Deputy Fitzmaurice's colleague indicated from Brussels that had there been 12 or 13 generators here a day earlier, the storm could be averted.

That is the kind of stuff that goes on.

I am here to work with others on what has been learned out of this, how we ensure that there is not a continuous situation where trees that can damage power lines are left in place and how we can better respond to the needs of people in terms of getting power back to them more quickly, and ensuring there are generators at all the Irish Water sites so that clean water is pumped to the sites. Those are all important. As the Taoiseach said earlier today, there was one life lost. That is one too many. This could have b…

That is why we won.

In 2014, when Irish Water was established, responsibility for the provision and operation of water and sewerage systems transferred from local authorities to Irish Water. Since then, the policies undertaken by Irish Water have been very much to develop and facilitate existing water and sewerage infrastructure. Little or no new investment has gone into villages where there was no existing infrastructure. I have seen that as a major negative in terms of assisting villages that want to grow, have the capacity to grow …

I thank the Minister of State. She will understand my frustration as a public representative who has put together a concept, drafted it, got it through the political system and back office Department system and had it announced and put to tender. It took from 2020 to December 2023 to get it through, only to find a year later virtually nothing has happened. I do not accept it is as complex as suggested. Irish Water has a framework agreement with a number of contractors. We are not reinventing the wheel. Irish Water …

The Cathaoirleach and others will be aware that overnight a landowner and business owner in my constituency has been elected as President of the United States. Obviously, we want to send him and the country our best wishes. Let us hope that kind of divisive rhetoric that was very much part of the campaign will now be set aside. I am mindful of the comments of a former Governor of New York, Mr. Mario Cuomo, when he said that in America, they campaign in poetry and govern in prose. Let us hope that at some point in t…

I also want to second Senator Martin's proposal.

The Minister of State is well aware of the importance of sport in the development of a healthy and active lifestyle for young people. There is no doubt that our investment in sporting efforts throughout the country has been significant, particularly in the context of the recent announcement under the sports capital programme. This provides significant amounts of money to most clubs. However, every young person who plays at club level aspires to go on to do great things. We all did. Some succeeded; the rest of us di…

I know the Minister of State understands the point. He made that very clear. It is important that we build this facility incrementally. Money has been provided, most recently almost €500,000, which is very welcome. Work has been going on over the past eight to ten years. It is at a level where it needs significant investment. That is why I appeal to all concerned at Government level. The allocation of €3.5 million would make such a difference and bring the facility to a standard that would allow us to develop the n…

I second the proposal of Senator Clonan in respect of the organisation of a civic reception. I know civic receptions are usually for city councils but perhaps there is some methodology that can be used to arrange it. These people are peacekeepers. Their work is particularly testing at this time. It is appropriate that we recognise them in this way. Fireworks constitute an important issue at this time of year. I witnessed the back part of a home, which served as a workshop and a hangout area for the family involved,…

I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 11 be taken before No. 1."

In addition to that, in light of the Planning and Development Bill going through in the other House today, I would like to ask for a debate as soon as possible on the whole issue of data centres. It was brought to mind because a judicial review was taken to the courts by a group of people who latched onto a very minor technical issue relating to the development of a data centre at Ennis, County Clare. The court has found in a particular way and the matter has to go back to Bord Pleanála. We understand it is the ent…

I am around a while, I can manage this one. It is important that-----

In order to avoid any potential stain on this House I suggest that Members would voluntarily-----

-----make a statement that they are not the subject of any investigation or that they have never been in the clutches of Russia. Before I sit down, I declare that I am not such a person.

I hope everybody will use the opportunity to declare that they are not a Russian spy.

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021 so as to prohibit a primary ticket seller from engaging in dynamic pricing when selling, or advertising for sale, tickets or ticket packages for cultural, entertainment, recreational and sporting events, and to promote fairer access to tickets by prohibiting the sale, or advertising for sale, of tickets or ticket packages for a price that is adjusted or …

Next Tuesday.

I am sharing time with Senator Malcolm Byrne. I welcome the Minister of State. It is a pleasure to have him here to discuss such an important initiative. He and I have discussed it in this House and elsewhere a number of times. I am fully supportive of the DMAP. I have been a believer in the capture of offshore wind for the generation of electricity for a long time. We have seen the difficulties in harnessing wind onshore. Many of the areas that are suitable have been reached, with many communities now refusing to …