Pat Casey
Labour Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“As the time permitted for this debate has expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with the order of the Senate of this day: "That section 29 is hereby agreed to in Committee; in respect of each of the sections of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Bill…”
“Amendment No. 9 has been ruled out of order as a potential charge on Revenue. I will read out the reasons for refusal. Amendment No. 9 would delete subsection (5) and insert section 10A completely.”
“I was in my office when I heard a lot of GAA talk, so I said I could not miss this opportunity, as a man from Wicklow, which does not often get the privilege to play in Croke Park. To actually walk the steps of the Hogan stand and to lift the Tailteann Cup was a huge day for Wicklow.”
“Amendment No. 20 has been ruled out of order as it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill. Senator Harmon wants me to read out the reason. Amendment No. 20 would require the Minister to cause an equality impact assessment to be carried out before the commencement of a specified section of the Act by a commencement order.”
“As it is now 8.15 p.m., I am required to put the following question in accordance with the Order of the Seanad of this day: "That amendment No.”
“There is a huge deficit in public transport in Wicklow, whether for bus, rail or road. Today, I acknowledge the work of the Wicklow GAA, the county board, the management team, the players and, indeed, the sponsorship, which was a deal I had a hand in putting together three years ago.”
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“It reflects an effort that responds carefully, fairly and in the best interests of all those we represent. For those reasons, I commend the motion.”
“At the same time, families and businesses are under real pressure from rising costs driven by global events entirely outside of our control. The Government has responded in a timely and responsible way, providing targeted relief where it is needed, easing immediate pressure on household budgets, and doing so without undermining fiscal discipline our long-term economic and climate goals. This is not about a headline-grabbing measure or short-term gestures. It is about steady considered governing, recognising the strain that families are under, particularly in meeting everyday costs such as fuel, heating and transport, and acting to ensure that a temporary shock does not become a lasting hardship. For families trying to balance the weekly household budget, that approach matters.”
“In my own county of Wicklow, that transition is not abstract policy ambition. It is already taking practical shape. Projects such as SSE Renewables and Codling offshore wind developments off Wicklow's coast show what energy security looks like in real terms. These are long-term investments that can deliver clean domestically generated electricity at scale, strengthening the national grid and reducing the vulnerability of households and businesses to unsustainable global fuel markets. This is how we move from reacting to energy shocks to building resilience against them through sustained planned investment that lowers costs over time and gives families greater security about their future. The position is clear. Ireland continues to benefit from a strong economy and well-managed sustainable public finances.”
“Even after these measures, debt levels remain on a downward path and long-term savings for future needs are still being accumulated through the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. That means we can support families today in a responsible way without passing on a burden of debt or instability to our children in the years ahead. Of course, short-terms supports are only part of the solution. The real and lasting way of protecting families from future energy shocks is to reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels. That is why the Government is continuing to invest heavily in energy security, renewable regeneration and the electrical network. It is so that Ireland is less exposed when international prices spike for reasons entirely outside of the Government's control.”
“The same approach applies to agriculture and fisheries. The Government has provided €100 million in targeted supports for farmers and fishers, with full details also confirmed today. It is important to recognise these sectors, which cannot easily pass on rising costs yet are fundamental to local employment, our food security and our rural communities. It is important to be clear about what these measures are intended to do and what they are not. They are not permanent giveaways. They are not reckless spending sprees. They are temporary, targeted interventions designed to deal with a specific shock. They are affordable because public finances have been managed carefully.”
“Adding extra costs to households and small businesses in the middle of an international energy shock would not be sensible. It would have pushed people too far, too fast. Support for the road transport sector is also essential. That is why the Government has committed €150 million in targeted assistance, with the detailed operation of the scheme announced today. HGV drivers, hauliers and coach operators are not some separate group. They carry our food, deliver our fuel and keep our economy running. Fuel is one of their largest and most volatile costs. If those costs rise sharply and Government does nothing, they do not disappear. They feed straight through into higher prices across the economy. Supporting the transport sector is not about picking favourites; it is about preventing inflationary measures from cascading into household costs.”
