First I want to speak about a concern I have about Government amendment No. 37 which outlines the obligation of an immigration officer or a garda to inform an applicant being directed to a screening centre of their obligations under the Bill and the fact that their refusal to follow such a direction would constitute an implicit withdrawal from the asylum process. However, it does not contain any provision that such information would be provided to the applicant in a language that they can reasonably be expected to …

I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, to delete lines 26 to 32, and in page 4, to delete lines 1 to 13.

I welcome the Minister of State. The first amendment I have tabled removes the Circuit Court as the default option for resolving disputes, and the second removes the provision in the Bill which removes the controller's role in dealing with disputes from section 208. I am concerned about what the Bill means in practice. I fully support implementing the CJEU ruling, but it must be done in a way that is workable and practical for performers. That is why I feel it is important. They have been waiting years for this. Th…

Can I get a commitment from the Minister of State to have a discussion about a review going forward? Will the Minister of State meet me and we can discuss that?

I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, to delete lines 30 to 35.

I thank the Acting Chairperson. The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the topic of SNAs. What we are talking about is not policy or procedure but real children in real classrooms who depend on real people to help them to access their education and their futures. Special needs assistants are not a luxury and, as my colleague just said, they are not an optional extra that schools are fortunate to have. They are fundamental, essential and, in the truest sense of…

On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, I would like to pass on my condolences on the passing of former Senator, Mary White. I also agree with Senator Stephenson that we should have a debate on eating disorders. That is a really good idea. We are scheduled to debate the Institutional Burials (Amendment) Bill 2022, in the name of my colleague, Senator Ruane, this evening. I understand that the Government is introducing a motion declining to give the Bill a Second Reading, which is really disappointing. I regret tha…

I would like to move amendment No. 5.

I have submitted this amendment because I am concerned about how performers can meaningfully secure their right to equitable remuneration under the Bill. Artists and musicians are some of the most isolated and vulnerable workers. Without effective practices available to them that are supported on a statutory footing, I am worried that artists and musicians will be left without workable protections so that they can fairly receive royalties for their work. On Second Stage, the Minister stated that the Bill restores f…

The Minister of State has the power to accept these amendments today and give us some time to discuss this going forward. It is the right thing to do. He knows it is the right thing to do. He can make a difference for the people I know well and work with, the artists I have worked with all my life. I have seen unbelievable music coming out of this country. We have put Ireland on the map when it comes to music. Anywhere we go - the US, Germany or anywhere in the world - we see how we are received as performers and a…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: "(d) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (10): "(11) The right of the performer in subsection (1) shall be exercised by a collective management organisation representing performers, registered as a licensing body for performers’ property rights under section 286, subject always to the right of the performer at any time to easily and effectively opt-out of such collective management. (12) (a) The calculati…

The Minister is very welcome to the House. As others have said, this Bill is short but it signals a major shift in how copyright is handled in Ireland. My aim today is to outline the key principles at stake, explain the practical implications for artists and rights holders and show how the amendments should align with international best practice and the public interest. As others have said, the RAAP and PPI case raised questions referred to the European Court of Justice about funding and distribution rights. Some d…

I thank the Minister of State very much. It is great. I really do appreciate her engagement. It does mean a lot. I want to speak to the amendment if that is okay because it is important to put on the record. While I covered a lot of the points already during my discussion on the other amendment on the need for an independent complaints mechanism, I want to re-emphasise how important I believe an independent complaints mechanism to be. As I often do, I want to return to the lived experience voice because those are t…

I thank the Minister of State very much. I totally agree with her. I remember there was an older woman whose teeth went missing and then she was given somebody else's false teeth. It is awful. Is there any idea about the timeline for the secondary legislation? Does the Minister of State have an idea about when or how it will progress?

I thank the Minister of State for her engagement.

I move amendment No. 336: In page 149, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Review of procedures dealing with complaints in registered mental health services 176. (1) The Minister shall, within 12 months of the commencement of this Act, conduct a review of existing procedures dealing with complaints that are available to persons accessing registered mental health services. (2) The review shall— (a) examine the accessibility, independence, transparency and effectiveness of current procedures dealing with…

Can I speak to my amendment?

I have tabled amendment No. 187. I totally understand that this has already been discussed quite a bit so I do not want to spend a huge amount of time on it. I know this is something the Minister of State feels extremely strongly about. That said, while I can see where she is coming from and I acknowledge the personal story she told recently, I also want to put this on the record. I hope she can see where I am coming from and my concerns at this point. As I have said before, I fully acknowledge and applaud the Troj…

I move amendment No. 187: In page 75, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “(4) Where a child is admitted to an adult acute mental health centre pursuant to an involuntary admission order made under section 66 , the Executive shall ensure, in so far as is practicable, that this period shall be no longer than 72 hours before the child is transferred to an age-appropriate centre.”.

I want to ask about amendment No. 217, which concerns District Court renewal orders and the requirement that a child be examined by a consultant psychiatrist within 48 hours prior to the renewal. In the original text, a consultant psychiatrist was expressly disqualified from conducting this examination if he or she had been involved in the child's care or treatment, ensuring that the assessment was carried out by an independent clinician. Why is that provision being removed? The consultant psychiatrist in question …