An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-08
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Tom Clonan (IND), University of Dublin

I thank the Senator. The Adult Safeguarding Strategy Bill that I hope to introduce fills the gap that exists in Irish legislation around adult safeguarding for our elderly citizens and for all of us who at some point in life will need care. This Bill is consistent with what the Government has set out in the programme for Government. I thank all my colleagues from Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Aontú, the Green Party and the Civic Engagement Group and from my colleagues in the Seanad Independent Group for co-sponsoring the Bill. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the House. We have some way to go on this but they have indicated that they will not oppose it. That is emblematic of this House in that we can see in Westminster and Washington the aggravated polarity in those Chambers. However, this remains a collegial House. While we often disagree here, sometimes vocally and strenuously, we are colleagues and we have the best interests of the public at heart. This legislation if progressed will bring Ireland into line with the rest of Europe in relation to adult safeguarding and will fill that gap.
In the late 1970s, as part of the Finglas youth project we used to cycle out to Rush and Skerries. I would say they were delighted to see us coming. We each had 50 pence to spend in the shops. They were probably even more delighted to see us going back. On a serious note, that part of county Dublin, Rush, Skerries, the Naul, Ballyboughal and Man of War is the most beautiful countryside. It is a hidden heartland of the county. The best of luck with the festivals.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-08/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:10+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-08