“In practical terms, these measures have reduced the price of petrol by 27 cent a litre, diesel by 32 cent a litre and marked gas oil or green diesel by 7.4 cent a litre, delivering real savings for households, rural drivers, farmers and small businesses. At the same time, to protect those most at risk of fuel poverty, the Government has extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks. This will provide an additional €152 to each of nearly 470,000 recipients, supporting over a quarter of households and helping ease pressure on home energy costs. I also strongly support the decision to temporarily defer the planned increase in the carbon tax. Climate action remains essential and nothing in this decision changes that, but climate policy has to be workable and fair.”
“Middle-income families are often the most squeezed. They may be working full time and paying their way but they do not qualify for many supports and they do not have the spare money to absorb sudden increases. For lower income households, energy costs take up a much bigger share of income, leaving no room at all when prices increase. That is the reality people are living with and to which the Government has to respond. That is why the €750 million package to address rising fuel prices is the right response. Temporary reductions in excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil are not abstract measures; they provide immediate, visible relief at the pumps. People see the difference straight away when they fill up and that matters for families, commuters and workers who depend on their cars.”
“Ireland imports most of its energy. When oil and gas prices rise globally because of a conflict or instability abroad, those increases hit here quickly and directly. There is no buffer and whether someone lives in the city or the countryside, energy costs go up for everyone. For families, that pressure shows up immediately in higher home heating bills, higher electricity bills, higher costs to get to work and school and higher childcare costs. In rural areas especially, where people rely on cars, rising fuel prices hit hard and fast. People feel it in the weekly shop where prices remain high. They feel it in insurance costs, mortgages and everyday expenses that have steadily crept up over recent years. Even when inflation has eased prices have not fallen back and households are still carrying that load.”
“The question is whether Government responds in a way that actually helps, without creating bigger problems down the line. The starting point is that Ireland is in a strong position to respond. We now have over 2.8 million people at work, which is the highest level of employment in the history of the State. Unemployment has been below 5% for four years. This means that more households have incomes and more people have security in their jobs. The public finances are also strong. Last year, the State ran a surplus, and debt levels have continued to fall. This matters because it gives us the room to act when something goes wrong, which is exactly what responsible budgeting and governing is meant to do. However, economic strength at a national level does not lessen the day-to-day pressures families are facing.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. In this motion I will address the Government's response to the recent escalation in energy prices in a clear, measured and practical manner, grounded in the economic evidence and in the lived experience of families and businesses across the country. While reports and statistics matter, what really matters to people is how decisions taken here affect their daily lives, whether families can manage bills and small businesses can stay viable, and whether people feel that the system understands the pressure they are under. Let me be clear: no one is denying that the pressure exists. People know it every time they fill their car with fuel, open an electricity bill or stand at a supermarket checkout.”
“I move: "That Seanad Éireann: notes: - the publication of the Annual Progress Report (April 2026), incorporating the Department of Finance’s Spring Forecasts, in accordance with Ireland’s obligations under the revised EU fiscal framework; - that the Report highlights the resilience of the Irish economy in the face of significant global volatility, while identifying increased risks arising from geopolitical conflict and disruption to global energy markets; - the Report’s assessment that Ireland remains close to full employment, with continued growth in employment and a declining general government debt ratio; - the evidence within the Report that rising energy prices are placing upward pressure on inflation, reducing household purchasing power and increasing cost pressures for businesses; - that Ireland, as a net importer of energy, is particularly exposed to external energy shocks transmitted through global price movements; - the identification in the Report of continued risks to the economic and fiscal outlook, including energy price volatility, geopolitical instability and global trade fragmentation; recognises: - that prudent fiscal management in recent years has placed Ireland in a strong position to respond to external shocks; - that the Government’s economic strategy is based on maintaining fiscal sustainability while protecting households, employment and competitiveness during periods of exceptional disruption; - the importance of continuing to build fiscal buffers while avoiding procyclical policy responses; - the need to balance short-term economic supports with longer-term objectives on climate action, energy security and intergenerational equity; welcomes: - the clear, decisive and proactive leadership shown by Government in responding to the sharp escalation in global energy prices, as recognised in the Annual Progress Report, through the deployment of targeted and temporary support measures; - the new and comprehensive package of fuel supports agreed by Government in April 2026 valued at over €750m, including: - further temporary reductions in excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil; - the deferral of the planned increase in carbon tax to protect households and businesses during a period of acute energy price pressure; - the establishment of the Road Transporters Support Scheme, providing direct and meaningful support for the haulage and coach sectors; - targeted fuel subsidy measures for the agriculture and fisheries sectors, recognising their particular exposure to energy costs; - the focus of these measures on providing immediate relief to households and businesses facing exceptional cost pressures; - the continued prioritisation of strategic capital investment, infrastructure delivery and structural reform, as set out in the Annual Progress Report; - the strong emphasis placed on enhancing Ireland’s energy security and resilience, including through accelerated investment in renewable energy and reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels; calls on the Government to: - continue to closely monitor economic and energy market developments and respond, where necessary, in a timely and targeted manner; - ensure the effective implementation and oversight of the fuel support measures announced in April 2026; - progress the mediumterm reform and investment priorities set out in the Annual Progress Report and the MediumTerm Fiscal and Structural Plan; - accelerate measures to enhance energy security and resilience, including investment in renewable energy and critical infrastructure; - and report, as appropriate, to the Houses of the Oireachtas on economic developments and the effectiveness of measures introduced in response to energy price shocks."”
