On prevailing side: this member voted with the winning side in 236 of 237 decisive votes (0 abstentions excluded). Read it as a government-or-opposition indicator rather than a measure of influence — the figure is near 100% for members supporting the government of the day and near 0% for those opposing it.
This is the point of the site: contributions keep the party held on the day, not the one held now.
| Party | Recorded as | Contributions | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC | Ceann Comhairle / Chair | 1,575 | 2020-03-20 – 2024-11-07 |
| FF | Fianna Fáil | 299 | 2020-01-21 – 2024-11-07 |
Membership spells on record: FF 2016-04-25–2020-03-29 · FF 2021-04-21–2025-01-29
We will now deal with the Committee and Remaining Stages of the Royal Hibernian Academy (Amendment of Charter) Bill 2023. This is an unusual debate because there is no Minister here. Senator Ward will deal with the amendment.
That concludes business. I thank Senators for their co-operation. When is it proposed to sit again?
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank all Members for their contributions. Amendment No. 1 has already been moved and seconded.
I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the group from the Newbridge active retired, who are guests of Senator O’Loughlin. I hope they enjoy their day in Leinster House, particularly in the Seanad Chamber, and travel safely home whenever they are heading back. We were on the last occasion discussing section 1 and that is where we resume. I invite Senators from the Labour Party group to speak first. I think they already spoke to the section, so if they do not want to do so again, I can put the question that …
I did not know who our other visitors were so I could not welcome them. They are very welcome as well.
I have given the Senator a lot of latitude.
That is fine. I am just conscious that the Minister of State may have to go in a minute. I want to try to get the business done beforehand. I am only joking.
It is a very sensitive topic and I was giving the Senator leeway. Section 1 is the definition section. It contains a one-line sentence.
We were not really talking about section 1 but I did allow some discussion. We are on Committee Stage now and have had the Second Stage debates. I appreciate that Second Stage was a long time ago. If Senator Dolan wants to talk about section 1, I will allow her, but otherwise I am going to put the question about section 1. Section 1 contains only a definition of the Bill.
The Acting Chair is being very neutral.
Amendments Nos. 1 and 2, in the names of Senators Doherty and Norris, respectively, are out of order as they are not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill.
Amendment No. 3, in the names of Senators Hoey, Moynihan, Sherlock and Wall, is out of order as it is not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill.
When is it proposed to take Report Stage?
When is it proposed to take the next Stage?
I thank the Minister for attending. If he would like to say something, he may. He does not have to say anything but I will let him.
The Minister of State is more than welcome to.
While being in the Chair, you have to be neutral about everything and not have an opinion. This is important and worthy legislation. There is hardly a family in the country that has not been touched by this issue. It is very sensitive, which is why I gave lots of latitude but I was conscious there was a vote. I was not sure if the Minister of State was paired and I wanted to get it done so we would not have to wait for him to come back and so we have done everything on that basis. Senator Wall wishes to say a few w…
I give my own appreciation and, I am sure, on behalf of everybody. There was full Government support in the Seanad, in fact, unanimous support for the work on this Bill, as the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and others outlined.
I ask the Acting Leader, Senator Crowe, when it is proposed to sit again.