I thank the Minister for coming in to discuss this important topic. It is of such importance that it should be on the schedule regularly. Energy security is at the forefront of our minds currently but it should remain so. It is what will drive global geopolitical conflict in the future. It is the question of our time and we need to prepare adequately. We have had a couple of shocks with the invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. We know insecurity is coming and we know our vulnerabilities. As the …

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 12th March, 2026.

This is a good day for those homeowners in Wexford and Fingal who will finally be included under the scheme. I thank the Minister for his ongoing engagement with me on this issue. As he outlined, some 39 homes are thought to be affected in the Fingal area; one in Ballyboughal, two in Lusk, 30 in Rush and six in Skerries. This is a legacy issue, as the Minister outlined. This legacy has been hanging over the heads of those people for a long time. They will finally, if the motion is passed, be able to get their homes…

Elected.

I thank the Minister of State for outlining the importance of this Bill. We are all very much aware of what is happening to energy prices currently. It is very difficult for individuals and businesses. I commend him and his colleagues in government on taking the action they have taken this week. We are very concerned about the humanitarian impact of war in the Middle East, but the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz unprecedented. There is a very real risk of major economic global shock and we are starting to see the …

I ask Senator Murphy to remove his comments from the record of the Seanad regarding my colleague, Senator Joe Flaherty. He said that mud-slinging seems to be his stock-in-trade. He is a very fine representative-----

I have served with him for many years. He is a fine representative who contributes constructively. He does not deserve to be spoken to like that. He referenced a number of things that are true. Paul Quinn was savagely beaten. Every bone in his body-----

I will speak to the amendment but I do not like such accusations being made against my colleagues. We will be opposing the amendment. We need to move this legislation on and get it signed into law.

Now.

Now.

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 National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to her.”

At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

Yesterday, the murderer of Natalie McNally, Stephen McCullagh, was found guilty and the details that emerged during the trial were nothing if not horrific. What Natalie endured in her final hours was very difficult to listen to. She was beaten, strangled and stabbed. I am struck by the mammoth task that lies ahead in Northern Ireland to address the issue of violence against women. Thirty women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020 and that figure represents 88% of the women murdered on this island, so t…

I welcome the Minister of State. I appreciate his taking the time to answer this Commencement matter. As those who are long-standing Members of this Chamber will know, this is an issue that I have been raising since my election in 2016. There is a long and sorry history to the proposed new family courts complex at Hammond Lane. The site was bought in 2000 by the OPW, and a new family law complex for Dublin was promised in 2014. Currently, Dublin's family law courts are housed at Dolphin House, Phoenix House, Chance…

I thank the Minister of State. As he outlined, very challenging matters happen in these courts. We need secure premises. The Minister of State will know that a number of judges have been attacked in Phoenix House and Dolphin House. There are no secure arrangements in those buildings for people who are going into custody on foot of the matters being discussed. It is vital that this new building is built as soon as possible. I am delighted to hear that the procurement process is finished. The Minister of State said t…

I was following the debate on the Order of Business upstairs in my office and I felt compelled to come to the House to speak about the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. There were some scurrilous accusations being hurled his way and I am glad that some comments were withdrawn on my way down to the Chamber because it is not something any of us in here could stand over. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has been extremely responsive to Members of this House, Members of the Lower House and councillors around the country. …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber and his presence shows that a cross-governmental approach will need to be taken. I will touch on a few points. Chief among them is the impact of AI and social media on our democracies worldwide. We are lucky in Ireland that we have not seen our democratic system totally upended like other countries, but that is always on the horizon. In every election we have stood in, we can see the creeping influence of social media…

Next Tuesday.

There has been a lot of latitude-----

I would like to speak.