“Amendments Nos. 34 and 36 in the names of Senators Victor Boyhan, Aubrey McCarthy, Sharon Keogan, Patricia Stephenson, Frances Black, Alice-Mary Higgins, Laura Harmon and Nessa Cosgrove would limit the possibility of treating a child in an adult facility and, therefore, may require the State to provide an increased availability of age-appropriate centres across the country. The same amendments were ruled out of order on Committee Stage. The amendments must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 42 as they have a potential to impose a charge on Revenue.”
“Amendment No. 11 has been ruled out of order because it had previously been negatived in a Committee of the whole Seanad. The amendment must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 170. Amendments Nos. 34, 36, 37, 107 and 269 have also been ruled out of order.”
“Amendment No. 2 arises out of Committee proceedings. Amendments Nos. 2, 17, 22, 120, 121, 127, 133, 136, 139, 140, 143, 146, 147, 149, 151, 164 to 167, inclusive, 176, 177, 179, 186, 187, 196, 220, 223 to 229, inclusive, 272 and 274 are related and will be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“For the information of Members, please note that the House, by agreeing to the motion to recommit, allows a Committee Stage-style discussion on amendments Nos. 28, 29, 286 to 302, inclusive, 306 and 309 to 328, inclusive, only. That is, Members may speak more than once on each of those amendments. In respect of other amendments, I would like to remind Senators that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. Also, on Report Stage, each non-Government amendment must be seconded. Amendment No. 1 arises out of Committee Stage proceedings. Amendments Nos. 1; 3 to 10, inclusive; 12 to 15, inclusive; 18; 19; 21; and 23 to 27, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“Before we move to the next speaker, I welcome a guest of Senator Joe Flaherty, Aoife Masters, a political student all the way from Longford. I hope the Senator is looking after you well today. Senator Conor Murphy has eight minutes.”
“On Second Stage the debate will follow the normal pattern. The Minister of State has eight minutes, group spokespersons have eight minutes and I will call the Minister of State no later than 4.10 p.m. for his reply.”
“For the information of Members, please note that the House, by agreeing to the motion to recommit, allows a Committee Stage-style discussion on amendments Nos. 106 to 115, inclusive, only. That is, Members may speak more than once on each amendment. In respect of any other amendments, I remind the House that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. On Report Stage, each non-Government amendment must be seconded. Government amendment No. 1 arises out of committee proceedings. Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 274 to 279, inclusive, are related. Amendment No. 1 is consequential on amendment No. 274. Amendment No. 2 is consequential on amendment No. 278 and 279. Amendment No. 277 is a logical alternative to amendment No. 276. Amendments Nos.”
“We are talking about infrastructure; we are not talking about regional development or urban development. The problems are the same across the country.”
“The fundamentals of what is happening here have to be unwound. I do not know whether it goes back to the time of the crash when we brought in regulation to slow everything down and stop things from happening. Thankfully, we are now beginning to address it. That is why I believe this is probably the most critical piece of information because we cannot solve the problems that everybody has spoken about here tonight unless the infrastructure is there, regardless of whether it is water, wastewater, energy or transport infrastructure. I thank the Minister for the effort he has put into this. It is critical for the common good of every citizen that we get the balance right in order that we get the critical infrastructure that will deliver houses across the entire country as opposed to just in urban areas.”
