Senators Conway and Dolan raised the fact that after 91 years of excellent work, the NCBI has changed its name to Vision Ireland. Senator Conway said the latest census shows there has been a 400% increase in the number of people who are visually impaired. The fact that we have an older population means we are bound to have issues such as this. It is a concern when we have 300,000 people with some type of sight loss. I agree that we need to have a proper strategy for early detection and to help eliminate preventable…

On the phone. Otherwise, you have to basically use ChatGPT to try to get a response. I agree. There is nothing more frustrating. Many people have unique questions particular to their situations and they just keep getting, "I do not understand your question" as a response. It is simply not good enough. We will send a call-out to the Minister to try to ensure these offices are available and open to those with queries. Where we are is simply not good enough. Senator Boyhan spoke about the Minister for Housing, Local G…

I move: "That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023, copies of which were laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 18th October, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)(b), which, not later than 22nd November, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2) shall accordingly apply."

I congratulate the Ministers, Deputies Harris and Darragh O'Brien, on the announcement we are expecting around now on support for accommodation for higher level students. Every year we hear of students not being able to get accommodation. The €434 million partnership that will see 2,700 beds across the country is welcome news. I welcome to the House the members of Network Ireland, an incredible group of women who come together collectively to support one another in a collaborative way. I am absolutely delighted tha…

I welcome our distinguished guests on both sides of the House. I also wish all the Czech nationals who live in Ireland a good day today as they celebrate their culture and history. The Order of Business is No. 1, Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023 – Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn not later than 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021 – Report and Fina…

Senator Horkan made the point that diplomatic relations are always important. Diplomatic relations have been never more important than now in terms of the relationships that we have with both EU countries and countries outside of the EU. I would like to add my voice of congratulations to Mr. Rodney Walshe who has served as Honorary Consul General in New Zealand. It is quite incredible that he has given 40 years of service in a voluntary capacity. I wish him well in his life and I have no doubt that he will continue…

I am not being political but I think that the Tánaiste and, indeed, the Taoiseach are saying very important words. They really are calling out the atrocities for what they are. They have called for an immediate ceasefire while giving €13 million to Palestine. I know that every one of us here echoes that, following our debates last week. I thank Senator Boylan for calling that out. We need to do that every day. Senator Wall spoke about the Castledermot youth diversion project and how important it is to acknowledge t…

The Order of Business is No. 1, Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 3.30 p.m. and to adjourn at 4.55 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 2, Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to adjourn at 6.15 p.m., if not previously concluded.

I welcome Sinéad Byrne, who is interning with me. She is the daughter of the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and is up here for the week to learn what we do and what her dad does. She is very welcome and I thank her for her help. In terms of responding on the items raised on the Order of Business, Senator Conway called for a debate on flooding. He is disappointed that such a debate has not been scheduled for this week and is seeking for it to be held the week after next. The recent flooding has been horrendous. Th…

I send our condolences to the families of Kim Damti and Emily Hand. I think of the families of our Oireachtas colleagues who are working in Palestine and offer condolences to all who have lost family members and friends. The date 10/7 is our new 9/11. The horrific events in New York at that time were the result of a very deliberate and long-planned campaign and so were the events of 7 October. That day should be forever etched in our souls as the collapse of humanity. Every one of us must absolutely and unequivocal…

I welcome our guests, who are waiting patiently here. It is lovely to see them. Best wishes also for our junior certificate students today. It is a big day for them because they are getting their results. We wish them well in all that is going to be in front of them over the next few years. I refer to the announcement that was made very early yesterday morning - actually, during the night - in respect of section 39 workers. As we all know, those who are working in section 39 organisations - we have about 1,500 of t…

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is very welcome to the House. I want to give a very special welcome to Ballymore Eustace branch of Irish Countrywomens' Association, ICA, and Ms Marie Cooney who organised it, the group's president and sister of Liam Lawlor, former Member of this House. They are very welcome. Mr. Ray Coffey from Newbridge is also very welcome. I call Senator Pauline O'Reilly to move the motion

I thank the Minister of State for being here. It is really appreciated. It will not be a surprise to anybody listening in or to anyone in the Chamber, including the Minister of State, that I am speaking about the issue of public transport in Kildare. The population in Kildare has grown in a huge way in the past years. Many people who live in Kildare travel to Dublin for work and for other reasons. It is hugely important that we have the whole area of public transport right. I refer especially to the short-hop zone …

I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the level of funding in terms of the package that has been received for 2024, which is significant. I also accept his clarification that the NTA has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares. However, as I started off by saying, the short-hop zone in its current format disadvantages commuters living outside of the zone, particularly those in south Kildare, in Newbridge, in Kildare and further on. At this time they are still being disadvantaged until the fare d…

Thank you. I know the Cathaoirleach will give me the spare minute that Senator Dooley had left.

You are very hard on me.

You absolutely are, given I saved your skin earlier during the Commencement debate. On a serious note, it is nine days since the horrific Hamas attack. The scenes that are unfolding on our screens, phones and televisions and reported in newspapers are shocking in terms of the atrocities that have been committed, the children who have been murdered and the people who have been held hostage. Let us think about Gandhi's words, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," and that is exactly what is happening at th…

I have 25 seconds and I want to speak about the importance of supporting section 39 workers.

So the Cathaoirleach is giving me four seconds. . An Cathaoirleach: No, I am not.

So the Cathaoirleach is not giving me anything.