I second the amendment.

We support the call for the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to come into the House to have a debate about where we are on ending direct provision. Too often I come into this House and speak about the people we are leaving behind. On 28 February we are leaving behind our most vulnerable people. We are leaving behind people in our society with long-term health issues and who will now be living in fear, without the protection of mask wearing. It is something we need to look at. We are forgetting about people who have COPD.…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am sharing time with Senator Ruane. I am delighted with the work that has been achieved in respect of the Bill thus far. The phrase "child pornography" has always made me feel uneasy, but since becoming a mother I have realised how inappropriate and disgusting it is. It is out of date and completely incorrect. It does not truly reflect the nature of the abuse and it is unacceptable to continue using such inappropriate language when referring to such an awful crim…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I thank him for highlighting some of the issues that his Department believes will arise. I was delighted to hear from Senator Ward who has experience in this field and rightly said that the courts name it for what it is, which is child exploitation. I thank the Minister of State for the fact that the Government has not opposed the Bill so it could have been an awful lot worse. We look forward to further discussions in committee but, more importantly, with the M…

Next Tuesday.

Anyone in this House who has not heard of Ronnie Fay is not on the right side of justice or politics. Ronnie worked in the Traveller movement for better positive social change for our community and with our community. She was the director of Pavee Point for more than 35 years. Ronnie was a true ally of the Traveller community. This morning, I am thinking of Philip, her children and her extended family and, of course, all at Pavee Point. Ronnie will be greatly missed by the Traveller movement. As Martin Collins said…

It is brilliant to see the Acting Leader in the seat today and I hope that she will be there many more times. I wish that leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022. I am delighted to introduce my very first Private Members' Bill, which I believe addresses a very important language issue in our legislation. I will start by introducing the Bill and will outline what it proposes to do. I will explain why the Bill is necessary and what i…

Yes.

I move: That leave be given to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the title of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 whereafter, following commencement of this Act, the Act of 1998 shall be titled the "Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Act 1998"; to amend the title of the Child Trafficking and Pornography (Amendment) Act 2004 whereafter, following commencement of this Act, the Act of 2004 shall be titled the "Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material…

This Thursday.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, for coming to the House to take this matter. I am very disappointed to read the Minister, Deputy Ryan’s national broadband plan update and to see that a few counties have been left behind on this update, Donegal being one of them. A former Minister, Pat Rabbitte, announced the national broadband plan ten years ago this August. When announcing it, he described the national broadband plan as the rural electrification of the 21st century. Now, a decade later, most of rural …

The Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, of which I am a member, has been dealing with reform of the leaving certificate. The committee has heard from many experts and civil society actors that the current leaving certificate system favours the well off and badly fails those who are marginalised. It inflicts trauma and stress on students without any real preparation for life after second level education. We should be rewarding children’s learning abilities an…

It is brilliant to be back from maternity leave. I thank all Senators, and especially Senator Clifford-Lee, for their support. I also thank the members of my Civil Engagement Group for all their support as well during the past four months. Last week, I was struck by comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, when she was talking to Miriam O'Callaghan on "Prime Time". She said primary and secondary schools have education programmes dealing with consent around sexual violence and the root causes of rape.…

I thank the Deputy Leader for being here this morning to listen to us. Education can be a great leveller in society. It can help to break down inequalities, raise people up and provide opportunities for employment and skills. Education can be a game changer in people’s lives through helping them to reach their full potential. Education can also be a game changer in the life of a community. It can empower a community, it can show value and value all members of a community equally. This State has an opportunity to sh…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, to the House. I call on Senator McGreehan, who has four minutes.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, to the House.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, to the House.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to extend the time for the climate action Bill to 8.30 p.m. I was glad to see the vaccine roll-out extended to people from the age of 18 years because our children and young people have had a hard time of it lately. I was thinking of that when I read the annual report of the Ombudsman for Children entitled 2020 Childhood Paused. At the launch of this report, the Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, said that when we are on the other side of this pandemic, we can…

No. Again, this highlights the issue of time. Hopefully circumstances will change when we come back in September because it is very tough to make the relevant points and have our discussions. We will not press the amendment.

June is Pride month and it is also Gypsy, Traveller and Roma History Month. It is important to remember as we celebrate that LGBTQI+, Traveller and Roma people have always been with us. It is important to remember activism and support must be intersectional. The national action group for LGBT+ Traveller and Roma people understands that. It needs to be supported in the vital work it does. This national group is supported by most Traveller organisations. All the organisations recognise a need for supports and service…