I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is a happy day for people in the Government because there is something for everybody in the audience and we should all be cheering. However, it would be remiss of me to stand here today and not find something wrong. From that point of view, budget 2025 has proved to me that Ireland is not a poor country by any measure. Indeed, our economy outperforms the economies of our EU peers for the most part. The question is this: are we good Europeans? Let me begin with my nor…

This is the first time I have addressed the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, since he was elevated to the role of Minister of State. He must be delighted with this budget today. I am dreading his Instagram account. He will be standing in front of housing estates all over south County Dublin talking about the great job he has done. In fairness, the budget is a good one. It would be remiss of me to say it is a great budget, but it is a good one. I am a bit disappointed, however, with the across-the-board €12 incre…

Better yet, instead of doing 1%, why did we not just take a whole tranche of people - the lower paid - out of that altogether? Lower-paid people are struggling. We need the people who work in jobs in the catering industry or in various support roles in hospitals and places like that. Why did we not just take them out of the USC altogether instead of benefiting people who can well afford to pay an extra few bob for the time being while the USC is still around? I am deeply concerned about the Apple tax. Let us put a …

I cannot help it if Fianna Fáil members were briefed on that last night. That is another day’s work, however. The bottom line is that the 2013 pension reform has to find its way into the manifestos of parties going forward for election because it is detrimental to the public service and absolutely detrimental to front-line services. I ask for the Minister of State’s assistance in this regard. As a former educator, I commend the Government on increasing the book scheme right up to leaving certificate. That is really…

Hear, hear.

My colleague, Senator Higgins, referred to the movement of weapons through Irish airspace. When asked about policing our airspace in a recent RTÉ radio interview, the Tánaiste replied that it would not be feasible in the Irish context. Will the Leader bring the Tánaiste to this Chamber to explain why he, as Minister for Defence, does not believe it is feasible for a sovereign state like Ireland to patrol and police its own airspace? It is outrageous that a Minister for Defence would say that. I agree with everythin…

He needs to explain what he meant by-----

-----not feasible in the Irish context.

We need him in here.

It is a pity the leaders of the country are not.

I welcome Senator Bradley to the House and congratulate her on her appointment. She can trust in me for any advice she needs about the place. I am one of the few independent voices in here. The Cathaoirleach will recall that during the passage of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 through this House a number of questions were put to the Minister with respect to the participation of members of local authorities. One of the bugbears at the time, which will interest most Members, was about local aut…

The Leader will know that over the last few years I have spoken quite a lot on the search and rescue contract that is now passing from CHC to Bristow. Today, I want to draw to the attention of the Leader, and perhaps she will draw it to the attention of the Minister, a crash that took place in February of this year in Norway. I refer to the Norwegian national oil and gas operator. The company that won the contract was going through what our search and rescue service is going through now, which is a transition from …

I too wish to be associated with John O'Mahony. He was a very decent man, a towering man. When you met him, you knew you were standing in the presence of greatness. I believe his last interview was given from his hospital bed. That would be the nature of the man. I extend my sympathy to John's family. I propose to amend the Order of Business to increase the time for the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024. Providing an hour and a half for this most significant legislation is outrageous. It will change so much about the D…

Yes. I ask that the Cathaoirleach do that. This is very important legislation. I make no secret of the fact that at the outset of the debate, I will ask the Tánaiste to withdraw the Bill and pause the debate altogether. I have legal advice that I will share with him when he comes to the House indicating there are constitutional issues with the legislation. We hear a lot of bad stuff about the Defence Forces. I want to put on the record the brave act of Sgt. John Ainsworth in Galway, who was driving by the Corrib wh…

Yes.

Under Standing Order 62(3)(b) I request that the division be taken again other than by electronic means.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 9, lines 10 and 11, to delete “in relation to a political matter or matter of Government policy” and substitute “except on a matter of political controversy”.

I welcome the Tánaiste back to the House. At the last meeting here his colleague and spokesperson on defence in the Seanad raised a very important issue. It related to members of a GAA club or credit union, for example, and the fact that, here it is required that they state their occupation, they would clearly be recognised and identified as a member of the Defence Forces. On foot of that interjection by Senator Wilson, I took independent legal advice over the last few days and I have that advice with me today. I w…

Or identifiable.

We have actually talked ourselves into a more confused state this afternoon.