I am really pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the programme for Government that I was pleased to negotiate with colleagues over the last number of weeks and months and one that sets out our priorities as a Government over the next five years. It is built on delivering a strong economy and a fair society and central to that is our education system. We have set out very clearly in the programme for Government that education is at the heart of all our ambitions as a country. Excellent and innovative education…

I acknowledge how important this school project is, not just for the Deputy but also for the wider community. The school capital projects overall entail a significant plan that we hope to see expanded in the years to come. The projects are well advanced but I want to ensure they can progress as quickly as possible. I look forward to working with the Deputy and, indeed, the school he has mentioned to ensure modular units can be put in place on site as quickly as possible, particularly for the year starting in Septem…

I am pleased to be back in the Seanad to outline the amendments made to the Bill by Dáil Éireann. Before introducing the amendments, I thank Senators for their interest in and constructive approach to development of this Bill as it progresses in this House. In this regard, I look forward to a continuation of the constructive approach adopted by the House to date. I note these amendments were also previously made in this House to address points made on Committee Stage. Reform of family justice, including enabling ac…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves, having regard to the definition of "the Agreement" in section 1 of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Act 1991 (No. 1 of 1991) (inserted by section 5 of the Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 (No. 3 of 2024)), the proposed amendments to Articles 1 and 12.1 of the Agreement establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the terms of which amendments shall read as follows: (i)…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: (i) approves, in accordance with Article 29.5.2° of Bunreacht na hÉireann , the terms of the Sixteenth General Review of Quotas adopted by the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund by Resolution 79-1 of 15th December, 2023, being an amendment to the State's subscription to the International Monetary Fund under Article III, Section 3(a) of the Fund Agreement (within the meaning of the Bretton Woods Agreements Act 1957 (No. 18 of 1957)), a copy of which was laid before Dáil …

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Article 29.5.2º of Bunreacht na hÉireann , approves the terms of the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, signed on 21st October, 2024, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 23rd October, 2024. I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the House for facilitating both of these motions today. I welcome the opportunity to address the Dáil on the Treaty on Extradition between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, and o…

I was not aware we had just elected a new President ourselves, but anyway.

I thank colleagues who know what we are talking about here for their support, in the most part, for this motion today. We all want the same thing here and the people of this country want the same thing. Where a person has committed a serious crime, where a group of individuals are spreading misery, mayhem, death and destruction across our communities, where they are dragging young people into lives of crime and misery, it is so important that they are held accountable in this country. That is what this is about. It…

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Article 29.5.2º of Bunreacht na hÉireann , approves the terms of the Treaty on Extradition between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, signed on 21st October, 2024, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 23rd October, 2024.

Do not shout at him.

And everything they say is true.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, to delete line 26. This series of amendments, including some related technical and consequential amendments, provides for the substitution of the provisions relating to the mechanisms of the making of family court rules and for certain practice and procedural matters in the family court divisions. While it was originally proposed when the Bill was published that there would be either a specific family law rules committee or family law subcommittee, I now consider that simpler and…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I think there is unanimity. I thank colleagues for the general broad support for the Bill. As I have said many times before, the overall objective of the Bill is to make sure that we can, insofar as possible, make what is often the most difficult time a family will go through that little bit easier by putting in place these structures, making our family courts more accessible, more affordable and, where possible, less adversarial. That is the overall objective of the Bill. I will respon…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 11, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “ “Act of 2024” means the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024;”. These amendments are to take account in the Family Courts Bill of certain family law related matters in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, particularly to proceedings under the Act related to parentage for children born through surrogacy. The President signed the Act into law this year and it contains a number of provisions to enable intending…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “(z) the Act of 2024;”.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 20, to delete lines 27 to 29 and substitute the following: “(4) In performing a function under subsection (1) or (3) , the Principal Judge of the Family High Court shall consult with the Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee.”.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 31, to delete lines 13 to 20 and substitute the following: “(4) In performing a function under subsection (1) or (3) , the Principal Judge of the Family Circuit Court shall— (a) consult with the Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee, and (b) ensure, in so far as is practicable, having regard to the nature and type of proceedings before the Family Circuit Court, that there is no conflict between the practice direction to be issued and practice directions that have been issued…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 45, to delete lines 1 to 8 and substitute the following: “(4) In performing a function under subsection (1) or (3) , the Principal Judge of the Family District Court shall— (a) consult with the Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee, and (b) ensure, in so far as is practicable, having regard to the nature and type of proceedings before the Family District Court, that there is no conflict between the practice direction to be issued and practice directions that have been issued…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 52, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “PART 6 RULES OF COURT IN FAMILY LAW PROCEEDINGS Amendment of Act of 1936 (Rules of Court) 51. The Act of 1936 is amended— (a) in section 67— (i) in subsection (2), by the substitution of “8” for “7”, (ii) in subsection (3), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (b): “(ba) the Principal Judge of the Family High Court,”, and (iii) in subsection (9), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (b)…

I move amendment No. 8: In page 52, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee 52. (1) The Principal Judges of the Family High Court, the Family Circuit Court and the Family District Court (in this section referred to as “the Family Courts”) and no more than 2 members of the staff of the Courts Service nominated by the Chief Executive of the Courts Service shall, subject to subsection (4) , meet as a committee, to be known as the Family Courts Practice and Procedu…