I thank the Minister of State for her positive response. In terms of premises, I had meetings with Jigsaw over the years in Newbridge and we did look at various premises. No later than yesterday, I spoke to the chief executive of Kildare County Council in relation to this. Local councillors Noel Heavey and Rob Power had a motion tabled in Kildare County Council regarding premises. As we all know, the population of Kildare has really expanded. We are actually short on space for existing services. Having said that, I…

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming both the Belgian ambassador and my friends Joeleen and James. Anyone who has visited Chat N' Chew in Newbridge will have met Joeleen. I certainly hope her lunch today will be up to the usual standard at Chat N' Chew. It was lovely to meet with our former colleague Catherine Martin last night. She brought in a group of musicians, artists and representatives of the Irish Music Rights Organisation, IMRO, including Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Danny O'Donoghue, Tom Dunne and others. They …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That Seanad Éireann:" and substitute the following: “acknowledges that: - supporting rural Ireland is a top priority for Government; - a whole of Government approach to rural development is in place under the umbrella of Our Rural Future; this approach has been strongly endorsed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in its recent review of Irish rural development policy; - since its launch in 2021, Our Rural Future has delivered vital investm…

-----there are a lot of excellent initiatives. We can always do better and we always should.

I extend my welcome to our esteemed visitor, and wish him well for the celebrations this evening. Many of us were hoping to get there. Unfortunately, we are going to have votes but I have no doubt there still will be an excellent representation from the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Order of Business is No. a 1 on the Supplementary Order Paper, motion regarding Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.3) Regulations 2026, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of …

Senator Rabbitte.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. We have had 26 Senators today. I think that is a record, certainly in my time taking Order of Business. I will try to be as quick as possible while, in fairness, giving respect to all of those who did raise issues and deserve a reply. I will also add my voice of welcome to the ambassador and our distinguished guests from Canada, particularly to Mr. James Maloney, MP, who was so very kind to us when the foreign affairs committee visited just before Christmas. We certainly look forward to a…

I move: (i) That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders relating to Public Business, the Order of the Seanad of 9th July, 2026 in relation to approval in draft of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.3) Regulations 2026 is hereby discharged. (ii) That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.3) Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on …

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

First I want to speak about an event that happened last week on the other side of the Atlantic in a town called Freehold in New Jersey. Freehold, of course, is the home town of Bruce Springsteen. I am sure many Senators will remember me recalling here how Bruce Springsteen's great-great grandmother on his father's side, Ann Garrity, came from my home town of Rathangan in County Kildare and travelled to America in 1852. When she went, she brought a seedling of a copper beech with her which was planted and became a t…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding appointment of member to the Committee of Selection, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding appointment of member to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, Finance Bill 2026 - Second Stage, to be taken at 11.30 a.m. or on conclusion of No. 2, whichever is the later, and to conclude after 75 minutes, if not previously concluded, with the ti…

I am still busy writing on the last issue. I thank all 13 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business this morning. We started with Senator Fitzpatrick who spoke about the verdict of the jury in the case involving the awful stabbing at Parnell Square. Many of us were brought back to the day of 23 November 2023 when that awful tragedy happened and what ensued in Dublin after it. As the Senator said, much changed for that little girl, her family, the whole school community and the larger community. I listened t…

I move: That, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 109 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, Senator Cathal Byrne be appointed to the Committee of Selection.

I move: That, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 110 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, Senator Cathal Byrne be appointed to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight.

As Ireland begins its EU Presidency at a very pivotal and challenging time, I wish all of those involved from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, all the best and of course all those in the Department of foreign affairs, in particular Aingeal O’Donoghue, the ambassador to the EU. She is going to have a very busy six months. Having been in the embassy in Brussels a number of times, the people we have there are absolutely dedicated. They are top c…

That is no problem at all. I am happy to do it.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this Commencement matter. The issue I raise is occurring in Newbridge, which is the town I live in, but I am very appreciative that it is an issue not just there but in many large urban areas and, indeed, in other towns in County Kildare. I refer to the urgent issue of youth antisocial behaviour. In recent weeks and months, we have been subject to the actions of what I can only describe as a gang of marauding youths, some of whom are as young as ten. It …

I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge that the Minister came down to Newbridge at my invitation and met with local business owners, not specifically in relation to this issue but other antisocial behaviour that was happening. As a result of that, we got extra gardaí, which was important. We need to have more. I will say two things: it is good that there generally is a reduction in harmful and aggressive behaviour by young people and this is a tiny percentage. Most of the young people we have are wonderful yo…

It was wonderful to meet so many in Dublin at the Pride march on Saturday. It truly was a great reminder why community and visibility still matter. Showing up is always important and is a small way of saying that everyone deserves to belong. As primary schools are winding down this week, I wish all of the students and, of course, their teachers, SNAs and support staff a very happy holiday. As we gear up towards September and the new budget, it is important that we support the INTO request for a reduction in class s…

I commend my colleagues on bringing this motion forward. It is important we debate it. It is clear the proposer, Senator Scahill, has put a lot of thought into it. I commend him on that. I come from a place in north-west Kildare that has suffered seriously on many occasions from a lack of electricity. I would say, on average, it has been nearly two or three times per week in the past year. I know the impact that has on families, farmers, those who are working, those with young families and older people. It has to b…