I thank the Minister for attending. Fianna Fáil supports this Bill. It is a small, but practical, Bill and has three elements. It started its life in the Dáil mainly as a child maintenance Bill but has since grown practical legs. Regarding the International Protection Act 2015, it is important to have on record that Ireland has welcomed 2.3% of those who have fled Ukraine to the EU since the war began. This has been a significant response from Ireland. The number of weekly arrivals remains high. That number, includ…

Next Tuesday.

I so move.

I also want to join with my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney. Many of us were watching the screens in our own offices and were absolutely stunned by the treatment of Senator Clonan. Children who have a disability deserve to be treated like any other child or citizen of our country, whether this is in relation to getting services from the HSE or having their representative table a question in the Dáil or a Commencement matter in the Seanad. I was shocked that Senator Clonan was threatened with having to leave the Ho…

I also congratulate the chair of the autism committee, Senator Carrigy. In our various groups, we all tried to push our colleagues to ensure that they did the training and we were pushed by the Senator. It was well worth the effort. I raise the issue of buy now, pay later services. Many of us because of our age - I am middle aged - use mainstream banks. Revolut might be as far as I go in terms of being creative in my banking but younger people are able to access many online apps. They have these buy now, pay later …

I thank the Minister for coming to the House today. A strategic plan is probably one of the most important documents in all organisations. Much of the time, organisations do not spend enough time considering a strategic plan. I note that a board will be put in place and the establishment of the board has already been discussed in the Seanad. I add that it is important that people from a wide variety of backgrounds and different levels of An Garda Síochána are on the board. People involved in the community should al…

Yes, between the gardaí and the local people living in the area and there is great feedback. There are great channels of communication between the local community and An Garda Síochána. It is important we get information, not only about the bad stuff we read about. A lot of good stuff is going on as well and An Garda Síochána has an important role to play. I thank the Minister for acknowledging the main organiser of that event, who is a retired garda, John O'Sullivan. It is a difficult job.

I just want to bring in the community element of the strategic plan. I am giving an example of how the interaction-----

My point is there should be huge interaction with the community policing aspect and input into the strategic plan. I would like to see community involvement in the membership of the board. It is important that people have a say. If we re-invest-----

-----in our communities, not only the elderly, but also the younger section of society, we will see massive dividends being paid as regards less crime on the street and people feeling-----

-----more of a sense of belonging.

Will the strategic plan be on public view in local Garda stations? Will there be any input from the public into the plan before it is decided upon and presented to the Minister?

As Senator Chambers said, some people will not be able to access a plan like this, particularly those with a disability. A lot of information from other Departments is only accessible online and not everybody has an email address or access to broadband. Could we get an assurance from the Minister that the plan will be on display - possibly in every Garda station in the country - and that there will be an option for people to submit any submissions or recommendations not only online but also in person at a Garda sta…

Section 64(4) provides that there is to be a report. It seems to be styled in terms of the publication of a report on implementation. Can the Minister assure us that the report on implementation will also be made public in Garda stations, libraries and post offices, as we have suggested, or will this not be the case?

I refer to section 65(13), which we discussed at length when we discussed the strategic plan under section 63 and its publication. Is it similar in that there will be some sort of right of reply? Will it be displayed in public? Will there be a right of reply for members of the public to the plan and a body that will accept any recommendations or submissions the public will have? In the absence of a community-type forum, members of the community, either in groups or individually, should be able to make some sort of …

On repercussions if the service plan is not met, I note there will be redress to the board and the Minister. What specialist advisers does the board have in this area and what redress will it have, if any, in respect of overspend or misfeasance in the annual service plan?

I will speak on the issue of capital planning. We all know that the process of budgeting resources for organisations is a budgeting process for their long-term future that includes projections for future projects. I commend the Minister and the Department. Around the country, we can see beautiful Garda stations. I think we have seen these in all our communities. I know the OPW can be involved a lot of the time in this work. Kudos must go to that organisation and to the previous capital planning within An Garda Síoc…

This section concerns the governance framework document for An Garda Síochána, which includes an outline of the guiding principles applicable to An Garda Síochána and the organisational structure of it. It almost indicates that there could be significant changes. It is very important for members of the public as well as us, as parliamentarians, to be informed of the organisational and governmental structures of An Garda Síochána. In other sections-----

I will start again.

I want to speak to the section on the governance framework document for An Garda Síochána and, specifically, the organisational structure of An Garda Síochána. As I said, it is important that members of the public and we, as Members of this House, are aware of the organisational structure. Section 70(4) states that the annual report will be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. There is no provision in the section for the governance framework document to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. I do not kno…