I am not doubting that there is a lot of merit in what is being said by Senators Ruane and McDowell. I did not take the opportunity to congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and to welcome her. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal léi sa ról nua atá aici. Guím gach rath uirthi mar Aire Stáit. In the spirit of what happened previously, the Minister of State might take on board the debate and see if some consideration can be given to the views that have been expressed here this evening, because ultimatel…

On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the Bill before us. As the Minister articulated in his opening remarks, it is a step forward in fulfilling the obligations made under the programme for Government, especially in the support of Garda use of artificial intelligence. Again, this is the type of thing that we would speak about in this Chamber on numerous occasions, particularly in relation to Garda powers and legislation on a broader basis to deal with modern challenges faced today that would not have been enc…

Chomh maith leis na Seanadóirí eile ar fad, déanaim comhghairdeas leis na Teachtaí Dála nua atá againn, Seán Kyne agus Daniel Ennis, as ucht na mbuanna a bhí acu sna fothoghcháin an tseachtain seo caite. I gcás Sheáin, is iontach an rud é a bheith ag cloisteáil na ráiteas ar fad ó na Seanadóirí, go háirithe Seanadóirí an Fhreasúra, agus na dea-rudaí atá le rá acu mar gheall air. The Fine Gael Group knows the enormously positive contribution Seán made. As the group was primarily made up of first-time Senators, it wa…

I understand Senator Harmon is sharing time with Senator Cosgrove. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Senator. We have about eight minutes until I am due to call the Minister to respond to the debate and we have four people looking to speak. That puts us under time pressure. Are all four speakers happy with two minutes each?

I thank the Minister but, unfortunately, we cannot as the next item will be starting at 6.15 p.m., so we will keep it to two minutes if is that agreed. Agreed.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. I thank all Senators for their understanding of the curtailed speaking time. I apologise for being a bit stricter than usual with my use of the bell.

Ten minutes.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Aire, agus gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí ar fad a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht.

Is é an t-ábhar gur mhaith liom labhairt faoi inniu ná wigs agus go háirithe an cháin bhreisluacha a bhíonn le híoc ag daoine a bhfuil ailse acu, daoine atá ag déileáil le chemotherapy nó alopecia agus an caillteanas gruaige a tharlaíonn dá bharr. I wish to raise the issue of what I believe to be an unfair VAT charge on medical wigs, which are primarily purchased by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or people with alopecia who suffer hair loss. While some European countries have a point-of-sale VAT exemption …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht na hoibre ar fad atá déanta aige agus ag an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt, Gnóthaí Baile agus Imirce chun an Bille a thógáil ar aghaidh. Is tábhachtach an rud é dul chun cinn leanúnach a dhéanamh ó thaobh saincheisteanna oidhreachta a bhaineann leis an Tuaisceart. Ní mór dúinn ár ndícheall a dhéanamh le hathmhuintearas a chur chun cinn i gcónaí agus todhchaí dearfach, cóir agus cothrom a chruthú do mhuintir an Tuaiscirt agus na glúnta atá le teacht. The Omagh bomb, as the Minister, Deput…

I move: That Seanad Éireann: recognises: - the crucial role played by An Garda Síochána in ensuring the security of the State, protecting and serving communities across Ireland through the maintenance of law and order, and upholding the principles of justice; - the continued investment across the justice system, including in An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Prison Service, and the Probation Service; - that overall funding for An Garda Síochána has increas…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Niall Collins, as teacht isteach agus cuirim fáilte roimhe. Molaim an rún seo thar ceann Sheanadóirí Fhine Gael tráthnóna inniu. Bhaineann sé leis An nGarda Síochána agus conas is féidir linn a thuilleadh tacaíochta a thabhairt do ghardaí chun an fórsa a neartú agus iad ag cosaint pobail ar fud na tíre. We recognise the crucial role played by An Garda Síochána in ensuring the security of the State, protecting and serving communities across Ireland through the maintena…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht an fhreagra iontaigh fhada a thug sé dúinn tar éis a bheith ag éisteacht leis na Seanadóirí ar fad le linn na díospóireachta. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, for the comprehensive response he gave to this evening's debate in which he highlighted a number of very important issues, the progress that is being made and, as was alluded to by numerous contributors during the course of the debate, what needs to be done to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the reso…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire as ucht teacht isteach agus páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht anseo tráthnóna inniu. Is é an pointe is tábhachtaí gur féidir liomsa a dhéanamh anseo mar gheall ar reachtaíocht i dTithe an Oireachtais a bhaineann le foréigean teaghlaigh, gnéasach agus inscnebhunaithe ná go gcaithfidh tacaíocht d'íospartaigh a bheith i gcroílár gach a ndéanaimid. Caithfimid gach iarracht gur féidir linn a dhéanamh chun a chinntiú go bhfuil ár gcóras ceartais choiriúil níos atruachaí agus go bhfuil níos mó …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Richmond, as teacht isteach chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn agus páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht mar gheall ar ghnóthaí idirnáisiúnta inniu. I welcome the remarks of the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and begin my contribution by referencing the ongoing situation in Gaza and Palestine. As I have done on a number of occasions, I state at the outset that there is absolutely nothing antisemitic in what I have to say, and I firmly believe in the right of all peop…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, to the Seanad. The Minister of State has eight minutes for his contribution after which group spokespersons will have ten minutes each. I will call on the Minister of State no later than 12.53 p.m. to reply to the debate.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Sula leanfaimid ar aghaidh, cuirfidh mé fáilte roimh ár gcuairteoirí ó Charraig Uí Leighin, Contae Chorcaí. I welcome the students from the Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline, to the Seanad. They are guests of Deputy Séamus McGrath. They are very welcome.

Before we call the Minister of State to conclude this afternoon's debate, I acknowledge the visitors from Griffeen Community College in Dublin, who are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit agus leis na Seanadóirí ar fad a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht. Sin deireadh leis na ráitis maidir le tacaíochtaí breosla do thionscal na hiascaireachta. Fiafróidh mé den Treoraí Gníomhach cathain a bheartaítear le suí arís.