Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Anois, Seanadóir Clifford Lee. I understand the Senator is sharing time with Senator Rabbitte. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before I call the next speaker I welcome a large group to our Visitors Gallery today - the Belturbet Men's Shed and the Douglas Men's Shed, guests of the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin. They are very welcome here today. It is lovely to see them all. They have taken a day off from their whittling, woodwork, etc. I know the Drogheda Men's Shed do a fantastic scone. I am not sure if those present do that as well. I hope Michael O'Gorman of the Belturbet Men's Shed and the Douglas Men's Shed enjoy their day here.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I call Senator Scahill. Brevity is key.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I call an Seanadóir Scahill who is sharing time.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I second the motion. I thank the Minister for coming to the House. The conversation we are having is incredibly vital. I welcome the motion and commend Senators O'Loughlin, Rabbitte, and other colleagues on bringing it forward. It is to our shame that we are still talking about this in 2026 and that we still have to legislate, strategise and campaign to protect women and children from this violence, coercion, exploitation and abuse in their own homes, relationships, online and right across society in general. Domes…

I thank the Minister of State for addressing this really serious issue. It is actually a follow-on from a call I made yesterday to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to assist in move-on accommodation for survivors of domestic violence. This urgent issue needs multi-departmental collaboration. To our shame, hundreds of women and children all over the country are leaving abusive homes or situations, seeking safety in refuges and trying to rebuild their lives but they are facing a really uncertai…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I thank him for his comprehensive response and his own personal comments. I note that the mechanism is not currently under consideration from a policy perspective but let us begin the conversation to make that a possibility. I would also argue that these houses would possibly be more than ample in terms of security for these women and children. We are doing really well providing refuges; it is not the refuges, it is the post-refuge care that we need. We need a multi-pronged appr…

I thank the Aire Stáit for coming to the House today. This is a very important issue. It is not a new issue. Unfortunately, it is long-standing. It is a new proposed solution to this problem because what we are doing now clearly is not working. There are still thousands of survivors leaving women's refuges with their children and they have nowhere to go. There are women and children throughout the country today who have done exactly what they are supposed to do. They have left abusive homes, sought safety in refuge…

I thank the Minister of State for his very detailed response. I do welcome all the work that is being done by the Government parties on dealing with women and children, particularly those who are homeless. However, I reiterate that many of these survivors are not listed as homeless. As a result, they are not being assisted by homelessness projects. Also, they are not necessarily entering homeless accommodation because they are not designated as being homeless, so they are falling between a couple of stools. It is i…

We welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the House.

I thank the Aire Stáit for his broad but comprehensive opening statement.

Before we move to our next speaker, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Frankie Feighan.

Senators Stephenson and Harmon are sharing time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister of State very much for coming to the Chamber and addressing that. We will pause for a moment to allow the next Minister of State to enter the Chamber.

I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, a good morning. The next matter is in the name of Senator Kyne.

Before we move to our next Commencement matter, we have a packed Public Gallery and I wish to welcome some of our guests. Students from Marino Institute of Education are most welcome to the Seanad. We also have visitors from Cairdeas Clubhouse, guests of Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí. They are welcome here today. They picked a beautiful day to come. Hopefully, they will enjoy the rest of their tour and visit. We also have Mr. P.J. Bohan and Mr. Des Dalton in the Public Gallery, guests of Senator Garret Kelleher. I hope the…

Before we move to our final Commencement, we have a busy day in our Visitors' Galleries today. I welcome our distinguished guests to our Distinguished Visitors Gallery, and those in our Public Gallery as well. I see we are packed out with the St. Laurence's Boys' National School, Stillorgan. They are all very welcome guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond. Our Cathaoirleach always says that when you visit the Seanad, you have no homework for the rest of the day but I am mischievious as Acting Chair …