The Deputy Leader will be aware that I am the chair of the south western regional drug and alcohol task force, otherwise known as SURF. An issue has arisen with a project we have in Newbridge, which is in the Deputy Leader’s constituency, concerning the Peter McVerry Trust. It is running a front-line addiction service. It has gone to landlord after landlord looking for new premises, but no one will take it. The town badly needs this service. After more than one year, the service still sits upstairs in an industrial…

I thank the Minister of State for being here and welcome him to the House. At the outset I wish to stipulate that every State has the right to set its own terms on citizenship. I fully appreciate that and I am not arguing for open borders. However, I am saying that citizenship matters and asking people to show real commitment is reasonable. When the scheme was initially approved, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, said that Ireland values the contributions that migrants make. I believe him, but that fairness has to …

I will mention a recent ESRI report, published earlier this month, that describes how 200,000 children in Ireland are living below the poverty line. According to the report, when housing costs are taken into account, that brings the figure to over 260,000. This happened in a year when the average income went up by 4% and at the very top it went up by 7%. As Community Foundation Ireland recently said, "a rising tide does not lift all boats." The youngest children are hit the hardest. When we take into account housin…

I thank the three MEPs for being here today. It has probably been covered but I have worked in homelessness for the past number of years. I worked with Mr. Ríordáin and Ms Regina Doherty on that. I have never seen numbers like what we see at the moment. There are 17,527 people in emergency accommodation and I spoke today about 5,659 children. That number does not cover people sleeping in their cars, on couches, etc. I set up an organisation 20 years ago called Tiglin. We work with people that are marginalised and w…

This morning I went to the dentist as I had to get a filling. He gave me an injection. It did not work therefore he gave me three injections so I am half paralysed on my face. He assured me that even an anaesthetic will not shut up a Senator so I will give it my best shot. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important matter. I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Palestinian ambassador, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, intended to be present but something came up. However, in the Distinguished …

I thank the Minister of State. I hear what he is saying about there being other war-torn areas, but today I specifically want to deal with the 58 visa refusals for people from Gaza. Yesterday, The Irish Times told the story of 19-year-old Hazem Faris from Gaza. He secured a full scholarship to study computer science in SETU in Waterford. His fees, accommodation and living expenses were covered. He came from Gaza where his home was destroyed. He had been displaced several times. He had lost all his friends and neigh…

As a Senator on the university panel, I wish to point out that between 2022 and 2024, our universities took in more than 10,000 additional students of whom 9,000 have arrived without the additional funding. I ran for the Seanad two years ago and one of my campaign messages was that universities should be properly funded. I certainly stand over that. I also see that education is the future of our youth. I know that since 2022, the Government has funded the gap, which was underfunded by €307 million per year. Budget …

I briefly mention what my colleague Senator Andrews mentioned about the accommodation recognition payment, ARP, and its proposed reduction for those who are hosting Ukrainians in Ireland. I understand that the Government has difficult decisions to make in this regard, and we must make sure that public money is wisely spent, but we also have to consider the human consequences of this. I notice in the last number of months, at our homeless café on Pearse Street, a number of Ukrainians are turning up and that number i…

I extend the welcome to Emma and Adam. I first met them through our homeless services at the Lighthouse Homeless Café. They came to access services. Adam is a bright lad. He is studying away. He is a fanatic when it comes to basketball and I hope that one day, he will play for Ireland, if not in the NBA in the US. Like so many others, his biggest obstacle is not his lack of ability on the basketball court. It is his lack of somewhere to call home. When I have Adam here as my guest, it is hard to allow talented youn…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Deputy Leader. I hope they are enjoying the wonderful weather we are having. I was down in Wicklow last weekend where I had the pleasure of attending the Taste of Wicklow festival in the Abbey Grounds. I acknowledge this fantastic example of what a local authority can do, as well as the social enterprise that was in action there. As the Deputy Leader knows, Tiglin set up various social enterprises, and we have seen how social enterprise can transform a community. The Rise at the Co…

I thank the Minister of State for being here. Will the Cathaoirleach read into the record why my amendment No. 4 was ruled out of order?

I thank the Cathaoirleach.

The purpose of my amendments was certainly well meaning. I only found out this morning that they were ruled out of order. We put a good bit of work into them. My point was that, even in my own hometown of Naas, without long-term planning, the town would be radically different than it is now. There is an area called Millennium Park. I recall when it was put on a piece of paper about how this would come about. That is 30 years ago and now it is coming to fruition. If we look at areas like Singapore, they operate on a…

May I speak to the amendment?

Is it possible to have it read into the record why my amendment has been ruled out of order? Do I speak now or do I let the Leas-Chathaoirleach read it first?

My purpose with the amendment was to safeguard human rights, preventing homelessness and ensuring the legislation reflects a modern republic. The amendment was literally for a human rights and equality assessment to be carried out and a strategy devised to protect people in Ireland under the EU temporary protection directive, ensuring none are pushed into homelessness as an unintended consequence of this Bill. The amendment further requires that the strategy should uphold EU anti-human trafficking laws and include …

I wish to raise an issue that affects that town that I come from, namely, Naas. It is to do with St. Corban's National School. Earlier this year, following engagement with the Department of education, the school was encouraged to open a third junior infant class. On that basis, 25 additional students were enrolled for this coming September. Parents accepted these places in good faith, believing that the necessary teaching resources that were promised would follow. Now, just weeks before the new term begins, the Dep…

I want to speak in support of amendment No. 9. It proposes that at least two members of the AI office board possess significant experience in AI development, commercialisation and digital innovation or, in other words, recognised industry representation. It is a modest but important amendment, and it strengthens the governance of the AI office and ensures that its decisions are informed by real-world experience. The AI office will make decisions that will affect every business across every sector in the economy and…

I wish to speak in support of amendment No. 6, which seeks to expand the statutory functions of the State's AI office, so that it becomes, not only a regulator but also a genuine centre of excellence for guidance, practical support and training. If we want the AI regulation to succeed, then businesses must understand what is expected of them. Regulation works best when compliance is enabled. At the moment, even on the enterprise committee, I think compliance is feared - certainly among SMEs. As drafted, the Bill co…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 14, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(h) develop, publish and disseminate guidance, codes of practice and other informational materials to assist businesses, public bodies and other persons in understanding and complying with the Artificial Intelligence Regulation and any enactments relating to the development, placing on the market, putting into service, deployment or use of AI systems; (i) facilitate, promote and support access to training, educational programmes, w…