He would expect to be number one.

I am sorry for interrupting the Senator but I have to ask the permission of the Chamber to suspend for 15 minutes as the Minister of State has to vote in the Lower House.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to the House. I apologise for the interruption earlier. I know it was out of his control as there was a vote in the Lower House. I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. As Senator Ó Donnghaile said in his opening remarks, since last June there has been an all-party motion on the Order Paper on this important issue. The fact it has been signed by representatives of all of the parties and Independents shows the significance of this important issue. It is impor…

It is only a matter of time.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and his officials to the House. I thank him for his comprehensive comments. Like my colleagues, Senators Ó Donnghaile and Senator Joe O'Reilly, I was present at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence when the Minister answered a lot of questions. I hope that in my contribution I do not repeat some of the questions to which the Minister has already responded, but I have a few questions for him. In December 2020, the Irish Government established the Commission on th…

I welcome the establishment of a cybersecurity college. Personnel who are already within the Defence Forces should be encouraged to join the college when it comes into existence. I very much welcome its establishment. I have a number of other questions about which I will write to the Minister.

Am I correct to say that the funding is index-linked to January 2021?

Hear, hear.

I welcome the Minister, and the observers in the Gallery, to the House. I am responding on behalf of my colleague, Senator McGreehan, who is unfortunately held up but hopes to be here before the end of the debate on the Bill. I will put on the record of the House that Fianna Fáil supports this Bill, which provides the necessary amendments allowing for the commencement of the remaining parts of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 that was signed into law in December 2015. A number of sections of the 201…

I welcome the Minister back to this House. He is a very busy man. I just saw on the television this morning that he was in Brussels a few hours ago. I join with the Cathaoirleach and Senator Ahearn in welcoming Senator Maria Byrne and her guests. Senator Byrne is very well known for her hospitality. I know her guests will be very well looked after on their visit to Leinster House. I hope they have an enjoyable day. I thank the Minister for his comprehensive contribution on this legislation. The principal purpose of…

I thank Senator Carrigy for sharing time with me on this very important issue. As we are aware, these shops are springing up all over our towns. They are located in prime locations with very expensive rents. They seem to be open on a daily basis. I have never come across a shop that just sells cigarettes because it would not be financially viable to do so. Something needs to be done on the regulation of these shops. I am aware that the committee on health has had a number of pre-legislative scrutiny discussions reg…

At the outset, I should have welcomed the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to the House earlier. I thank him for his comprehensive reply. I welcome that this Bill is progressing and I would like if it could be speeded up as soon as possible. This is very necessary legislation and it is important it is brought in as a matter of urgency. More importantly, when it is brought in, it is important it is enforced because these shops are springing up daily in our towns and villages. Anything we can do to discourage that …

I second Senator Craughwell's proposed amendment to the Order of Business on the motion regarding Georgia's candidacy for membership of the European Union, and specifically that it be taken without debate, with the agreement of the House. I reiterate the important point that it has been 31 years since Georgia regained its independence and 26 years since diplomatic relations between Ireland and Georgia were established. It is worth bearing in mind that on 8 November 2008 Russia invaded a democratic and independent s…

There is a precedent for a motion to be taken without debate.

I second the motion.

I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach and other colleagues in welcoming the Darmody family, especially Cara, to the Visitors Gallery. I wish them well in their fundraising efforts. They are highlighting the difficulties faced by those with autism.

I wish I had Cara when I was doing my maths paper.

I wish the family well and welcome them. I would also like to join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in congratulating Croatia on its national day and in welcoming the ambassador to the Seanad. As the convenor of the Ireland-Georgia Friendship Group, I want to take the opportunity to wish the Georgian people well on this, the 31st anniversary of independence, and the 26th year of diplomatic relations with Ireland. Georgia, too, is a country that has been invaded by Russia. The invasion took place on 8 August 2008. The Russia…

I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. I join the Acting Chairperson in welcoming the young people and their teachers in the Visitors Gallery. Senators Garvey and Craughwell have covered most of the points I had intended to cover.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I am happy to welcome this Bill, which will enhance and strengthen protections for whistleblowers in Ireland. The general interpretation of a protected disclosure is a written communication of a concern made in good faith which discloses or demonstrates information that may make evident an unethical or improper activity. I am conscious that we have a Member of the House who, 21 years ago, disclosed a very important issue and it is only recently that it was vindicated, so I look f…