I thank the Cathaoirleach.

I support the Order of Business as outlined. It was good news to hear over the weekend that the HSE recruitment freeze was ending today. This is very important, not only for the people who need the services of the HSE but also for HSE staff. There will be an opportunity to recruit new staff and regularise 2,000 existing positions. It is also important to note the expansion of the flu vaccination programme for those aged over 60 years and those aged between two and 17 years. While we will be busy this week, as this …

I thought he was afraid I leaving him out. It is important because it is our last week to mention the ongoing serious situation in Gaza. Despite the ceasefire proposals on the table and ongoing negotiations, we saw an expansion of the Israeli military operation in Gaza which resulted in the deaths of dozens and the destruction of healthcare, education and humanitarian facilities. We have to do everything we can to urge Israel and Hamas to implement immediately the three-phase ceasefire proposal endorsed by the UN S…

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I welcome Senator Bradley. She is incredibly welcome. It is a great honour to be nominated to the Seanad Chamber. It is lovely to see her family and fiancé with her. When we became Members of this Seanad it was during Covid and we were in the Convention Centre Dublin. We could not have family or friends with us. I urge Senator Bradley to cherish the day. We look forward to working with her. I have no doubt she has a lot to offer and to give us during the Seanad proceedings. On Tu…

I commend the Bill and support the principle of it. Human relationships are complex and many young people are bombarded with information. A lot of it is information they do not seek out and this is because they have smartphones and are accessing the Internet. Many online and mostly unregulated sources do not provide them with the most accurate and appropriate information. We know a lot of the information young people access can be false and damaging. I believe that as a society we have an obligation to ensure infor…

My time is up. I have plenty more to say.

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. In echoing the Cathaoirleach’s words of support and best wishes to Regina Doherty, it always amuses me when I hear the term "casual vacancy" because there is nothing casual about it. In fact, J.K. Rowling wrote a really good book about a casual vacancy in a county council election. It is well worth reading. Yesterday, as we are aware, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Chambers, published the summer economic statement for 2024, which sets out the fiscal param…

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Group, I ask that we be associated with the sympathies for that wonderful public representative, John O'Mahony. We express our deepest sympathies to his family, community and the Fine Gael Party. I add my voice of welcome to my good friend and colleague, Councillor Noel Heavey, his wife Bernie and his four best canvassers in the local elections, Molly, Mary, Rose, James and Chris, who went out to support their grandad every day. They did a wonderful job. It is great to have the opportun…

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. First, I congratulate the Irish National Stud and Gardens, in my own county of Kildare, on being named in the top 10% of attractions in the world by Tripadvisor. For any Members who have not been there, I absolutely recommend it. It has a new horse experience which I visited and participated on. I will say "on" and leave the surprise for when people get to visit it. It is absolutely fantastic. It really is a wonderful place. I am thrilled for the staff and …

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I appreciate this is outside of her remit and I am disappointed that the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, is not here. His mother is from just outside the area in Kildare, so he has a knowledge of the area. I do appreciate that Deputy Butler is here. The Minister of State has indeed heard me speak often about the Curragh, and about the mythology and the folklore that is associated with it. In particular…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I should also say that when a group of 40 caravans came on Sunday, the neighbouring guesthouse had to cancel all its bookings. People's livelihoods are being impacted. Yesterday, I called for a wider debate about illegal encampments, and not just in the Curragh. They happen across Kildare and every county. I think it is beyond time that we need to do something about it. In relation to the response that the Minister of State has given, while I acknowledge that the Curr…

I thank the Senator. The Minister of State has one minute to respond. I would also like to welcome members of the Tipperary spina bifida association who have just joined us.

I thank the Minister of State. My apologies to Deputy Cahill, who I did not see over to my right. He is one of the hardest working Deputies that we have here and is very welcome. We turn now to the third matter which is in the name of Senator Mícheál Carrigy. I understand that the Minister of State is taking this Commencement matter also. Senator Carrigy has four minutes.

The Minister of State has four minutes.

The Minister of State is staying with us for the fourth Commencement matter. We really appreciate her time this morning.

I welcome the Queen of Peace youth group from Bray, whose members are here as guests of Deputy Brady.

I support the Order of Business as outlined. I spoke yesterday about the bravery of Bláthnaid Raleigh. I have to mention her again because when I was driving in this morning, I heard her interviewed on RTÉ Radio One. It was a very compelling interview. I drove in and stayed in the car to listen to the end of it. I do not mind admitting that I shed tears listening to her. I commend her courage, bravery and generosity of spirit in terms of sharing her story and the impact of what happened, not just on her but also on…

First, I wish to pay homage to Bláthnaid Raleigh, who is such a brave and courageous woman. I was watching her on media over the weekend. Having been subjected to an absolutely horrific attack, she is now giving many victims a voice. She is using her voice for change and gave up her anonymity to ensure that the perpetrator of the violent crime against her could be named. She certainly deserves all our gratitude. What she is doing will encourage other victims to come forward. In saying that, we obviously had the eve…

The point I would like to make regards the Defence Forces. We now know that there have been 69 perpetrators of crime. That is 0.8% of serving members. The other 99.2% have, as far as we know, unblemished reputations. We had the Dublin Pride parade last weekend, I was proud to be at it, but I thought it was very wrong that the Dublin Pride organisers withdrew their invitation to the Defence Forces on foot of what has happened. I know many members of the Defence Forces who are fine and upstanding people. It is wrong …

I add my voice of welcome for the ambassador. My nephew did an internship in Luxembourg last year for six months and loved it, particularly the fact that there is free travel. He could not get over that. It is something we would certainly love to have here. A gentleman called Myles Wickham from Newbridge was in the Public Gallery yesterday. Myles was here because I had arranged a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, about Newbridge Volleyball Club, which has been in existence for 22 years but do…