The Government amendment proposes increasing the maximum penalty for assaults on peace officers, that is, members of An Garda Síochána, prison officers and members of the Defence Forces. As with the extension of the penalties available in respect of conspiracy to murder, we are concerned about the effectiveness of increased maximum penalties for assaults against police officers. The Government's high-level task force to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the crim…

The trend of limiting councils' powers and imposing unelected bureaucratic management began during the emergency period of the Civil War and led to decades of neglect or hostility towards local government from successive governments. We have to face that. We have seen the centralisation of power at the national level, the abolition of parish and town councils and reductions in the number of local elected representatives. In 2014, 80 town councils were abolished, reducing the number of elected representatives by alm…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment. I am concerned that we are not using the full extent of State power to force guilty parties such as religious orders and pharmaceutical companies to contribute to the scheme. We have retabled amendment No. 45, which would require the Government to explore legal options to require relevant parties, including religious orders, pharmaceutical companies that ran illegal medical trials in the homes and all other guilty parties, to contribute to the scheme. It would also require the Government to …

I join other colleagues in welcoming Frank Allen and his niece to the Chamber. I know Frank very well. He is a wonderful writer and I am a huge fan of his work. It is great to have him here today. I want to raise a topic that has been covered in this Chamber several times, namely, the British Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. I have remarked on it previously many times and many other Senators, including Senator Ó Donnghaile, have spoken passionately about it. It is a rare issu…

I second the motion.

I am proud to be here alongside my Civil Engagement Group colleagues and I am pleased to second this important and timely motion. Senator Ruane has already outlined many of the devastating facts about this crisis and the ways that the EU institutions are complicit in human rights abuses suffered by refugees. I want to speak about the lethal practice of pushing back refugee boats and my disappointment with the Government's amendment. The drowning of hundreds of refugees after the sinking of the Adriana off the Greek…

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

I want to raise the issue of adult safeguarding. Yesterday in the media we heard about the horrific case of a nursing home resident who was raped by a healthcare worker who was tasked with caring for her. The woman, who is now deceased, was called Emily in the report. Her bravery and the support of her family led to the perpetrator being exposed and punished. However, we need to face up to the fact that other residents had complained about inappropriate behaviour from the perpetrator and nothing was done. Unfortuna…

I was at the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, briefing yesterday in Buswells Hotel, which was really powerful. The organisation is campaigning for a series of budgetary measures to improve the primary education system in Ireland. It has four requests or recommendations including a reduction in class sizes, the full restoration of 2,400 posts of responsibility in schools, an increase in funding for schools and investment in mental health supports. The last recommendation is the one that I want to talk abo…

On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, I welcome Madam President to Seanad Éireann and to Ireland. Her presence here demonstrates part of a growing spirit of multilateralism between parliamentarians across Europe. While national governments may work closely together, I believe it is of fundamental importance that we, the representatives of the people across Europe, work together in that multilateral spirit to build a Europe that is socially open, environmentally sustainable and peaceful. Madam President, while th…

I move amendment No. 54: In page 16, line 28, after “applicant” to insert “as soon as is practicable and within 60 days”. Will I speak to all of the amendments now or just to amendment No. 54?

I welcome the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman. Amendment No. 54 inserts a requirement that if an applicant to the scheme accidentally fails to provide all necessary information in the application, the chief deciding officer must notify the applicant of that fact within 60 days. This amendment is very reasonable. It would be very unfair to see a situation whereby applicants are waiting in limbo to hear back about their applications only to find out later that it wa…

I move amendment No. 56: In page 16, line 34, after "practicable" to insert "and within 90 days of receipt of an application and all required information".

I move amendment No. 57: In page 16, line 34, after "practicable" to insert "and within 120 days of receipt of an application and all required information".

I move amendment No. 75: In page 20, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(3) (a) Where the determination includes a determination that the applicant is a relevant person, and where an applicant has provided testimony, or any oral, written, or documentary evidence of, their lived experiences of their time spent in a relevant institution, a notification under subsection (1) shall further include a statement of recognition of those lived experiences. (b) A statement of recognition under this subsection …

I will withdraw the amendment. We might table a similar amendment on Report Stage.