I am sharing time with Senator Cathal Byrne. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht teacht isteach arís chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé linn. Again, I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber to articulate the importance of the common European asylum system and in particular the EU migration and asylum pact. In an enlarged European Union and at a time of volatility on the international stage with conflicts in different countries, it has become even more important that we work together with our European partners. I th…

Even though we are often on opposing sides, I join colleagues in commending the bravery of Senator Ryan. It was, without doubt, one of the most powerful contributions I have heard since coming into this Chamber. I thank her for her contribution and for putting it into context. We can sometimes be removed from issues we are discussing but the Senator's contribution was very real and very brave. I thank her for saying what she said, wish her every success and sincerely hope the amendment is accepted.

I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2025 and ending on 29th June, 2026.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé linn inniu. As with the two previous speakers, on behalf of the Fine Gael group, I rise to speak in support of the two motions before the House. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his comprehensive opening statement in which he outlined the importance of the House passing both motions this afternoon. In relation to the motions pertaining to the review of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act and the Criminal Justice …

Mar aon leis na Seanadóirí eile, gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as teacht isteach tráthnóna inniu chun forbairt chothrom sna réigiúin ar fad a phlé linn. Tá sé níos tábhachtaí i réigiúin an deiscirt, an iarthair agus an tuaiscirt. Tá an méid céanna ráite ag an-chuid Seanadóirí go dtí seo. Like so many other Senators, I will address disproportionate regional investment. The disproportionate regional investment in respect of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern and…

I welcome the debate that has taken place. I welcome to the Gallery Mary Crilly from the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, who has done tremendous work in this area for more than four decades, for which she was awarded the freedom of Cork. I am very happy with the way the debate on the Bill has proceeded. I seek clarification on the wording of amendment No. 44. It proposes to "insert the term "Child Pornography" with "Child Sexual Abuse Material". I believe the intention, in fact, is to replace the term "Child Pornograp…

Tomorrow at 9.30.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I dtosach báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, and I acknowledge the work he has done in the area of migration to date and wish him every success in his term in office. The Minister of State outlined plainly what we are considering, namely an opt-in that does not necessarily tie us to a particular course of action. Neither will it amount to a commitment by Ireland to any agreement. We will engage in a process and by doing so now rather than at a later stage, w…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste as ucht teacht chuig an Teach inniu chun labhairt agus éisteacht linn mar gheall ar na heachtraí ar fad i nGaza agus conas is féidir linn, mar thír bheag i bhfad ón gcoimhlint, tionchar dearfach a bheith againn ar chúrsaí agus ár mballraíocht den Aontas Eorpach a úsáid chun dul i mbun oibre leis na ballstáit eile chun todhchaí níos fearr a chruthú do mhuintir an Mheánoirthir go léir. To put my contribution in context, I will clarify that I and pretty much all of those with whom I h…

I want to re-emphasise the importance of working with Senator Frances Black, who has done such excellent work to ensure the Houses of the Oireachtas pass the occupied territories Bill.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire as ucht teacht chun an tSeanaid arís chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé. Is dócha go bhfuil sé mínithe go soiléir ag an Aire agus ag Seanadóir Ó Gallchobhair díreach cad atá i gceist againn anseo inniu. As the Minister outlined in his opening remarks, following the illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ireland has been very strong and generous in the response to the invasion. We have seen more than 117,000 Ukrainians come to Ireland. Of those 117,000, almost half of them - slightly over …

I welcome the Minister to the House and second the proposal for a six-month period to give us an opportunity to reflect more on what exactly is entailed and to arrive at the conclusion that will best fit us and also take into account the concerns and considerations of victims of crime and of survivors, as Senator Ruane articulated in her opening remarks. In the more than 100 years since the establishment of An Garda Síochána in 1923, we have seen the service be of immense importance in protecting the State and her …

Ar an gcéad dul síos, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Dlí agus Cirt atá istigh sa Seanad inniu chun an t-ábhar seo a mhíniú agus a phlé linn. Gabhaim buíochas leis as an méid sin a dhéanamh. I thank the Minister for his opening statement clarifying the advantages to accepting the proposal before us today. As the Minister outlined, the proposal relates to technical updates to Protocol 21 arising from new insolvency proceedings, new insolvency practitioners and changes to national insolvency law in seven member states of…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Byrne, chuig an Seanad chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn inniu mar gheall ar an Aontas Eorpach agus cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé don tír seo le breis agus 50 bliain anuas. I thank everybody in attendance for coming in for my speech today. There is a massive crowd.

Indeed. Welcome, guests. In a statement to the House in April on the back of the tariff announcements from the new Administration in the United States, I spoke of the importance of the European Union and co-operation with our EU partners in dealing with the challenges we face at a global level. It was in stark contrast to the Paris Peace Conference and subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1919 in the aftermath of First World War, where leadership and vision was shown by people like Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, Alcide…

Ar son Fhine Gael, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Collins, chuig an Seanad chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé - conas is féidir linn daoine óga a atreorú ó ghníomhaíocht choiriúil. Ó toghadh mé chuig an Teach seo i mí Feabhra, tá an-chuid seanfhocal cloiste againn ó Sheanadóirí éagsúla, agus go minic bíonn an-chiall ag baint leo. Is iad an dá cheann a sheasann amach dom agus a théann go mór i bhfeidhm orm ná "mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí" agus "tús maith leath na hoibre". Is fíor an dá sheanfhoc…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O'Sullivan, agus an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Cummins, a bhí sa Teach níos luaithe, as ucht teacht isteach chun an rún seo a phlé. It should be noted that Ireland is one of only a small number of European countries with a coherent and overarching plan for sustainable development. In general terms, I am supportive of both the revised national planning framework and Project Ireland 2040. With the significant population growth Ireland has been experiencing in recent decades a…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Ó Múineacháin, as teacht chuig an Teach inniu chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé. As the Minister of State is aware, Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig is the oldest primary school in our rapidly expanding town and can trace its roots back to the establishment of a school on Station Road in 1862. It is a primary school that caters for the educational and developmental needs of boys in our community, and the school's principal and management team work in close co-operation…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I emphasise the importance of direct engagement with the school on the issue of available funding. Much of the school's current accommodation is outdated and not fit for purpose. For example, the building that currently accommodates fourth, fifth and sixth classes does not have a wheelchair-accessible toilet, which has meant these classrooms cannot accommodate the needs of some pupils in the school. Of the school's junior infants intake for the coming 2025-26 school y…

There is an unintended loophole in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, which came into effect in January 2022 and needs to be amended. The stated intention of the legislation was twofold, namely, to reduce alcohol consumption nationally in a country where we lose an estimated average of four people per day to alcohol-related deaths, and to provide protection for children throughout the country from the exploitative and predatory marketing practices of the drinks industry. The loophole to which I refer is the targeted …