I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. It is clear to me that this proposal makes sense to him. I thank him for coming in and for the response from the Department of Transport. I am sure he will agree that the NTA is delivering for regional Ireland, including County Galway. It has a very important remit but it could do even better. It could do things even quicker and have better decisions by having more local, on-the-ground representation in relation to the points I have raised. Further consi…

The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on energy security, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, statements on public procurement, to be taken at 2 p.m. and to conclude at 3.15 p.m., if no…

I thank all Senators for their contributions this morning, starting with Senator O'Loughlin, who commended all in Ballymore Eustace on it becoming the first age- and climate-friendly town in Ireland. A celebration there was attended by An Tánaiste, the Senator and others, including local dignitaries. The Senator talked of the high age range of the county and the lack of GP services. I know she has put down Commencement debates on that in the past. I will engage with the Minister directly to see if there is any upda…

The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on prisons and alternative sentencing options, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to conclude at 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, the Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024 - Report a…

I thank all Senators this morning for their contributions, starting with Senator O’Loughlin, who raised the issue of prostitution and the recent report from Northern Ireland. She said we were not immune to those issues here. She commended Ruhama and the Rose's House accommodation. She also said we needed to learn from EU efforts and she called for a debate on this matter. We will request that from the Minister, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan. She also raised the sports capital grants, a recent meeting with the Minister of …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Tá mé buíoch as an deis seo a fháil inniu sa Seanad. Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Feighan. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, is welcome to the Chamber today to discuss the issues of family resource centres and the need for one in Clifden and the north Connemara area. The Minister of State will be familiar with Galway and Connemara. It is a large area, geographically sparse with pockets of population in many different, remote areas of the community centred a…

I thank the Minister of State on behalf of the Department of children for that comprehensive response and the important role Tusla has in evaluating and adjudicating on applications for new family resource centres. I welcome the fact that the Minister intends to pursue additional family resource centres in line with the programme for Government commitment. I will engage with Tusla following this to see what the local community in Clifden and north Connemara can do in advocating and pushing for a family resource cen…

The Order of Business is No. 1, Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to conclude at 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill…

I thank all Senators for their contributions this morning. I will start with Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, who acknowledged the recent Hungarian election and the new pro-EU Government there. She wished the new Prime Minister and Government in Hungary well. I certainly hope it will now be more pro-European and there will be more liberal democracy as part of this new Government. She also called for a debate with the Minister for education regarding the increase in financial pressures on people following the removal of th…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this Commencement matter this morning. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. It is good to have a Minister from the relevant Department, in this case, the Department of Health. I want to talk about a particular case. I met a young girl and her mother on Monday in my office. While she gave me permission to use her full name, I will only use her first name here. Her name is Aoife and she is from Galway. She was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia in 2021 during her leav…

I thank the Minister of State for the clarity in relation to the process of the NCPE and the CPU of the HSE. I appreciate that these are commercially sensitive issues. Aoife has acknowledged that Ireland holds the EU Presidency from 1 July. There may be opportunities for collaboration with other European countries in respect of, as I said, purchasing power or bulk buying, if you like, or co-operation with certain countries, such as the Benelux countries, as was discussed in the past. It is a valid suggestion by her…

The Order of Business is No. 1, the International Protection Bill 2026 – Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1 p.m., and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6 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; and No. 54, motion 1, Private Members' business, a motion regarding a constitutional referendum to specify the number of members of Dáil Éireann, to be tak…

I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator O'Loughlin acknowledged the Special Olympics and the Irish football team playing against Czechia tomorrow. She also mentioned Sam Whelan from Newbridge, a young filmmaker whose film "The Wrong Jumper" was nominated for an award. I wish him well. The Senator also referred to the reduction in excise duty reflected at the pumps and called for engagement with Bord na Móna regarding new state-of-the-art landmark buildings and the old buildings in Newbridge. She says …

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the proposed approval of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026, to be taken at 4.45 p.m. and to conclude at 6.15 p.m. if not previously concluded, with the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed 12 minutes each, time can be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than seven minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, the Protection of Employees (Employers’…

I thank all Senators for their contributions, starting with Senator Clifford-Lee who raised the issue of violence against women on an all-island basis and commented that some 88% of the women killed on the island of Ireland since 2020 were from Northern Ireland. It is a very damning statistic. The Senator also spoke about the need to address the issue of violence against women on an all-island basis, and the reasons behind this. She referred to the need to break the silence and the cycle of violence, and the causes…

Next Tuesday.

I move: "That the Seanad do now adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026."

I am sure all Members here work very early on a Tuesday, from 8 a.m. or whenever else, and there are those of us who have to drive up from rural Ireland. I am quite happy with a 2.30 p.m. start next Tuesday. We take these from week to week; sometimes there is a 2 p.m. start and sometimes there is a 1 p.m. start. This week there was a 1 p.m. start to facilitate the International Protection Bill and we thought we would have a later sitting. I am quite happy to keep this under review but as it stands I propose a 2.30 …

First, I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for choosing this Commencement debate. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. The Foreshore Act 1933, was replaced by the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 as it relates to this matter of seaweed. Schedule 7 to the MAP Act sets out maritime usages in relation to seaweed and the harvesting, distribution or removal of seaweed whether grown or rooted on the seabed or deposited in or washed up thereon by the action of any one or more than one of the following: tides, winds …

I thank the Minister of State and welcome what he has laid out regarding the policy being produced. When this is eventually published it will give guidance to MARA and those applying for licences. In the meantime, I am sure the Minister of State does not want to talk about any individual licence application. If somebody were to apply for licences at the moment, how would they be treated? As I understand it from MARA, no new licences have been granted since March 2014 because of legal concern at the time. The advice…