Today marks three months since the start of the war in Ukraine. I want to first acknowledge the Cathaoirleach for visiting Kyiv last week, along with the Ceann Comhairle, and for showing the solidarity that we as a country should show Ukraine.

He met with President Zelenskyy and with the Prime Minister. There is a worrying trend within the European Union in the conversation of where the war is going in Ukraine by putting pressure on Ukraine to negotiate with Putin. The Cathaoirleach was there last week. He knows that Ukraine is winning this war. Russia is retreating. Now is not the time to be asking Ukraine to negotiate with an army and country that are losing. Ukraine will win this war. We have seen even this morning other atrocities in Mariupol, where …

The first phase of the redevelopment of Kickham Barracks in Clonmel is under way, in conjunction with the building of a sports hub just outside the town. This involves funding received in the context of the urban regeneration development fund and allocated by the then Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government several years ago. It is an exciting and significant project for Clonmel. Last year, however, a second phase application was submitted by the county council, involving an ambitious proposal for a fu…

I acknowledge National Bike Week. I am from a county where we have two people who have won the green jersey in the Tour de France, Seán Kelly and, recently, Sam Bennett. We have been quite successful. I acknowledge the positive role cycling plays. I cycle quite a lot. I did a cycle around the peninsula of Dingle a couple of weeks ago and was not the better for it for a couple of days because I had not done it in a good while, but it is a great activity. It brings peace of mind. We have wonderful infrastructure now …

Last weekend, we in the Fine Gael Party had a very successful meeting in Tullamore in respect of agriculture and rural Ireland. Hundreds of people were there and wanted to give their views on what we, as a Government, could do to support them. It was a listening exercise for us. As a party, we have always prided ourselves on representing rural Ireland and farmers. Many people from my county were there. In that context, could I ask that we have a debate on rural Ireland and farming because we are the party that crea…

Has the Cathaoirleach ever gone in there?

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. It is good that we are able to celebrate Europe Day and make statements on it. Ireland as a country is the perfect example of why the European Union is a success and we have benefitted on the back of that. It is important to acknowledge that if it were not for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporting this country in joining the European Union, it would not have happened and all the benefits on the back of that would not have happened either, or at least not unti…

I agree with the Senator's comments. We had a very good discussion on Second Stage, and the Bill was supported throughout. The fact that there are no amendments underlines that assertion. I thank the Minister of State for his time.

Senator Ward and I had the harrowing but insightful experience of visiting Kyiv in Ukraine for two days at the invitation of the Chairman of its parliament. We were the first two parliamentarians to visit that parliament, and it has asked that people keep visiting because doing so shows the EU's support for Ukraine and opposes Russia's propaganda. We visited Bucha where 117 people from ten years of age upwards were murdered simply because they were Ukrainian citizens. We visited Borodianka which was the first town …

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to take this matter. This is an important issue and the fact that the Minister of State is here is evidence of that. This matter arose on foot of the publication of a directive from the European Commission on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence. Most people across Europe would welcome that document but there is one aspect of it that is of concern, namely, the absence of a specific clause on the protection and empowerment of human rights defe…

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. He is right that the proposal is at a very early stage and the most important aspect to take into account is his openness. He has said that he is "committed to ensuring that the interests and rights of all stakeholders are appropriately protected under the proposal and should it be warranted consider whether it is necessary for specific stakeholders to be defined under the directive", which is a fair reply and I thank him. Ms Mary Lawlor, the UN's special rap…

A number of months ago we had the great announcement of sports capital grants for about 1,900 successful applicants across the country and some €140 million was invested into sports clubs, which has been hugely welcomed by those clubs. It is the largest sports capital investment that has been given to clubs since the measure was reintroduced by a Fine Gael Government a number of years ago. An appeals process is taking place and €6 million in funding has been put aside for same. A GAA club in Tipperary, Clerihan GAA…

I too congratulate the Cathaoirleach on the address by President Zelenskyy today and thank him for his contribution on behalf of us in the Seanad. In highlighting the case of the mother and five-year-old daughter who have travelled to Ireland, he described the decisions we are making and the challenges we face. What is happening is all being done in the best interests of the citizens of Ukraine and giving them some sort of opportunity to have a life and a roof over their heads while they are here. As the Taoiseach …

I ask the Deputy Leader for some information or to seek a debate with the Minister for Justice regarding Garda stations, especially the proposed new Garda station in Clonmel. It is in the capital building programme, along with a new station in Macroom and the children's court. Clonmel Garda station is ready to go, just like Macroom is, but it is being held up in the process because of the children's court in Dublin. It is hugely frustrating. We have ambitious and amazing plans for a new Garda station on the site of…

I thank the Cathaoirleach; I think that is his official title for today anyway. I thank him for stepping up to make today possible. It is appreciated. I thank the Minister for coming into the House. He is always very good. When anyone has a Commencement matter, as lead Minister, he always comes in and takes it. As someone from a farm of tillage farmers, it is first important to note that we often feel as though we are forgotten farmers in the scheme of things. Dairy, beef, pig and sheep take much of the coverage bu…

I thank the Minister very much for his detailed response. I raised the matter of supporting farmers with the rising cost of fertiliser in recent months and he came to the House on that occasion to respond to it. We discussed the matter before Christmas. We have one party in government with us that will be in up in arms with this suggestion. Is there a way to support tillage farmers with the cost of fertiliser? If we are trying to increase the production of crops, being honest, the quickest way to do that is to add …

If Senator Gavan could convince his councillors to actually vote in favour of housing projects, we might have more in towns like Castleconnell----

-----than the five being built. There are thousands throughout the country that have been refused.

We have members of Sinn Féin who have never in their time as public representatives ever voted for housing projects and yet claim they will be able to solve the housing crisis. I was in the House yesterday and I listened to very fitting contributions by a number of Senators, including the Leas-Chathaoirleach, on the very sad passing of Mr. David Hill at the weekend. I was playing with Senator McGahon and Deputy Richmond in the game on Saturday at which David lost his life. It was a real tragedy and very upsetting. …

I will follow on from some of the previous contributors' comments on the announcement yesterday on the cut in fuel costs, including diesel prices. While it is welcome, it is utterly pointless if we have petrol stations around the country increasing their prices by the amount by which we are reducing them. I have had phone calls from people in Tipperary who saw those increases happen within 24 hours of the suspected announcement and then further changes following the announcement. That really is shameful when people…