We are obviously going to oppose the Bill, but this is trying to strengthen it, and we hope that the Government will consider putting it in so that if this facility is going to be built, there is some commitment that safety has to be the priority in it. That is all this proposed amendment is trying to do, and we hope that the Government will consider accepting it.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 11, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) , the importation, offloading, storage or regasification of hydraulically fractured gas shall not constitute designated development for the purposes of this Act and shall not be carried out at any facility approved under section 29 .”

I move amendment No. 16: In page 13, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “(l) a declaration by the applicant setting out the proposed sources of liquefied natural gas to be imported to the facility and, in particular, confirming whether any proposed source involves natural gas produced by means of hydraulic fracturing;”.

I move amendment No. 20: In page 23, line 19, after “State,” to insert the following: “the State’s obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, as amended, including in particular the obligation to pursue the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy,”.

I move amendment No. 21: In page 23, line 21, after " section 26 " to insert “and the matters specified in subsection (3) ”.

I move amendment No. 22: In page 23, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(3) The matters referred to in subsection (2) are: (a) an assessment by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, following a public consultation, of the projected impact of the designated development on domestic utility bills, including any socialisation of costs across households and small businesses; (b) an assessment by the Minister, following a public consultation, of the potential public health impacts and security risks…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, after line 35, to insert the following: “Agreements for importation of certain services 5. (1) An agreement for the reception by a person in the State of a service from a supplier established in a postal code to which this Act applies, where the place of supply of the service is the State, is void and unenforceable. (2) A court shall not recognise — (a) a judgment or order of the court of another state, or (b) an award made by an arbitral tribunal under an arbitration agreement, f…

I too know how interested the Minister is in rural Ireland and in his brief. I cannot understand why the Government would not support the motion, either. It is a fantastic motion. A lot of us are representatives of rural areas. It is great to have everything in together. I do not think there is anything negative about it. I fail to understand why the Government has an amendment at all. The motion could easily have been supported. The motion could not state the reality of life more clearly, "Rural communities are ce…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. Before I call an Seanadóir Boyhan, I want to give a warm welcome to the Kingswood-Kilnamanagh Active Age Men's Group, guests of Deputy John Lahart.

I want to give a big welcome to the guests who came on the Culture Bus from Dunlavin. They are here as guests of Deputy Edward Timmins. I also welcome Jordan and Cian Adams, the FTD Brothers, who are guests of Deputy Carrigy. I do not know whether they have gone but they are very welcome. They are with Helen Jolly, and I am sure their mother, Geraldine, was very proud of them.

I welcome Deputy Brian Brennan and his guests to the Gallery.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Nach éagóir é go bhfuil ealaíontóirí na tíre á gcur ar stáitse againn chun saibhreas cultúrtha na tíre a léiriú, ach iad beo bocht? Níl sé sin ceart ar chor ar bith. Since ancient times, we Irish have been famous for literature, storytelling, music and whatever we generally call "the arts". It is a term that is used to describe a wide variety of creative work from which we, as individuals and a society, benefit. We lean on the arts in this country, from visual art, painting, sculp…

It is reassuring to hear that there is a commitment to continue it. I am delighted that it has been made permanent. It is hard enough, though, as not everyone is eligible. Praxis, the artists' union, would urge that anyone eligible should receive it. We need more art, not less. All jobs and workers are under threat from AI but creative workers are particularly vulnerable. We see how much we as a society lean on it. I believe there is research that shows that, for every euro spent on the basic income for the arts sc…

The Aire is welcome. I commend Senator Black on all the work she has done. I welcome Brian and Conor O'Neill to the Gallery. I do not wish to spend my time this evening stating the obvious, but in these circumstances, it is hard not to do so. Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal. They have been ruled to be illegal not by me, Opposition parties, the Government or Senator Black, who, as everyone has acknowledged, brought forward a more perfect version of this Bill. Those settlements h…

I will share my time with Senator Stephenson. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. It is an old joke that the Holy Roman Empire was not holy, Roman or an empire. The strategic gas reserve suffers from a similar misnomer. Our continuing dependence on fossil fuels for energy security is not strategic, and the gas that will be stored at the envisioned facility will be far from a reserve. From the very outset, it will become part of our everyday energy mix. I have highlighted this many times in the Chamber, as has my Lab…

He was a big fan of the Senator's.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I know he is well aware of all the LEADER programmes and the great work they do. I listened to "Morning Ireland" this morning where the Taoiseach was unable to give a straight answer not only about where the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, funding is going to be spent but also in respect of LEADER projects. The local development companies are particularly vulnerable within the overall CAP budget. The Minister of State knows the amazing work they do on the ground to address povert…