I move amendment No. 13: In page 5, line 31, after “2” to insert “or section 3”.

I move amendment No. 14: In page 6, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(14) The Courts Service shall ensure that, when the Register is made available to the public— (a) a statement is included to the effect that the absence of a person’s name from the Register does not indicate that such person does not pose a risk or has not previously engaged in domestic violence or abuse, and (b) information is provided directing users to appropriate support services, including national and local domestic violence…

I move amendment No. 15: In page 6, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(14) In deciding whether to make an order under subsection (2), the court shall have regard to— (a) the safety and wellbeing of the victim, including any risk of intimidation, retaliation or further harm, and (b) the safety and welfare of any children or dependents connected to the victim or the convicted person.".". The publication of a judgment may in some cases increase risk to victims, particularly in situations involving chil…

I welcome this legislation. It is very important. I acknowledge Jason Poole and his family for their advocacy. They have gone through a terrible, traumatic event in their lives, as have so many other families. Unfortunately, the statistics this week show that the problem is still systemic. It is widespread. The more legislation that can be drafted and passed to address the issues of domestic violence, the better. I commend the Minister on bringing forward the Bill so quickly. We will all work together to try and ge…

Ní raibh mé anseo inné. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Ahearn as a bheith ceaptha ina Cheannaire ar an Seanad. I want to raise the issue of dental services. My colleagues in the Dáil had a motion on this yesterday and discussed it in detail. I welcome the fact that the Government did not oppose it. Senator Ryan has raised the matter today as well. However, there needs to be more done than just not opposing a motion. There needs to be actual planning and investment in services. We have 11,000 people on wait…

I also welcome this Bill. It is important legislation that will see the partner of a person who murders, kills or seriously injures another parent of his or her child either lose or have his or her guardianship rights restricted, which is absolutely called for. I acknowledge David French for his advocacy on this issue and welcome him and his sister, Veronica, into the Chamber today. There are so many cases like Valerie's where children have been bereaved. He is right; it is abuse of children. I am concerned about t…

Tá géarchéim tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht atá ag déanamh damáiste don phobal teanga. Níl teaghlaigh sa Ghaeltacht in ann teach a aimsiú le ceannach nó a dteach féin a thógáil. Is é sprioc an Bhille seo ná daonlathas a thabhairt ar ais in Údarás na Gaeltachta agus a chinntiú gur féidir leis an údarás tabhairt faoi na fadhbanna atá ag cur isteach ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Is mór an trua é nár éist an Rialtas le Sinn Féin sa Dáil maidir le bord iomlán tofa a bheith ann. Is mór an trua é freisin nár ghlac an Rialtas le le…

Tá mé buartha faoi roinnt rudaí sa Bhille seo a bhí curtha isteach sa phlé sa Dáil. D'úsáid an Rialtas gilitín chun stop a chur le plé ar leasuithe móra ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus Acht na Gaeltachta, nach raibh pléite sa choiste. Ní hionann na leasuithe seo le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta. Tá an Rialtas ag athrú rialacha maidir le fógraíocht, ballraíocht an choiste chomhairligh agus maidir leis an sprioc earcaíochta 20%. Má tá fógraí ar líne atá dírithe ar an domhan iomlán, an mbeidh na rialacha faoi úsáid na Ga…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: " Review of rates of pay and conditions of home care workers 4. (1) The Minister shall, not later than 6 months after the commencement of this Act, carry out a review of the rates of pay and conditions of home care workers in the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors, which should also examine career structures, rostering practices, mileage costs, and recruitment challenges. (2) As soon as practicable after the completion of th…

On Saturday last in Cavan, the first Pride march was held in the county town. I congratulate those who organised it and took part. It was a very colourful and vibrant celebration of people from the LGBT+ community. I put up an ad online beforehand wishing it well. The commentary on that ad was absolutely vile. Laura, in my office, turned off the comments. It is absolutely outrageous what people feel they can say to others online. After the parade, I attended Cavan's Africa Day. Nationally, Africa Day was celebrated…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Last Friday morning, I attended a protest in Cavan town. It happened to be all mothers who were there. It was organised by mothers of children with additional needs. They were pointing out that they are not getting the supports and therapies they require from the children's disability network team, CDNT, based in Cavan. The longer children go without supports, the more complex their difficulties become. Families are finding it difficult to engage without supports and schools are f…

The Minister of State mentioned that over 45,000 children are receiving support through the CDNTs but parents have said to me that when they have been told that their child has received X number of interventions, and they know their child has not, the CDNT is counting interaction with parents. They are counting phone calls, meetings, letters.and emails. That is not intervention. I do not know who they are trying to fool by that. The parents know that the child is not getting intervention that he or she requires. Wh…

Curaim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I will be supporting this Bill. Who would not agree that the private home support sector should be regulated? It actually makes me shudder to think that it has not been to date and that we have no minimum standards of care when it comes to home care services. Home support workers are going into the homes of very vulnerable people, including older people living on their own, people with a disability and people who have suffered a stroke and cannot articulate or advocate for themsel…

I welcome this Bill as well. It is a important legislation. I acknowledge Jason Poole and his father Joe, along with David French for their work on both Jennie's law and Valerie's law. They have done immense work. It is unfortunate that people have to do something like that and that domestic violence is such a scourge in our society. The Minister indicated that those convicted of serious incidents of domestic violence or gender-based violence could be included on this register, and I welcome that. He set out quite …

Tacaím leis an bhunfháth a bhfuil an Bille seo á chur os comhair an tSeanaid chun go mbeidh toghchán ann arís do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Bhí Sinn Féin i gcoinne an chinnidh fáil réidh leis sa chéad dul síos. Táimid fós ag lorg go mbeadh bord iomlán an údaráis tofa agus go mbeadh cumhachtaí cuí ag Údarás na Gaeltachta chun an teanga náisiúnta agus na ceantair ina bhfuil sí fós beo a chosaint. Is léir go gceapann an tAire go bhfuil sé sin i gceist anseo, ach ní mar sin atá. Is léir go bhfuil gá anois le gníomh ch…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 9, after line 36, to insert the following: “Pilot Programme for Biometric Categorisation Technologies 10. The Minister shall ensure that no national deployment of biometric categorisation technologies shall occur until a pilot programme has been completed and independently evaluated, including assessments of— (a) accuracy and error rates, (b) discriminatory impacts, (c) compliance with data protection law, and (d) impacts on privacy and fundamental rights, and the evaluation shall b…

I move amendment No. 11: 11. In page 10, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(ba) clear and specific limits on the circumstances in which biometric analysis or biometric categorisation may be used, including prohibitions on use for general surveillance, population-level monitoring, or speculative searches, (bb) objective thresholds and evidential standards that must be met before any biometric analysis may be initiated, (bc) safeguards to prevent disproportionate or discriminatory impacts, including …

I move amendment No. 12: In page 11, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(5A) When making an order under subsection (5), the Minister shall lay the code of practice, together with an explanatory memorandum outlining the safeguards, limitations and parameters governing the use of biometric analysis and biometric categorisation, before each House of the Oireachtas.”.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 11, line 36, to delete “5 years” and substitute “2 years”.

I was recently contacted by the elected members of Cavan County Council about their concerns about ash dieback in ash trees along the public road. They really feel, and I agree with them, that landowners should not be left with the financial cost of removing these trees. I know there is a scheme for forestry owners who are affected by ash dieback in their plantations, and that is obviously welcome, but there is no compensation for farmers or landowners whose trees have been affected by ash dieback in their hedgerow…