I welcome the Minister of State. Councillor Ben Dalton O'Sullivan of Cork County Council and a number of other Independent councillors around the country have asked me to raise this important issue. There has been much discussion in both Houses about our second winter with Covid. While it is not yet known whether we will find a way to live with the virus or will finally kick it, there is one threat that winter will always bring, and that is the cold. We are touching the bottom of the thermometer in some places in t…

I appreciate the response. I note this matter does not come within the remit of the Minister of State, but the Minister, Deputy Ryan, may not have been available this morning. I am very disappointed. Twenty-six months is a very long time, particularly for those who are on the poverty line. All of the people who can avail of these grants are on the poverty line. It is not only for this winter they will not have an upgrade, but next winter and the winter after that. It is only after that they will get the works done …

There are a couple of issues I want to raise this morning. First, we all received an email with regard to the pay and conditions of secretarial assistants for Senators. Currently, they are earning €24,400 per year, which equates to €11.75 an hour. There was to be a meeting with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in 2019 and this meeting has not taken place. Will the acting Leader please organise a meeting about the pay of secretarial assistants? They help each of us in our work and it is important they …

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

It is free speech.

The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber. I am not going to talk about vaccinations. I am going to talk about the piece of legislation that is before us here today. This legislation allows for the use of outdoor seating for venues with liquor licences. It was introduced in July 2021 to facilitate the outdoor-only dining and drinking recommendation from the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET. The legislation is set to lapse at the end of this month and the Government is seeking its extension. This l…

I do not know what it is with Fine Gael and these free tickets. If its members are not looking for Kylie Minogue tickets, they are looking for Christy Moore tickets. The United Nations 16 days of activism begin on 25 November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and end on 10 December, which is Human Rights Day. Human trafficking, which is a $150 billion global industry, is one of the greatest examples of violence against women and girls. In addition, millions of women and girl…

Hear, hear.

I too welcome this amendment. My colleagues and I were happy on Committee Stage when the Minister indicated a positive attitude towards this amendment. I am aware that Senator Boyhan has worked with the Minister on this provision and I am glad that the role of the local authority members is being represented in this legislation. The habit of SHD applications working outside the relevant county development plans has been a bone of contention for councillors for years. I hope that our move towards this new LRD proces…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I also call on the Minister to support and accept the amendment. It is a simple amendment, not one that forces the hand of or constrains the planning authority in any way. It simply adds an express reference to the elected members of the local authority where the legislation sets out that the planning authority may meet persons who have relevant information prior to the LRD meeting. When we think of relevant information when it comes to planning, our councillors should be at the forefront of our minds. As Senator B…

I second the amendment.

I, too, hope the Minister will accept the amendment. It will allow for increased community consultation with regard to large-scale residential developments. It will be a great improvement on what is quite often a deficit in communication with regard to SHDs. Involving community stakeholders is a must in regard to developments of this size on account of the profound impacts they will have on areas and communities.

I second the amendment.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. Last week, I spoke about some of the horrors in our State care system and the fact that there were 30 deaths last year, seven of which were through suicide. It makes me very sad to see our young people dying in State care. This is an area with which I am familiar. I would love to think that everything was all rosy in the garden, but I hate to tell Senators that it is far from it. There are some excellent social care workers and foster care parents, but we need more. We …

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.