I also thank the Minister of State. I wish to welcome students from Loreto College, St. Stephen's Green, our near neighbours. They are very welcome, as is Ms Carroll, who is accompanying them. It is lovely to see them. They are the first school group I have seen in the Seanad Chamber since we opened up after Covid-19. They are very welcome. I hope they have a very enjoyable day and they learn a lot about the decisions that are made and the different types of debate that happen in Seanad and Dáil Éireann. Those deci…

I second the Order of Business. Following on from what Senator Buttimer said, we welcome all of Ireland and beyond to Punchestown at the end of April. We have a world-class event and are always very welcoming and offer great hospitality to those who come.

I begin by talking about the visionary announcement the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, made on the revised leaving certificate and secondary school reform. This is a real consensus and collaborative model. It is wonderful to see. Extensive consultation took place with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, teachers' unions, parent and student bodies and we did so at the joint committee. I wish to highlight some of the measures announced that are going to make a difference in enriching the school…

I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this really important motion. I commend my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, on putting it together. It is incredibly worthwhile. While we have had the opportunity to speak about the situation in Ukraine, it is important that meat is put on the bones in respect of the response, so I thank Senator Seery Kearney and her colleagues for that. Much has been said in this House, in the Lower House, in council chambers and right around the country about the horrific situ…

I second the Order of Business. I also wish to be associated with the sympathies expressed on the death of the former Senator and Deputy, Dermot Fitzpatrick. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend condolences to our colleague, Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, and to Niamh, who works in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I had the opportunity to meet Dermot a number of times. He wore his wisdom very lightly. He was such a lovely man to meet. He was always interested in people and the human story. That was what made him an…

Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, for choosing this Commencement matter and I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte, for coming to the Chamber to discuss it. Earlier this week, I met some pharmacy owners in my constituency in Kildare and I was quite shocked by what they told me about the major issues they are facing in terms of having pharmacists in their premises. Every pharmacy is legally required to have a qualified pharmacist on the premises for filling prescriptions and so for…

I thank the Minister of State. I have no doubt she understands the position. She understands how critical the issue is. It is good to hear about the project that is in place and the scoping exercise but, honestly, it is far too late for that. This is a crisis and if the Government does not act, we will see community pharmacies cutting hours and not being open at crucial times. In rural areas, as mentioned by the Minister of State, the footfall is not as high as in urban areas so it can be very difficult for a busin…

I second the Order of Business as outlined by the Deputy Leader. I congratulate the Cross and Passion secondary school in Kilcullen, County Kildare on having been acclaimed as the first ADHD-friendly school in Ireland. I commend the dedication of the teachers and staff who have committed a lot of time to expand their own knowledge of ADHD and learn strategies to support students with ADHD in their school. I understand a new classroom programme has been designed and is rolling out now and that a number of schools wi…

Next Tuesday.

I welcome the Minister to the House and wish him well in the mammoth task he is co-ordinating on behalf of the Government and the State. There is no doubt the people of Ukraine continue to suffer under the tyrannical and dictatorial actions of Putin. The scenes keep going from bad to worse every day. We see them on our telephones and television screens and in the newspapers. It is shocking that almost 150 children have been killed and 57 schools and 12 hospitals have been bombed. The list goes on. Last week, I spen…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I know how committed he is to this topic. When he was a member of the Opposition he spoke on this a lot and I know he has put in a lot of work on it since becoming a Minister of State. This is an important debate and any addiction is difficult and tough. Addictions often have far-reaching consequences for individuals and their families and friends. Families are often torn apart, trust is broken and finances are affected. Recovery is hard for any addict but regret is …

I have just come from a committee meeting. I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter because it is something I feel very strongly about. I also thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond to it. I had submitted this Commencement matter before yesterday's announcement and did not have the information or knowledge I have now following the announcement. I was very pleased to see the major expansion of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, programme announced yesterday. It…

I am aware of the seven schools in County Kildare and appreciate the Minister of Education's inclusion of them in the system. I contacted the Minister's office yesterday to say I wanted this issue addressed in the Commencement matter after it had been selected, so I am disappointed there is not a response back specifically on that school. I appreciate that is not the Minister of State's fault. It is an excellent scheme and one of the best I have seen in education. I am pleased it was Fianna Fáil that introduced it …

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I start by wishing everybody a very happy St. Patrick's Day next week. This is our last sitting day before that. It is wonderful to have a day where people throughout the world celebrate our country, our nation and our people. I am really pleased that the Taoiseach has committed to using all the diplomatic engagements that will happen to raise the plight of the people of Ukraine. I wish to raise an issue with birth registration. During the week, a lady cont…

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 European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision on adding hate speech and hate crime to the areas of crime laid down in Article 83(1) of …

Free speech is not free speech if there is a cost and a victim at the end of it. In saying that, I am responding to Senator Keogan's remarks. Hate crimes are message crimes. They are intended to target entire communities. The victims are targeted because of their identity. The impact goes beyond the individual. There is also an impact on communities and on society. We need to send a strong message that we will absolutely not tolerate hate crime or hate speech. My party certainly supports this motion. We appreciate …

I welcome the Minister on this important day. He takes a particular interest in the matter. The theme of this year's International Women's Day is breaking the bias. During the past two years under Covid, breaking the bias would have referred to our unfinished business of advancing gender equality, combating gender-based violence and addressing the gender pay gap. All of these are important issues that we need to consider and keep fighting for. This year, however, it is the Ukrainian women who are uppermost in our m…

I thank the Acting Chairperson and the Leader of the House for giving us time to discuss this very important subject. I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to attend this incredibly important debate. I add my voice of welcome to Deputy Devlin, who plays a key part in the all-party committee, and to Ms Emma Balmaine and Ms Siobhán Grant, together with Elaine and Norma, from St. Joseph's, Shankill. I also welcome those who are representing Alzheimer Portugal, Alzheimer Hellas in Greece, the University of …

I call on Senator Blaney, who has three minutes.

I thank Senator Blaney. I now move to our penultimate speaker, the Leader of the House, Senator Doherty, whom I believe is sharing her time with Senator Ward. She will take three minutes and Senator Ward will take two minutes. Is that agreed by the House? Agreed.