I welcome this opportunity to discuss the Sláintecare plan. I thank the Minister for his time. One of the first things he did in his opening remarks was to talk about our incredible healthcare workers doing extraordinary work every day. We can never forget that. We have seen that day in and day out over the last 18 months and we must never lose an opportunity to pay tribute to all those healthcare workers. Moving on to respond to some of his other opening remarks, the Minister spoke about the significant investment…

I support the Order of Business as outlined. Today is international e-waste day, the purpose of which is to raise awareness and to call on households and businesses to get behind efforts in recycling waste electrical products. I was shocked to learn this morning that we had 60 million electrical devices in Ireland in 2020. That includes all household devices, phones and all types of lighting, etc. These items were brought into the country and purchased. It is a huge number when we consider how they are used. Househ…

I support the Order of Business as outlined by my colleague, Senator Chambers. Today, as we gather here, for the second day a dig is taking place on the Kildare-Wicklow border. All our thoughts and prayers are with the Jacob family in the hope that they will find some type of resolution to what happened. Their beautiful daughter Deirdre disappeared when she was 18. If she was alive, she would be 42 on Thursday. That puts into context the awful years of torture that the family have suffered. The Jacob family are muc…

It is a year since I had a Commencement matter on this topic. Part of the problem is that there was a different Minister from a different Department. That cuts to the heart of this issue, namely, that it cuts across too many Departments and one person is not taking charge of the industry and what needs to be done. I met Kieran Dunne and Larry Doran from County Kildare Growers and was horrified by what I learned about the impact this would have on the horticulture sector. It impacts 6,600 jobs directly and 11,000 ot…

I commend Senator Currie on tabling this motion. I am pleased to be a co-signatory, along with all my party colleagues. While I welcome this debate, it is sad that we must have it. We were all shocked on 14 July when we saw the proposals published by the British Government for a statute of limitations, which would effectively end criminal investigations and prosecutions in the case of incidents relating to the Troubles, as well as inquests and civil litigation. It has caused significant distress, disquiet and alarm…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for affording me the opportunity to speak on the streetscape enhancement scheme in the Chamber. I thank the Minister of State for his attendance. I was pleased to see in September that Kildare County Council had been successful in securing funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the 2021 streetscape enhancement measure. I was especially pleased to see that four lovely villages in my own local area were accepted by the scheme, namely, Castledermot, Ballitore, …

I welcome the extension. I noticed a press release an hour before I came in here announcing its granting. It is welcome, but the constant changing of the goalposts is not acceptable. My concern is that there were seven applicants from four vibrant areas. There should have been many more, and several people to whom I spoke did not submit an application because they knew that they would not have been able to get the works completed by the original date. To a certain extent, therefore, those people are being discrimin…

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I compliment the Leader on her leadership and work around the March for Maternity, which is to take place at 1 p.m. today. It is a really important matter that affects so many young mums and dads. We absolutely want to see a position where maternity treatment and care is the same as it was before Covid-19. We have spoken about it many times in the House but I wanted to say "well done" to the Leader on her work. It is very welcome to see this morning that th…

I echo the Cathaoirleach's words in regard to Senator Boyhan's passion and eloquence in terms of the issue at hand. There is no doubting the principle of what he is promoting and proposing. What Senator Boyhan has proposed is in the best interests of the people of Ireland. It is only right that we remember the work of the former Senator, Terry Leyden, in regard to this issue. I appreciate Senator Boyhan mentioning him. I recall Terry Leyden speaking very eloquently and passionately about the need for this legislati…

I thank the Minister of State for attending. I listened carefully to what she said. The key elements that stuck out for me were the focus on inclusion, full participation, having no barriers and additional supports. They are all incredibly important in helping young people achieve their full potential and ensuring they are able to go on and have a full life within their own community and in society with respect to both employment and their own lives. This is a good opportunity to talk about dyslexia. It is importan…

I am here today to speak for the owners of many small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in Kildare. We all acknowledge that they have faced great adversity over the last 18 months and many of them are fighting for the survival of their businesses at present. I acknowledge that Government subsidies have been forthcoming and stopped the financial bleeding for many businesses, and the business owners I speak to are very complimentary about the suite of financial supports that has been made available. However, …

I thank the Minister of State. I have confidence that he recognises the extent of the problem and I recognise that some measures have been put in place. Any of the companies that I had contact with tried Pathways to Work, but it just did not work for various reasons. They took on people and those people left. We have to recognise the reality of what is there. Maybe we can have a separate debate on Pathways to Work on another day. We need to have the quota system opened again and the Minister of State has indicated …

I compliment the Cathaoirleach on his pink tie. Many of us are wearing pink today because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is important that we commemorate those who sadly died with cancer, celebrate with those who survived and thrived, support those undergoing treatment and, most important, encourage women and men to get checked, including through BreastCheck when they are called for it, and to look after themselves. No matter where we were at the weekend, our minds were consumed with thoughts of two fine w…

I thank the Minister and his Department for their work on this Bill. The whole school completion programme and the home school community liaison scheme are essential components of the education system through the work that is done throughout the country on those programmes. A lot of work is done with the whole school community in an integrated way, within all of the community, to really help target those children who are at risk and ensure that they can stay within the school environment. These programmes find thei…

I thank the Minister for being here to listen to our deliberations and discuss them with us. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the situation in Belarus on the record of the House because as we all acknowledge, the situation in Belarus challenges the democratic fabric on which our societies and Continent are built. We have to show true solidarity with the Belarusian people in their peaceful defence of democratic principles and fundamental human rights. Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Council of Euro…

My colleague, Senator Chambers, and I spoke yesterday about "Women of Honour" and the need to take the group's stories seriously and act. This morning I wanted to mention the nine Army rangers who went to Afghanistan to help to bring our citizens home. I congratulate them on the work they did. Two officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs were present. We need to recognise the work that the rangers and other members of our Defence Forces do and that the difficulties over pay and conditions still exist. We ne…

My apologies. We had organised a meeting with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland that I had to leave the Chamber to attend. This is a very good innovation in Seanad business. It is very good to have the opportunity to liaise with our MEPs. It is unfortunate we only have a 50% turnout of the MEPs the people have elected. I listened to the start of the debate with interest. There was reference to corporate tax, but where do our guests see the debate going on that issue? In the context of the view in Europe regarding Ar…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I commend my colleague, Senator Cassells, for his words, which were heartfelt and passionate. I welcome this amendment Bill to the house and I appreciate having the opportunity to speak on it. Stalking is more prevalent in Ireland than many of us may believe and it is an insidious and intimidating crime. I commend my colleague, Senator Chambers, on her work in this area and on her tenacity and dedication to representing victims of stalking. This Bill, as we know, provid…

As the Minister will be aware, the documentary programme, "Women of Honour", sent shock waves through the military and defence community right around the country, particularly in south Kildare where many members of that community reside. This documentary was a damning account by female operatives, both active duty and retired. These women detailed sexual assault and harassment from their male colleagues and supervisors in addition to a level of job discrimination against female members of the Defence Forces, especi…

I would appreciate if the Minister of State could outline what specific support services he mentioned have been put in place. While I welcome the meetings that will take place between those involved in "Women of Honour" and the Secretary General and senior officials, it is important the issue of attempts by senior personnel to quash allegations of misconduct would also be discussed. What are Minister's intentions in regard to dealing with that?