Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ach an oiread leis an Seanadóir Coghlan, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an gCathaoirleach as leis an gCeann Comhairle maidir leis an tacaíocht atá siad ag tabhairt don rud atá ar siúl amárach. As Senator Coghlan has noted, sometimes we get involved in party political spats in these Houses on different issues but certainly one issue that myself and the Senator are agreed on and are trying to promote is the One Million Trees in One Day initiative, which is being rolled out over the coming days. A presentation will be given in the audio-visual room tomorrow morning at 9.30 a.m. on the project, which is an all-Ireland one that aims to plant native trees on various sites throughout the island over a 24-hour period. It is a fantastic project. It is also very apt that we will be taking the opportunity to plant a tree in memory of former Deputy Shane McEntee, given that the last debate in which he engaged with me in this House was on the ash die-back disease. He would definitely have supported this project were he still with us. I hope to see Members at the presentation and the planting ceremony tomorrow.

On that note, perhaps the Leader will indicate when the Government intends to replace Deputy McEntee as Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. When will a new Minister of State be appointed? The agricultural sector is going through very difficult times at present and there is also a lot going on in the fisheries sector at present. In that context, it would be apt and appropriate that a new Minister of State be appointed to make sure there is a full team working on all of the issues involved.

I would also like to commend the Irish Refugee Council on its day of action on direct provision yesterday. I also note that Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness has echoed the sentiments of myself and other Senators that the direct provision model is a scandal, almost in the league of the scandal of the Magdalen laundries, that is happening on our watch. It must be addressed and the Leader has indicated his willingness to have a debate on direct provision. I ask him to tell us when such a debate will take place.