Hear, hear.

I want to object and to say that I feel amendment No. 12 is completely wrong. It is gendered and discriminatory. While Senator Mullen was speaking about single men not being allowed to undertake surrogacy, he also mentioned gay men in a partnership or marriage. One of my neighbours in County Kildare is Brian Dowling, who is well known. He and his husband Arthur already have a daughter through domestic surrogacy, through Brian's sister Aoife, and they are expecting another baby. Their family, which exudes love, joy …

I got to meet some of the students as I was coming in. It was lovely to get a chance to say hello and now to formally welcome them to the Seanad. I hope they have an interesting day and learn a lot. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re Protocol No. 21 opt-in to regulations on a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on international protection, asylum and migration, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 3.45 p.m. if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remark…

We started this morning with Senator Catherine Ardagh, seeking permission to take No. 10 on the Order Paper before No. 1. I grant leave to introduce the Bill. The Senator mentioned that about 60 women a year do not have the opportunity to postpone maternity leave because they are suffering from cancer. As the Senator said, the issue has been raised many times but nothing has been done. She was right to point out that those early days as a mum are very precious. The Senator mentioned Erica Tierney and read out her l…

The Minister has been a beacon of light and hope for women's health, particularly in the area of fertility. I thank him for that, because this is not simple. It is complex. A lot of work has gone on for many years and behind the scenes but he is the person who has brought this through. I have listened to my colleagues telling their stories and their lived experience. I do not have that experience, but family members and friends have. I have no doubt but that this is an incredibly important milestone for so many bec…

I thank the Chair. I know he is familiar with the area given his own connections. I thank the Minister of State for taking this important question. Being from Kildare - I am Kildare to the core - I am in touch with the different issues that impact on the members of the Defence Forces and their families. I often take the opportunity in this House to talk about some of the larger issues within the Defence Forces, such as the need for a cultural transformation, the inadequate pay levels, the lack of investment and the…

I thank the Minister of State for the good news. It seems that we are ahead of schedule and that makes a very welcome change. I completely agree that the swimming pool is an important Defence Forces asset but I maintain that it should be an asset to the community. People in the Kildare and Newbridge area are very much part of the Curragh community and work very well together. I welcome the news that it is ahead of schedule and that we will have it reopened to the schools and groups that used it previously, includin…

I thank the Minister of State. Now we-----

It is always good to get a positive response.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I add my congratulations and thanks to Martin and I wish him and his loved ones good health and happiness in his retirement. I ask everyone to spare a thought for the count staff from Kildare County Council in Punchestown because as we speak, there is a third recount to deal with the elimination of a candidate; it does not even relate to an actual seat. There is a fourth recount because there have been discrepancies in the previous three counts. We were there until the early hour…

I did, yes.

We are privileged to have the former President here to engage with her on this incredibly important area, not only of climate change but also climate justice, and to have the opportunity to engage with her on the other area she feels strongly and passionately about and has given great leadership on, namely, social change. She mentioned Judge Síofra O'Leary. Four of us in the Chamber are members of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe. We will have the opportunity to meet Judge O'Leary next week. It is her …

I think every politician in both Houses today is absolutely exhausted after marathon election campaigns and counts over the weekend. Indeed, many counts are still ongoing. I am very conscious that Members of this Chamber stood for election, including the Leader and of course Senators Doherty and Gavan. I wish them well.

I was coming to that.

I also congratulate all of those who have been elected over the weekend on all our county councils throughout the country - those of all parties and none. One thing that really stuck out was the low turnout, which we must try to address. I came across an interesting quote, which stated: “Democracy isn’t like a Sunday suit to be brought out and worn only at parades, it’s the kind of a life a decent man leads, it’s something to live for and to die for.” When we see backsliding in democracy across Europe, it is import…

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to come to the Chamber today for what is a very important Commencement matter for many constituents on the Barrow blueway and the surrounding area. I acknowledge the Government's commitment to delivering for our rural communities. As a native of Rathangan, a lovely rural village in south Kildare, I know only too well how important it is to support the long-term viability of small villages and towns if we want to see them grow and prosper into the future. We can cert…

I thank the Minister of State and I look forward to welcoming him to Kildare when the blueway is open to see the tremendous progress and the great asset that it is. I am glad to hear the three organisations are meeting in the coming days. Last week, in this House, I asked for a taskforce to be put in place. I have been in touch with Waterways Ireland separately as well as with An Garda Síochána and Kildare County Council. The Minister of State is right; a shared approach that ensures the blueway remains accessible …

I join the Cathaoirleach in his words of welcome to our distinguished guests and, of course, to Breda and Liam. Breda and Liam are here because I supported a cancer fundraising event at Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge that raised €6,000 in memory of a wonderful person who worked in the school, Cathryn Shaw. If you knew Cathryn, you knew somebody who was full of love and full of friendship. She always had the biggest hello, the biggest smile and the biggest heart. The school is bereft without her. She died q…

I express my sympathy and the sympathy of the Fianna Fáil Party to the Slovak people on the attempted assassination of their Prime Minister yesterday. We are all very relieved to hear he has come through serious surgery and it is hoped he will be well on the way to recuperation. It is a massive blow to democracy and we must call always it out. Today is the 30th anniversary of the Arrow train being extended to Newbridge and Kildare, which opened up south and north Kildare. It was a significant step. We all look forw…

The Order of Business is No. 1, Research and Innovation Bill 2024 [Dáil] – Committee Stage (resumed), to be taken at 12.45 p.m.