“Another aspect that the committee on EU scrutiny is dealing with is the transposition of EU regulations into Irish law, and the complete and utter lack of oversight in relation to that. There are options in every one of those regulations. Nobody in this House or the Lower House gets sight of any of the options. Sometimes, we go to extremes in relation to what we are looking at. Some developments in this country need to go to four, five or six State agencies in order to get approval. That is absolutely bonkers. I know of a private investment where €2 billion has been spent and where the entity involved is waiting for an EPA licence. The project is built and is ready to be occupied, yet it is just sitting there. What happens if approval is not given? Will the €2 billion investment be gone?”
“This was because of an individual who had the resources to drag the matter through every court in this country and in the EU. When we got out of that and Irish Water was established and came up with a new site, the new application for the Arklow wastewater treatment plant was done at the very same time as that relating to the greater Dublin drainage scheme. The Arklow wastewater treatment plant is now open and functioning, and the greater Dublin drainage scheme is still stuck in the process. Again, this goes back to the whole JR process in terms of picking a specific issue and focusing on it in order to delay progress on something that I believe was in the interests of the common good.”
“The answer to all of these questions is probably in the negative in the sense that the JR process suits interest groups rather than the common good of the people. The letter as opposed to the spirit of the law is being applied. I am concerned about the ability of planners to make decisions and use conditioning as a part of the process of granting permission. They just seem to be afraid, and they protect one another. With some of the offshore wind projects, the requests for further information are more extensive than the original planning application. There is something fundamentally wrong with that entire process. I will give the Minister a number of examples. It took more than 30 years for the Arklow wastewater treatment plant in Wicklow top be delivered.”
“I welcome the Minister, who is here to discuss what is probably one of most important reports ever to come before the House. I am not too sure exactly how we got to where we are in relation to the delays and the complications relating to the delivery of critical infrastructure. As the saying goes, however, we are where we are. We have to address this issue if we are going to move forward. I welcome the report. Judicial review, JR, has been mentioned. Maybe I will start with that. When we look at the current JR process, we say it is definitely not fit for purpose. We ask if it serves the common good or the interests of individuals and communities. Is it the letter of the law or the spirit of the law that is being applied?”
“Before I call on Senator Mullen, I want to explain to Members that all amendments today are being discussed together. They have to be discussed within the Member's six-minute allocation. When Senator Mullen moves amendment No. 1, all other amendments must be moved at the end of the debate, not during each Member's six-minute slot. I ask Senator Mullen to move his amendment.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, to the Chamber. We are now discussing No. 51 1 . on the Order Paper, Private Member's motion regarding online safety. The combined speeches of the proposer and seconder shall not exceed 16 minutes and all other Senators have six minutes. I call on Senator O'Loughlin to move the motion.”
“It is frightening to say that we will probably introduce 50 pieces of Irish legislation this year but we will transpose 200 pieces of European legislation into Irish law with no oversight. Legislation that starts in Europe probably doubles the amount of red tape for us. Certain European legislation is delaying critical infrastructure in Ireland. How do we interact more closely with MEPs to head this off before it becomes a single piece of European legislation and is transposed into Irish law?”
“I will be as brief as I can. Billy Kelleher always tells it as it is. We all want more, but we are not willing to identify how we are going to pay for it. I look forward to him making a presentation at the next parliamentary party meeting looking for more money off us to balance the budget. I cannot agree more with Séan Kelly. We are losing sight of the bigger picture. We are focusing on specific individual issues and losing sight of the common good and a lot of stuff that is happening at the moment, not just in relation to Mercosur but with other things. My point to Cynthia Ní Mhurchú rolls into the committee the Cathaoirleach set up on EU scrutiny and the transposition of EU legislation into Irish law.”
“Before I bring in Senator O’Loughlin I welcome the KITE group from Gorey. They are guests of Senator Cathal Byrne and I am sure that he will look after them for lunch afterwards. A nice three-course dinner is on the way for them. Senator O'Loughlin has five minutes.”
