Seanad debates

Monday, 1 March 2021

Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad

 

10:30 am

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I have received notice from Senator Aisling Dolan that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the status of the new school building project proposed for Scoil an Chroí Naofa, Ballinasloe National School, County Galway.

I have also received notice from Senator Micheál Carrigy of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on Government-funded peatlands rehabilitation and restoration initiatives.

I have also received notice from Senator Ollie Crowe of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Social Protection to clarify whether people who retire before the age of 65 years are eligible for recently introduced benefits following the increase in the pension age, and whether the pandemic unemployment payment counts as a contribution for the purposes of eligibility for this benefit.

I have also received notice from Senator Denis O’Donovan of the following matter:

The need for the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to implement a cross-departmental response to alleviate and eliminate the causes of flooding in Bantry town, County Cork.

I have also received notice from Senator Timmy Dooley of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to consider developing sector-specific support packages for the tourism and hospitality sectors.

I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter:

The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to consider allocating additional resources for the Green for Micro initiative to assist businesses outside the south east to transition to a low-carbon economy.

I have also received notice from Senators Aidan Davitt and Robbie Gallagher of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the closure of passport services under level 5 restrictions.

I have also received notice from Senator Malcolm Byrne of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on the full economic cost of a higher education student in full-time education, and if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Cassells report on higher education funding.

I have also received notice from Senator Garret Ahearn of the following matter:

The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on the important role local enterprise offices have in regional development and employment.

The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion. I have selected those raised by Senators Dolan, Carrigy, Crowe, O'Donovan, Dooley and Boyhan and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.