I commend my good friend and colleague, Senator Ruane, and her parliamentary adviser, Seb McAteer, on the incredible work they have done on this Bill. There is no doubt that the Senator's dedication to shining a light on this troubling and highly sensitive areas has been inspiring. I congratulate her on the launch of this Bill with the amazing panel of experts who have long advocated against NDA abuse. I will comment on one expert who spoke, Professor Julie Macfarlane, distinguished professor in the University of W…

I commend Senator O'Donovan on highlighting the issue he raised. I have a family member in his position, so I understand the devastating impact of the condition. On Wednesday last, I attended a powerful Oireachtas briefing with Relatives for Justice on the tragic killing of two schoolboys, Gavin McShane and Shane McArdle, in 1994. They were murdered by an unmasked gunman while they played a video game in an arcade. The young boys were targeted because they were in an area of Armagh city frequented mainly by Catholi…

I am sharing time with my colleague, Senator Higgins. I will take two minutes and she will have three. The Minister is very welcome. I commend him on all the phenomenal work that he has done on the vaccine. I was in and out myself in half an hour, which was brilliant. I thank the Minister for that. I co-signed some of the amendments tabled to this Bill by Senator Higgins with my colleague from the Civil Engagement Group, Senator Ruane. These amendments are vital if we are to extend the emergency provisions from 9 J…

We are on the brink of a full-scale war in Israel and Palestine, with Israel bombing Gaza and Hamas firing rockets. The only way to stop this horrific spiral of violence and displacement is to end Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine and its violent oppression of the Palestinian people. The Government should sanction Israel for breaching international law and committing crimes against humanity by way of passage of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. Human Rights Watch, one of the …

I thank the Minister of State. I want to put on the record that I thank the Minister for calling me last night. I know he would have been here this morning if he could have been. I suppose the Minister of State has to understand my frustration. It is very difficult to watch what is happening in Gaza and see children and families being killed. Not only this but their homes are being destroyed. They are given 58 seconds to leave their homes. What kind of world are we living in? I acknowledge the Minister is very pass…

I thank the Leader for revising today's schedule to allow us to debate the situation in Palestine, which means so much to me. I am completely and utterly exhausted from talking about what is going on. It is just soul-destroying and if I am feeling like that, what must it be like for the people of Palestine? The situation is just horrendous. I raised the issue as a Commencement matter this morning. I ask that the Minister, during the course of this evening's debate, give us an understanding of the legal advice the G…

I wish to share time with my colleague, Senator Higgins.

I warmly welcome the Minister and thank him for taking this debate. I also thank him for the telephone call I received from him last night. I am aware that he is extremely passionate about this issue and I know it is very close to his heart. I want to tell the Minister about a family in Gaza. Yesterday morning, multiple generations of the al-Kulak family, at least 17 people, were killed. The youngest victim, Qusay al-Kulak, was six months old and the oldest, Saadia al-Kulak, was 84. That is an entire family, a tota…

I will start by defining the word, "apartheid" as I will use that word throughout my speech. We all know that apartheid is defined as a policy of segregation and political, social and economic discrimination. I believe that the discrimination being practised by the Israeli State against the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories satisfies all the criteria to qualify as apartheid. The ethnic cleansing of areas of east Jerusalem with the support of the Israeli authorities must surely qualify as a war crime. T…

I second the amendment. I will speak to the motion and all of the proposed amendments. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is great to see him here. I commend Senator Seery Kearney on this great motion. It is really good and we have put some amendments into it to make it stronger. I am here on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group. We welcome the motion and its recognition of the important role home carers play and will continue to play in our society. Given the resounding message from the recent Citize…

I move amendment No. 2: After the fifth paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” to insert the following paragraph: “- ensure that where someone wishes to provide care to a family member who would prefer to remain at home rather than be placed in an institutional setting, every effort is made to provide the supports needed to make that possible;”

I move amendment No. 3: After the fifth paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” to insert the following paragraph: “- strengthen regulation of nursing homes and other residential care facilities;”

I move amendment No. 4: After the fifth paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” to insert the following paragraph: “- review and report on how the State’s policies and regulations around care can best align with the State’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD);”

I move amendment No. 5: After the fifth paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” to insert the following paragraph: “- publish a report outlining pathways to supported independent living in the community available to those seeking this option;”

I move amendment No. 6: After the fifth paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” to insert the following paragraph: “- publish a report on potential pathways towards a right to personal assistance services;”

I move amendment No. 7: In the second last paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” to delete “patients” and substitute “recipients of care”.

I move amendment No. 8: After the final paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” insert the following paragraph: “- engage in crisis management planning for home care around scenarios in which support services might experience disruption.”.

I am disappointed we did not get any of the amendments accepted today but I look forward to further engagement with the Minister of State. The Civil Engagement Group will definitely be following up on this.

I know that.

I second the amendment.