I thank the Minister for being in the House to address this important legislation. I have been a tenant myself, and also an accommodation provider for many years. I set up an approved housing body called Tiglin, which the Minister is aware of. We have accommodated hundreds of people over the years, including most recently many Ukrainian refugees. I deal with the human element behind the numbers we are dealing with regarding homelessness, housing issues, etc. They are not just numbers or zones on maps. You are deali…

I had an amendment to this section and my question is why it was ruled out of order. I will say into the record that my amendment-----

I will sit back down.

I had proposed an amendment to section 3. Why has it been ruled out of order? I would like to say on the record that my intention with the amendment was simply to empower the Minister to introduce regulation. It was not necessarily the case that I wanted it to result in a higher cost to the Exchequer. When the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, said there would no special protection for renters afforded by this Bill, I saw it as a missed opportunity and that was why my amendment came about. Many of the people who…

I move amendment No. 1: After the last paragraph under "calls on the Government to:" to insert the following paragraph: “ - apply the SME test outlined in the Programme for Government to relevant legislation and give special consideration to the role of the Seanad in applying this test.”

I welcome today's Fianna Fáil motion. It is a very topical one. It is very important given the current climate we face in this country and the challenges we face in the international environment. As Senator Crowe said, Irish SMEs face many challenges. I am involved in SMEs myself. We should be supporting Irish industry and not just putting all of our focus on multinational companies, which seems to have been the case up to now. It has already been mentioned that approximately two thirds - more than 60% - of all job…

I studied economics and, as a child, I was always fascinated about investments and stocks worked on the Stock Exchange, etc. I remember reading about Warren Buffet and he was asked about what stocks ordinary people should invest in. He said to make sure they were low cost, indexed funds. Yet, I notice in Ireland we penalise such investments with an excessive 41% tax rate and then there is a deemed disposal rule every eight years regardless of whether one wants to sell the investment or not. The result of this is th…

I have in my hand the recommendations from the report by the Housing Commission, which was recently published. The commission was established in December 2021. At that stage, there were 8,900 homeless people, including approximately 2,450 children. Today, nearly three and a half years on - that is, two and a half years of work and a year of a delay - the number of homeless has nearly doubled, with 15,580 homeless, including 4,775 children. This is the backdrop against which the commission's report lands. The report…

I mentioned in this House recently that one in four people experience some form of mental health problem during their lifetime, which is a significant proportion of the population. I am writing today to urge the Government and, importantly, South Dublin County Council, to address an urgent need in the Dublin Mid-West area for a dedicated Solace Café. These cafés have been put in place before very successfully. They are welcoming spaces where individuals can find refuge, connection and support. The absence of such a…

I raise the issue of end-of-life care and bereavement. Last week, I had the Irish Hospice Foundation come in to visit, and they reinforced the urgency of the work they do and the need for a compassionate, well-co-ordinated approach to end-of-life care and supporting individuals. I spoke a number of weeks ago in this House about a friend of mine, Jason, who was confined to hospital and wanted to die at home. After speaking here, the HSE intervened, and it is wonderful that he is now spending his last days with his f…

I thank the Minister for being here. I will have to speak fast. When I heard about the 50% tariff threat, I was googling and I came across President Ronald Reagan’s warning on tariffs, how they affect the economy and how, while it may seem patriotic in the early stages and designed to protect industries, history has taught us it carries a steep, long-term cost. High tariffs bring about complacency for home industries and stifle innovation. Businesses grow dependent on the artificial barriers. In the meantime, forei…

We are sharing time.

I thank the Minister for being here. I am a new Senator here, but I am certainly not new to business. I employ just over 40 people across the transport, hospitality and service industries. When we are talking about competitiveness, certainly, I have felt the weight, but I have also felt the potential of running companies in Ireland. We hear much about Ireland being a hub for foreign multinationals and we are always talking about foreign direct investment. That is so important to Ireland, and it has transformed our …

I have spoken before about being involved in housing and homelessness for many years. I have campaigned for housing wherever we could get it. Back in 2016, I was asked to address the Oireachtas joint housing and homelessness committee, as it was called at the time. I was told by the then Minister, Simon Coveney, that homelessness would be eradicated by 2020. Since then, the numbers have tripled. Any measure that is going to improve housing in Ireland is greatly welcome. The Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bil…

I rise not only as a Senator, but as someone who has walked alongside some of the most resilient people who are in recovery in our country, those who have faced not only addiction, but also homelessness, marginalisation and social exclusion. I see them fighting daily for a second chance at life. Most of the Senators know my involvement in rehabilitation. In Ireland today, the need for detoxification beds is nothing short of urgent. Currently, we only have 18 inpatients bed for detoxification. Waiting lists are grow…

Three years ago, our nation was shaken by the brutal murder of Aisling Murphy, a young woman who was taken away when her whole life was ahead of her. It certainly struck a chord all across Ireland. We had hoped it would be a turning point across society when it comes to violence against women by males. We had hoped it would be confronted with urgency, honesty and a lasting change. Women's Aid recently reported that women are no safer today than they were the day Aisling was murdered. Since 1996, 275 women have been…

I raise the matter of Lyme disease. This month is Lyme disease awareness month. For those who do not know, it is a bacterial infection that can be caused by tick bites. Interestingly, this week there was a protest outside the gates of Leinster House by people who have been affected by Lyme disease. I have had fascinating conversations. It is a disease on which I was not too informed. I met one lady, Anne, who was incapacitated for the past 30 years after getting a bite on a beach many years ago. While I was discuss…

I welcome the Minister of State. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on a matter that affects society as a whole and certainly affects the area that I have volunteered and worked in, which is mental health supports in Ireland. A recent study by the European Commission showed that 44% of Irish citizens reported difficulties accessing mental health services. That was the highest rate in the EU. It also found that 63% of our population have experienced emotional or psychosocial problems in the past year. That m…

I also extend my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Garda Kevin Flatley, who sadly lost his life on Sunday. His passing marks a heartbreaking milestone because he is the 90th member of An Garda Síochána to lose their life in the line of duty - to make the ultimate sacrifice - since the beginning of the force in 1922. This figure reminds us of the dangers faced by those who are protecting our roads, enforcing our laws and serving our communities. Having read the papers and listened to the …

I second Senator Keogan's amendment to the Order of Business today regarding the Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025. I also rise to call for an urgent discussion, as my colleagues did earlier, on the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Two nights ago, I was asked to meet the families who have just arrived in Ireland from Gaza. Many of them were carrying unimaginable trauma. There were many children there who have come here for medical intervention. They did not choose…