I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

Two years ago I stood in front of the Minister of State in the Dáil Chamber and spoke about diversity and inclusion in our Parliament. Senator Ruane has spoken about amendment No. 5, which is tabled because the Bill does not address Seanad elections. As part of the Civil Engagement Group and as ordinary citizens, we believe the Seanad should be reformed to meet the needs of the people. It should be the people's House, as I said even going back two years ago. I am disappointed that the Bill does not speak enough abo…

I welcome the Minister of State’s commitment to including diversity and equality. How can we have another commission without inclusion? I do not mean this in any disrespectful way, but as the only person from an ethnic minority group in the Seanad and speak about the importance of including people from ethnic minority groups, not just the Traveller community but young people and those with disabilities etc. for the Government not to accept even one of our amendments is disheartening. I know the Minister of State's …

I thank Senator Warfield for bringing this very important issue to the Seanad. I also thank my colleague, Senator Ruane, who has done a lot of work on votes for 16-year-olds for many years. Last Thursday, my colleague, Deputy Pringle, brought a Bill to the Dáil on lowering the voting age to 16. I watched the debate very closely. The response of the Minister of State was that we would come back to it next year. It was a positive move, so I am not dismissing it. Even though it is a year down the line, we got the word…

Hear, hear.

In all my time as an activist and working with poor women, I never heard them speak about period poverty. A lot of the time we can use poor women to kick cans down the road, so I encourage the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, to focus on issues such as housing and childcare as well, and perhaps speak to the poor women who are living in poverty. That could be a very good starting point. I will move on to a very important issue. In Ireland in 2022, Traveller children in secondary schools are being given primary sc…

It should not be happening.

I will not repeat much of what has already been stated. There is a lot in the Acts in question but I will focus on the Special Criminal Court. There is much talk, nationally and internationally, about how we need to protect European values and democracy. If we are serious about protecting and defending democracy, we must scrap the Special Criminal Court. The cornerstone of any democracy lies in its justice system and the cornerstone of such a justice system is the right to a fair trial by a jury of one's peers. The…

I wish to move amendment No. 1.