I thank all Senators for their queries and comments on today's Order of Business. I thank all of them for their warm tributes to the late Mary Jackman; I know her family is listening. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party in particular, I thank her for her dedication and service to County Limerick and here as a Member of Seanad Éireann. Senator O'Loughlin began by relaying the good news about a dedicated centre for people with Alzheimer's disease in Kildare. She made a valid point about the need to map the gaps in servi…

I move: That Seanad Éireann - - expresses its deep sadness on the death of former Senator Mary Jackman; - conveys its sincere condolences to her family; and - expresses its gratitude for her notable contribution, as a member of Seanad Éireann, to Irish public life and for her dedicated service to the people of Ireland.

I welcome the ambassador to the Chamber and wish him well on the reopening of the embassy. We saw the images from Dublin Airport over the weekend. My sister and her partner were going home to the UK yesterday and were extremely worried about what faced them. They left at around 7 o'clock. Thankfully, yesterday was not as bad but the images on Sunday put the frighteners on them and on hundreds and thousands of people who took fright and left a couple of hours earlier than planned. This is not good enough for an inte…

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement debate. I must, however, express my concern that the wording I submitted was not exactly the wording chosen by the Cathaoirleach's office. The wording that I submitted was the need for the Minister to make a statement on irregularities within Inland Fisheries Ireland from 1 January 2021 to date. That has been rephrased by somebody. That is the wording-----

Has it been rephrased by the office of the Cathaoirleach?

Absolutely , but it has been rephrased.

In a note to Deputies and Senators on 16 May from the private secretary of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, with regard to the focus of the review, it mentions that there is an investigation being carried out from the specific dates of 1 February to 27 April of this year. I have to ask the question why these specific dates were chosen. Are letters of correspondence which came in early or mid-January to be excluded from the debate and the engagement? I welcome the fact that there will be engagement under this review…

I thank the Minister of State for reading the reply, which is similar to the note that was issued to Oireachtas Members on 16 May. The last line said the review does not in any way relate to the matters I raised on the Order of Business on 5 May. That is the whole point – it should. It should investigate all the matters that I have raised. The Minister of State is right that my wording in relation to the matter is there on the top, but that is not what was read out by the Cathaoirleach. It changed along the way, an…

-----into Inland Fisheries Ireland. However, unfortunately, I am very disappointed with the road that the new CEO is taking. In addition, now I see the Minister is targeting the board rather than investigating the matters that the board has raised and pursued.

I welcome the publication of the HSE capital plan today for the year 2022, albeit at the end of May. I believe it is in fact earlier than the publication of last year’s plan. There are a number of projects noted and, as we know in regard to capital projects, they are slow burners in many cases. I renew my call for a debate on the capital plan for health across the country. There are enough issues of concern and which we would like to see expedited. In Merlin Park University Hospital, I welcome the appraisal of a pl…

Unfortunately, Galway County Council has reached the bottom of the league in terms of State funding per capita in terms of county council funding. I am not surprised because Galway County Council has been one of the most under-funded councils for a number of years. Unfortunately, it is official that Galway County Council has reached the bottom of the table. Galway County Council was second last for a number of years but Meath County Council has now overtaken us but is still in the relegation zone. Galway County Cou…

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on progressing this important legislation. It is always important that legislation be reviewed and improved as time goes on, given that situations change. Even though 2014 was not that long ago, the Act was groundbreaking legislation for the time and, as the Minister of State mentioned, one of the strongest Acts on whistleblowing across the EU. However, it is important that we always consider how to strengthen it. "Protected disclosure" or "whistleblowing" can ha…

-----and his or her family. We have all seen instances where someone in a company or public body is not even whistleblowing, but is instead just challenging or looking for improvements. That can be unwelcome at times, and it can be a very lonely place for a person in those circumstances. I note the protections as regards information. Information leaks, so it is important that there are safeguards relating to encryption and so on within the Bill. Once upon a time, one would have had to hand someone information physi…

Next Tuesday.

I welcome the announcement by An Bord Pleanála that planning permission has been granted for the Celtic interconnector between Ireland and France. This is hugely important for energy supply and for the exchange of electricity between Ireland and France. I hope that one day it will be part of an exporting cable for naturally produced wind energy as well. In the meantime, we will be takers of electricity from France. This connectivity to a European Union partner is hugely important for energy security. I certainly we…

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement debate and welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I tabled this matter to Deputy Eamon Ryan as the Minister for Transport but also as the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, given that the issue of electric vehicle, EV, charging points is one that is covered by both of his ministerial responsibilities in ensuring an adequate network of charging points across the country. The roll-out of electric cars is running apace, whi…

I thank the Minister of State for that response on behalf of the Department. I welcome the information in it, according to which County Galway has 12 standard charge points, nine fast chargers and four high-powered charge points. County Galway is the second largest county in the country and has a large tourist destination in the form of Connemara, where public charge points are non-existent. Work is needed if there is to be a proper roll-out of facilities in towns in such areas, for example, Moycullen, Oughterard, …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an gCeannaire. Bhí an Príomh-Aoire agus an tAire Stáit ar a bhfuil freagracht as an nGaeltacht, an Teachta Chambers, ar cuairt go Corr na Móna i gConamara le déanaí agus é ag seoladh plean teanga do cheantar Dhúiche Sheoigheach agus Tuar Mhic Éadaigh. Ba ócáid álainn é agus bhí oíche álainn againn san ionad pobail i gCorr na Móna. Chuaigh an Teachta ar cuairt go dtí seid na bhfear i gCorr na Móna. Chas sé leis an muintir áitiúil a thagann le chéile gach seachtain, agus, uaireanta, níos minice ná…

I welcome this debate initiated by Senator Keogan. It is thought-provoking and there is great detail in the text of the motion. There is enough material contained within it for three or four different motions, but the motion is certainly worthy of debate anyway. The Government has proposed an amendment to the motion that also highlights several other important and concerning points in this context, including that we import more than 70% of the energy we use. This compares to the EU figure of 60%. That in itself is …

I welcome the tenet of Senator Higgins's Bill. Obviously, procurement is quite complicated, particularly for major projects. It is an area that is open to legal challenge. The simplest approach is to award contracts to those who submit the lowest tender. Are changes likely to result in more prolonged processes of legal challenges or scrutiny? I wonder if this proposal could lead to further delays in the awarding of tenders, although I believe there is merit in what the Senator is proposing and has laid out. Another…