I wish to share my time equally with Senator Maria Byrne.

It is an enormous privilege to be here again for International Women's Day and on the eve of a very important referendum on Friday to change Article 41.2. That article has let women down for a couple of reasons. It uses limiting language. As the Minister described and as I wished to point out myself, it refers to a woman's life within the home and a mother's duties in the home, which firmly puts the onus on women to take on caring duties. The amendment also lets women down where a parent does want to be at home and…

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. We have spent a great deal of time post the events in November focusing on law and order. It is timely that we come back to discussing that issue now in order to ensure that we are still all on the same page. I believe that we are. I thank Members of the Seanad for also putting forward amendments to the motion. I commend the Minister and thank her for coming today. I also commend the members of An Garda Síochána on their actions on that terrible night in No…

A great way to do that would be to take over a retail unit with the local safety partnership, like there is on Foley Street, to ensure a Garda presence in those communities where people are working. It would bring reassurance to those communities about visibility on their streets.

There are myriad interconnected issues that are contributing to our fragile childcare system. Let us be in no doubt the Government is working to address them all, one by one. I want to take a look at core funding. The pay freeze has undoubtedly worked for parents and we are very grateful for it, with a reduction of 25% in fees to grow to 50% in September 2024. That is reforming policy. We should only build from there. I congratulate the Minister on the concept of core funding, but it does have to evolve. In my view…

The Minister of State will have noted that in my opening remarks, I congratulated the Minister on the concept of core funding because I think the concept does work. There are issues on the ground, however, and they need to be addressed for people in this sector of the industry to have the stability and security they are looking for. There does need to be an ongoing partnership with them with regard to their specific challenges. As I said, that will only be done by not just having a model that works overall and not …

I too wish to be associated with our condolences and sympathies with the family of Michael O'Regan. I did not know him myself but I followed him on Twitter. He had some very nice things to say about my father over the years, which I am always grateful to read. He struck me as part of that generation of journalists who never took peace for granted on this island. It was in that context that his contributions were very much welcome because we now live in an era in which we sometimes gloss over how difficult it was to…

I welcome this morning's news about shared island funding. A total of €800 million in multi-annual funding was announced. The A5 road seems ancient whenever I travel it. It is absolutely dangerous. It feels like it is from another time and another era because it has been so poorly invested in. I am thinking today of the many campaigners over the years, particularly the families I know who have lost loved ones on that road. It is an essential piece of infrastructure connecting the north west to the rest of the islan…

I thank the Tánaiste for his strong speech. We will debate the motion from the Civil Engagement Group tomorrow but I welcome the statement he has shared with us today. Like so many other people, I feel utterly helpless. Many Irish people feel this way and are expressing it by the sharing of emails and so on. The platform this issue has in Ireland is notable compared with what is happening in other countries. I was in Westminster yesterday for a meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and it was shocking…

I make an appeal for Members to stop using the catch-all title of "immigration" in this House, in the media, in commentary and in news items when we are talking about criminal and threatening behaviour in communities. Immigration should not be the headline topic. It should be racism and xenophobia.

Language is important. If Members want to talk about illegal immigration and the systems in place to protect society from illegal immigration, let us do that. If they want to talk about international protection, a human rights obligation to give shelter to people who are running from persecution, then let us do that. If they want to talk about the critical skills list and the workers we depend on for a functioning health system, the hospitality industry and our IT sector, then let us talk about that as well. Maybe …

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I very much welcome the re-establishment of Stormont at the weekend. I congratulate the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the other new Ministers and the MLAs as they take up their positions. They certainly have a long to-do list. However, it is our to-do list I will talk about today. Careful examination of the language as well as the impact of the UK Government's command paper, Safeguarding the Union, is required. Newton's third law says that for every action,…

The Minister of State is absolutely right in saying we need to protect our trade links. The reality is that the extent of those trade links and the all-island economy has been vastly overstated. The potential of our shared economy is what is important and should be promoted. For instance, we talk about the importance of the all-island economy when it comes to tourism. That is under threat at present because of the introduction by the UK of the electronic travel authorisation. I worry about moves to remove any refer…

I want to pass my condolences on to the entire Bruton family: Finola, Matthew, Juliana, Emily, Mary-Elizabeth, our wonderful colleague Richard, and his and John's sister Mary. I am really so sad about losing John because he has gone too early at 76. John was the kind of man who would continue to contribute at any age and he is a huge loss to the party. John was hugely generous both in stature and in spirit and there was nothing like that feeling when he recognised you, singled you out, and greeted you with so much …

It is great to hear the rallying call of the civil rights movement, "we shall overcome", live on. This morning, I want to call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House next week to update us on developments in the North, which we hope are going to accelerate over the weekend with the restoration of Stormont. However, there are aspects of the command paper that was released yesterday that need further attention. The statutory instruments are being laid before Westminster today, and they provide statu…

I was sorry to miss most of the debate, but I did not want to miss making a contribution. It is not very often that I find myself saying that, when I visit Tyrone, I can see services that are working better than they are here, particularly in the current climate. However, that is what happens when it comes to respite care. I have family members who depend on respite care. It is regular, consistent and a lifeline for them. Then I find myself meeting people on the doorsteps, the parents who do not have time to come a…

I express my deep sympathy to the family of the former Senator, TD and councillor, John Connor. I hope that the positive words and stories being shared about him will come as some comfort. My mother commented on Monday night about meeting him in Frenchpark during the presidential election. From my family to his, my deepest sympathies. I welcome today’s good news that the DUP has backed a deal to return to Stormont. Am I giddy about it? No, because I cannot applaud any position that oversaw the boycotting of power-s…

I want to talk about housing and a model of housing we are familiar with but the residents of Dublin 15 are just getting to know about, which is cost rental. Some 247 apartments, a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, are available through our new State agency, the Land Development Agency, LDA, under the cost-rental scheme. Long-term, secure tenancies are available at a cost that is at least 25% less than market value. That is available to households with a net income of less than €66,000, which c…

I wish to show my appreciation to An Garda Síochána in Blanchardstown village on Christmas Eve, which is supposed to be the most special and magical night of the year. What became a double murder unfolded like a horror film on our main street in a very popular family restaurant. This morning, a seventh person was arrested by gardaí. Four people have been charged over the past few weeks, and I want to thank the Garda for the way it is managing this case. I know full well the fears that have been in communities about…

I am not sure if Senator Mullen was trying to say this matter is irrelevant and therefore not worth the time or is so important that we need more time. We need more time but I think this is a very important referendum and I will be voting "Yes, Yes" to it. I am conscious that I am coming to this debate today reflecting my own experiences and views, which brought me into politics. This is personal. It will be for the diversity of women we meet on the doorsteps and see coming through the doors of Leinster House. I am…