Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We now turn to consideration of public petitions. We have four petitions for consideration today. Petition 1/22m, "Inequality Kills", is from Mr. Liam Doran. The recommendation from the private session is that that this petition be closed because discussion of the subject matter is comprehended by the orders of reference of the relevant departmental select committee, which involve "any matter relating to legislation, policy, expenditure and administrations of ... a Government department" and that the Oxfam report entitled "Inequality Kills - “The unparalleled action needed to combat unprecedented inequality in the wake of COVID-19" along with text of the petition be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach for its attention. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Petition 3/22, "ASD & Employment", is from Mr. Liam Doran. The recommendation from the private session is that this petition be closed because a joint committee on autism is being established and the subject matter is comprehended by that committee's orders of reference, which is that "the Joint Committee shall consider matters relating to the services and supports provided by the State for autistic people and, in so doing, may have regard to the Resolutions of Dáil Éireann of 2 April 2019 and 29 April 2021 on these matters", and that the text of the petition be forwarded to the joint committee on autism for its attention. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The final two petitions are from Sir Kevin Carter and will be taken together as they both relate to China. They are Petition 45/21, "Sanctions against China", and Petition 46/21, "Improving immigration asylum policies". The recommendation from the private session that the correspondence from the Department of Foreign Affairs be forwarded to the petitioner for comment. Would members like to comment?