I will bear in mind what the Acting Chairman said about not repeating what the Minister has said. I am taking the Fianna Fáil slot on behalf of my colleague, Senator Erin McGreehan, who has given me my notes. I ask the Chair to forgive me if I repeat slightly some of what the Minister has already said. This is the first opportunity I have had to wish the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, well in his leadership campaign for the Green Party. I wish him well in that regard.

As I said, I am speaking on behalf of my colleague, Senator Erin McGreehan, who was unavoidably called away at short notice. As the Minister said, this Bill seeks to ensure that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has the correct powers to address non-compliance with regulations for early years services and to ensure that parents have access to information in relation to the quality of those services. I hope the intention of the Bill of not increasing enforcement actions for childminders is upheld. Childminders, as…

Now.

Now.

Now.

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measures: (a) Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international prote…

I am contributing on this motion on behalf of my colleague, Senator Robbie Gallagher, who is at an important event in Clones, County Monaghan. For the record, Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate and supports the motion. We need a fair, rules-based immigration system that represents both the integrity of our borders and the dignity of people trying to access better lives in Europe. This is reflected in the new migration and asylum pact. Under the pact, applications for asylum will be quickly assessed, as outlined by th…

Before I call on the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, I wish to say that this is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate him on his appointment as a Minister of State. He is a distinguished former Member of this House and I am delighted to welcome him and ask him to make his contribution.

I join the Minister of State in welcoming our former colleague, Averil Power, and her colleagues from the Irish Cancer Society to this important debate. I did not want to interrupt the Minister of State but I was asked by Senator Maria Byrne, who was Acting Chairperson earlier, to welcome the group that came into the Public Gallery while the Minister of State was speaking. It is the Gorey Little Theatre group and Gorey Musical Society. They are guests of Senator Malcolm Byrne. Also in the Gallery are his parents, M…

I thank Senator Kyne for tabling the motion.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before calling the next speaker I welcome the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, and his guests in the Public Gallery. There are very welcome to Leinster House and I hope they enjoy their stay.

Before I call Senator O'Loughlin, I welcome Ms Mary Pat Kelly to the Visitors Gallery. You are very welcome here. Mary Pat is a guest of Senator Currie.

There is plenty of time. Both Senators can have six minutes each.

Temporarily.

Thank you, Senator O'Reilly. I acknowledge the fact that you are a long-standing, distinguished member of the Council of Europe and a former leader of the Irish delegation. I know you are highly regarded on that particular body because I have met colleagues from many countries who refer to you when they hear that I am from Ireland. They ask me if I know Senator Joe O'Reilly and I am very proud to say that I do. Senator Cummins is next.

Before I call on Senator Seery Kearney to wrap up the debate, I welcome members of the Fórsa trade union to the Public Gallery. They are accompanied by their president, Michael Smyth, who is a proud Monaghan man, and their general secretary, Kevin Callinan. They are all very welcome to Seanad Éireann and Leinster House. I hope they enjoy their visit as guests of the Ceann Comhairle. They are very welcome.

When is it proposed to sit again?

The motion regarding the statement for the information of voters in relation to the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Agreement on a Unified Patent Court) Bill 2024 will be debated in conjunction with the Second Stage of the Bill, but will not be moved until the Fifth Stage is concluded.