I have received notice from Senator Grace O'Sullivan that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline his plans to ban oil and gas prospecting in the Irish exclusive economic zone and to consider conducting an environmental impact assessment of oil and gas activities, including exploration, in the Atlantic Ocean, following the publication by the Irish Wildlife Trust of the report Protecting Our Ocean's Wealth.
I have also received notice from Senator Maria Byrne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to allocate additional resources to address the delays in processing social welfare applications.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to make a statement on the effect the Flemish Decree will have on once-off planning in rural Ireland.
The matters are suitable for discussion and will be taken now. I will allow Senator Maria Byrne to go first.