Senator Andrews was a Government Deputy at the time.

I dtosach báire ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Richmond, atá anseo anocht chun an rún seo a phlé. I know that this is an area in which the Minister of State has a particular interest and an area in which he has done a lot of work. It is great to see him here this evening. As a member of Fine Gael, the united Ireland party, I welcome this evening's motion on Irish unity and the continued discussions relating to the huge amount of preparatory work that needs to be done to pave the way fo…

I understand Senator Tully is sharing time.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

If there is nobody else offering, I call Senator Murphy, the proposer, to conclude the debate.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I often think of the seanfhocal "Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí" when dealing with and interacting with young people, particularly young people involved in community groups and organisations, because young people are the future of our society, and our clubs and organisations. We need them to participate for our organisations to survive and thrive. I was recently contacted by Ms Bebhinn Lombard, the Munster regional organiser of Young Fine Gael, about an issue of concern that has arisen on the campus of UCC pertainin…

The Minister of State is very welcome. I promised some latitude.

I welcome the former Senator, TD and Minister Paudie Coffey, Paul Fox and Belén Martí from Edwards Lifesciences. They are all very welcome to the Chamber. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

I welcome our colleague Senator Aubrey McCarthy, who is here with the board members of Tiglin, a homelessness and addiction charity that does fantastic work. Tá fáilte romhaibh ar fad.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: acknowledges that: - Irish people have emigrated throughout the world in times of famine and during times of economic difficulties and have helped build cities and communities wherever they went; - Ireland benefits from migration; - immigration to Ireland has been increasing in line with our increased prosperity; - we are a small, open economy which relies on trade and investment to deliver economic and jobs growth, and raise living standards; - thousands of people come to Ireland to wo…

I am sharing time with Senator Cathal Byrne.

The Minister of State is no stranger to the Seanad Chamber, and nor is his colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, who has been very forthcoming with his time in coming here to debate these issues. That is something for which we are all very grateful. Nuair a smaoiníonn muid ar chúrsaí imirce, is fíorthábhachtach an rud é smaoineamh ar ár stair, ár seanmhuintir agus ár n-oidhreacht. I gcás fhormhór na ndaoine sa tSeomra inniu, rugadh ár sin-seantuismitheoirí am éigin ag deireadh na 19ú haoise. Rugadh a seantuis…

Uair amháin eile, gabhaim ár mbuíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Brophy, as ucht teacht isteach chun éisteacht linn, as an óráid láidir sin a thug sé tar éis éisteacht linn agus as an rún atá os ár gcomhair anocht a phlé. On some of the issues raised during the course of the debate, I should first say that, like others, I am delighted the debate was carried out in a very respectful manner with different views exchanged. As Senator Joe Conway said, it was carried out in a spirit of decency. That is to be welcom…

The availability of accurate information was referenced by a number of Senators during the course of the debate. This is absolutely key so we can take a stand against the politics of hatred, division, misinformation and, very often, the deliberate conflation of issues that relate to migration but are not necessarily interconnected. The issue of international protection was raised, and one Senator was critical of the Government making an issue of the fact the numbers seeking international protection had escalated. F…

I dtosach báire, déanaim mo chomhbhrón leis na teaghlaigh ar fad a bhí bainteach leis an tubaiste uafásach a bhí againn i gContae Lú. Chomh maith le cuid mhór Seanadóirí eile, tugaim ómós dár gcomhghleacaí an Teachta Paschal Donohoe atá ag éirí as a phost mar Aire Airgeadais. Is duine cumasach tuisceanach cineálta é Paschal. Is duine é atá an-stuama ó thaobh chúrsaí airgeadais de. Bhí sé ag iarraidh go mbeadh an t-airgead againn an t-am ar fad nuair a bhí sé ag teastáil, cosúil leis an bpaindéim a bhí againn agus a…

First, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus roimh an mBille atá os ár gcomhair inniu. I commend Senator Flynn and her colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group on the great work they have done on this. It is not a question of the Government taking their work, running with it and rebranding it. Senator Flynn earlier said that she would like her daughters to be proud of her and the change that she has made. The spirit of what is being proposed is being adequately dealt with. The soft reference to child pornography i…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O'Sullivan, agus gabhaim buíochas leis as teacht isteach inniu. Tugaim mo tacaíocht don leasú tábhachtach atá os ár gcomhair anocht. As the Minister of State outlined in his opening remarks, what we are doing here is legislating for an increase in the statutory borrowing limit. If we do so, it will be the seventh occasion on which this has been done since 1981. My colleague, Senator Murphy, has already outlined the urgency behind this, given the potential shortfall that…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach agus leis an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach maidin inniu le héisteacht liom an todhchaí Ghaelscoil an Chaisleáin i mBaile an Chollaigh a phlé. Tús maith leath na hoibre a dheireann phobal na Gaeilge i gcónaí, agus is fíor é sin i gcás Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin ar an taobh iarthar de Bhaile an Chollaigh i gCorcaigh. Tá tús maith faighte ag an scoil. Le breis is ocht mbliana anuas bhí ceannaireacht aislingeach ón bpríomhoide iontach Máire Bean Uí Shé agus ón bhfoireann ar…