“I will say clearly that I welcome the approach the Minister, Deputy Browne, has taken not only on this legislation but in other difficult decisions he and his colleagues have been willing to make. At a time when others call for easy answers and dramatic gestures, they have chosen the harder path, the middle ground, the practical ground and the ground on which real solutions are actually delivered. That commitment to balance deserves recognition because it is exactly what our housing system needs right now.”
“Some will say the Bill should go further in one direction or the other but the truth is that political and ideological extremes have held us back for far too long. We have heard some of that in here today. We all hear the arguments that any regulation will drive landlords away or that any support for supply is somehow a concession to vested interests. These positions might make loud headlines but they do not build homes or solve problems. Real progress happens in the space between the two extremes. That is exactly where this Bill sits. It is measured and constructive and recognises that housing is both a social need and an economic system. If we ignore either side, we fail the people we are here to serve.”
“For far too long, housing policy has been shaped by fear of upsetting one group or another or of taking a decision that might not please everyone. Leadership is not about pleasing everyone. It is about doing what is right, even when it is difficult. This Bill reflects that. It recognises that tenants deserve stronger protections but it also recognises that landlords deserve certainty and fairness too. It acknowledges that if we want a functional rental market, we cannot afford to lose either side. This is the balance we need. We do not need a system that pits tenants against landlords but one that brings both sides into a fair and workable partnership. The truth is that we simply need each other. Tenants need homes, landlords need certainty and our community needs both.”
“Instead, it takes on the challenge honestly. It strengthens protections for tenants because people deserve stability, dignity and fairness. It gives renters clearer rights and stronger safeguards so they can build their lives without fear of sudden upheaval. That stability is not a luxury. It is the foundation of a healthy community. There is another part that is just as important. The Bill also recognises that we cannot protect tenants if we do not have enough homes. We all know what happens when supply dries up. Rent rises, competition intensifies and people get squeezed out. This Bill gives clarity and confidence to those who are providing houses. It avoids pushing landlords away and creating a system so rigid that it scares off the very people who build and maintain the homes we rely on. We need to be honest about something else.”
“I welcome the Minister to the House. I will speak openly and try not to get lost in the nuts and bolts of the legislation because this issue reaches into every corner of our community. It is not just legislation or lines in a document. It is about our neighbours, families and young people trying to find and keep a place they can truly call home. For years, we have watched the rental system strain under the pressure. We have seen families forced to move and move again. We have seen young adults pushed further and further away from the place they grew up. We have also seen landlords, many of them small, local, ordinary people, feel uncertain about their future in the market. No one has been winning in this situation. That is why the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill matters. It does not pretend there is a simple fix.”
“They can be amended by the Minister. I would love to see it promoted more to the sectors that this facility is there for them and they can use it when they do not have their own expertise. I would like to see that promoted more from a Government point of view.”
“For them to be able to go to an organisation that can make the case for them has been critically important. I am delighted to see that has been maintained because it is a great support to the industry. The Minister of State pointed out there were 1,400 reviews in total up to 2023. Some 930 of them were successful, so there was a 60% success rate. Some €83 million was put back into the economy. That saved family businesses and farms, More important, it saved jobs and helped the economy to move forward. Again, I welcome this legislation. It is critical. As the Minister of State pointed out, it is technical in its nature. The office was originally set up under the NAMA legislation, which we all know has wound down. This gives the service its own legislation. The Minister of State mentioned the limits that are in place.”
“I remember sitting with our bank the year before the crash happened, and it threw millions of euro on the table. One year later, we tried to establish an overdraft facility which, because we are a seasonal business, had been in place every winter for the previous hundred-and-something years, and it was no longer there. That is how bad the attitude within the banking sector became during that whole process. It did untold damage to small businesses, family businesses and farms. That is why the advent of the Credit Review Office was very much welcomed. At that time, we ourselves were 48 hours from picking up the phone and going through that process, but we eventually solved the problem. It is important to have that facility for small businesses or farms which do not have the expertise or the professionalism to take on the banking industry.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Fianna Fáil will be fully supportive of this Bill. We have to think back in time to when this service was first introduced. At that time, the banking industry itself was beginning to change. As a business person myself, I know the whole attitude of the bank had shifted away from a one-to-one situation whereby a person walked in to meet their bank manager, who understood them and their business and was there to assist. It moved to a more regional level where there was a gap between the customer and the bank manager or the people making decisions on whether to lend the money. While that was happening, we had the world financial crisis on top of that. It is hard to understand and express how the attitude in the banking industry changed almost overnight.”
