?

Before I move to amendment No. 7, I welcome the staff and students of the Central Technical Institute, Raheen College, in Tipperary, who are the guests of Deputy Lowry. I hope they enjoy the rest of their day.

Before we move on, I want to take this opportunity to welcome the second group of students and staff from the Central Technical Institute in Clonmel who are guests of Deputy Michael Lowry. I also want to acknowledge Senator Garret Ahearn who is working hard on their behalf today.

Amendments Nos. 28 to 30, inclusive, and 32 to 34, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Yes, perfect. I welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Labour Party for tabling this motion on the very important issue of waste collection, which has gone through a myriad of different regimes and changes over the years. Whether we have an ideal system or not I cannot say. I come from Galway and waste collection is not an issue that has exercised people for a number of years but the situation is probably different in Dublin. As far as I can see, the model used in Galway seems to work okay because I have not re…

The Poolbeg incinerator obviously has an important role to play as well. Overall, in respect of the motion, it is important that we hear the views of the Minister on the issues that have been raised. Finally, I commend the motion tabled by the Labour Party.

The Order of Business is No. 1, statements to mark Europe Day 2024, to be taken at 12.15 p.m. with time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, that of all Senators not to exceed ten minutes and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

I thank all Senators for their contributions here today. Senator O’Loughlin spoke on a number of issues including the Alzheimer Society of Ireland having a worthy fundraising event today at the coffee dock. I encourage people to go down to that. It is important to support the worthy cause of dementia support. She spoke about the importance of young people being aware of the issue of dementia, which is obviously a very debilitating condition. She also spoke about the Garda Representative Association, which was prote…