Seanad debates

Tuesday, 24 January 2023

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Malcolm ByrneMalcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I welcome the Cathaoirleach and the Leader to their new roles. I echo the comments of Senator Paul Daly, who expressed some of the concerns around what has been happening at Coillte and the lack of transparency there. I support his calls for a debate. Today's announcement of Oscar nominations is welcome. A record number of nominations are Irish or related to Ireland. It is particularly positive for the Irish content creation and film industries. We have sought a debate in this House on the future of the film industry, particularly with regard to the withdrawal of the regional uplift, before. I ask that the Leader consider asking the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to come to the House to debate that issue.

In recent weeks, many of us will have attended the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.It is a wonderful exhibition and I commend BT on continuing to sponsor it, and Mari Cahalane for organising it. Shane O'Connor and Liam Carew from the Abbey School in Tipperary town won with a really interesting social science project about the impact of second level education, which I think can be used to inform adolescent life. A project that grabbed my attention was by two Wexford students, Leanne Mahon and Aimee Farrell from FCJ Secondary School in Bunclody, who studied the impact of vaping on young people. I know this has come up in this House before and we are to bring forward legislation to deal with it and restrict the sale of vapes to under-18s. What stunned me about part of their project was that vapes are now being sold alongside sweets and chocolates in supermarkets and grocery stores. It is a serious problem. I know from talking recently to Tidy Towns groups and committees that vaping litter is now one of the biggest problems in our towns and communities. I welcome that the legislation to deal with this is being prioritised by the Government. I hope it will have cross-party support in this House.

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