I stand again today for my colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. It is always great to see her. She has done some super work in mental health and in her portfolio. I wish her the best of luck. Fianna Fáil will be supporting this Bill. The Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022 is somewhat akin to the Finance Bill and Social Welfare Bill, arriving in November or December every year just like Santa. The measures within are designed to support risk equalisation and sus…

Yes, the perinatal clinics also. I also refer to the funding that has been allocated for IVF. The Department has done a lot of work and has covered major areas. The consultants’ contract that was agreed last week was a significant body of work. I do not know if people realise the amount of time and effort the Department and the IHCA have put into it. We will see the benefit of the removal of that significant bottleneck when we go to hospital.

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I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2°of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Social Welfare Bill 2022 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

I welcome the Minister to the House. Fianna Fáil welcomes and supports this Bill, which is designed to give legislative effect to a range of social welfare measures that were announced in September. The cost-of-living budget helps families to cope with the ultimate impact of huge rising prices and inflation across Europe. There is no trickle-down side to this budget; it is direct and substantial aid, with those most in need seeing the biggest benefit. The single biggest measure, costing nearly €900 million, is a pe…

I wish to discuss the Probate Office. Each year, €50 million is held up in probate. That is a great deal of money that could be in the economy. The delay is due to there only being two official probate officers administering estates. The Probate Office is doing its best, but it just does not have the resources. There is no customer service whatsoever and there is no means of getting an update for solicitors or lay applicants. This issue needs to be examined. If the Acting Leader brought it to the Minister, I would …

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for coming to the House. I thank everyone present, especially our guests in the Gallery: Ms Rachel Morrogh from the Irish Cancer Society; Ms Suzanne Dowd from the Irish Cancer Society; and Mr. Sam Russell, who is a cancer survivor. These guests are most welcome. I thank them for everything they have done in preparing, advocating and championing this legislation. Cancer survivors owe them a huge debt. It is a great hono…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chuig an Teach inniu. I am delighted to speak on the school transport scheme today. For so many families, not just those in this particular calendar year but going forward into the future, this will be transformative in how they carry on their days, especially working families and parents. Having a free school transport scheme will be transformational. Parents will not have those difficulties of picking children up from and dropping them off at school. It is really hard for anyone to sta…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: "the Bill be read a second time this day 12 months to allow, amongst other things, for a comprehensive consideration of the implications of the Bill through engagement and consultation with other relevant Government Departments and the Attorney General and an examination and response to the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality and its recommendations, including any proposals for Constitutional reform.” I th…

I thank the Civil Engagement Group for bringing forward this motion. One of the main reasons so many of us in this House got into politics was to tackle and challenge intergenerational poverty. It is one of the reasons I got into politics. I come from a privileged background. Growing up and helping my dad, I was able to see the difference between what my friends and I had and what other people had. One of my most vivid memories comes from the 2009 local elections. Senator Moynihan was around then as well and we use…

Today I am seeking leave to amend the Order of Business to introduce a Bill on behalf of the cross-party group on cancer care of which I am chair. I refer to the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2022, which is colloquially known as the "right to be forgotten" Bill. The aim of the Bill is to ensure that cancer survivors are not denied access to financial products, such as life insurance, due to their past medical history. This is particularly pertinent for those who might be diagnosed with childhood cancer or cancer in…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Central Bank Act 1942 and prohibit financial service providers from discriminating against survivors of cancer from accessing financial services and to provide for related matters.

I join with my colleagues in expressing my admiration for Síofra O'Leary. Members of this House have congratulated her. It is great to have the insight that her father worked here. It brings us even closer to her. I congratulate her. I add to what Senator Flynn said about the videos circulating on social media. The ramming of a Garda car anywhere in the country is disgraceful. These are kids who have been abandoned and neglected by us. These communities do not just need more resources, although obviously more resou…

I, too, would like to raise the report by the ombudsman, Mr. Niall Muldoon. The website of the Ombudsman for Children states it is Mr. Muldoon’s job to make sure the children in Ireland are treated fairly. The report, published yesterday, is probably one we all know and have heard stories about. It is now formally on the Government’s record that children with additional needs are being failed by the Department of Education. The Minister of State in that Department, Deputy Madigan, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, ha…

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I wish to share my time with my colleague, Senator Chambers.