“I will not get into the issue of the hospitality industry with Senator McDowell, but I could provide a lot more reasons why the pubs are only open in the evening time, other than a shortage of staff. We will do that another day.”
“It does not happen very often but some people - widows and widowers - are ruled out of the fresh start principle. These are people who lose their house because they have lost their husband or wife and do not have the correct insurance or whatever else in place and have to sell the family home. They are no different from people who have separated, divorced or become insolvent. I do not think it is the intention of the law to rule them out, but because they were not put into it in the first place, they are currently ruled out. We are not talking about a huge cohort of people in that regard. There are not many people who look for a new home when they lose a husband or wife. It is a very small, insignificant percentage of people but we should not rule them out.”
“Yes. On her income, she could not get a mortgage higher than 65%. Her mother was helping her out and she was getting the first home scheme as well, but she could not get the help-to-buy scheme. Again, she could not get it across the line. They are two examples. I am not talking about the deadweight in this scheme, which we all know about. There is a genuine need to have a review of the 70% threshold for people who are taking on additional debt. We call it equity, not debt, but it is debt because that equity has to be paid back. If the first home scheme and help-to-buy scheme were combined, the rate would be much higher than 70%. I would like the Minister of State to look at that. The second issue, which is easier, relates to the fresh start principle. I can also give examples of this.”
“The first home scheme was in place, as was the help-to-buy scheme, and then the bank rang to say it had done a miscalculation on the mortgage and had not taken into account the couple’s car loan. Their loan-to-value ratio went down from 72% to 69.2%. They lost the help-to-buy scheme payment of €30,000, they did not have the money for the deposit and they lost the purchase of their home. Three years later, they are still living in a rental property. Another example is a single mother who was buying a duplex house in Wicklow town for €280,000. She could only get a mortgage of 65% and she was topped up with both the first home scheme and some money from her mother.”
“With the loan-to-value ratio, I am not talking about the deadweight. I am not talking about the people who can afford to go into the bank tomorrow morning and get a 70% loan straight away. I am talking about the people who on the margins and need both the help-to-buy scheme and the first home scheme. They cannot get a mortgage of 70% but they can get one of 65% and with another 20% from the first home scheme, they could buy. If they could access the help-to-buy scheme, they would have the deposit but because they are ruled out, they do not have the money to get the deposit. I will give an example of how clinical this is. A lovely couple had all the transactions done to buy a new house in Newtownmountkennedy.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I had the opportunity on budget day to speak on the broader aspects of the budget. I now wish to focus on one specific aspect of this Bill, the help-to-buy scheme. I acknowledge the huge role of the scheme, which has helped over 50,000 families to own their own homes. There is also the first home scheme, which came into operation lately. I want to address two technical issues with the help-to-buy scheme. The first is the loan-to-value ratio of 70%. I raised this with the previous Ministers, Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath, and I was gaining traction with both but one decided to go to Europe and the other decided to go to Washington. I must acknowledge the huge role they played in stabilising our economy and providing a stable economy for everybody.”
“So that everyone is aware, we are not just discussing amendment No. 7. There are a number of amendments in this grouping and I want to be fair to everybody. Before I move to the Minister of State, does anybody else want to speak on any of the other amendments in this group?”
“Amendments Nos. 7, 25, 27, 28, 153 to 155, inclusive, and 299 to 301, inclusive, are related. Amendment No. 28 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 27. Is it agreed to discuss these amendments together? Agreed.”
“Amendments Nos. 2, 12, 24, 161, 162, 172, 176, 178, 198, 222, 236, 237, 245 to 250, inclusive, 252, 254, 255, 259, 262, 269, 270, 272, 274, 275, 278 to 280, inclusive, 292, 293, 307, 340, 342, 344, 345 and 347 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“This is very important legislation and I will not rule out anybody from speaking. However, we should speak to the amendments before us just to ensure we can get through the Bill. Does the Minister of State want to come back in?”
“Before I call Senator O'Reilly, I welcome Senator McCarthy's guest from the Lithuanian chamber of commerce, Mr. Darius Kazakevicius. I also welcome the guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. I hope they all have a good time.”