I am pleased to hear that the conservation management plan is due to be submitted to the Department and Kildare County Council in the coming weeks. Obviously there will be a plan around the potential development of the plains. While the study is scheduled to be completed in June 2022, I am not sure that we should seek the deadline to be extended because we need action sooner rather than later. Earlier I mentioned the illegal encampment. In the coming weeks I will re-introduce a Bill, which I introduced in the Dáil,…

I support the Order of Business as outlined. I give a shout-out for an event, Calves for Ukraine, happening in Kilcullen mart. The sale of 50 calves is happening on 20 April and has been organised by the Kildare and west Wicklow branch of the Irish Farmers Association. It is great to see so many different factions in our community supporting Ukraine. The Deputy Leader will remember we had a debate in the House on maternity leave for councillors. I initiated it with the support of Senators from the administrative pa…

I did not speak earlier because I did not want to impede the passage of this legislation within the specific time. However, because of filibustering in the Chamber, we had to go over time. This debate and the result of it are important but I also want to acknowledge that the Minister of State had an important meeting at 3.30 p.m., which she postponed to be able to stay with us. I acknowledge the Minister of State's time and commitment to dealing with this right through to the final outcome, which means the Bill has…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the proposal for a Council recommendation on the conversion of hryvnia bank notes into the currency of host member states for the benefit of persons fleeing the war in Ukraine, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 – Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1.15 p.m., and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a …

Many Senators paid tribute to the Cathaoirleach and I want to be associated with those comments. It is only fair that we name all the Senators who did so. They were Senators Lombard, Malcolm Byrne, Keogan, Hackett, Warfield, Hoey, Murphy, Maria Byrne, Craughwell, Horkan, Buttimer, Sherlock, Martin, Burke and Ahearn. Everyone commended the work the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle did to ensure the joint sitting of the Houses took place this morning. It was very moving to be in the Dáil to listen to President Z…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on the European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Proposal for a Council recommendation on the conversion of hryvnia banknotes into the currency of host Member States for the benefit of persons fleeing the war in U…

I apologise for my late arrival and I did not expect the Senator to give way. I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and I am delighted to have the opportunity to second the proposal put before us by Senator Byrne this evening. I also thank Senator Byrne for affording all of us the time to pledge our absolute support to Óglaigh na hÉireann on the record this evening. I thank him for the work done to ensure the history and stoicism of our Defence Forces can be protected.

I am only realising now that I am sharing time. I thought I was the second speaker.

I will learn that some day.

Thank you for giving me that breather, a Chathaoirligh.

I appreciate that.

I second the motion. It is important that this motion be agreed to ensure that the history and stoicism of the Defence Forces are protected now and for future generations. It only takes a simple glance at the Defence Forces website, news outlets or the history books to see the long and proud history of our forces. As many Members will know, I am a passionate advocate for the Defence Forces and I have always used my influence and voice to champion the cause of the Defence Forces community in Kildare and nationally. …

I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Commencement matter. I invite him to come to Rathangan, which is not so far away and only about an hour from Mullingar, to see our lovely town and have a look at what is happening in St. Patrick's Park. There is a wonderful community living in Rathangan and a great community in St. Patrick's Park, but that has not always been the case. Some 15 to 20 years ago, there was some awful antisocial behaviour in the area that was only being perpetrated by two or thr…

I thank the Minister of State for the update. I appreciate that a regeneration project has to move through a number of phases. However, it certainly should not take 11 years just to have completed phase 1. Many of the gaps were when Kildare County Council would come back to the Department in terms of plans, drawings, etc., and the Department would then take an inordinately huge amount of time and would come back and look for more changes. I appreciate the Department is under much pressure, but there has to be a bet…

I add my voice to the congratulations to Senator Clonan. I have followed his work closely and I admire it. I respect him greatly and congratulate all his family and supporters. Senator Clonan will find the friendship he talks about. He will also find a collaboration, which is very important. I certainly notice that more in this House than in the Lower House. I look forward to working with him on the areas of disability and defence, in particular. They are close to my heart, as I know they are close to his. I raise …

We move from one Lilywhite to another Lilywhite. The Minister is very welcome. I commend her on her announcement this morning of the living wage scheme for artists, artistes and musicians - so many wonderful people whose talent brings so many people to our shores. We will be able to use them to sell and support tourism internationally. The announcement was a revolutionary move. I really congratulate the Minister on it. It has been wonderful to go back to see live theatre recently. I had the opportunity to go to bot…

As the previous Senator mentioned, Saturday is World Autism Awareness Day, as designated by the UN. The theme this year is "Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities...". That is particularly important in Ireland because we have the lowest rate of employment for people with disabilities in Europe. It is something we have to be far better at and we need to reach out and understand. That is an important message we could give from here. I congratulate Fórsa for its excellent symposium yesterday, which p…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to address this matter relating to secondary school places in south Kildare. I appreciate and respect the fact that he does not represent the Department of Education but I certainly hope that he has some positive messages for us. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue today and it is certainly not for the first time. I have raised this issue a number of times in this House and, indeed, during my time in the Dáil. The key issue is that it is imperative that we have …

I thank the Minister of State for coming to take this Commencement matter. I would like to emphasise that my question was particularly related to the academic year 2022-23. While I appreciate that the long-term solution is in relation to this new school, as well as in the additional projects at Cross and Passion College and the Patrician Secondary School and Ard Scoil Rath Iomgháin, I am most concerned about this September. I hope that the Department, while considering the accommodation needs of the Holy Family Sec…

I thank the Minister of State, and the Senator for raising the matter. This is a really important subject and I fully support the Senator's efforts to make the module mandatory. That is very important, from both a teaching point of view and, of course, that of the students and their families.