Is Senator Warfield pressing the amendment?

Through the Chair.

I apologise to the Senator but there is a vote in the Dáil-----

-----so I must ask permission to suspend for 15 minutes.

The time will be extended. It has already been agreed on the Order of Business.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Dáil Éireann has agreed to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Electoral Reform Bill 2022.

I join colleagues in congratulating the Government and, in particular, the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the strong commitment to the Defence Forces. We all know that morale in our forces is low. This historic investment and reform will bring about the change that is very much needed. Like my colleagues, I wish that our military personnel would be adequately paid and respected. Óglaigh na hÉireann needs to be modernised and brought into its second century. I am very proud to be part of the Government that is brin…

I welcome the Minister to the House. I congratulate everyone who was involved in writing this report. I was not there when it was being done, but I congratulate them on the incredible recommendations. I will not speak about writing the report because I was not part of it. It is very important that we are discussing minority communities today. Every time we speak about minority communities in the House it is not just about speaking about them but having a little extra layered in and understanding a little more each …

The Minister is very welcome to the House and I thank him for his comprehensive overview of the Bill. I will not go into it in as fine detail as the Minister. Today is an important milestone along the tragic dark road we are all facing up to. Since entering the Oireachtas I have had many meetings with the families affected, mostly the women. I have cried at those meetings; I have been shocked. I have learned so much about human decency and dignity from the women and children affected. I have also heard that sense o…

The Minister of State is very welcome. I wish to raise the issue of sickle cell disease and patients with the disease. Last weekend, I attended a fantastic celebration in Malahide to raise awareness of sickle cell disease. I have been to several awareness days in recent years. The organisation in question is an incredibly positive one, even when it comes to dealing with such a serious condition. There are more than 600 people in Ireland with sickle cell disease. More than two thirds of those with the disease are un…

This is a growing medical issue for Irish citizens across this island. We must grow our medical intelligence to assist doctors to get the best research and care to be passed on to these patients. I reiterate the few proposals I would like the Minister of State to bring back to the Department. I would like it to focus on the cohort of people who are genetically predisposed to this disease, particularly in direct provision centres, to make sure they have screening for sickle cell disease. Like cystic fibrosis, it tak…

Go raibh maith agat.

Unfortunately, the Senator cannot withdraw his Commencement matter as it has already been taken. However, he can submit another Commencement matter directed at the Minister for Justice in the hope that she will come to the House. He can also request a debate on this issue during the Order of Business.

Yes, if the Commencement matter is directed to the Minister for Justice and it is accepted, it will be considered a new Commencement matter.

The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, is very welcome to the House.

I have so much to say about this and I am very excited that we are at this point. I congratulate Senator Martin for his work on this Bill. I am a proud member of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society. I love to get its booklets and information every month because it is something I am passionate about. A very positive form of nationalism is ecological nationalism. We can really work to look after our own ecology. We can be very insular in this country in looking after what we have - all of our native crops and our nati…

I welcome the ambassador to the House. I offer my deepest condolences on the death of former Senator Jackman. I support Senator Ó Donnghaile about having a passport office in Belfast. Belfast is the second city on this island and it should have a passport office. I have supported this for many years. I concur with all the Senator's comments. I want to highlight rural Ireland at its best, especially the farming community. I draw attention to the agricultural shows being organised all around the country. Dundalk Agri…

Like Senator Seery Kearney, I welcome the concept of the amendment. We have worked with many people through pre-legislative scrutiny and all of our work on the Bill. It would be incredible to think there is no step beyond simply saying there is no birth certificate. A process, procedure, advice and somewhere to go to be able to gain more access or increased access to who one is, where one came from and how one's life began is necessary. The wording of the amendment might be too strong for this Bill, but I await the…

At the committee we spoke at length about this section and the fact that the information session was going to be mandatory. In a perfect world none of this would be necessary and we would not have to work within the realms of our awful history. I would agree with Senator Seery Kearney about registered letters. In the opinion of most lay people, a registered letter makes common sense. Unfortunately, I cannot slot myself into the Attorney General's brain to see why this had to be mandatory and why a registered letter…