It is important there is visibility across the projects and there is. I have no difficulty in getting that information to the Deputy but the operators make public that detailed information on the progress of investments, and rightly so. In December, CRU published the transmission baseline programme, which sets out all of the transmission projects in PR 6, along with the associated delivery milestones. EirGrid publishes updates in respect of delivery against these milestones every quarter. They are available on thei…

No. I said I meet them regularly.

On the projects that are outlined, from the detail I get as to where they are, a lot of them have already commenced and that is good. There is not major slippage within it. We will get the Deputy some details on that. Not every milestone in every project will be hit but I want the majority of them hit. Already, I have given the example of Bracklone in Laois, which was delivered ahead of time and on budget. We really need to get the North-South interconnector started. That is why it is so important that consent is d…

I have never done that.

I move: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "the Government: — remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on energy prices; — is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in the cost of energy, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and its impact on costs; — has taken action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy by introducing one of the most comprehensive…

I agree, but it is not just that. It is also Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the various disruptions we have had in recent years that are putting significant pressure on energy prices right across Europe. On the purchasing power index through Eurostat, Ireland is approximately eighth for energy prices. It is not first, but electricity is still very expensive for a lot of people. That is a matter we continue to grapple with. The acceleration of the use of renewables will be critical in that regard, but I will turn …

I was going to wait for Deputy Murphy to speak later on. Anyway, that is a fact. Deputy Stanley was also here for that debate, when I also said that applications for connections are not automatically granted. If anything, many have been refused. We have to balance this and that is done independently through the planning process and through the connection agreements that are in place. On demand, the critical priority is to ensure we can meet demand right the way across our country. That is why the PR6 grid investmen…

If the Deputy was here this morning, he would have heard about it, but he was not.

There are 189,000 people working in ICT.

Yes.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí agus cuirim fíorfháilte roimh na daoine sa Ghailearaí freisin. I thank Senators for the amendments tabled. I will explain why I will not be accepting any of them. Senator Harmon gave a contribution on the overall Bill and the impact on residents. I will deal with that during this session as I did in the Dáil. This Bill does not disapply any environmental considerations whatsoever. I know there is another amendment proposing that it goes through An Coimisiún Pleanála. I will expla…

As the Senator has explained, the amendment proposes to lay a report before the Houses in relation to DAA's compliance with any directions I give it under the Bill. This provision is unnecessary. DAA is required by law once this Bill passes to comply with any direction I issue under the Bill. Typically, this will relate to the provision of reports to allow the environmental assessments to be undertaken, which I spoke of earlier. If that is not provided then the assessments cannot be undertaken and no order can be m…

I thank the Senator for tabling the amendment. I would say to Senator Clifford-Lee that this is in section 6 of the Bill very clearly. The Bill was written in close collaboration and with the advice of the Attorney General as well. The general power is actually very important. Section 6(1) states: "The Minister may give a direction in writing to daa for any purpose relating to this Act, including, but not limited to ..." and then it actually lists them. Anyone can read that it is abundantly clear. I have already sp…

Will the Senator say that again? I missed it.

I will start with Senator Alice-Mary Higgins. I suggest she may be reading the Bill incorrectly. I refer her to section 24, which specifically outlines: The Minister shall not make an order under section 25(1) unless— (a) the Commission has carried out an environmental impact assessment of the proposal and issued a reasoned conclusion in accordance with section 15 , and (b) the Commission has carried out an appropriate assessment of the proposal and— (i) the Commission has made a determination in accordance with se…

This may be the first time it has been proposed that we would cut 5,000 jobs from Dublin Airport and redeploy them across the regional airports. That is not what we are trying to do. We are trying to grow our airports and our connectivity in a balanced way. I fully respect the Senator's view; I just do not agree with it. The reality is that our regional airports are growing. Between now and 2030, we are investing €45 million to that end. This Bill is specifically about Dublin Airport. Matters have been raised, part…

I thank the Senators who tabled the amendment and the Senators who have contributed to it. I do not accept the amendment, which suggests an independent assessment of DAA's voluntary purchase scheme and setting out specific standards. I will explain why. DAA has the statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport, including the implementation of the noise mitigation programme. The terms of this programme are set out in the planning conditions. Under those terms, eligibility f…

I am not accepting amendments Nos. 10, 11 or 12. I thank the Senator for tabling them. I am empowered to make an order where I am of the opinion that the passenger cap planning condition is causing serious harm to the economy. I make no bones about that; I do not think it is a problem. I would have thought it a responsibility I would have, to be honest. Similarly, where I see there is a problem with international connectivity, that is stating the obvious and should be the case, as Minister for Transport, or the Sta…

I thank the Senator. What she is looking for is already in the Bill. I will just explain why. Section 2 includes a really clear definition of the "passenger capacity condition", which is that it "means a condition relating to the number of passengers that may use Dublin Airport for the purpose of travelling by air to or from another airport in any period". As such, the power I have under section 25, which we referred to earlier, is limited to amending the passenger cap condition, which is what is being proposed by …

I am not accepting amendment No. 18. The amendment is looking to have an environmental impact assessment every two years. Let us say, for example, there is a situation where the DAA wants to develop something. It would have to make a planning application. That would be the case for any infrastructure. This Bill does not deal with infrastructure, but with the cap itself. If the DAA wanted to build a new terminal, a new pier, a new stand or whatever, it would have to go and make a planning application. That is import…