I acknowledge that the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces is a substantial one, running to 224 pages and containing 69 recommendations. It is a colossal piece of work. I appreciate the complexity and the technical nature of devising an action plan to implement these findings. However, we cannot fall at the first hurdle. There must be a time-bound element to it. The report calls for a major investment in the three arms of the Defence Forces, the Air Corps, Naval Service and Army. We must deliver the fund…

I have just read through the notes and there is mention that it will happen before the summer recess. That is in the statement that was circulated.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, to the Chamber.

The Minister of State and I must have a chat about Kilcash sometime because my grandparents were from there. They were the principals of the boys and girls national schools, respectively. What is now the community centre in Kilcash was then their home.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, back to the House.

I have just come from an excellent briefing in the audiovisual room. I appreciate those who are here did not have the opportunity to go to it. It was from the Ukraine Civil Society Forum and about 65 different organisations that together are responding to the Ukrainian crisis within our country. We must acknowledge that, since 24 February, when Putin’s war of aggression started, the Irish people and, indeed, the Irish Government have been wonderful in terms of their humanitarian response. Little did we think, or pe…

I second the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. It came to my attention before I came into the Chamber that today is International Day of Parliamentarism. I wish Members a happy international day. It is important to recognise that we live in a country where democracy prevails. It is important also to appreciate and respect that. One of the issues I wish to raise today is in regard to the disability capacity review. This was published a year ago and detailed the current outstanding, and indeed unmet, needs…

Fair play, that is great.

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I am disappointed that we do not have the Minister for Education or her Minister of State. I appreciate that the Minister of State may not have the level of detail I need and require, apart from the briefing he has been given. As we all know, education is the passport to the future because tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it. I am not suggesting that education happens only in schools. We obviously have informal education, which is very important, at home and wi…

There is nothing in the Department's response that I did not hear six months ago, when I last raised the issue. I had hoped that there would have been some update on the proposed new school. I note the Minister of State mentioned data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data. Of course that is important but 1,500 new homes are being built in Newbridge and I think there are close to 1,000 new houses in Kildare town, so a new school is hugely important to both towns as well as to the…

I wish everybody a happy Bloomsday. It is a very important day in Dublin, Ireland and indeed across the world now. The final life-affirming words are not "... yes I said yes I will Yes" but in fact "Trieste-Zurich-Paris 1914-1921". The most Dublin of Dublin novels was actually written on the Continent and as we know Joyce was very deliberately European and a very proud European. He lived on mainland Europe for most of his life and was very much influenced by European writers and indeed European politics. The questi…

I welcome the Tánaiste to the Chamber. It is a pleasure to be able to discuss this Bill with him. I welcome this legislation coming to the House. As was mentioned by my colleague, Senator Crowe, Fianna Fáil will, of course, be supporting this Bill. It is an important one because it gives all workers in Ireland the right to paid sick leave for the first time. This is something I firmly support. It is long overdue. Workers and their families deserve and need access to a level of paid sick leave. It is a fundamental r…

There is no doubt that one of the greatest challenges facing us is the skyrocketing cost of living. Every single one of us in these Houses is being contacted all the time by constituents who believe the cost of a basic standard of living is becoming more and more difficult to meet. That reality is felt right across the country. I and no doubt the Acting Chairman are hearing it all the time in south Kildare. The cost of living has an impact on the quality of life that somebody has in a material sense and in terms of…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this very important issue for the Commencement debate, and Senator Boyhan for chairing this session. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is very welcome. I hope he has some good news for us in terms of the new bridge for Newbridge, which is my new mantra. I will put it up on everything that I do. Everyone in the House, in the Dáil and in the area around Newbridge will know I am practically blue in the face from raising this issue. I have repeatedly called for a second bridg…

With the greatest of respect to the Minister of State, I did not need a lecture on the URDF. While he correctly stated that Kildare County Council submitted four applications, this particular application was highlighted as the second most important of those four. It was bypassed for whatever reason. We were very disappointed to receive word that the project was not included. The Department cannot simply wash its hands of this. It needs to work with the Department of Transport and Kildare County Council to find an i…

I add my voice of welcome to the distinguished ambassador with us today. I have enjoyed many pleasant times in his country. I cannot claim to know any Danish, but the Gaelic version of my name, O'Loughlin, is Ó Lochlainn, which means "The Viking", so I reckon I am descended from Viking blood. I also welcome the boys and girls from Tipperary, because I also have blood from the county in me as well. It is always a pleasure to welcome those from that lovely county. I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Le…

I also welcome the ambassador and wish him well during his time here. I have had the good fortune and luck to avail of wonderful hospitality in his country over many years and I look forward to doing so again. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I would also like to be associated with the condolences the House has offered to the Jackman family and to the Fine Gael Party on the passing away of Mary Jackman. I had several meetings with her about 19 years ago. She struck me as a warm, kind and compassionate lady. Thos…

I add my voice to the welcome for the Croatian ambassador and the pupils from Malahide. They are all very welcome in this distinguished Chamber. I wish to raise a number of items. The first is on the decision announced last night regarding the provision of special education regional centres, seemingly across Dublin. I was surprised and shocked when I read the level of detail that was available. I appreciate that more is still to come. This would involve taking children from their communities, segregating them, brin…

The Order of Business is No. 1, Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 – Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn at 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated for the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply; No. 2, Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 – Committee Stage (Resumed), to be taken …

I find myself in the unusual position that I am directing my response only to the Government side of the House. Senator Chambers opened proceedings and spoke of the anniversary of repeal. It is hard to believe that it is four years since we had the referendum on repeal. She noted that it actually started 35 years ago. We as legislators need to ensure that the will of people around equality of access is upheld and we need to ensure that there are safe access zones and that legislation is brought in. Senator Boylan a…