It is a pleasure to be back in the convention centre, where we had our first Seanad meeting of this mandate. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter, which is important to the people of Kildare, Offaly, Roscommon, Longford and Westmeath and all those impacted by job losses because of Bord na Móna. I cannot overstate the importance of Bord na Móna and the employment it gave in my county of Kildare. I grew up just outside Rathangan, close to Allenwood and Coill Dubh, where Bord na Móna has si…

The Minister of State has outlined some figures. Timelines are very important in terms of the outcomes we expect to see and I would appreciate if they were put in place. I wish to make three brief points. Retrofitting is very welcome and I am pleased the pilot scheme is being rolled out. I am aware the pilot scheme is just dealing with houses within local authority housing stock, but it is important that as we move forward we would look at the opportunity for private homeowners to be able to avail of retrofitting a…

First, I wish to pay tribute to a great Irish patriot, Mr. Seán Lemass, who died on today's date 50 years ago. He was a democratic, practical and visionary republican. He believed that social and economic goals should not be in conflict, but should be achieved at the same time. That is the reason the Lemass era was defined by expanded access to education, new social supports, health services and social housing, the opportunity to have jobs, the attraction of foreign direct investment and, of course, working in co-o…

It is very fitting today, as we celebrate the legacy of Seán Lemass and all he did for education, that we have the opportunity to discuss this legislation and to talk about what a future legacy can be. What Senator Ruane has raised and indicated in her amendment is certainly worthy of debate. It is a debate on which we need to have a full sitting and perhaps it is an issue on which we can invite the Minister back to our Chamber. There is nothing more important than education in terms of equipping our young people w…

I thank Senator Seery Kearney for proposing the motion. It is incredibly important and timely given that the population is growing older, but also in terms of dealing with the pandemic and the emphasis that is placed on people caring for vulnerable family members. The findings of the Citizens' Assembly emphasised the importance of recognising carers, including within the Constitution. Rosalynn Carter stated: "There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently c…

I commend my colleagues, Senators Blaney and McGreehan, on tabling the motion. It is a moment of reflection and renewal that has stirred our hearts and souls in the past 12 months. We all remember the mantra, peace in our time. Coming up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 23 years ago, that was something we dreamt about and whispered about. We dared to dream. The world worked with us and the world rejoiced with us when, on that historic day 20 years ago, differences were put aside and we believed we could …

When I spoke in the Seanad last week I raised the issue of maternity services restrictions, which is on many Members' minds today. I am glad there was clarification from on high, but there does not seem to be the same clarification in the three maternity hospitals and 16 maternity units around the country. It is beyond time that partners were allowed to attend for scans and the full labour. I now direct the Leader's attention to the time after childbirth and the first 12 months of a baby's life. Any mother can atte…

The Minister of State is very welcome. I am aware that, since his appointment, he has been dealing with the myriad issues we have faced owing to Covid and EU business matters. I thank him for that. I wish him well with the remainder of his term. Maybe we took for granted the right to travel that we had before Covid and the freedom we had to make decisions on what we wanted to do with our leisure time and our time to connect with family, and also on business. We never had the time to realise how precious this freedo…

I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber, which is her Chamber also. It has been a difficult and tumultuous time for the leaving certificate classes of 2020 and 2021, their parents, their teachers, the whole school community, the Department and the Minister. The word "unprecedented" has been bandied about a great deal over the past year, but the task faced by her office and the Department of Education must have seemed overwhelming at times. Our appreciation must go to all of those involved in the Department and the sc…

The Tánaiste is very welcome to the House on this important day on which hope, supports, a path forward and a significant level of vaccinations intersect. This is all in stark contrast to India, the homeland of the Tánaiste's father, from where we see upsetting and disturbing images. I am glad Ireland is playing a role in helping those in need but we must do more, especially to ensure vaccines can be supported worldwide. From speaking to business owners in County Kildare, I know they have been glad of the supports …

This is not the first time I have spoken about this issue. I addressed it last Monday. Senator Flynn told us of her happy news on that occasion and I wish her well. The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I certainly hope he can bring some clarity to the issue about which I am speaking today. There is a need for the lifting of restrictions on appointments, labours and visits to neonatal wards in maternity hospitals. We often think of the Coombe, Holles Street and the Rotunda as the three maternity hospitals …

I am disappointed with the response of the Minister of State. I completely accept and understand, as I am sure does every Member, the necessity to introduce restrictions in our maternity hospitals to protect women, babies and staff but we have now moved to a stage where pregnant women will be prioritised for vaccination and our healthcare staff have been vaccinated. Honestly, the damage being done to women through not having the support of their partners is incalculable. Earlier, I mentioned a lady who wrote to me …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, to the Chamber.

I support the Order of Business as outlined. A week is a long time in politics and since the House last met, Arlene Foster has signalled that she will be standing down as First Minister and as leader of the DUP. I pay tribute to Arlene Foster. Politics is a difficult game for all of us and nowhere is it more difficult than in Northern Ireland. I wish her well and acknowledge her work on behalf of the unionist community and of all of those she has represented during the past five years as leader of her party. I want…

As part of my party's commitment to rural Ireland, we decided to put forward this motion and it is an opportunity to acknowledge the vital importance of post offices to all our communities. Post offices are the fabric not just of rural Ireland but also of urban Ireland and they provide an important social as well as commercial service. When I was growing up in Rathangan, and I am sure we all had the same positive experience of the post office aligned to the area where we grew up, we had the most wonderful post mist…

I endorse the Order of Business. I offer my congratulations on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party to Senators Horkan and Maria Byrne. I look forward to engaging and learning with and listening to both of them. I wish them well in the term ahead. There are a number of issues I want to raise today, the first being maternity services. Every morning, as I come to Leinster House, I travel by the Coombe and I see all of the expectant dads sitting in their cars outside of the hospital. I believe that, at this stage of the va…

I propose to share my time with Senator Malcolm Byrne. I will take six minutes and he will take two. I thank the Minister of State for being here and for giving us his update. This is a really important debate. Any addiction is difficult and tough. Addictions often have very far-reaching consequences for individuals and for their families and friends. Families are often torn apart, trust is broken and finances are impacted. Obviously, it not only the addicted individual who is impacted but also his or her family an…

I thank the Minister of State for being in the House to take this very important Commencement debate on the fair deal scheme. It is a good scheme when it works, but for farm families and the families of small business owners the system is anything but fair. I welcome the support the Minister of State has given on ensuring that elderly people can stay at home and access extra home care hours. It is very important to do everything we can to avoid older people having to go into nursing homes. Some people will still ne…

It is a great start to the week to hear that really welcome news. Senator Chambers and I can attest to the work and focus the Minister of State put into this when she was part of the Opposition. I am really delighted to see she has prioritised it. It is really important that this is imminent. It will make the scheme fair and equitable for everybody, which is all we want. It is much appreciated.