I move amendment No. 7: In page 7, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: “(6) Where a relevant public body is stated in law or is otherwise required by law to be independent in the performance of some or all of its functions, the power to give a direction in writing under this section shall not be exercised so as to override, compromise or otherwise interfere with the independent performance of those functions.” .

Yes.

It is very important that we do not fall into a binary way of thinking where we must choose between climate action and infrastructure projects. I do not think anyone would disagree. Sadly, it is the legacy of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that we have not seen key infrastructure projects. As someone living in the north west, I have seen this. Climate action cannot be blamed for that because the Act was not even around at that time. BAM and the children's hospital is an example. We have a big problem with public procure…

That is disappointing. Judicial reviews are being blamed for an awful lot of delays when there is poor planning, poor oversight and poor resourcing of Departments. That has to be recognised. It is recognised. The number of judicial reviews arises from poor planning. How can the Minister explain issues with other projects deemed to be critical infrastructure? What about the children's hospital? I know we keep using it as an example but public procurement is a big issue here. We have to be honest and have an honest c…

Dáil Éireann passed the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, changed from the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, on 10 June 2026, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

Leanfar leis an díospóireacht de réir an ghnáthphatrúin. Beidh ocht nóiméad ag an Aire, seacht nóiméad ag na hurlabhraithe grúpa agus trí nóiméad ag gach Seanadóir eile.

Fáiltím roimh an obair atá déanta ag an Aire ó ceapadh ina Aire é. Labhróidh mé faoi bhealach amháin a gcuirfeadh feabhas ar chearta daoine a rugadh agus a tógadh sa Ghaeltacht. Tá sé tábhachtach do phobal agus todhchaí na Gaeltachta go mbeidh ról níos lárnaí ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i soláthar tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht do chainteoirí Gaeilge. Sa Bhille, beidh cead ag an údarás talamh a dhíol. Ba chóir go mbeadh cead ag an údarás talamh a cheannach chomh maith ar mhaithe le tithe a chur ar fáil. Tá 400 acra talún ag …

Cathain go dtógfar an chéad Chéim eile?

An bhfuil sé sin aontaithe? Aontaithe.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 8, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(ab) contravenes section 43C(1);”. This amendment would make it an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to knowingly contravene section 43C(1) which states, "A member of Garda personnel shall not carry out biometric analysis other than in accordance with this Part and any applicable code of practice." The Bill already criminalises falsifying, concealing or destroying information obtained by biometric analysis. It …

It is disappointing; we thought this would be a very reasonable amendment. People do make mistakes in their jobs but this is a guardrail. It is not excessive in any way. There should not be room for error when you are talking about biometric data.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Stephenson for raising this and I am proud to be a member of our Cross-Party Group. We are using our Private Members' time for this vital Bill. I also give credit to the Civil Engagement Group and Senators Higgins and Black, who have done a lot of work in this area and have brought forward similar legislation. The Bill will introduce a random inspection and enforcement regime for state flights through Irish airspace and landing in Irish airports. Contrary to what S…

I want to talk about the triple lock. I give huge credit to Senator Clonan, who has been a sound and constructive analyst of the danger of removing the triple lock. I know it was to come before Cabinet today. I do not know the result of that but I am guessing it got full approval. I urge all in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and all supporting this, to rethink it. We are making a really big mistake here. The UN is not perfect and the Security Council is 100% not perfect and needs massive reform, but it is the best thin…

We need a full debate about this here. I would nearly go so far as to say we should have a citizens' assembly on neutrality. Four out of five Irish people have said they want to keep our neutrality. Let us have a serious conversation about the triple lock. It is unfair to pounce it in. We know there will be a Dáil majority - if it is passed by Cabinet, it will be like a single lock. I call for a debate as soon as possible and I urge the Acting Leader of the House to consider putting forward a citizens' assembly for…

I move amendment No. 11: In page 4, to delete lines 20 to 23.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 4, to delete lines 24 to 38 and substitute the following: “(5) Subject to subsection (6) and (8), the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade may, after consultation with the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, prepare an order to prescribe an international agreement as an agreement to which this section applies where— (a) the State is,or intends to become, a party to the agreement, (b) the agreement …

This again comes back to the public interest and the responsibility that we have to the public. The amendment is an attempt to at least put some democratic guardrails on the process. It would modify the procedure by which the provisions of the Bill could apply to additional agreements. It would require that the Minister prepare a detailed estimate and statement on the potential cost exposure of the State arising from the prescription of any agreement under the Bill and would specify that such prescription must be a…

The Minister of State speaks about climate measures when we are not adhering to the Paris Agreement and are very happy to actually be charged fines for not reducing climate emissions so I do not think his comment holds up at all. That is what this is looking for. It is just looking for extra scrutiny - inter-ministerial scrutiny - and I do not think it is unreasonable to put those safeguards on it. Using our climate is definitely not the best argument because this Government in particular is doing nothing for it an…

We never supported the investor courts.

We never supported the investor courts.