The amendment seeks to preserve the validity of forensic reports and expert opinions. It avoids delays in trials caused by re-examining evidence, with no extra resources required for evidence management. It also protects the work of technical and digital forensic teams. It would serve to maintain confidence in the justice process, having been drafted with input from forensic and legal practitioners. It safeguards the admissibility of technical evidence and expert testimony. We are happy the Minister of State is not…

I will share time with my colleague Senator Higgins. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House today. I welcome the Cathaoirleach of the foreign affairs committee, Deputy John Lahart, here as well. For over a year and a half, we have been confronted with scenes in Gaza that are so horrific that they haunt us long after our screens go dark. Only this week, we saw the devastating image of a child crawling through the flames of a makeshift hospital camp trying to get to safety. More than 55,000 people, Palest…

They are legally binding, though. It is just a matter of accepting that.

I welcome these statements on the local democracy task force. I was proud to be a member of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee in the previous Seanad. We heard some very powerful testimonies from all over the country, from councillors and local government representative organisations North and South, who work at the coalface of their communities, to party leaders, former Ministers and many different experts in local government. The process was very valuable to us as Senators and members of the committee as we…

I thank my colleague Senator Stephenson for giving me the list of names of children who have been murdered in Gaza at zero years of age. It is too hard to read out the names. I will have to leave some out because we will not have enough time to read them all. What is happening in Gaza is an absolute horror show. We are all watching live on video but it is not a show or a film; this is really happening today. People are getting wiped out. They are being starved to death and we are all watching it going on. It is abs…

Last week, I was very heartened to see Senator Manus Boyle raise the defective concrete block crisis, an issue that continues to devastate lives across Donegal and beyond. There are many urgent matters relating to this crisis that remain unaddressed. Just last week, for example, the four 100% Redress party councillors took the drastic step of walking out of a meeting of Donegal County Council. This was an act of sheer frustration at the persistent lack of engagement from the Government and, in particular, the Minis…

The Irish Neutrality League held a significant press conference this morning, when a coalition of Opposition TDs and Senators united to urge our Government to heed the voices of the people. Time and time again, polls have shown that the majority of our population remains steadfastly committed to maintaining our neutrality. We must call on the Government to halt any efforts that could undermine our democracy and damage our international standing as a beacon of peace, particularly in light of its plans to abolish the…

I wish to hand my time over to Senator Higgins to respond to the Minister, if that is okay.

That is grand, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for being here today, and I will speak to section 2. The intention of this Private Members' Bill is to prevent Ireland from being actively complicit in Israel's ongoing genocide in Palestine. It is not a claim we make lightly. The International Court of Justice warned us 14 months ago that Israel was plausibly committing the crime of genocide in Gaza. Ever since that ruling, Ireland, as a signatory of the Genocide Convention, has been le…

Yesterday morning I woke up to the devastating news of what is happening again in Gaza. Innocent people are being murdered. Men, women and children are being blown to bits again by Netanyahu and his army. These are people who are already starving and have no healthcare. Some of the videos are absolutely harrowing, devastating and outrageous. The world is watching. We are all standing here saying "Oh my goodness, isn't it terrible and isn't it awful?" My god, nobody is doing anything. There are absolutely no consequ…

It is vital to raise the issue of Ireland's policy of military neutrality, which is now under clear threat from this Government. I am deeply concerned by reports that the Tánaiste, Deputy Harris, has begun preparations for the purchase of a fleet of fighter jets at a cost to the Exchequer of between €60 million and €100 million per year. In light of yesterday's formal approval by Cabinet of the dismantling of the triple lock, this is extremely alarming. Ireland's long and proud tradition of military neutrality is u…

I thank the Minister of State for being here and offer him huge congratulations on his recent appointment. I think back to 2016 when we used to sit over there and have the craic on that side of the House, so it is great to see where he is today. I look forward to working with him on issues across his brief in the coming term. I start by paying tribute to the millions of Irish people who live beyond the shores of our island, whether they emigrated recently or claim Irish heritage or ancestry, and to all who feel a m…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad and congratulate him on his recent appointment. I look forward to working with him across his important brief in the coming term. I am grateful to the Fine Gael Senators for bringing forward this important and timely motion on care, supports and the enhanced provision of services for older people. It is certainly an area in urgent need of political will, resources and funding by the Government. I welcome the commitments relating to older people in the recently published…

I wish to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Donegal caused by the defective concrete blocks crisis. I was there myself recently and met with the families. It is absolutely devastating. We must consider the families, including the elderly and vulnerable within those families. They are trapped in homes that are structurally unsound and plagued by damp and mould. Children are actually at most risk and citizens are suffering from constant respiratory issues, while babies are exposed to hazardous spores in t…

I apologise for not being here last week to hear everybody's maiden speeches. I congratulate both colleagues who were re-elected and those new people who have just been elected. I am truly honoured to have been re-elected to Seanad Éireann. I thank all those who voted for me. I must highlight the position regarding the occupied territories Bill. We all know that the situation to which it relates has become a crisis in the seven years since I introduced the legislation. Thankfully, there is a ceasefire in Gaza today…

I move: "That Senator Eileen Flynn be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach." It is a great honour to propose my friend and colleague Senator Eileen Flynn for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad. Eileen is not just a Senator; she is a beacon of hope and change for many. Prior to her election in 2020 she had dedicated more than a decade of her life as a human rights activist and a community worker. Eileen has tirelessly championed essential causes, advocating for housing rights, marriage equality and antiracism.…

I met homeowners from Donegal yesterday who were living in a nightmare situation because of mica and pyrite in their homes. This is a serious issue that thousands of property owners in Donegal are experiencing. Due to a failure to properly regulate quarries, it is estimated that up to 30,000 homes and many thousands of commercial properties have been built using defective concrete products. It is believed that the problem affects up to 16 counties. It is particularly prevalent in Donegal. I thank Councillor Joy Bea…

I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 10 be taken before No. 1." I am introducing today my Private Members' legislation, the Local Government (Support for Elected Members) Bill 2024. I am grateful to my colleague, Senator Flynn, for seconding the Bill. This Bill is very simple. If passed, it would amend the Local Government Act 2001 to require that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage would create a new scheme to support the work of local councillors in their roles as…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide administrative support for elected members of local authorities to assist in the performance of their duties; to amend the Local Government Act 2001; and to provide for related matters.

Next Tuesday.