I thank the Minister of State for being here. When we were here last year and there was the big debacle about Fastway and the protests outside, my heart went out to the employees caught in the middle of all that. Even running a business myself, I was thinking of whether there was any mandatory insurance or similar requirement that could be placed on the employer to ensure an employee can never be caught in that situation again. I know the Supreme Court found in 2018 that Article 2(1)(b) of Directive 2008/94/EC was …

I move amendment No. 3: In page 9, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on mental health data 7. Within two years of the commencement of this Act, the Minister shall publish a report examining the laws on medical confidentiality regarding access to mental health records. Mental Health data in this context means doctor’s notes, psychologist notes, psychiatrists notes or information disclosed verbally. The report shall be published so regulations may be set to protect people who may be at risk or under thr…

I realise that this is a quagmire for the Minister with regard to the Mental Health Bill and confidentiality. One thing that came to light was the fact that there were family members who were actually informed. It was just that the co-parent who had responsibility for the children was not informed. As that is where it all fell down, there is an area that needs to be addressed. The Minister is right. My intent is to try to make a difference for the likes of Andrew McGinley's family and families in the future. That i…

Yes.

I want to bring the attention of the House to a report published by Alcohol Action Ireland. It is findings are very disappointing. During recent high-profile rugby matches in Ireland and abroad, alcohol branding appeared at a rate of one reference every eight seconds. Imagine that every eight seconds young people watching their team play something we promote as healthy, positive and community driven are exposed to alcohol marketing. As chair of the south-west regional drugs and alcohol task force and Tiglin, I have…

I congratulate my friend Kairi Künka, the Estonian ambassador, on national Estonia day. I would also like to mark another significant occasion today which is, as the Cathaoirleach mentioned, the fourth anniversary of the Russian illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine. It was an act of aggression that has caused immense suffering, displacement, hurt and loss of life and it continues to affect the stability of Europe. I want to extend a huge welcome to Larysa Gerasko, the Ukrainian ambassador, to the Distinguished Vi…

I move: That Seanad Éireann: - reaffirms its support for Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of the Russian Federation’s illegal invasion and calls on the Government to do as much as possible to maximise Ireland’s role in renewing international efforts to secure a just and lasting peace based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Commencement matter. I wish to raise an issue that sits at the very intersection between mental healthcare, child protection and the rights of co-parents. It is an issue where there is ambiguity in the legislation, and it has already had devastating consequences. Before I begin, I wish to mention two guests of mine in the Public Gallery. One is Councillor Gayle Ralph and the other is Mr. Andrew McGinley. Many in this House will know Andrew's story. His child…

I thank the Minister of State. She stated there is family engagement and it is a matter of discretion, etc. My fear is that the family in this situation was engaged with but the co-parent was not. It seems the greatest concern of the family, rightly, was their family member. However, it seems the children were missed. The co-parent, who has the responsibility for and interest in the children, was not informed. That is a big gap. Nobody engaged with him. We have to question, then, who is there for the children in th…

I raise an issue that comes directly from my experience of working over the years with people at Tiglin who have suffered from addiction and mental health issues. Every day, we meed individuals who are struggling not only with substance use but also with real and serious mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation, deep depression and trauma. They are not separate but intertwined problems. Yet, we see that again and again when these individuals turn up at hospitals, clinics, accident and emergency departm…

I am disappointed that the amendments are not being accepted. I felt that the one I proposed was simple. I thought it was an essential addition to the Bill that within two years of the commencement of the Act, the Minister would publish a report examining the impact on the rental market, and that the report would then be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. I did not think it was a radical request. The Minister knows that I do not want to be obstructive but I just thought it was good governance. When we pass …

Yesterday, the petitions committee, of which I am a member, was addressed by Sinead O'Reilly. She spoke about her sister-in-law Sarah O'Reilly, the 34-year-old mum of twins, P.J. and Lilly. Sarah developed a fever. At first they thought it was pneumonia, and then gallstones. She was brought to hospital. After a number of weeks in ICU, she passed away. The issue was sepsis. To hear that harrowing story was horrendous. An external review found that if the sepsis protocol had been activated and followed, a different r…

I will briefly bring up an issue that is a huge opportunity for Ireland and the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is something we could be genuinely proud of and should not miss. On 12 August 2026, there will be a rare and remarkable solar eclipse. It will be a total solar eclipse off the Atlantic coast. While it will not be possible to see it in its totality from the land, an extraordinary Irish-led scientific mission is ready to bring that moment to life for all citizens of Ireland and the world. It is simple. An Iris…

I recently had a meeting with a gentleman called Andrew McGinley who lost his three children to familicide. We were discussing the Mental Health Bill 2024 and how it has been addressed in this House. He noted that three areas were glaringly missing from the legislation, and these were basically at the heart of child safety, parental responsibility and basic safeguarding. The first was co-parenting rights. When clinical decisions are being made about a parent that could impact their children, the other parent cannot…

When I was elected to this House last year, there were over 15,000 people in emergency accommodation. The most recent figures, which came out last year, show that there has been a 12% increase overall. There was a small drop in December, but if we take into account temporary accommodation and families taking in some of their family members, that seasonal dip does not really show, and it should not distract us. It does not change the underlying trend that we are going the wrong way with homelessness. I was delighted…

I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I welcome the chance to speak on apprenticeships. They can be very positive. However, as my colleague Senator Tully has mentioned, there are issues regarding wages, reimbursement and the allowances for buying tools. Ireland could lead the way because it is not just about skills or the training programmes. It is also about opportunity. Senator Scahill mentioned my neighbour Sean Mulryan. He comes from Roscommon but lives beside me in Kildare. He is an example of wh…

In the past week, our world champion Katie Taylor spoke about her impending retirement. She believes she will retire at the end of the year. Senator Andrews raised this matter before. Katie Taylor is an absolute model of supreme athletic ability in Ireland. We should all look up to her and support her. During the summer, she and her husband visited Tiglin and spent time with the students on the programme there. This had a real impact on them. Katie Taylor was recognised as lady of the year at the American Partnersh…

I have just come from the audiovisual room where we launched the report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the apartment and duplex defects remediation Bill. It is an important step for many householders who have been living with structural, fire safety and water ingress defects through no fault of their own. It represents a huge step forward and a necessary commitment by the State. It is equally important that we confront a gap, which I have raised in point No. 4.7 in the report. We are urgin…

Last week there was an interview on "The Anton Savage Show" between Anton and a professor of addiction studies in Trinity College, Dr. Jo-Hanna Ivers. She focused on the rapid rise of cocaine use in Ireland, which should be a serious concern to all of us. She mentioned that cocaine is no longer a fringe drug but is firmly moving into the mainstream in every family and community, in family homes and social settings. With that normalisation comes a very dangerous illusion that cocaine is somehow less harmful, less de…

I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I want to mention something urgent that affects 110 children in this State and is very time-sensitive. I refer to the ongoing delay in getting access to givinostat, a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is not about debating the policy on how medicines are given but about the children who are being affected and their families. It is also about how the time delays are affecting those children. I was contacted by a constituent who has a child whom I will…