I thank the Minister of State for his understanding of the issue. His points were spot on - why wait when the demand is already there? I appreciate the Minister of State coming in and that he was given notes by the Department but I dispute that there is adequate accommodation in the school at the moment. We as a school community need to address that to ensure the correct decision is arrived at. Otherwise, it would be a waste of money. This is not something new. In 1987, a second secondary school was built in Ballin…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach, go háirithe nuair nach raibh sé ag súil leis an díospóireacht thiubh. Chomh maith le mo chomhghleacaithe eile, tá imní orainn faoin méid atá ag tarlúint. Like Senator Kyne, I am deeply concerned about the interception of the flotilla. As my colleagues, Senators Comyn and O'Loughlin, have alluded to, this is of deep concern. I am happy that the Tánaiste, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and those in the Department of foreign affairs are doing everything i…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Smyth, as ucht teacht isteach. Cuirim fáilte roimh an rún atá os ár gcomhair tráthóna inniu ó Sheanadóirí Fhianna Fáil. Is tábhachtach an rud é gach iarracht gur féidir linn a dhéanamh ón tír seo teacht ar réiteach ar an gcoimhlint sa Mhéan-Oirthear agus deireadh a chur leis an gcogadh. In response to the unspeakable murder by Hamas of almost 1,200 innocent Israelis and foreign nationals and the taking hostage of more than 250 others on 7 October 2023, the Prime Ministe…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Brophy, agus gabhaim buíochas leis as ucht teacht isteach chuig an Seanad inniu. Mar is eol dúinn, tagann sé isteach chugainn go rialta chun ábhair éagsúla a phlé agus is fíorthábhachtach é an t-ábhar atá os ár gcomhair inniu, ábhar a bhfuil an tAire Stáit freagrach as. Chomh maith leis sin, cuirim fáilte roimh Martin. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal leis ina phost nua. Ar aon le han-chuid daoine eile anseo agus ar fud na tíre, chaith mé cúpla tréimhse thar lear ag o…

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer agus an Aire, an Teachta O’Brien as ucht bheith i láthair sa Seanad inniu chun cúrsaí iompair a phlé linn. Mar atá déanta ag Seanadóirí eile, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an mbeirt acu. I have listened with interest to all the contributions to the debate thus far and there is a common thread among many of them. This was something that was raised in a debate we had previously on balanced regional development, that is, the disproportiona…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta O'Callaghan, atá ar ais sa Seanad chun an leasú seo don Bhille um Chlúmhilleadh a mhíniú dúinn agus a phlé linn. In broad terms I welcome this amending Bill. As the Minister has outlined, it includes many necessary and progressive provisions that will improve the laws and legal proceedings in the area of defamation. I especially welcome the proposal to include provisions to counteract the possibilities of SLAPPs. These are effectively actions taken with the intent of silencin…

Were the comments withdrawn? Can this be clarified?

On a point of order, there was a contribution in which the integrity and impartiality of the Minister was questioned and a Senator was asked to withdraw the comments. I want to clarify whether those comments have been withdrawn.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(4)) (Data Protection Commission) Regulations 2025, Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(4)) (Information Commissioner) Regulations 2025, Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(4)) (Comptroller and Auditor General) Regulations 2025, copies of which were laid in draft before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2025.

Is maith an rud é a bheith in ann fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Collins, arís chuig an Seanad chun an tAcht um Chosaint Sonraí, 2018 a mhíniú agus, go háirithe, na rialacháin atá os ár gcomhair inniu a phlé. We in the Fine Gael group recognise the importance of a positive resolution of the three draft regulations before us today and of striking the right balance between enabling certain State bodies to carry out their regulatory and oversight roles while also recognising the need to protect the righ…

I am sharing time with Senator Cathal Byrne. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht teacht isteach arís chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé linn. Again, I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber to articulate the importance of the common European asylum system and in particular the EU migration and asylum pact. In an enlarged European Union and at a time of volatility on the international stage with conflicts in different countries, it has become even more important that we work together with our European partners. I th…

Even though we are often on opposing sides, I join colleagues in commending the bravery of Senator Ryan. It was, without doubt, one of the most powerful contributions I have heard since coming into this Chamber. I thank her for her contribution and for putting it into context. We can sometimes be removed from issues we are discussing but the Senator's contribution was very real and very brave. I thank her for saying what she said, wish her every success and sincerely hope the amendment is accepted.

I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2025 and ending on 29th June, 2026.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé linn inniu. As with the two previous speakers, on behalf of the Fine Gael group, I rise to speak in support of the two motions before the House. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his comprehensive opening statement in which he outlined the importance of the House passing both motions this afternoon. In relation to the motions pertaining to the review of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act and the Criminal Justice …

Mar aon leis na Seanadóirí eile, gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as teacht isteach tráthnóna inniu chun forbairt chothrom sna réigiúin ar fad a phlé linn. Tá sé níos tábhachtaí i réigiúin an deiscirt, an iarthair agus an tuaiscirt. Tá an méid céanna ráite ag an-chuid Seanadóirí go dtí seo. Like so many other Senators, I will address disproportionate regional investment. The disproportionate regional investment in respect of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern and…

I welcome the debate that has taken place. I welcome to the Gallery Mary Crilly from the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, who has done tremendous work in this area for more than four decades, for which she was awarded the freedom of Cork. I am very happy with the way the debate on the Bill has proceeded. I seek clarification on the wording of amendment No. 44. It proposes to "insert the term "Child Pornography" with "Child Sexual Abuse Material". I believe the intention, in fact, is to replace the term "Child Pornograp…

Tomorrow at 9.30.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I dtosach báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, and I acknowledge the work he has done in the area of migration to date and wish him every success in his term in office. The Minister of State outlined plainly what we are considering, namely an opt-in that does not necessarily tie us to a particular course of action. Neither will it amount to a commitment by Ireland to any agreement. We will engage in a process and by doing so now rather than at a later stage, w…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste as ucht teacht chuig an Teach inniu chun labhairt agus éisteacht linn mar gheall ar na heachtraí ar fad i nGaza agus conas is féidir linn, mar thír bheag i bhfad ón gcoimhlint, tionchar dearfach a bheith againn ar chúrsaí agus ár mballraíocht den Aontas Eorpach a úsáid chun dul i mbun oibre leis na ballstáit eile chun todhchaí níos fearr a chruthú do mhuintir an Mheánoirthir go léir. To put my contribution in context, I will clarify that I and pretty much all of those with whom I h…

I want to re-emphasise the importance of working with Senator Frances Black, who has done such excellent work to ensure the Houses of the Oireachtas pass the occupied territories Bill.