Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree to the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader of the House.

Last Thursday, we had some very welcome news for the north west when we had the official announcement of a technological university for the north west, comprising a multi-campus structure across eight campuses at Castlebar, Galway city, Killybegs, Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Mountbellew and Sligo. To say it was a significant day for the region is an understatement. This technological university marks a significant change in how we offer third level education across the north-west region to students in the area. It also means that my home town of Castlebar will now become a university town, which is a big deal for Castlebar and County Mayo.

It is fantastic to see the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, our local campus, get an extra level of status and become part of a bigger campus across the north west. This development means students in County Mayo and other counties will have the option to travel across the region to the various campuses to pursue third level education. They will be able to start a course in one campus and finish their studies in another campus. This offers them a wide range of opportunities and exciting access to multi-campus structures.I commend all the colleges that came together to make this happen. It has been a long time in the making, but it is a fantastic day for Mayo and the north-west region to have the technological university announced last Thursday. I wish it all the very best.

I also wish to raise the forestry sector. As Senators will be aware, the sector is hosting an information briefing in Buswells Hotel between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. today to inform us about the ongoing crisis in the issuing of afforestation and felling licences. There are in excess of 1,000 applications for afforestation licences awaiting a decision and many more felling licences also. We have the bizarre situation where nurseries are exporting seeds just to survive and sawmills are importing timber and logs for the same reason and to serve the Irish market. This is having a direct impact on timber supply in the country which, in turn, is having an impact on the cost of construction and building homes. It is well accepted that this is a crisis and it is having a serious impact, in particular on rural communities where forestry is a significant industry and employer. I urge all Members to meet the forestry sector today in Buswells Hotel. I ask the Leader to arrange statements in the House and questions and answers with the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, who has responsibility for this area, to see if we can move this issue along and find a resolution for the sector.

I acknowledge the ongoing COP26 conference in Glasgow. I commend the Taoiseach on his attendance at the conference and his comments on climate change to the effect that Ireland will meet its targets and will be counted among global world leaders in meeting the climate challenge. The facts emerging from the conference about where we are and the challenges that lie ahead are very stark. There is no doubt that the climate challenge is the biggest one we will face in our generation. We owe it to the children of this country and future generations to hand over this country and planet in a good state and to make the changes now needed to reverse the climate challenge. I join with other colleagues in accepting that there is a big challenge ahead. However, it is one on which this Chamber should be to the fore in have ongoing dialogue and discussion with all Ministers on their carbon budgets and how we intend to meet the targets.