Four minutes each. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We move to the Cross-Party Group. Members are sharing time. Is that agreed? Agreed. I call Senator Stephenson.

You do indeed but I must suspend now because there is a vote in the Dáil. We will resume with the remainder of Senator Flynn's speech. I apologise for that.

Before we suspend, I understand that the Deputy Leader might have a motion to extend the debate. I apologise to Senator Flynn.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I move: That the Bill be recommitted in respect of amendments Nos. 106 to 115, inclusive.

Is cuimhin liom go maith agus mé ag fás aníos sna hochtódaí agus sna nóchadaí a bheith ag féachaint ar an Carroll’s Irish Open sa ghailf nó an Benson & Hedges Irish Masters sa snúcar. Ag an am sin, bhí urraíocht forleathan in imeachtaí spóirt ós na comhlachtaí móra tabac. Cén fáth go raibh an urraíocht sin chomh láidir is a bhí? Go simplí, ós rud é gur éirigh leis na feachtais urraíochta sin na milliúin punt sa bhreis a thuilleamh dos na comhlachtaí tabac agus daoine ag caitheamh toitíní áirithe. Diaidh ar ndiaidh,…

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Brophy, go dtí an Seanad tráthnóna inniu chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn mar gheall ar an mBille um Chosaint Idirnáisiúnta, 2026. I welcome the International Protection Bill before us. I believe that, as detailed by the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, it provides the reforms needed to ensure that our asylum system in Ireland is both fair and effective. The Bill lays the legislative groundwork, as detailed by the Minister of State, for the implementati…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, as ucht teacht isteach go dtí an Seanad anocht chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn. Ar an gcéad dul síos, aontaím leis an méid atá ráite ag na Seanadóirí sa díospóireacht go dtí seo, an méid atá ráite ag na Seanadóirí Curley, Mullen agus Kyne ach go háirithe, mar gheall ar an gá atá ann díriú isteach ar an obair atá le déanamh ag an Rialtas agus againn mar pholaiteoirí le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus leis na comhairleoirí contae go léir do na contaetha ina mbíonn Gael…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an gcinneadh a thóg an tAire Oideachais agus Óige, an Teachta Hildegarde Naughton, inné mar gheall ar chúntóirí riachtanas speisialta sna scoileanna ar fud na tíre. With specific reference to an outstanding community, which has been at the heart of the community which I represent for over 40 years, Scoil Barra National School in Ballincollig, I received a high volume of emails and phone calls from school management, teachers, parents and other members of the wider school community in relation to…

Chomh maith le gach éinne eile, cuirim fáilte roimh feisirí Pharlaimint na hEorpa. Tá sé an-tábhachtach iad a fheiscint istigh sa Teach seo. Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur mar gheall ar mhéadú an Aontais. I ask for an update on the current status of the applications to join the European Union by ten accession countries, in particular, the applications of Montenegro and Ukraine. Is it envisaged that progress will be made during the term of Ireland's Presidency in the latter half of this year?

Ba mhaith liom rud éigin a rá mar gheall ar líon na ngardaí i gCorcaigh go háirithe. On previous occasions, I have listened to the Leader speak about disproportionate capital investment in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area. I have made the same point in relation to the Southern Regional Assembly area. When compared to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly area, this area receives disproportionate capital investment, which is very important for infrastructure. The allocation of gardaí in our areas …

I call on Senator Cosgrove to speak, but before I do so, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has indicated that after the contributions of the proposer and seconder, she wishes to speak on that point.

It is the Senator's intention to speak for 11 minutes, after which Senator Harmon will speak for five minutes Is that agreed? Agreed.

Sula n-iarraim ar an Aire Stáit freagra a thabhairt, cuirim fáilte roimh Cara Donnelly. Cara is very welcome to Seanad Éireann. Cara is a niece of the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth. Anois, glaoim ar an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Butler.

Sula nglaoim ar an gcéad Seanadóir eile, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh cuairteoirí. I welcome the residents group from Ballytarsna, County Carlow, who are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and Senator Daly. They are very welcome and we hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. Glaoim ar Sheanadóir Clonan.

Is mian liom, ar son Sheanadóirí Fhine Gael, ár mbuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire, an Teachta O’Callaghan, as teacht isteach tráthnóna chun páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht seo. Cuirim fáilte roimhe. Cuirim fáilte chomh maith roimh an méid atá leagtha amach sa Bhille seo agus an dul chun cinn atá molta chun cumhachtaí breise a thabhairt do bhaill an Gharda Síochána ar fud na tíre. Cuirim fáilte áirithe roimh na moltaí a bhaineann le cumhachtaí breise ó thaobh gléasanna leictreonacha a chuardach. De réir mar a thag…

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and call on Senator Kyne to move the motion.

Sula n-iarrfaimid ar an Aire freagra a thabhairt ar son an Rialtais, cuirim fáilte roimh dhaltaí ón CBS i nDún Dealgan. I welcome the pupils from CBS primary school Dundalk. They are guests of Deputy Paula Butterly. As is the tradition in Seanad Éireann, they will have no homework for the rest of the week, so they are clear for today and tomorrow.

I call Senator Kyne.