I thank the Minister of State for being here. I rise to support the motion. As Senators O'Loughlin and Daly mentioned, there is a lot going on in the world at the moment, and often Ukraine is not mentioned and is forgotten about because the war has been going on for so long. We are rising to support the motion, however, affirming Ireland’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine. I was asked by the Ceann Comhairle a number of months ago to be the convener of the Ukraine-Ireland parliamentary group, and I w…

I wish to voice my agreement with Senator Ruane's proposal. I wish Senator Andrews safety. I hope that he returns and that everything goes well. I wish to speak about the budget and how it has a real impact on our people and businesses. This week, there were several witnesses before the enterprise committee, of which I am a member. Many said that businesses are six months away from shutting down. Perhaps pride of generational ownership is keeping many of those businesses afloat. We must remember that the budget can…

When I talk about social enterprise, policy and Trading for Impact, they are something I know very well to the core. When I started an organisation called Tiglin 20 years ago, I did not have a grand plan. I literally bought a bus, converted it into a restaurant and got a bus licence, and I went out onto the streets after work. I used to park the bus under the Clerys clock on O'Connell Street where I met the most amazing people. These were people who were broken, marginalised, hungry, in addiction and often forgotte…

I rise to express concern at the Government’s recent decision to increase the voluntary return allowance for asylum seekers. While I realise the pressures that are on the Government in this regard, the financial allowance for asylum seekers to be processed is approximately €122,000 per applicant. That seems a staggering figure. You have to tread very carefully when incentivising vulnerable individuals to abandon their claims for asylum protection. The incentive will increase to €2,500 per person and €10,000 per fam…

I read a disturbing article on thejournal.ie this morning about 13 Oireachtas broadcast workers who will have to sign on the dole next week. I want to know what the situation is in that regard. I reiterate the deep concern expressed by my colleague Senator Crowe regarding the upcoming ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union. As he noted, the suggestion is that asylum seekers arriving in Ireland could have stronger entitlements to State support than do Irish citizens who are homeless. I have mentioned m…

Thousands of small businesses across Ireland are crying out for breathing space. In the last few days, we have seen statements from the Small Firms Association, SFA, and the Restaurants Association of Ireland, both of which represent the backbone of our local economy. Between them, they represent everyone from tech entrepreneurs and professional services to family-owned cafés and restaurants, such as my own, that are struggling to keep their doors open. The numbers are stark. According to the Small Firms Associatio…

I raise attention to an escalating issue of the unchecked spread of ragwort across Ireland. I am from the countryside in County Kildare. Even though it is deceptively attractive, and it blooms with bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators, it is classified as a noxious weed under the 1963 Act and it poses a lethal threat to horses and cattle. Landowners who own the land where it grows can face fines up to €1,000. Its spread is a scandal when we see it along the motorways, farmlands and housing estates under t…

I am rising to speak about an issue that is pressing but that also has a moral dimension, namely the need for a national comprehensive strategy for the effective utilisation of surplus renewable energy in a manner that prioritises individuals and households experiencing energy poverty. We are seeing in various news reports that families are starting to choose between heating their home and eating. That should not be a reality in modern Ireland in 2025. According to the most recent ESRI report, 550,000 households in…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome that it recognises the importance of surplus renewable energy in shaping a fairer energy future for us all. However, I have to express concern that, without a defined strategy or measurable targets, we risk missing a crucial opportunity and wasting over 7,000 GWh of clean energy while hundreds of households going without heat or affordable bills. I urge the Minister of State to commit to a cross-departmental national strategy that prioritises the needs of th…

I echo the concerns of my fellow Senators regarding what is happening between Israel and Gaza at the moment. Yesterday, I had a visit from the Ukrainian ambassador and officials from her embassy. She said that it seems that Ukraine is forgotten about. Overnight, there were drones and attacks in Kyiv again. In recent months, Russia has launched more than 1,000 missiles and drones, devastating homes, hospitals and essential infrastructure. An estimated 700,000 Russian troops are currently active in Ukrainian territor…

I rise to bring the attention of the House to the prolonged incarceration of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai. His wife Heather and human rights activist Sir Bill Browder came to meet me here. In 2010, Mr. Cornelius was imprisoned for ten years. In 2018, however, that was extended by a further 20 years, bringing his total sentence to 30 years, which is the equivalent of three life sentences in Ireland. Mr. Cornelius is now in his seventies. I appeal for leniency on humanitarian grounds. His case has drawn international conc…

I congratulate the Minister of State on her new role. I look forward to working with her. I thank her on behalf of the people of Kildare for opening a new sensory garden, Hope Cottage, last week, which was a fascinating event for family members of people caught in addiction. To bring the Minister of State’s attention to the national drugs strategy, which is about to expire, there is one key issue that comes constantly to my desk. I am the chair of the south western regional drug and alcohol task force. I was also i…

I voice concern on behalf of Irish businesses facing complete uncertainty regarding the US Administration revisiting tariffs and potentially imposing tariffs as high as 10%. They are to be imposed on all EU imports within days. From dairy farmers to distillers, vital sectors of the Irish community are bracing themselves for impact without any clarity as to what is coming. The recent Government trade forum regrettably yielded more heat than light. It shows we need actionable diplomacy rather than reactive dialogue. …

I rise to bring up a point about the urgent concerns facing women in Irish prisons. As of May, our national prison capacity stood at 131%, but it is women's prisons that are suffering the most. The female prison in Limerick is at 152% of capacity, while the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy is at 127%. These are not just statistics; they are women sleeping on floors, traumatised by overcrowding. Many of them I face in our homeless cafés when they are released, and they are released into homelessness and a housing crisis. I…

I rise to bring attention to a public health issue, that is, the need for a free shingles vaccine for over-70s in our communities. We know shingles is a debilitating condition that affects thousands of older people every year. It causes severe pain, long-term nerve damage and, in some cases, serious complications regarding visual impairment, etc. As many as one in three people will get shingles in his or her lifetime. While vaccination is available, the cost of it has been debated and it can be a significant barrie…

My colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, mentioned Women's Aid. It is frightening to see the report today that 32,000 women have contacted Women's Aid in the past year. That is the highest number ever, and it seems it is continuing to climb. One in three women was being abused by her ex-partner. Behind the number are terrified and isolated women, lost pregnancies and isolated lives. There are also children growing up afraid. I previously spoke about the issue in the House. It shows that abuse does not always end when a re…

I would, if possible.

I was at a committee.

There are too many committees. I thank the Cathaoirleach. I spoke a few weeks ago about Jason Power, a good friend of mine who had health issues. Unfortunately, Jason sadly passed away last Friday. I was asked to speak at his funeral yesterday and share my thoughts about his life, how I had met him and how he had recovered from a life of addiction and trauma. He turned his life around and had ten years of sobriety, but, unfortunately, his lungs had been damaged and he was dealing with bad health. During all that, h…

I reiterate my support for my colleague Senator Crowe regarding cocaine addiction. It is something I know a lot about from my work with Tiglin. I raise another concern regarding addiction, namely, the shocking rise of youth gambling in Ireland. I was recently interviewed by RTÉ about a European report that revealed that more than 29% of young people in Ireland from the age of 15 to 16 have gambled many times in the past year. That is the highest rate in Europe, at almost one in every three of our teenagers. Childre…