Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to sit again?.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Thar cheann Fhine Gael, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Bille um an Dlí Coiriúil, an Dlí Sibhialta agus Cosaint (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha), 2026. On behalf of the Fine Gael Group, I welcome all 75 sections of the Bill before us today and the consequential amendments that will be made to existing Acts in the areas of criminal law, civil law and defence. Parts 2 and 6 and section 71 all relate directly or indirectly to the Prison Service. Part 2 seeks to provide an exemption for prison officer…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Mar atá ráite aige, is riachtanach an rud é a bheith ag obair lenár gcomhghleacaithe san Aontas Eorpach i réimse na coireachta idirnáisiúnta. Tá sé tábhachtach go n-úsáidfí na téarmaí céanna i ndlíthe na hÉireann is atá á húsáid ag baill stáit eile an Aontais Eorpaigh. On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the proposal to opt in to the directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms related offences. This is a progressive and important step that will enable us to …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta O'Callaghan, agus ba mhaith liom ár mbuíochas a ghabháil leis as ucht teacht inár measc anocht agus páirt lárnach a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht. Thar ceann Fhine Gael, fáiltím roimh an mBille atá os ár gcomhair anocht. Is céim thar a bheith tábhachtach agus fhorásach í an Bille seo i dtreo feabhas a chur ar na cosaintí atá againne inár gcóras ceartais choiriúil dóibh siúd atá i mbaol foréigean teaghlaigh nó foréigean baile. On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the Bill b…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus gabhaim buíochas leis as teacht isteach. Gan amhras, fáiltím roimh an mBille atá os ár gcomhair inniu. Is tábhachtach an rud é guth níos láidre a thabhairt d'Údarás na Gaeltachta agus do mhuintir na nGaeltachtaí ar fud na tíre, go háirithe mar is iad na daoine atá lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht agus na daoine atá ag déileáil leis na scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht, ag tacú leo, ag cruthú post agus ag forbairt gnóthaí sa Ghaeltacht. Is iad seo na daoine is tábhachtaí. Tá siad ag obair i measc phob…

Dé Máirt seo chugainn.

I had occasion to visit Anglesea St. Garda station in Cork with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on a visit to Cork recently. Without wishing to divulge anything I should not divulge, we saw a room in which the surveillance cameras in various locations in the city were being monitored by An Garda Síochána. It was a hugely impressive operation. This is video surveillance at its best to keep our communities safe. I am open to correction on this, but there may be an inference in what is being said regarding biometric…

I have listened with interest to the debate this evening. I have a certain sympathy for the position articulated by Senator Ruane, particularly in relation to a disproportionate number of searches being carried out in certain communities. She cited some numbers in relation to breaches of the Covid regulations and mentioned the communities that were most impacted by those searches and the penalties that followed. That predates my own time on the justice committee but it was very interesting to hear about it as part …

I am not doubting that there is a lot of merit in what is being said by Senators Ruane and McDowell. I did not take the opportunity to congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and to welcome her. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal léi sa ról nua atá aici. Guím gach rath uirthi mar Aire Stáit. In the spirit of what happened previously, the Minister of State might take on board the debate and see if some consideration can be given to the views that have been expressed here this evening, because ultimatel…

On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the Bill before us. As the Minister articulated in his opening remarks, it is a step forward in fulfilling the obligations made under the programme for Government, especially in the support of Garda use of artificial intelligence. Again, this is the type of thing that we would speak about in this Chamber on numerous occasions, particularly in relation to Garda powers and legislation on a broader basis to deal with modern challenges faced today that would not have been enc…

Chomh maith leis na Seanadóirí eile ar fad, déanaim comhghairdeas leis na Teachtaí Dála nua atá againn, Seán Kyne agus Daniel Ennis, as ucht na mbuanna a bhí acu sna fothoghcháin an tseachtain seo caite. I gcás Sheáin, is iontach an rud é a bheith ag cloisteáil na ráiteas ar fad ó na Seanadóirí, go háirithe Seanadóirí an Fhreasúra, agus na dea-rudaí atá le rá acu mar gheall air. The Fine Gael Group knows the enormously positive contribution Seán made. As the group was primarily made up of first-time Senators, it wa…

I understand Senator Harmon is sharing time with Senator Cosgrove. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Senator. We have about eight minutes until I am due to call the Minister to respond to the debate and we have four people looking to speak. That puts us under time pressure. Are all four speakers happy with two minutes each?

I thank the Minister but, unfortunately, we cannot as the next item will be starting at 6.15 p.m., so we will keep it to two minutes if is that agreed. Agreed.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. I thank all Senators for their understanding of the curtailed speaking time. I apologise for being a bit stricter than usual with my use of the bell.

Ten minutes.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Aire, agus gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí ar fad a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht.

Is é an t-ábhar gur mhaith liom labhairt faoi inniu ná wigs agus go háirithe an cháin bhreisluacha a bhíonn le híoc ag daoine a bhfuil ailse acu, daoine atá ag déileáil le chemotherapy nó alopecia agus an caillteanas gruaige a tharlaíonn dá bharr. I wish to raise the issue of what I believe to be an unfair VAT charge on medical wigs, which are primarily purchased by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or people with alopecia who suffer hair loss. While some European countries have a point-of-sale VAT exemption …