I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. First, I acknowledge that schools in general are putting a great deal of time and effort into proactive strategies to ensure that school environments are as welcoming and inclusive as possible. We must, however, also acknowledge that bullying exists and is happening in the physical form, although less so now, and in the shape of cyberbullying. Some of the reports we saw during the pandemic have given cause for major concern concerning the rise in cyberbullying and it…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I acknowledge that the parent and student charter will be welcome. There has been a significant delay in implementing the legislation but I am glad to hear it is approaching Second Stage in the Dáil. I accept and acknowledge that there are a significant number of supports, but more are needed. As time goes on and more research is done, we learn more and need to be able to adapt. For example, the whole area of restorative justice in schools has come to the fore in rece…

Senator Ó Donnghaile, my apologies. You indicated to speak earlier. I had thought you were merely clarifying you were taking this instead of Senator Warfield.

Is Senator Ó Donnghaile pressing the amendment?

We move to amendment No. 11, which the Minister of State has said he is going to accept.

Okay.

The Minister of State has said he is going to accept amendment No. 12. I ask Senator Higgins to move it.

Hear, hear.

Amendments Nos. 13 and 14 in the names of Senators Higgins and Ruane have been ruled out of order.

The Minister of State is very welcome, and I appreciate her coming in to take my matter. This is about supporting SNAs. We have in excess of 16,000 in our inclusive education system. That inclusive education is hugely important to everybody. It is an aspiration that children with special needs, and special educational needs, will have the opportunity to be educated in their own localities, along with siblings and neighbours, in mainstream schools. Without the 16,000 SNAs, who are the bedrock of the system, that wou…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I commend her and the Department on setting this up. Education is very important. It has to be valued in its own right in what it does for the individual as well as continuing professional development. Everybody in the education world needs the opportunity as there are always new things to learn. I appreciate that there will be a review of this first programme and the outcomes, but it is very important for those undertaking the course that there be a formal accreditat…

I endorse and support Senator Fitzpatrick's call for a timely review and debate in this House of the decision we, as a country, took three years ago. I also want to raise the important issue of young people in care in Ireland and how they transition from the system of foster parenting up to the age of 18 years to life afterwards. I commend the bravery and honesty of Danielle McGarry and Sarah O'Brien in speaking recently about their experiences. I learned a lot about young people in care from an incredible young ma…

Ellistown still misses Senator Seery Kearney.

It is part of Kildare South. Never before has a Government had to deal with such a difficult situation. This must be the most difficult time ever to be in Cabinet. There are many pressing social issues apart from the economic challenges and problems that the blows of Brexit and Covid have foisted on us. Above all, the most important thing is ensuring that people have a home. I know that is the absolute priority for the Minister and our party and, of course, the Government. We need a Minister who has vision and ambi…

It is riveting to listen to people. I acknowledge Senator Seery Kearney's contribution and the pain she has endured. I know the Minister of State, Deputy English, to be a compassionate man. I have no doubt he will take this debate in that vein. I commend my male colleagues for being here. Too often when we have debates on what are perceived as women's health issues, there is a lack of the male voice. It is refreshing to see so many of my male colleagues here today. It is really important because the journey of fert…

I support the Order of Business for today. Today is a red-letter day in that we know that the Moorhead report and recommendations have been brought to Cabinet so it is a significant day in terms of recognising the importance and value of local government and approximately 1,000 councillors around the country. As we know, this sat on the previous Government's desk but my party made a commitment that it would be delivered within 12 months in government, and so it has. Over the past year, the role of local government …

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I also thank her for the work she does on behalf of older people and in the area of mental health. It is fitting that she is here to discuss the menopause. This matter relates to older women and those who are suffering from mental health issues because of a lack of understanding and awareness and many have either been misdiagnosed or have not had the proper diagnosis. I know the Minister of State will be bring compassion and understanding to the matter. I have not previ…

I acknowledge the work that is being done to include the menopause as a priority under the women's health task force. I also thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, because he has already done quite a bit of work in the area of women's health and that must be recognised. Education and research are central to removing the taboos and stigma around the menopause and supporting women going through their journey. The Minister of State mentioned that the menopause will be included as a topic within the ne…

This is an important day for many reasons and this motion is certainly one of them. I thank Senator Seery Kearney for tabling this motion. "We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can always build our youth for the future." These were the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 when he announced the New Deal for the American people coming out of the Great Depression. We are looking at producing a new deal as we emerge from Covid. Those words are equally as important now, particularly around the notion …

I thank the Minister for being here to listen to our arguments, which basically are all the same, namely, we want peace and we want sanctions imposed on Israel. I listened carefully to what the Minister said. While I do not doubt the sincerity of his words for one moment, I was concerned to hear him say that the UN Security Council was unable to issue a clear statement regarding the conflict, not even in terms of calling for a ceasefire. What are we about and what is the UN Security Council about if it cannot even …