Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Boyhan introduced and acknowledged the ACRE scheme, which will replace the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS. He signalled a slight concern that some people will be left out of the consultation. I will revert to him with a note on that.

Senator Boyhan also welcomed the publication of the Bill providing for a scheme of redress for those affected by mica. He acknowledged that there is no pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. The Business Committee waived pre-legislative scrutiny in order to get the Bill into the Dáil this week because we want it passed before the summer recess. That gives us only three weeks.He highlighted that the committee has eight hours of hearings tomorrow on the particular topics that might feed into all of our thinking with regard to the Bill. The Bill will go to the Dáil first, so by the time it gets to us, I expect it will be amended. I ask Senators to keep a look out for it.

Senator Cummins welcomed the increase in the income disregard yesterday for all students in college. It will allow them to earn more money this year than they were able to earn last year without affecting their SUSI grant, which is really positive.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke at the opening of our session of his grave concerns with regard to the proposed UK and Northern Ireland legislation that would seek to ignore EU rights we have enjoyed for many years. We will contact the Minister for Foreign Affairs to find out what is going on. The Senator looked for a debate on facial recognition and artificial intelligence in light of the new public consultation announced by the Minister for Justice. I will certainly organise that. He mentioned the inequality between private and public coach tours, something that needs to be sorted out.