It states, "Committee and Remaining Stages".

That is not helping me.

That is the whole point.

That is no excuse.

Yes.

This is an important democratic question. Under Standing Order 83(3)(b) I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

Under Standing Order 83(3)(b) I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means. This is an important democratic question. It is legislation being-----

Before the Minister arrived in the House, I frustrated the Order of Business because of this Bill. I did so deliberately. I did so because I am a legislator and a Member of this House. As Senator McDowell said a short time ago, we are here to look at and analyse legislation and to propose amendments to improve it. For Second Stage to be before the House today and for all other Stages to be taken next Thursday is repugnant to that purpose. I know the Minister does not make those decisions but it is important to say …

I welcome the Government's mid-term review of the National Cyber Security Strategy 2019-2024, which was published in the last few days. Next week, I will bring a delegation of academics to Tallinn in Estonia to visit Foundation CR14, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, CCDCOE, and a number of other places. It is important that we get on top of our game with respect to cyber and cybersecurity. I am delighted that the National Cyber Security Centre is about to follow up on the suggestion I made s…

Last week, I was invited to Portsmouth for the commemoration of D-Day. From the moment I entered the commemoration area, everything I could possibly want was laid out for me. It got to the point that somebody came to me with suntan oil to protect my head. The reason for this was that I was wearing a veteran's badge. Contrast that with what happened at Blacksod the following day when the Defence Forces were supposed to have a ship in the bay and there was supposed to be a fly-past over the lighthouse. Hours before t…

The professions of paramedic and advanced paramedic are separate and individual. An advanced paramedic is able to insert cannulas into veins or arteries to administer pain relief or lifesaving drugs. The current search and rescue supplier in Ireland, CHC, uses advanced paramedics and has advanced paramedics on its crews. This means when they go to the most remote areas in Ireland to pick up people in accidents or for medical transfers, they are able to provide first-line medical treatment. The contract just awarded…

Currently, there is a debate going on in the other House on the triple lock. Somehow or other, the triple lock has got tied into neutrality. We will have a debate in this House, I assume, at some stage in the near future, on the triple lock. It is particularly embarrassing as I move around diplomatic circles in Dublin that people are telling me that elected Members of Parliament in this country do not understand neutrality, do not understand what the international law requirements of neutrality are, are mixing up n…

I know that, as a member of the media committee, the Acting Leader will have some interest in what I am about to say. Since the call for the European elections started, the short amount of time allocated to candidates on RTÉ News to try to get their points across is appalling. Then we get the also-running - people who might be less known. The ones who have some bit of a profile are brought onto the news and they are expected to make their pitch in three minutes. The also-running do not get on the six o'clock news. …

I was contacted by a county man of the Acting Leader's, Councillor Paddy McQuillan, regarding sports capital grants. It is quite shocking that the bureaucracy in this country sometimes goes totally and utterly crazy. Councillor McQuillan told me that local sports clubs work hard to get capital grants but when they are presented with the paperwork to make the application, it is so complex they have to bring in people who are expert in the completion of these documents. The cost of that is 3% of the grant. We should …

I also welcome the people from Castlebar. It is my mother’s home town. She is a Quigley from Snugborough. It is great to have them here and it is good of the father of the House to bring them. On a serious note, we had a debate in this House before the referendum. Serious questions were asked about the tax implications, the implications for social welfare law and other parts of the law. The answers that were given, I believe, misled this House. The Minister responsible must come to this House and explain how he ans…

The marine services serving Ireland are a vitally important part of our import and export trade. Our major harbours are served by pilots. Our pilots have no set of qualifications that they must adhere to. They have been looking for qualifications and training commensurate with what is available at other European ports but there is nobody interested in driving forward the professionalism of the service. The pilots are bringing in ships that are hundreds of thousands of tonnes in weight. They are bringing massive con…

What?

Very good. We might have a debate on hygiene, particularly for those working in hospitals. The Cathaoirleach has to shout when speaking to me.

I also congratulate the Minister of State on her elevation to Minister of State with responsibility for defence and European Affairs. As a proud European, I would love to be here speaking on the great things membership of the EU has delivered for Ireland. Sadly, I must devote time to the growing perception of Ireland as a nation of freeloaders weakening Europe and seen as the open back door with our waters viewed internationally as the Wild West. I will make a few key points. First, EU embassies in Dublin have offi…

I did not interrupt Senator Ward.