Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to highlight two issues quickly but before doing so I note that I was disappointed our amendment to the Social Welfare Bill, which we will be discussing later, was ruled out of order. It is a missed opportunity. I urge the Leader to engage with the Minister to ensure that he proposes some solid and meaningful alternative way to take action in relation to Independent News and Media on the specific issue of its pension funds. While I know we will have the opportunity to debate that properly later, an opportunity has been missed and we will certainly be expecting a very solid and clear message from the Minister when he attends the House later this afternoon.

I was very happy to be part of the fossil-free divestment moment outside the Houses of the Oireachtas today. It is becoming a burning issue and it is very important. While Trinity College has moved ahead with divestment, I happy to see that NUIG has also made a commitment to divest itself from over €3 million in stocks it holds in fossil fuels. I commend the fossil-free NUIG campaign for driving that.

On the question of the environment and climate change, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, attended the House a few weeks ago and was asked about his plans for cycling in Dublin and the national cycling strategy. We now know that Dublin has won the opportunity to host Velo-city, the largest international conference on cycling globally.It is a key opportunity so I urge the Leader to ensure that when the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport comes in to talk to the House about his commitments relating to climate change, he would make sure cycling is specifically addressed.

With the Cathaoirleach's permission-----