I suspect that, within a number of weeks, we would have another motion from Sinn Féin, this one saying the Minister did wrong and hanged the wrong man and telling him to look at the negative consequences. It is sometimes easy to call for a head and to rush to judgment.

However, when you have the privilege, responsibility and burden of government, you always have to think things through.

You have to make sure the decisions that you take on behalf of the Irish people-----

-----are in the best interests of the people we seek to serve. I cannot accept that Sinn Féin holds dear farmers and those communities any more than I do or the other people on this side of the House do.

I thank the Deputy for the question. I know that, like others, he has had a considerable ongoing engagement with all aspects of fisheries, and his input is welcome and being considered. I am very aware of the challenges facing inshore fishermen and fisherwomen and have met with representatives of the sector, including the National Inshore Fishermen's Association, NIFA, on a number of occasions in recent months and have received a copy of the submission to which the Deputy refers. Our Department also engages regular…

I assure the Deputy that it will happen as quickly as possible. Later today I will be meeting with Michael Berkery, the independent chair, to continue the discussions we have had about establishing this as quickly as possible. There is concern among the representatives of inshore fishermen and fisherwomen that the task force is a response to the large quota cut for the pelagic sector. That is true, but because we are doing this under Food Vision 2030, it is my view that we need to take into account all those who ar…

I am very conscious of the impact the small inshore fishermen and fisherwomen have on their communities. Sometimes it is just a living for their own families, but it is also part of the cultural life of some of these little villages and hamlets along our coast that many people take the opportunity to visit as part of their getaways from the larger cities, a tourism component. At the heart of it, however, are the people who are struggling to survive. As regards the loss involved, there are other opportunities. They …

As the Deputy knows, the Hague preferences are negotiated annually. Over the years, many member states have objected strenuously to their application because the additional quota for Ireland comes from their allocations. These objections have intensified in recent times, arising from reductions in quota due to quota transfers under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and scientific advice based on a considerable reduction in fishing stocks. Some of that reduction has been as a result of overfishing by other c…

I understand that the Deputy comes from an area where fishing is important. To be clear, the quota reduction, based on the scientific advice, applied across the board regardless of the member states involved. It did not seek to penalise Ireland in favour of any other state. It sought to try to protect, insofar as possible, the future of certain species. The Deputy is right in the sense that Ireland has a significant quota when it comes to species like mackerel, in particular, blue whiting and boarfish. In the case …

The task force will be part of the Food Vision strategy. Later today I will be meeting with the independent chair, Michael Berkery. We have a draft of the terms of reference, which I hope to have agreed shortly. I hope that the first meeting can take place within the next two weeks. We have a clear agenda about the necessity to address the crisis in light of the fishing opportunity that has been lost for 2026. I also want to broaden it out to include the impact of the reduction in fishing opportunities for this yea…

I thank the Seanad for the expeditious way in which it is progressing this legislation. It has been very agreeable but, unfortunately, I cannot accept this amendment. I thank Senators Sarah O'Reilly and Boyhan for their proposed amendment. As I set out on Second Stage, the focus of the legislation being introduced is to give the local authority powers to ensure that the solid fuel placed on the market meets a certain standard. This is to reduce the impact solid fuel has on the environment and to reduce the number o…

I thank the Senators for their contributions. Without a doubt, I understand the spirit of what they are trying to achieve. They are trying to remove a level of uncertainty from people who have concerns that have built up based on press releases and announcements that have been made through the decades. Generally, when it comes to drafting legislation, it prescribes what it intends to do. It never goes into what it does not intend to do. What Senator O'Reilly is asking me to do is to have the legislation set out wha…

One thing for sure as long, as long as I have known the Senator, there is nobody in this House or outside that would ever countenance the word "stupid" in a sentence that might refer to her. She is showing herself to be a very able politician and legislator in the amendments that I have addressed on her behalf on a number of occasions here and in her speeches. That is a given. I assure her that the intention of this legislation is to ensure that a certain element of the commercial sector is compliant with the law. …

I thank the Senator for his considered position and the broad approach he is taking. However, our amending legislation is just addressing air pollution, not climate change. The measures here are not identified as being beneficial to the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. It is about improving the quality of the air that we breathe. It is about taking particulate matter out of circulation while still allowing the use of fossil fuels for heating homes. This is about improving the quality of fuels and reducing the…

I can absolutely give the Senator assurance that there is nothing in this legislation or in the amendment to the original legislation that will have any impact on the homeowner or will put any extra responsibility or burden on them or open up any legal route to penalise them for how they heat their homes. That is a stated fact. However in the future for those residents, the local authorities are engaged and Government funding is being provided on an ongoing basis. We have very significant targets in terms of the nu…

I am aware of the Senato's interest in this regard and he has been a very strong advocate for people who live in flats and people in social housing. They have rewarded him on occasion for the work he does. This is important and he has raised an issue that has wider connotations. It has more to do with the upgrade and maintenance of the basic fibre and fabric of the structure of these multi-unit accommodation facilities rather than the airtightness or climate change aspects, which is the point of the warmer homes sc…

I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Defence who unfortunately cannot be present today. She sends her apologies. On the Minister's behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond to Senator Ahearn and thank him for raising this important matter. I know of his interest generally in such affairs. He has taken a great interest in and support for Ukraine after the Russian invasion. If I am not mistaken, I think he was in Kyiv and showed a great understanding of that particular matter. It does not surprise me that…

The Senator has rightly identified the positive that can come from this. The Minister outlined previously that her priority is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed. This will enable the Defence Forces to carry out its roles as assigned by Government. In addition, the Government is going to provide for the development of a full spectrum of defence capabilities that will bring Ireland in line with similar sized European countries, as the Senator has identified. O…

I am happy to do so.

Give it up.