I thank the Cathaoirleach. I have no difficulty with that. The committee made 21 recommendations, including that the six-month residency requirement for children be removed. The committee stated clearly it must be removed. The report was signed off by all those Oireachtas Members, who went around saying they were going to transform everything. I expected more of them and I am disappointed. That is the reality we live in and it is my job to highlight it inside and outside this House. I will not be short in doing so.…

The next Commencement matter relates to the introduction of a 30% income tax rate. Senator Maria Byrne has four minutes to make her case.

I again thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and responding to the various matters in a comprehensive fashion. It is appreciated. The final matter is in the name of Senator Garvey. As she is not present, I propose that the proceedings of the House stand suspended until 10.30 a.m.

At 7.45 this morning, I visited the international protection offices in Mount Street. The first thing I encountered were 31 tents, some of them elevated on wooden decking and plastic. These are occupied by people who are waiting for emergency accommodation and a humanitarian response by the Irish people under the international protection protocols the country has signed up to. We have an obligation and I believe the Irish people and Government are wholly supportive of it. However, the manner in which this obligatio…

I welcome the Minister to the House. I only have a few things to say with regard to tourism and the Minister's brief. They are a little bit disjointed - I would not like to think I was too disjointed - but I want to share with the Minister two or three things. First, I was at the recent British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. We gathered in Jersey for a few days. The issue of tourism was very much to the fore of our deliberations. There is the issue of the North-South tourism body. The all-island approach we have to …

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, for coming into the Chamber. The designation of special areas of conservation, SAC, ultimately falls within his remit. It has come to my attention through correspondence from various NGOs, other environmental groups and local councillors in County Kerry, particularly with regard to Killarney National Park, and Clare County Council with regard to the Burren, about areas of designation and the oblig…

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. In summary, he has confirmed to me that Ireland had legal proceedings issued against it by the European Commission in relation to its obligations under the habitats directive, which are to protect natural habitats, and for "failing to establish the necessary legal measures to ensure its conservation". It was great to hear the reference "in relation to the legal case" in the last part of the Minister of State's reply. That is all I wanted to know, and the Mini…

The Ombudsman for Children has raised serious concerns about the 3,472 children who are living in emergency homeless accommodation. I join him in doing so. We often talk about protecting children's rights. Yesterday, the House debated past issues regarding the protection of children. We are aware of the work of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth or, shall we say, its recommendations and considerations. It has yet to be seen how much of that action goes into central policy. …

I second the amendment.

I thank Senator Warfield and the other Sinn Féin Senators for tabling this motion, which is timely and important. I welcome our friends and guests into this House. Seanad Éireann is an important place. I thank them for their advocacy and work. I particularly want to welcome Martin Barnes, a neighbour of mine for many years. It is great to see him here and everybody else who has been an advocate. Many previous speakers mentioned Declan Flynn. In 1982, Declan Flynn was murdered in Fairview Park, his only crime that h…

Or a bottle of beer.

It might change.

And the Minister of State is one of ours.

I do not need to welcome the Minister of State because this is her House. I thank her for coming to address this issue. The focus of my Commencement matter today, and hopefully the Minister of State will deal with all this, is the need to confirm the number of forestry planting licences that have been granted since 1 January 2023. Can she confirm that Ireland has formally submitted its completed - with the emphasis on completed - application for state aid approval with the European Commission, and that the Commissi…

I thank the Minister of State. The question was precise, and the Minister of State confirmed again that it had been submitted. I asked the Minister of State when it was submitted. Will the Minister of State just tell us when the form was completely submitted? I cannot seem to get that direct answer. It is a simple question. It is in the Commencement matter. Secondly, there is no statement. The Minister of State's statement has not been circulated to me. Every Commencement matter is circulated. I am sitting here and…

I appreciate that but I have not had an opportunity to study that when I was listening to the Minister of State's four minutes. I will finish on a few points. Forestry is in crisis. Let us face up to the fact. We are heading into May and no approvals have been given, despite all of the promises by the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and by the Minister when this strategy and plan was launched in November 2022. We are now entering into May 2023 and no approvals have been given. Forestry is in crisis. I will fini…

When? Give me the date.

The Minister of State is telling me she does not have the date.

The Minister of State is here for a Commencement matter.

I second and support the Deputy Leader's proposals for the Order of Business. I particularly want to welcome and look forward to the speech by the president of the GAA. He is a significant individual but the GAA is also a significant organisation in the country and one that is always worthy of great support. I am aware that this association has significant support across these Houses, as it also has in local government. I wish to raise a few issues. On yesterday's announcement by the Government on the suspension of…