I extend a warm welcome to our guests in the Gallery who are retired members of the Defence Forces and members of Women of Honour: Captain Kieron Rice, Captain Diane Byrne, Captain Amelia McKeown and Roslyn O'Callaghan. They are very welcome. I am sure they look forward to hearing what everybody has to say in today's debate.

I welcome the Tánaiste to the House. He has ten minutes to speak.

I remind Members that there is a long list of speakers, which shows the importance of the issue. If Members want to share their time they may feel free to do so. This will allow us to ensure that we get everybody in. The debate has to conclude at 4.45 p.m. Our next speaker, on behalf the Independent Group, is Senator Craughwell.

You do not have to share time. What I am saying is that for everybody who has indicated they want to speak to be able to speak, we will have to do so. We cannot guarantee that they will have time to speak.

Thank you, Senator. I again ask people to stick to their time to allow everybody a chance to speak. The next person is Senator Joe O'Reilly. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, to the House.

Fáiltím roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Kyne for taking over the Chair to allow me the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It is welcome that we have established a tribunal of inquiry to investigate abuse in the Defence Forces, including exposure to hazardous chemicals, because this is long-awaited and overdue. I welcome our guests to the Chamber. It is regrettable, however, that it has taken so long for us to get to this point. We are a couple of years down the line now, but it is welcome that the Gover…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

I want to add my voice and take the opportunity to wish Senator Norris very well on his retirement. As others have said, I have not had the opportunity to work directly with you, but your reputation and legacy are next to none. I do not think there is a person in this House who did not know who you were when they came in here. You have impressed others to enter politics because you have been a champion for inclusion, progress, and making society a warmer, more welcoming place for everybody who lives within it. I wo…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on the fortieth amendment to our Constitution. For a long time, the gendered, sexist language in the existing wording in the Constitution has been criticised. I echo what Senator Higgins said that while many of us have criticised the existing language, we are also very cautious about a straight deletion to the reference. It was widely acknowledged by the citizens' assembly that the role of caregiving deserves to be recognised and valued b…

The Cathaoirleach cut the Senator's rhythm.

I also wish everybody a safe and healthy Christmas. I echo Senator Boyhan's calls about coming back at the same time as the Dáil and committees. This House needs to be putting its shoulder to the wheel and doing as much work as the other institutions in the Houses. I echo the calls that we should be back early. I would happily use that time to progress two Bills that I have on Committee Stage. One would reduce the cost for animal welfare shelters. The Government had promised to have my dog welfare Bill before Chris…

I welcome the Minister. I was not intending to speak, but I felt it was important to put my support for this legislation on the record. It is welcome and I hope it can be progressed, as Senator Gavan has said, before Lent and before those protests ramp up once again. I commend my colleague Senator Gavan, Karen Sugrue and all of the Together for Safety group on their efforts in progressing safe access zones. As others have said, no woman should have to run the gauntlet of white coffins, crucifixes and protesters whi…

I, too, welcome the UN agreement although we know that it does not go far enough. The UN agreement is indicative of the influence that the fossil fuel industry has on negotiations and particularly at COP28. I do hope that the Members of this House will support my Bill when I introduce it in the new year as it will seek to rein in the fossil fuel lobbyists in this country. We are approaching Christmas. Today will be the last opportunity I will have before we break for the Christmas holidays to, once again, encourage…

I hope that the EU will raise the bar and not use Ireland as an example.

I move amendment No. 49: In page 67, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following: “it for the period to which an annual service plan relates, so inform the Board, the Authority and the Minister.”. The amendment proposes to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the wording "it for the period to which an annual service plan relates, so inform the Board, the Authority and the Minister.” Currently, where the Commissioner exceeds his resources for the year, he is only obliged to tell the Minister and the board. T…

I raise the issue of Palestine again today because what we have been witnessing in recent days is barbarism of the highest order. I do not use this word lightly. It is genocide and the most brutal collective punishment of a civilian population that I think the world has witnessed. Nobody should be doing business with Israel now. It should be boycotted and shunned as a rogue nation where human life holds no value whatsoever. Israel is chasing Palestinian people down from block to block and now telling them to go and…

Put in the words "Israeli child" and the software will return an image of a nice happy child, like we would for any other nation. Apart from introducing sanctions against this rogue state-----

-----one thing Ireland can do is to call the platforms based in this city to account. They have their EU headquarters here and they should be called in to account for their actions and get them to at least treat Palestinians equally, the same as they do the Israelis.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I apologise in advance because I have to go to a committee meeting. Sinn Féin will not be opposing this Bill. In advocating for a robust social protection system, it is imperative to establish a commission similar to the Low Pay Commission. A social protection and income adequacy commission would recommend precise increases in social protection based on metrics like the minimum essential standard of living. This approach would aim to eliminate speculation and budget discussions an…