I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “Seanad Éireann resolves that the Local Government (Support for Elected Members) Bill 2024 be read a second time on this day 12 months, to allow for further consideration of the Bill.” I thank the Minister of State for being here today and the Independent Senators for bringing forward this Bill. Well done on introducing it. Obviously, we support the sentiment and intention of the Bill. As a former city councillor, the pressure, d…

Okay. It is important that everyone in this House and every councillor around the country understands why we will be voting for a timed amendment. It is not because we do not understand the pressures of councillors or because we think they do not need or deserve support. Rather, we wish to ensure their needs and the supports they require are provided in a holistic way. That is why we have supported the establishment of a local democracy task force and are working to use our position in government to deliver changes…

Yes.

This is an important issue and the record of the House is very important on the subject of housing in particular. It is something that every Member has as their number one priority. Having access to a home that is adequate to a person's needs and is affordable and secure is a basic human right. Most of us agree on this. There is a lot of misinformation being shared today. To suggest the Bill is slanted entirely in favour of one section of society is a misrepresentation of the facts. Next year there will be more tha…

It is more than Sinn Féin would give.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2025 - all Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m., and the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister in the debate on Second Stage not to exceed eight minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed six minutes, …

I thank Senators for their contributions. We started with Senator Duffy, who gave a great compliment to the Bonniconlon ICA from County Mayo. The shingles vaccine is a very important issue. As Senator Duffy acknowledged, it has previously been raised by other Senators. It is available in other jurisdictions but in Ireland it is only privately available. I completely agree with him that prevention is always better than cure. It is a vaccine that is proven to work, that can protect our citizens, primarily our senior …

That is an issue we need to address, 100%. I completely agree with the Senator. We should have a debate with the Minister on the issue and on what action can be taken. I personally believe it is a matter of resourcing local authorities and having local authorities actually enforce the regulations that are in place. That is not under debate. In the meantime, we all need to call on the public to be vigilant and not to buy puppies from people who take cash only and who only meet them in a car park and do not show the …

There was no vote taken.

It has happened to me too.

Earlier, I had the great personal honour of welcoming, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, President Zelenskyy and the First Lady, Olena Zelenska, on their first official visit to Ireland and Leinster House. I thank all of the staff of the Seanad, the Dáil and the Leinster House complex and everybody involved in organising this visit. I know for certain that it would not have happened without them. They made it all look so easy and seamless. I say a huge "Well done" to everybody involved. President Zelenskyy also m…

This week marked the start of 16 days of activism on the issue of violence against women. Women's Aid is leading a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. Thirty-five percent of women in Ireland have experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse from an intimate partner. One in four women in Ireland has experienced sexual violence as an adult with a partner, and more than 100 women have been murdered in Ireland in the past ten years. Violence against women is one of the most urgent human rights issues …

This morning, we wake to further news reports of an escalation in Russia's war in Ukraine. Europe is at war. While I appreciate that Fianna Fáil used its most recent Private Members' time in the Seanad to raise a debate on this matter, the war is escalating on a daily basis. People in their homes in Ukraine are being bombarded at night by Russian missiles and drones. Last night, 19 civilians were murdered and 66 wounded. We have a new Minister for foreign affairs, Deputy McEntee. Can we have an early debate with th…

I could not be prouder today, coming from Dublin Central, to heartily congratulate our national team. I give a huge shoutout, obviously, to Troy Parrott from the north inner city. The north inner city and Dublin Central gets a lot of bad press. The media love a bad story. He exemplifies and epitomises the best of the greatest of people. There are the greatest of people in the north inner city. His hat-trick was immense. None of us will ever forget it. It goes down in history. Caoimhín Kelleher's composure and visio…

This morning, I welcome the publication of the updated housing plan from the Government. The Leas-Chathaoirleach will have to give me a moment. I took the stairs two steps at a time; I will be honest. I want to do justice to the plan. My grandfather was an undertaker, and a big believer that the man who made time made plenty of it. This is an important plan, so we need to give it a minute or two. When the previous Government took on the housing challenge, it made a serious commitment to have the State invest in the…

I congratulate and express my deep appreciation to the campaign that successfully saved Corpus Christi hall in Drumcondra. This is great news for Drumcondra. The Corpus Christi hall on Home Farm Road was left to the community in 1962 by a private individual, a woman by the name of Madeline Dwyer, and from then it was used by the local school, Corpus Christi school, and the local community for all types of community events, such as knitting, dancing and singing. All sorts of groups availed of that hall. Unfortunatel…

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I am disappointed that the Minister for Health is not present to respond to my Commencement matter, which requests an update on funding from the Department of Health for Teach an Saol in Ballymun. I do not know if the Minister of State is familiar with the facility. It was born out of what could have been a terrible human tragedy. It is the result of what is arguably one of the most inspirational stories and life experiences I have had the privilege to become aware of a…

I appreciate that this does not relate to the Minister of State's Department or area of responsibility. I accept that the Minister is out of the country but I am nonetheless very disappointed that not one of the Ministers of State from the Department of Health could make himself or herself available to respond on this very important Commencement matter. I would like that to be relayed to the Minister's office. The update on the strategic healthcare investment framework indicated that phase 1 is progressing through …

I also say "comhghairdeas" to Uachtarán-elect, Catherine Connolly, and wish her well in her tenure in the Áras. She will become a neighbour in Dublin Central in the Phoenix Park. She takes up a fine residence and I wish her and her family well. I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of Sr. Stan. I first met Sr. Stan back in 1986 or 1987 when she set up what was then known as Focus Point on Eustace Street. Later, in 1998, she set up The Sanctuary in Stanhope Street in my constituency…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad today to respond to my Commencement Matter on the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street. The Minister of State may not be aware of this but I am growing very, very old in this job. I spent all of the previous Oireachtas asking his predecessors for updates on the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street and, before I spent those years in here doing that, I spent many years, or rather decades, pursuing local authorities, governments and the State generally to pr…