Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil grouping here, I also extend our deepest sympathies. First, I wish Katie McCabe and her team the very best of luck tonight in Grenoble at 8 p.m. This is a very significant match. We are all hearing about another match, but for now, this is very important; it is the World Cup qualifier. Thinking back to when I was growing up, there was not really a thought of women's football being able to compete at this level or indeed at all, so it is fantastic for our Irish women and I wish them all …

Yes. That is very exciting.

They would have to read texts too.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, is welcome to the Chamber. In north-west Kildare - I am particularly talking about Cappanargid, Lullymore into Allenwood, around Robertstown, Caragh and so on - there have been huge issues with water shortages. People have signed up to get communications if the water is going to be turned off, as a managed turn-off. People are not getting that information at all or they are getting it four hours late. In the …

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that he and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, have responsibility for this but their voices are very strong in terms of the messages they can bring from the floor of this House to bodies such as Uisce Éireann. I beseech the Minister of State to use his voice, as I know he will. There is a very clear explanation for Hillsborough, which I accept. The Minister of State said there are a range of measures in place to address the challenges and referred specifically to the Allenwoo…

I extend my welcome to the ambassador. The Order of Business is No. 1, Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (resumed), to be taken at 11.30 a.m, with the proceedings thereon shall if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 2.30 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by Government; and No. 60, motion 1, Private Members’ business, motion regarding the EU-Israel Association Agreement, to be taken…

I thank all of the Senators who contributed today. We started with Senator Comyn. I wish the Senator happy and safe driving in her Volvo EV. She mentioned Edward McCloskey, a Drogheda businessman who won EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. That is always a very interesting contest, with participants from lots of different backgrounds. I had the privilege of being at it once. Obviously, Mr. McCloskey's company is doing very well to win that because there is a lot of competition. WaterWipes, I understand, is the name of it.…

This is an interesting and important debate. I had the opportunity, along with Senator Stephenson, to visit Canada just before Christmas as part of a trade mission to Washington and Canada. We were in Canada for three nights, one in Toronto and two in Ottawa. I was blown away by the level of investment that already exists and the number of jobs that are dependent on trade between Ireland and Canada. This is fact. Ireland is the tenth largest investor in Canada. Canadian companies employ 22,000 people in Ireland and…

I propose a suspension of 20 minutes before we start the next item of business.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: - expresses its deepest concern regarding several measures by the Israeli Government, including executive decisions, military decisions and laws adopted by the Knesset, that contravene human rights and violate international law and international humanitarian law; - deplores the fact that direct calls for the Government of Israel to fully comply with its international and moral obligations, and to revert those measures, have been ignored; - accepts the need of the European Union (EU) to …

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil grouping in the Seanad, I am very pleased to move this motion. The motion is very clear in what it attempts to do. It is expressing our very deepest concern regarding several measures by the Israeli Government that contravene human rights and violate international law and international humanitarian law and condemns the shocking treatment of EU citizens, including Irish citizens, from the Sumud flotilla. The flotilla was illegally detained by the Israel Defense Forces in international wa…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. As we prepare to assume the role of the EU Presidency, I want to acknowledge all the work that the Minister of State has been doing and to counteract what Senator Clonan said, he is completely not out of his depth. He is totally in charge of his brief. I have seen him operate in Strasbourg and Brussels with his peers and-----

-----he has done incredible work. If I may continue, in terms of-----

I did not realise when we were working collectively on this motion that today marked two years since we recognised the State of Palestine. It is important to acknowledge that and to state that as it did set an example to other European countries, it is unfair and incorrect to say that the work that has been carried out by the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and the Government does not have any repercussions in a positive way because it clearly does. What the Minister of State said in relation to the Government dis…

I apologise, I did not hear it, but I thought he would have mentioned more about it because we were clear in the motion that it was one of the reasons we wanted to put it there. In response to Senator Stephenson, I reiterate that collective actions at an EU level will have a far greater impact than anything that we can do. It is important that as a country we take action where we can, and the Minister of State has outlined several different places. In relation to the occupied territories Bill, the Government has a …

-----and if we lost jobs through companies like Intel, I would find it very hard to explain myself to the people who would lose those jobs and of course the ecosystems that are there-----

-----of Irish suppliers. In response to Senator Joe Conway, I thank him for his remarks. In response to Senator Clonan, he spoke about Lebanon. Is my time up?

I commend the motion to the House.

Our MEPs are incredibly welcome to the Seanad Chamber this afternoon. I am listening to the breadth of the work they have all undertaken, some in similar areas and some in more niche areas. We thank them for the work they are doing on behalf of the 1.8 million people who live within the region they represent. I listened to Ms Carberry talking about dementia. I met the FTD Brothers this morning in Kildare. They are just incredible; Jordan and Cian and their dad, Greg. They were able to turn a really difficult person…