I thank Senator Higgins for being vigilant on these matters. Part 3 of the Bill seeks to change the definition of foreshore. That has raised concerns, including among the wind energy developers. It is also likely to be of concern to any marine survey providers or to those who carry out wildlife surveys or geological surveys or even wildlife photography. Is the Minister of State in a position to clarify this point, either today or as the Bill makes its journey through the legislative Stages? Is the Minister of State…

Senator Ó Donnghaile may be a relative newcomer to Seanad Éireann but Comhaontas Glas, or the Green Party, is brand new to it. This is our first time as a separate grouping in the Chamber. The opening words of Senators McGahern and O'Sullivan, who are from the two big parties that have been around since the foundation of the State, aptly summed up the late Senator Brennan. They were said so eloquently and were full of sincerity and it is very hard to follow on from them because they encapsulated everything I have h…

I commend the Labour Party grouping on tabling a motion into which they clearly put much thought and research. They were very professional and dedicated in their approach to this burning issue. The differences in the reality of politics between the Government parties and the Opposition are probably not as big as we think they are but there are differences. In her opening remarks, Senator Sherlock was generous to acknowledge that there have been some improvements. Perhaps during the lifetime of the full Government, …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. The Bill is technical in substance and quite straightforward. Its main purpose is to permit the Minister to increase the aggregate level of advances that can be made to the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, out of capital moneys approved by the Oireachtas. This funding is of use in supporting enterprises and projects related to the development of tourist traffic and tourism facilities and services. Tourism is a hugely important indigenous and labour…

I second the motion.

I congratulate and commend the Minister of State on the recent €1.3 billion investment in forestry. That will represent the largest ever investment by an Irish Government in tree-planting and is indicative of how seriously the Minister of State is taking this matter. In the 1600s there was 10% timber coverage in Ireland. In the following 300 years, our country was asset-stripped and that coverage went down to 1%. In 1923, the State began a process of afforestation, and in those 100 years Ireland has returned to aro…

And our approach to-----

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. One way in which the national broadcaster did the State some service was by shining a light on this issue and not sweeping it under the carpet. It was upsetting to see the scenes on the premier street in Ireland, which is steeped in history. That situation is a microcosm of an issue that faces people in many parts of Ireland. It is a multi-stranded, multifaceted and complex issue and putting more police at the problem is not the single solution to it. Several diffe…

I commend Senator Clonan and the Independent Group Members on tabling this important motion on what we in the Green Party regard as a crucial issue of Ireland and a much-valued neutrality. We have a proud history of neutrality of Ireland, given our Defence Forces have the longest unbroken record of overseas service with the UN of any country. This has always centred on humanitarianism and peacekeeping. Earlier this year, the Government approved the decision to move to level of ambition 2 over a six-year period to 2…

In respect of the disturbing events that have been highlighted and that are unfolding off the football field in Qatar, I rise to my feet on behalf of the Green Party, Comhaontas Glas, to associate myself as closely as I possibly can with the eloquent words of Senator Buttimer, who is a forthright and passionate campaigner on a quest for equality. That is all that Senator Buttimer and right-minded people want. I believe it is important that this House is heard on that issue. Senator Buttimer has articulated that in …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. On behalf of the Green Party, I am delighted to support this Bill. It is wonderful to see a collaborative approach. It is not unprecedented in this Chamber, but it is something we cherish. I am a huge believer in co-operation and collaboration. The Green Party-Comhaontas Glas would like to support this legislative initiative and commends Senator Ardagh and all those who are supporters and sponsors of it and have demonstrated resilient focus. They have at the centre…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. We all accept that nursing homes play a vital role in our society. They house and provide homes to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The Minister of State quite correctly reminded us of the significant and important presence of nursing homes in our lives when she said that 562 nursing homes exist in Ireland, accommodating almost 32,000 registered beds. The Minister of State also said that there are approximately 35,000 people employed in private and voluntary not-…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Seanad inniu. Safe to Create is a pivotal and much needed dignity at work programme for people in the arts sector which has been strongly promoted by the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. Its goal is to impact change and the culture and practices of the arts sector in Ireland to provide safer working conditions for artists and arts workers. An article published last year detailed how approximately 10% of employees reported having been bullied or harassed in the workplace and t…

The lack of amendments from Senators does not demonstrate a lack of interest. This has been a collaborative approach-----

We are not speaking to the Bill.

I thank Senators for the prompt and unreserved support for the Bill on Committee Stage. I welcome the Minister, Senator Hackett, my Green Party colleague, to the Chamber. She is a supporter of this Bill and is doing her best to find a way forward for it. That is to be acknowledged. Since around 2012, there has been an almost 1,200% increase in imports of non-native honey bees into Ireland. If, despite increased efforts by lobby groups to create conservation areas and to improve education, this continues, there is n…

Okay, I will stick to acknowledgements and I will conclude-----

-----by saying that in 2020 alone, an increase of 327% in the importation into this country of non-native honey bee queens was documented. I thank Senators for their steadfast and continuing support. We have a wonderful gathering of Senators in the Seanad, including the horticulturist, Senator Murphy, and Senators Higgins and Wall. On the front line, we have more than 500 beekeepers in our county. I thank the people in the Gallery who have come in this evening. I also thank Senator Maria Byrne from Limerick, which …

Next Tuesday.

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.