I rise to ask the Leader about two issues. I recently met with members of the Collins committee in Clonakilty which is apolitical. They are doing a lot of research on history, and their wish and hope is that somewhere in the capital, which is very important in the context of the treaty etc., in the time that is in it, a life-sized statue of Michael Collins would be erected. It is not a big request. As I said to a former Lord Mayor, ideally it should be in the precincts of Leinster House, which is the political armp…

I rise today to ask the Leader, or implore her for assistance with a particular matter. I have a neighbour and constituent who, in May 2021, got a Pfizer first jab for Covid-19. Unfortunately, she had a serious reaction and ended up in the accident and emergency department and eventually recovered. Since then, she has been endeavouring to get her second vaccination, if not Pfizer, then maybe Moderna or AstraZeneca. I will read a small bit of what she sent to me in handwriting. She is a highly educated research scie…

I ask the Deputy Leader to support the demand made my colleague from Cork, Senator Lombard, for extra funding to address the severe flooding we endured in places like Bantry and Skibbereen, not once but twice last year, and which cost millions of euro. I raise a matter related to fishing, which is close to my heart. It concerns an application for funding to carry out a development options report for Keelbeg pier in Union Hall in west Cork. Cork County Council is frustrated. Its management, engineers and all of its …

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As I think this is my first time speaking before him, I wish him every success in his brief. The EU Regulation, Article 61(1) of the Control Regulation 1224/2009, imposes unrealistic and extreme demands on fishermen and fisherwomen to have all products weighed at the place of landing before being transported, held in storage or sold. This new article imposes severe and undue hardship on inshore fishermen who are already hard pressed to make a living. I will explain what…

I know the Minister of State is standing in for the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, but that answer disappoints me. The facts are that tomorrow week, there will be hundreds of trawlers coming up the Liffey by way of protest. The reasons for this are that countries like Belgium have a larger quota for certain species than the Irish have. We have been totally unrepresented. The Minister, through the Commissioner and the Commission, must stand up for the rights of these fishermen. To say that the SFPA will do its job is…

I wish to raise the issue of the fishing industry in general. Tomorrow week, there will be a major protest during which fishing trawlers from Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, Castletownbere, Dingle, Kilmore Quay and all around the coastline will come up the Liffey. I am aware that many Senators and Deputies have no interest in the fishing industry whatsoever. I have been involved in public life since 1985. My concern is that a country like Belgium has a much bigger quota for certain species of fish than Ireland. The Spanish…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him luck in his portfolio. I am bitterly disappointed that I have only three minutes to speak. I want to talk, primarily, about the fishing industry in Ireland. As we all know, we have been left with only 15% of the fish in Irish waters, with Europe taking the rest. As an island nation, we do not get one fish from Danish, Swedish, Belgian or Dutch waters. We are not allowed to catch one fish in the North Sea, yet 85% of fish in Irish waters is taken from us. The…

I rise today to speak about the medical condition of epilepsy. This week, starting today, is National Epilepsy Week. I am acutely aware of the extraordinary health difficulties that face this country, the HSE and the Department of Health with regard to the cyber ransom event, which is appalling and frightening. I have a duty, as a public representative, to proclaim that I have been diagnosed with this condition. On 25 October 2019, when I was the Cathaoirleach, I collapsed and had a near death experience. Thankfull…

I wish to raise two issues. I first wish to express my delight at the reopening of society. It seems that members of society are like prisoners released to some normality. We should also be aware that we are on probation and if we disobey the guidelines, we might find ourselves back in prison but, hopefully, that will not happen. As the tourism season begins, I observe a large influx of people and an interest in coming to places like west Cork or south Kerry, which is very welcome. In the part of the world I live i…

I congratulate the people involved. It is a great day for mná na hÉireann. As the youngest of a big family and having seven sisters, I wonder whether I was henpecked or whether I was subject to the petticoat government. It is a mixed view but I think neither, to be honest. I ask the Leader to provide a debate on the future of rural Ireland. This stems from the closure of post offices and the recent announcement by Bank of Ireland to close many of its branches, which are spread primarily around rural Ireland such as…

I welcome my namesake, the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan. I thank him for kindly visiting my home town of Bantry some time ago to see first-hand the damage done by flooding. I also acknowledge the visit at around the same time of the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, whose home town it is, given his father was born and reared there, before he emigrated to Cork, if I can use the phrase. His visit also gave some hope. The problem in Bantry, as the Minister of State is probably aware, is that we have a d…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am glad to know he is au fait with the situation in Bantry. The difference is that Bantry, because it is a tidal town, has the double problem of extreme rainfall combined with the tide issue. The Minister of State might indicate some sort of timeline, if possible. Will we be waiting for five years or another period? It is an ongoing issue. When I was a Deputy from 2000 to 2007, we believed that we were approaching circumstances in which this matter would be dealt wi…

I am glad to be back here again. I was very lonesome for all the Senators over the past few weeks but-----

------my medical people said not that I was a high-risk person but that I was an at-risk person. The last time I was able to come into this Chamber was when I served in Dáil Éireann. It is nice to be back here again. It brings back fond memories. I am probably one of the longest here. I was here in 1989. I am not sure how many Members other than Senator Norris have a longer record of penance and public service. I am not sure how well it was received or how well I did, but sin scéal eile. I rise today primarily to e…

I formally second the proposal. I thank the Acting Chair. I compliment him on his tremendous oration. He brings with him some passion. I am glad to have served with him in the Seanad for many years. I am also glad that I was on the same side as him when the attempt to abolish one arm of our Oireachtas under the Constitution, the Seanad, was put to the people not too long ago. I wish him luck as ever. He is effervescent and a great asset to Seanad Éireann with his wit, wisdom, passion and very sharp brain.

I am glad to second the nomination of Senator Mark Daly. One word I would use to sum up his campaign for the Cathaoirleach's position and his campaigns in many Seanad elections is "tenacity". The first time I encountered Mark, I was a Deputy. He arrived in my home town of Bantry, which is only through the tunnel and over the mountain from Neidín, or Kenmare. We sat down together and I discovered that he was not a county councillor. I told him that I wished him all the best, but that even for a young man, it was mos…

Would that be at the end of the Order of Business?

We have a special sitting today in the most extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances. Insofar as I can as Cathaoirleach, I urge Members to respect the Order of Business and just deal with the substantive debate. Members can expand. Most Members have eight minutes in which to speak unless they share time while second speakers have five minutes. I was probably too lenient on the last occasion and was criticised for it - appropriately. The Tánaiste is waiting so I ask Members to deal with the Order of Business ef…

Each of the first two speakers has doubled their time. I am trying to be lenient and fair but there are serious issues to be dealt with today. There is a Minister waiting. I urge Members to bear in mind that they have a maximum of two minutes and they should try to respect that. I do not want to bang on the bell and dictate but I ask people to please respect the rules. I remind all that the big issue of today is the emergency legislation. I call Senator Máire Devine next and also urge her to be brief.

May I express my sincere condolences on the death of your nanny. I know you were very close to her.