I join the Cathaoirleach, Leader, Members of this House and colleagues in expressing my deepest sympathies to Dr. Mansergh’s wife, Elizabeth, his children, and his former political colleagues and friends. He had many of the latter. While he was of course a loyal supporter of Fianna Fáil and an activist, he worked and collaborated with political people right across these Houses. One of his defining features was his collaboration, and how he could be trusted and entrusted with various responsibilities, particularly i…

I raise the issue of the report of the Commission of Generational Renewal in Farming. This was a key message that was delivered by Macra na Feirme, the IFA, the ICMSA and other farm organisations, particularly down at the Tullamore show in the summer and again at the National Ploughing Championships. This is one of the key elements. I welcome the Government's proposals on it but we need more. The Deputy Leader will know this as she represents both urban areas and amazing and fantastic rural areas. One of the key is…

First, I salute Julie Lyons in our Distinguished Visitors Gallery with her huge family. I do not think the Gallery can take any more. Well done, Julie. What can I say about Julie Lyons? She has wined and dined – I will stop there – world leaders. She has many a story she could tell but she is always discreet. She has a great sense of humour but she is always discreet, which is an important part of the job. She nourishes us and feeds us but more importantly she is a constant friend and colleague to us all and knows …

I thank Bridget Doody, our former Clerk Assistant. What an extraordinary public servant. What a wonderful personality. What a diligent person. She always supported Seanad Éireann and Senators of all parties and none. I do not know what I can say but I think we have lost a wonderful, loyal colleague and an immense friend. I know it was very hard for Bridget to say goodbye here, and I understand that, because she built personal relationships. I always say that in politics everything is about relationships and connect…

With the consent of other Members.

Last night, we had a very robust but good debate on the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025. Of course, the Government guillotined that debate so we did not have a full and frank debate. The legislation is going back to the Dáil today. Deputies were asking me what went on last night so I told them the debate had been guillotined. That is on the record and it is important that we make that very clear. The headlines in much of the media this morning tell us that the Economic and Social Research Institute, …

First, I welcome the Minister and her officials here. At the outset, I am struck by the empathy and the detail of the Minister's statement here today and I welcome it. It pulls no punches. It sets out clearly the Minister's position and that of the Government and I really welcome that. It is articulate and yet nuanced and something that is positive. There is no ambiguity about it and I thank the Minister for that. I thank the Minister for the enormous clarity, particularly when she states, "The commission will inve…

I am very happy with what the Minister of State laid out.

I thank the Minister of State sincerely for this. We are always thought of as saying in the Seanad that it does not matter what we do but we had meaningful and constructive engagement here. I thank the Office of the Chief Herald and the Genealogical Society of Ireland and Michael Merrigan, who was the chief principal behind some of the memos and engagement with us. At the time, there was some resistance. The Minister of State took it away on the basis of needing further clarification and teasing out. There are alwa…

I warmly welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. I understand he is staying with us for the next three Commencement matters.

Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome Deputy Feighan and his guests, and all the guests in the Gallery. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House and the hospitality that comes with it, too.

I thank the Minister of State. I am most impressed with the Deputy's Latin. I say "Well done", to everyone and, "Thank you." I particularly thank the Minister of State for giving us of his time. He took three of the Commencement matters. We value him coming to the Seanad. He is always welcome here, as he knows. I thank the Senators for submitting their Commencement matters.

There is a motion before the House today in respect of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2025, to be taken without debate. It is important. I ask the Leader to convey this to the relevant people and the relevant Minister. Is there an issue with it?

It is before us tomorrow, but I am going to speak about it now. This will give me the opportunity to convey an email about it to the Minister this afternoon. Every year, I stand up here because this is a statutory requirement to bring this motion to both Houses of Oireachtas. It needs Oireachtas approval for such a minor detail. I have no difficulty with the restaurateurs, or anybody using the public realm outside to maximise their business. I see the health, goodness and the community benefits of having the public…

I will continue on from what Senator McDowell was saying about this particular juncture we are at. I will share some thoughts. I am conscious of time and do not want to waste too much today. I am conscious I have no amendments myself but I intend to contribute to some of the amendments. I have certainly collaborated with a number of people. I do not believe everything I read in the print media but I buy the Business Post on Sunday. It is an excellent paper that focuses particularly on a lot of planning and real est…

That is okay. The Senator is entitled to his comment.

I will come back to the Minister of State. I take on board his point that translation is not a matter for the Department, but that it is a matter for the Oireachtas. However, I have had raised this with numerous Ministers. I have raised this under Commencement matters, which is nothing to do with this debate and which I will send to the Minister of State tomorrow, and I have been told every time that the sponsoring Minister and the Minister of State's Department are endeavouring to get it published. We do not, ther…

What amendment is that?

I wish to focus on amendments Nos. 44 and 46 and meaningful public consultation. The Minister of State is welcome back to the House. I am conscious of his particular role with special responsibility for planning and local government and his own keen interest in this area, which I have observed over time. He is genuinely committed to this area outside of politics. He has a particular grá and interest in it. It is appropriate that he is actually our Minister of State with special responsibility for heritage, built an…

The previous speakers on this side of the House made a very good point. To go back to what Senator Murphy said on viability, we are worn out with this idea of viability. I have been around for a long time. I have served for two terms on the Oireachtas joint committee on housing, planning and local government. We constantly heard from developers and other representatives of the construction industry looking for changes and we kept giving them changes and modifications to issues around regulation and all of what I ha…