This is about telecommunications masts in local communities. I thank Councillor Ted Leddy, who came across a telecommunications mast that is going up in Castleknock village. He found it by accident when searching for something else and is now supporting the local community. There is major confusion among local communities about telecommunications masts. I am not absolutely clear on the parameters by which they are considered exempted development. There is conflicting information in the media when compared with my r…

I will have to go through the reply in detail but I can tell the Minister of State that the telecommunications mast in Castleknock is 15 m and there is a mast in Glaslough which is 19 m, and featured in the latest edition of the Sunday Independent. These masts did not go through the planning process but were a section 254 application so the public did not know about them. The councils have said "No". The mast in Castleknock used a section 254 application, which was rejected by the local authority and An Bord Pleaná…

Our guests are very welcome to the Chamber. It is nice to share it with the public again. I want to raise passports and menopause. The front page of the Irish Independent today tells us that 40% of passport delays are due to errors. While I accept that there are errors, we must also accept that some delays are not related to errors but are partly due to the enormous volume of passport applications. A huge amount of work is being done by the Passport Office and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to overcome the delays…

I once again despair for the families of victims who are dealing with the news that legislation has been introduced in Westminster that will affect their cases, without any consultation with them whatsoever. We are living with the consequences of Boris Johnson and the British Government's policy in relation to the island of Ireland, the hallmark of which has been unilateralism and brinkmanship rather than prioritising partnership and reconciliation. Nowhere is this more stark than in the case of legacy. If the Brit…

I believe I am sharing time with Senator Maria Byrne but she is not here. I thank the Minister for coming to the House and putting this matter on the agenda. It does not take long for me and my friends or any group of mums in whose company I am to get on to the topic of childcare and how cost and supply are such barriers. At the moment, friends of mine who have babies say they cannot find a place in a crèche for any child in the area under the age of one. That is not a good position to be in if they want to return …

I find myself once again bewildered that victims and survivors of the Troubles and people who have lost family members to murderers are yet again getting information about the future of their investigations, inquests and civil cases in the Queen's speech and through the press and that truth and justice for victims, which is fundamental to healing in our society and part of the reconciliation process, continues to be moved on unilaterally by the British Government. I repeat that measures on legacy issues need to be …

It is my pleasure to chair these statements to mark Europe Day, which was celebrated on Monday last. I had the pleasure of visiting Pelletstown Educate Together National School in Dublin West with the Tánaiste and the Danish ambassador. I very much look forward to hearing Senators' contributions.

I thank the Senator. Before we hear from Senator Flynn for the Civil Engagement Group, I welcome the school students who are in the Public Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

I thank the Sinn Féin team for bringing forward this motion. I support its spirit. I am aware things have moved on. I thank the Minister for outlining the updates, not only regarding the UK Borders and Nationalities Act but also recent developments around the protocol, the election and legacy. The imposition of an electronic travel authorisation scheme on non-Irish and non-British citizens entering Northern Ireland across the Border is entirely out of touch with the practicalities and sensitivities of life on this …

The Phoenix Park is a much-loved amenity and natural asset. It is not just for the people of Dublin 15 and west Dublin, whom I work for, but for the whole country. People came to the park for the visit of the Pope in 1979, which was my first visit. They come to visit Jinpa, the red panda, in Dublin Zoo. They come to play GAA or cricket, which is the fastest growing sport in west Dublin. They use it for a weekly walk. The Phoenix Park is not your average park and there are very strongly held views about how the park…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. He said that drivers may not slow to a speed of 30 km/h and that is where the frustration is coming from. They are trying to hit the 30 km/h speed limit. People want to make the park work for everybody. I have noticed a decrease in speed and I accept that, overall, things are improving. However, people should not be penalised for not observing the 30 km/h limit. I do not know where the 2,000 parking spaces are. I welcome the parking strategy. Perhaps the issue is arou…

I wish to raise the bonus payment for healthcare workers. We are still waiting for the final details or an FAQ on it. I know it is very difficult and that there has been much debate on it to decide how it will work when people have sacrificed so much. This was a national and collective effort. I am sure that the things being thought about include the length of time people worked. I think especially of the people at the beginning of the pandemic who really stepped into the unknown, with the lack of PPE, the suboptim…

A quarter of the Department of Education's budget is spent on special education, which is a 50% increase since 2011 and, in the same timeframe, we have seen a 90% increase in the number of SNAs. The change to the new front-loaded allocation model for SNAs is of critical importance. For any child any new model, whether it is special schools or classes, special education and SNAs, must ensure that no parent has to fight again to secure the right supports for their child. A recent update has informed me that work is o…

The Acting Chairperson is a woman of many talents, unsurprisingly. I thank the Minister of State for stepping in for the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan. I will begin by commenting on the progress announced this week regarding special classes at primary and post-primary level, particularly in south Dublin, where fee-paying schools will now open special classes funded by the Department of Education on condition that these are not fee-paying and their lands will be made available for …

I thank the Minister of State. The most important part of that response for the parents involved is that "the NCSE is currently engaged with four post primary schools in the Dublin 15 area" with a view to opening special classes as soon as possible. I urge the NCSE to move as quickly as possible on that for the reasons I have outlined vis-à-vis the transition. These parents have been through enough already. One particular parent has been working on this issue for a couple of years now. I acknowledge the progress th…

The local, accessible element of this is absolutely key. It is essential that these children get to go to their local school and are not spending their time trying to plan for travel. I hope this will be the last time that parents will have to go to these lengths.

I am utterly disappointed and concerned, but not surprised, by the vote in the House of Commons last night to reject an amendment that was put forward by the House of Lords to make Northern Ireland exempt from provisions under the nationality and borders Bill, whereby citizens who are not Irish or British will be required to apply online for pre-travel clearance, using something like the US system of electronic travel authorisation, before entering the UK. We are talking about one of the most cherished features of …

People will have to plan their whereabouts with a porous Border. It is utterly out of touch with life on this island. I must acknowledge that checks have been taking place and the number of checks on public transport has increased, which obviously I am not in favour of. How else will this change be enforced? It will affect thousands of people and what will be the punishment?

Representatives of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, CAJ, were before the UK Northern Ireland Affairs Committee during the week. They described the provision as "unworkable and risks a hard border for many non-British and non-Irish citizens in Border communities who have been able to freely cross the Border to date". This underlines the divergence and convergence that have been talked about in terms of Brexit and the direction of travel in which the British Government is bringing us. It undermines the…

I welcome the Minister of State. We just have to turn on the radio or the television to feel the shock and devastation, brutality and horror of what is happening. The words that come back to me all the time are the unnecessary loss of life and devastation. This causes trauma at the time but it will live with these people for the rest of their lives. Intergenerationally, this experience will utterly change their lives forever. I also acknowledge the helplessness of the Ukrainian community in Ireland and how its memb…