I thank everybody who works behind the scenes to ensure the Seanad and the rest of Leinster House work. I thank Mr. Groves and all in the Seanad Office, the ushers and all those who work really hard behind the scenes to make sure Leinster House is cleaned and is hygienic. I thank all the catering staff, from those in the coffee dock to those in the self-service restaurant and everywhere in between. I hope they all have a good recess. As we are now approaching our summer break, we have to think about the right of pa…

I support the Order of Business as outlined. This morning, we heard the good news that a new round of the sports capital and equipment programme is opening from 17 July. This is a wonderful opportunity for sports and community groups around the country to develop the infrastructure that is so important to our towns and communities. It is good to see that the amounts have increased and that local projects can now apply for up to €200,000, which has increased from €150,000, and those of regional significance can get …

I welcome the debate and appreciate the Senators’ having put forward the motion. In many ways, as the Minister will be well aware, carers are the backbone of this country given the care and support they provide for their loved ones. As that takes a huge toll, the Government has an important role in supporting carers to give the care they want to give. There are many cases where that care can become a huge burden, and there must be supports to ensure that does not happen, such as through respite or a proper carer's …

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak on this really difficult international situation. I had the opportunity many years ago to spend six months in Israel on a kibbutz. It was very close to the Gaza Strip; it was about six miles from there. I had the opportunity to see how partnership could work when people want it to. There were a number of Palestinians working on the kibbutz, whom I got to know very well. I got to visit their families in Gaza. That was an exceptional situation, whereby the …

On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words on Brendan Daly, a wonderful character and politician. I believe that, sadly, his brother John passed away yesterday so it is a double tragedy and bereavement for the family. Sadly, last night we heard that Ben Briscoe passed away, another great Fianna Fáil stalwart.

He gave 37 years of his life to Leinster House, and he was Lord Mayor of Dublin also. He was proud of his party and of Dublin, his city. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. I know we will have an opportunity to pay tribute to him at another stage. I had the opportunity on Thursday to be in Lullymore Heritage Park, which is a wonderful place to visit in north-west Kildare. It was the occasion of its 30th anniversary. Its founder, Seán Judge, a man of great vision and creativity, saw an opportunity when the bogs were being …

Can I say how pleased I was to be at a reception last night to see off our team as it heads to the Women's World Cup. It was fantastic to see the energy and enthusiasm in the room. On behalf of all of us, I wish the team and the backroom team, which does so much good, the very best of luck. In particular, I want mention the team's physiotherapist Susie Coffey, who is from Newbridge in Kildare. Yesterday, I met with members of the UCD students' union regarding its recently published accommodation report. The union h…

I welcome Maggie Owens and Aideen Lynch, teachers at the Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra. They just appeared at the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I welcome them both and I am glad they have the opportunity to sit in and listen to some of the proceedings in the Chamber. It has been a particularly sad weekend for deaths in Ireland and, particularly, deaths abroad. We heard the harrowing circumstances of a woman who died in Salou. I believe she was a mot…

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. There are several issues that I wish to raise. The disability matters committee has had really good engagement on deafness and hearing loss. Hearing loss has often been referred to as an invisible disability, not just because of the lack of visible symptoms but because it has been really stigmatised. There is invisibility in policymaking and I could honestly say the issue is ignored by policymakers. There does not appear to be a strategy or plan for hearing…

At the outset, I compliment the Cathaoirleach on the two special events we have had since we met yesterday, namely, the address of Governor Healey from Massachusetts and the breakfast with Stephen Kennedy Smith this morning. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his leadership in organising the two events. The Order of Business is No. 1, Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, statements on local gove…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. This must be the shortest Order of Business in history-----

-----but it was of great quality.

He is well used to it, in fairness.

Senators made up for the lack of quantity with quality this morning. We started this morning's business with Senator Eugene Murphy who spoke about the Governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey. We were all very inspired by her speech in the House yesterday. I thank the Cathaoirleach for organising that. Governor Healey really is an incredibly passionate woman. In her short time, she gave an all-embracing speech on the strength of the Irish-American connections and her personal connections, which were interesting to l…

Senator Clonan spoke about the case of Captain Dr. Lisa McNamee who enlisted in 2017 on the understanding that she would have the opportunity to have medical training, which still has not commenced. It would now cost her €90,000 to leave the Defence Forces. Obviously, that is a huge amount of money. None of us could afford to be able to leave a profession if it cost that amount. The Senator has written to the Minister for Defence in relation to the matter. I do not believe we should necessarily have an open debate …

Is the Senator looking for a debate with the Tánaiste?

I will certainly not accede to a debate with the Tánaiste about what is and is not allowed. The freedom to protest and free speech are important to us all in Leinster House and it is absolutely a constitutional right. The issue that arose in Cork was that the Tánaiste was interrupted while he was speaking. The point he made was that there is and always should be a place for an alternative point of view, but it should be stated in an orderly fashion. It should not be done by heckling and interrupting someone who is …

The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber to listen to this debate. I hope he will be able to put some actions in place in respect of the issues we are all raising. As a proud former member of a town commission, before it became a town council, I am very grateful for the start that local government gave me in political life. I was not necessarily political at the time but I saw the town commission as a way to improve conditions for families in the town I live in, Newbridge, and I got a very good basic groundi…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. It is an important one. Last Friday, we had the Kildare County Council AGM and I was very glad to be there to see my friend and colleague, Councillor Daragh Fitzpatrick, take the position as first citizen. I congratulate him and wish him well in the year ahead. The previous day, Kildare County Council launched its 2022 annual report. I can honestly attest, as a former member of Kildare County Council and a former mayor, to how diligently and how hard…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. The fact that our expenditure per capita is at the level it is in Kildare is simply unacceptable. As many in this House will be aware, I regularly raise the issue of the infrastructural deficits we have in south Kildare, such as that relating to the second bridge for Newbridge. We have a huge issue as regards traffic management and congestion, the root cause of which is the single bridge crossing the River Liffey. We have significant school place pressures at second l…