I thank Senator Black for raising this important matter. Ensuring there are vaccines and that they can be distributed equitably has been at the centre of Ireland's global public health and development assistance responses to the pandemic. The development of vaccines has been remarkably fast. However, the vaccine roll out is complex, as we are aware, with countries at different stages of vaccine approval and global supply shortages. This means that access to Covid-19 vaccines varies widely between countries, often r…

I thank the Senator again for her contribution and for raising the matter. It is important to put on record that we are engaging with COVAX all the time. COVAX falls within my area and I am constantly engaging with them on vaccine distribution in a general context. I fully take on board the importance of fair and equitable access, particularly for Palestinians. COVAX also has to operate very much within the international context of ensuring that for the millions of people around our planet there is fair and equitab…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: Dáil Éireann resolves that the Thirty-Seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) Bill 2018 be deemed to be read a second time this day eighteen months, to allow for greater analysis of the complex issues concerned and for such considerations to be taken into account in further scrutiny of the Bill. I thank the Independent Deputies for facilitating this debate and, in particular, Deputy Pringle, t…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Lost Lives , which chronicles all the 3,700 people who were killed in the conflict, is a truly invaluable resource. In documenting each name, life and family, it is a work of both extraordinary scholarship and great empathy and inspires that empathy in all those who read it. Although those lives were tragically cut short, they will always be remembered. The violence of the Troubles cuts across all sections of society regardless of background, age, gender or religion, infli…

Again, I thank the Deputy for his comments in response. It is important to acknowledge the key point that it is not a controversial book. Lost Lives serves as a powerful reminder that we must continue to work towards deeper reconciliation and that all we do is to heal the wounds we can. That is obviously done through the process of acknowledgement of the most painful parts of our history and that we move forward together. Therefore, what the Deputy has outlined in this Topical Issue is important. Lost Lives really …

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to outline to the House the position in relation to the commitment in the programme for Government to hold a referendum on extending presidential voting rights to Irish citizens resident outside the State. I appreciate that in his contribution, the Senator mentioned some of the main timeline points, to which I also will allude. The fifth report of the Convention on the Constitution, of November 2013, supported an extension of the right to vote…

We are very serious about our programme for Government commitment. As the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, I am very much committed to this. In recent days I launched our new diaspora strategy, a centrepiece of which is this extension of the franchise to Irish citizens. Since I became Minister of State, I have worked extensively on this area to ensure it remains a political priority, as it is for me. I believe the proposed extension would be an incredibly strong and strengthening part of how …

I wish to take the opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister for Defence, who is unfortunately unable to be present in the Chamber due to previous commitments. He has asked me to respond to this matter and to highlight the important role played by the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps, in supporting a wide range of public-facing services. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue which is important. I will park and put aside for one moment the cheap political shots and the usual snide Sinn Féin remarks ma…

I will ensure that she receives a copy. It is important to listen to what people are saying, as the Deputy pointed out. I will reiterate a couple of the points I made in my reply, as she may not have taken them on board the first time. Personnel from the Department of Defence and members of the Air Corps are key stakeholders in the steering group that is progressing this contract. Contrary to what the Deputy said, it is absolutely the case that members of the Defence Forces and the Air Corps are being listened to i…

I thank Senators Chambers and Murphy for providing an opportunity to speak about the Government's plans for the continuing support for Ireland West Airport Knock through the Covid crisis. I am happy to speak today on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. At this stage there can be no doubt about the impacts of Covid-19 on the aviation industry and the knock-on effects this drop in activity is having on domestic tourism and our regional economies, particularly in the west. It is of great conce…

I acknowledge the Senators' comments. We have listened carefully to them. To give further assurance, the Government understands absolutely the intrinsic value of airports such as Ireland West Airport Knock to our economy, particularly in facilitating tourism and economic activity. We acknowledge in particular the difficulties facing our airports and the wider aviation industry at present. Again, that understanding is reflected in the level of supports being provided by the Government throughout budget 2021. This ex…

I thank my party colleagues, Senators Buttimer and Burke, for raising this issue. I am delighted to have an opportunity to reply on behalf my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. In September, the Minister launched the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which sets out an ambitious new roadmap for waste planning and management and seeks to shift the focus away from waste disposal to how we can preserve resources by creating a circular economy. The plan sets out a range of aims and targets for the State…

I acknowledge the contribution of both Senators and will relay their points to the Minister.

As the Senator noted, the Department maintains an election observation roster comprising highly qualified volunteers who are competitively selected. The roster is a demonstration of Ireland's contribution to the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law as a member of the EU and the OSCE. Roster members are expected to discharge their responsibilities to a high standard. There are currently 199 appropriately qualified and trained volunteers on Ireland's election observation roster. The number of obse…

I will start by putting something immediately on record. There is not something rotten going on. That is a regrettable choice of words by Senator Mullen. It is a key cornerstone of the way in which we operate that we are conscious of ensuring the well-being and safety of members of the Irish roster when selected. We are also conscious of ensuring the safety and health of everyone in our country. People who engage in international monitoring have to engage with large numbers of people in the country they visit. They…

Other countries have different ways of doing things. The Government in this country puts the health and safety of our citizens first.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, is unable to be present due to previous commitments and has asked me to respond to the Deputy. The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in Congo in September 1961, as the Deputy outlined. A Company 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3 September 1961. On 9 September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and, early …

I have listened to the Deputy's response. It is regrettable that he would refer to a contribution made by me as trash considering that I spent a lifetime believing that the members of our Defence Forces are some of the bravest people and that they defend our country in all circumstances. They defend it on peacekeeping missions and have defended it at home for many years in support of the civil power. Having acknowledged fully many of the concerns the Deputy raised, I believe it is regrettable that he would refer to…

Budget 2021 is the largest investment in the history of the State, at a time when we need it most. It is about allowing the Government to respond to the challenges and opportunities we face both at home and abroad. In budget 2021, I have worked with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and my colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to secure funding that will help those suffering from the effects of conflict, poverty, climate change and now a pandemic. We will allocate an additional €30 million in overseas develop…

I am pleased to join Members in the Upper House this afternoon and to contribute to this important debate. I thank Senators Mullen and McDowell for bringing this matter to the attention of the Seanad. The situation in Xinjiang is of great importance and it deserves attention in Ireland and in the Oireachtas. The Senators are right in highlighting Ireland’s proud history of supporting the protection of human rights across the world. It remains a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy and in my contribution I will set o…