Will they be with you the next time?

I must polish up my CV.

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for coming to the House to deal with this important Commencement matter. I would also like to thank the Cathaoirleach, Senator Jerry Buttimer, for selecting this Commencement matter. As others here will know, I have always made it one of my key objectives in politics for more power to be given to local government and its councillors, and I have adopted that slogan. I unashamedly say that. I have always worked for that and will continue to do so as long as I am in this H…

I thank the Minster of State for the way in which he has addressed and outlined some of the issues. My key ask today concerns what the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe identified in its report. It was sent to Government. I happen to sit on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, so I am familiar with some of the background in terms of the Department and these responses. I know it is not the Minister of State's direct Department but it would be hel…

It is nice to start on a celebratory note. I acknowledge the important Irish jockey, Robbie Dolan, who rides Knight's Choice. What a fantastic victory he had in the Lexus Melbourne Cup. As someone interested in equestrian sport, it is a great opportunity to celebrate him, and I know the Acting Leader is from Kildare and champions the equestrian and bloodstock industry. It is a wonderful achievement. I had more emails from Tipperary than from Kildare this morning regarding this great victory. It is an important vict…

No dosh.

He was an outsider. I want to acknowledge that. It is something we will celebrate, certainly in the equestrian world. On a more serious note, I acknowledge Deputy Duncan Smith, the Labour Party TD, who hosted the transport workers' union, SIPTU and others today. This is important work on a transport police force. The Acting Leader and many Members will recall that I brought proposals to this House on a transport police force, which were not supported. The other day I was delighted to read the Tánaiste, Deputy Miche…

I raise the issue of women in agriculture. Last night, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine was addressed by University College Galway associate professor, Dr. Maura Farrell, regarding women in agriculture. When she advocated strongly for women, including women at the centre of politics and agri-politics, I highlighted to her the great disappointment that was the lack of women's representation on the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I made a call at that meeting and in a media…

So did I.

I am happy to second it.

I welcome the Minister of State and his officials and thank them for their work on this Bill. This is the Second Stage of the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024. The Minister of State has set it out clearly in his note before us here and in his opening speech, and it is also clearly set out in the explanatory memorandum. In essence, this is two payments of up to €125, which will affect 2.2 million domestic account holders. Let us keep it simple; it is a good news story. The Minister …

First, I wish the Minister of State at the Department of agriculture, our colleague Senator Pippa Hackett, well as she is leading a five-day food trade mission to Thailand and Vietnam in co-operation with Bord Bia, which is very important, but it raises the issue of access to markets with regard to meat. In this case it is Thailand and Vietnam and the meat is more likely to be pork. The reality is we have issues with our meat sector. We have a very proud, strong and long tradition in the agriculture and food sector…

I welcome the Minister of State. I know he has form in this area because we served on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council together for many years. He has always been a champion of the utilisation of offshore wind and the enormous opportunities that presents. He has been consistent. What are we doing here today? We have been asked to approve a motion which states: That Seanad Éireann approves the draft South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy, a copy of which was laid before Seanad É…

If the Senator needs to take the full eight minutes, I will speak later.

I will speak in the next round.

First, I welcome the Minister of State. I particularly welcome AsIAm and a great colleague and long-standing friend of mine, Adam Harris. It is great to see him here. I will take this opportunity without embarrassing him, because I do not think anything embarrasses him, to acknowledge his enormous journey. I have known him since he was only so high and have observed him. His lived experience and what he has brought to autism is simply amazing. I do not doubt the Taoiseach's commitment given he has Adam Harris at hi…

I welcome the Acting Leader's presence. I wish to raise an issue I have raised over the past two days. I am again requesting a debate on the hospitality sector. No doubt everybody here has received the same emails I have regarding the hospitality sector - namely, pubs, hotels and restaurants. We received a lot of calls to our office yesterday. On the first day after the budget, I acknowledged the enormous and valiant work the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, did in advocating for the sector in a fair and open manner. …

I welcome the Minister of State. He has clearly explained the rationale behind the Bill, which I support. I fully understand the necessity for this important legislation. I thank the departmental officials particularly for the explanatory memorandum. This is a very short Bill containing only four sections. What it involves is clearly explained. Senator Ward has tabled an amendment that we will deal with later. However, I ask the Minister of State to comment on it anyway because I think this is going to be a pretty …

I thank the Senator and the Minister of State has four minutes.

I welcome Samantha Long and Ellen from Senator Michael McDowell’s office as well as Breege and the intern from Senator Conway’s office. They are very welcome to the House. I wish to talk about two things, the first of which is the residential zoned land tax, which I talked about yesterday. There has been a bit more clarity in the past few hours in respect of this tax. There is a lot of misunderstanding about this tax. There is no exemption from this tax. One can apply for an exemption if one desires to downzone or …