I want to raise on the Order of Business, on what will be my last time to contribute in this esteemed Chamber, something I have advocated for my entire political career – the Navan rail line and the connection of M3 Parkway to Navan, the largest town on the eastern coast with no rail connectivity. Through political work I have done, political advocacy, the work of the public and submissions, we were successful in seeing the project included in the greater Dublin area strategy last year. Getting it on the list of po…

This is a Seanad Bill which has been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 148, it is deemed to have passed its First, Second and Third Stages in the Seanad and is placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. On the question "That the Bill be received for final consideration", the Minister may explain the purpose of the amendments made by the Dáil. This is looked upon as the report of the Dáil amendments to the Seanad. For Senators' convenience, I have arranged for the printing and circulation of th…

When is it proposed to take the next Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister for her work on this Bill and all her work throughout her term as Minister for Justice, which has been exemplary. As a fellow Meath Oireachtas Member, I pay tribute to her. Our families have deep connections, both political and sporting, and I wish her well in all that she does. She has been an exemplary Minister on behalf of this State.

As we conclude, I acknowledge the presence of my own PA in the Visitors Gallery, Councillor Mike Bray, who has been with me for nine years and is an exemplary public servant in his own right, but has been a very loyal and dedicated professional with all of the people in County Meath that he has dealt with on my behalf. I thank him for his service. Many of us have our backroom staff that do exemplary work. I thank and acknowledge him for his service.

When is it proposed to sit again? I understand the House is adjourning sine die .

I welcome the return to full operation of Tara Mines in Navan this week. It is the largest zinc mine in Europe. As Members know from previous discussions in the House, the resumption of operations this week is after an 18-month closure. The closure in the summer of 2023 left more than 600 workers in limbo. They were neither employed nor unemployed. There is a real sense of relief in the town and among the workers, notwithstanding the fact the reopening came at a cost because 200 workers took voluntary redundancy as…

I ask the Senator in her capacity as Leader of the House to ascertain for us from the Minister for Justice when moneys from the immigrant investor programme will be paid and when the Department of Justice will process this. I know the immigrant investor programme was closed very abruptly with one day's notice back in February 2023 when the now Taoiseach and then acting Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, closed the programme. The Department of Justice flagged concerns in respect of it but notwithstanding that, the…

I have come to the Chamber pay tribute to Senator Chambers for bringing forward this Bill. The progressive Bills she has been involved with follow on from real-life issues that impact people, especially younger people. She successfully brought through the stalking Bill and has moved onto this Bill on the practice of catfishing. She spoke about the impact of this practice and the need to recognise it from a criminal point of view. That is very important. I was on the media committee when the online media Bill was be…

Yesterday, the main hospital in the north-east region, Our Lady of Lourdes, issued a statement effectively urging sick people to stay away because of overcrowding. It said that the most critically ill patients are prioritised for treatment but, as a result, some patients may experience delays. By the way, the normal delay in that hospital is 13 hours. If you are lucky, that is the normal delay. I have spoken consistently over the last decade in here and in the Dáil in defence of Navan hospital, a hospital which the…

Following the Order of Business this morning, we will have the launch of the Seanad public consultation report on the future of local democracy, which was chaired by the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly. I acted as rapporteur for this report and several Members of the Seanad were part of it, including Senator Victor Boyhan, who is present. It involved extensive work and was launched in the summer of 2023, when we put out a public call, not just to local authority members but to members of the public, to engag…

I also welcome Deputy MacSharry and his guests to the Visitors Gallery. Today in Dublin, the members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly are gathering for the latter's autumn meeting. Several hundred parliamentarians from across Europe will meet in the convention centre to discuss a range of issues over the next two days. The Leader is a former member of the assembly, as are the Cathaoirleach and Senators Boyhan and Dooley. Our team will be led by Deputy Creed and me, along with Senators Pauline O'Reilly, Clonan and…

They gave him a reference.

Yes and I am just telling you they gave him a reference.

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I heard Senator Warfield speak as I came into the Chamber. He spoke about forced emigration, which he claims is happening. The people I know who are emigrating from this country are doing so not by force but to explore the world, broaden their horizons and have a bit of an adventure, which is possible because of the education they received in one of the best education systems in the world. Unlike Senator Warfield, I am old enough to remember the 1980s, when there …

It is apt that I follow my colleague Senator Joe O'Reilly in noting all the work and all the contributions made by him, Senator Wall and me. At the very start of the term of this Seanad, four and a half years ago during the Covid pandemic, the three of us attended many online meetings with gambling support groups pressing for this legislation. It is to his credit that the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, has stayed the course in compiling such detailed and very much-needed legislation. I commend the Minister of St…

I welcome today's motion and the discussion about childcare. At the outset, I pay tribute to the Minister and this Government for the work they have done over the past four and a half years. It has been hugely important and massively accelerated the professionalisation and development of early learning and childcare in this country. With this motion, we are rightly discussing the need for the development of childcare facilities in new areas. However, the reality is that at the start of this Government's term the se…

Notwithstanding what Senator Cummins said, and he is right, it has been a very interesting debate. I acknowledge in particular the contributions of Senator Higgins in respect of the national planning statement and her assertion that it represents another layer within the system. For half a day last week and over a number of months, the Leas-Chathaoirleach and I, as rapporteur, have been discussing the impact on the local authority and planning systems and the delivery of same. In an ever urbanised Ireland, it is on…

I thank the Minister for his words. By order of the House, as agreed under the Order of Business, we need to commence the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill at 4.30 p.m. However, Senator Mary Seery Kearney indicated she would like to say something. I am conscious that we have three minutes remaining and three Senators have indicated they wish to speak. I will try to accommodate all three speakers. Is that agreed? Agreed.