It has been really worthwhile coming in today. It is great that the Minister has been able to give us an important update in regard to the AHR Bill and the work that has been going on in the background, including the criteria and the roll-out of the fertility hubs. I commend the Minister on all the work he has done in women's health and the facts speak for themselves in regard to spending. I know documents produced by the Department show that, in 2021, €17 million was spent on women's health and we are now at a fig…

I thank the Senators who have tabled this important motion. As my colleague mentioned, we are inundated with report after report of current and historical abuse of women, children and men who are vulnerable people. Fianna Fáil believes in the delivery of fundamental public health services to the highest standard through investment, innovation and reform. We will not oppose the motion, which we welcome. We encourage St. John Ambulance to conduct an independent review of the handling of past allegations against the o…

I second the proposal that No. 23 be taken before No. 1. This is a Bill I and my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, have been working on. It essentially brings in publicly-funded IVF. It is something I have spoken about previously in this House. My husband and I had to go through five rounds of IVF to create our beautiful family. It takes an emotional toll on you and also a huge financial one. I probably spent the last Seanad going in and out of IVF clinics on my own and I hope this Bill will not only address the taboo…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today. One of the first acts of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, was to open Our Lady of Hope School, Crumlin, with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. The school is a beautiful art deco school in Crumlin village and is a real flagship for what the Department can do in terms of retrofitting buildings. There is a stunning occupational therapy room and fabulous classrooms but there are no therapists in this school. Our Lady of Hope School has been open…

I thank the Minister of State. We will know the school is working well and has the therapists when I do not hear from it. Principals and parents do not contact me when they have the proper resources. These parents, principals and teachers now have to be not only OTs and speech and language therapists, but also advocates. That should not be the case. They need to concentrate on the kids in the class. We need to know if there is a plan for our CDNT in Crumlin. There is a huge shortfall. It is not just missing it by 5…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, for taking this debate. The Bill was laid before the House by my colleague Senator Crowe and me. Across the world, there has been a pay transparency movement. Our former colleague Deputy Bacik, who is now in the other House, brought in the original pay equality legislation highlighting pay transparency in respect of salary scales within organisations. This Bill is an add-on to that legislation. It is envisaged it will improve …

It is not in this Bill

It is just asking for former payslips.

I thank all the Members who contributed today and thank them for their support. It is great to see that everyone read the Bill. I can understand where people are coming from in regard to the arbitrary figure of 50 employees, given Canada started with 250 and the United States then went very low with 15. We followed the European Commission discussions. I want to thank those in the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers for helping us to draft this Bill. We have been working on it with them since 2021 so it is just a…

Next Tuesday.

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

I join my colleagues, Senators Wall, Ó Donnghaile and Fitzpatrick, in condemning the horrific attack on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in the presence of children on the junior football pitches in Tyrone. There are no words to describe this attack, but we are all horrified, stunned and saddened. Ultimately, I always thought there was a generation shielded from the violence in the North. There is now a generation of children who witnessed a shooting on a football pitch. As my colleagues said, I just hope th…

I join Senator Black in commenting on the increase in the number of far-right anti-immigration protests across the city. We have seen lots of them in Ballyfermot and Drimnagh in the constituency of Dublin South-Central. Thankfully, and really encouragingly, local groups are coming together and hold protests against the far right. We have the Drimnagh For All and Ballyfermot for All groups. Since these groups were set up, the number of far-right protests in our area has decreased. The last protest the far right trie…

I second the motion.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I know he has been here for a while today. This is a really important motion. We know that for people to use public transport, anywhere in the country and not just in our cities, they need to feel safe. From our research among public transport users, 93% of people say they have witnessed antisocial behaviour. My colleague has pointed out myriad cases. It seems that on a weekly basis we hear of assaults and attacks on public transport, not just in our cities, but through…

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and our new Leader on their new terms. I wish them both very well. I am delighted, with my colleague, Senator Crowe, to introduce the Remuneration Information and Pay Transparency Bill. I would like No. 18 to be taken before No. 1.

Yes, I propose that No. 18 be taken before No. 1. The Bill obliges employers with more than 50 employees to publish the salary scales of the job positions they have on offer. There will be some form of redress in the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, using the current employment infrastructure. The Bill will also prohibit employers from asking potential employees about their salary histories. I am delighted to introduce the Bill. My colleague, Senator Crowe, will second the proposal. I also wish to mention what …

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make further and better provision for equality between employed persons by providing for transparency in respect of matters relating to remuneration, and for that and other purposes to amend the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2021 and to provide for related matters.

Next Tuesday.

Today is very much the Cathaoirleach's day. It is his family's day. I congratulate him, Conchobar, his wider family and all his friends and colleagues. I was very fortunate to have worked very closely with him in the last Seanad. We had good times together. On my very first day he, having been around for some time before, was able to show me the ropes. He acted as a mentor to me, for which I thank him. He is definitely still someone I would go to for advice. I have done so. I hope his ear will still be open. I am d…