It is not normally provided for Private Member's business, or that is my-----

It was not sent to the press.

They do not have my speech.

Let me tell you - they do not have my speech.

Seriously. Do not even go there, Deputy McGrath.

I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne. I also thank Senator O'Loughlin, who seconded the Bill. As both Senators present outlined, there has been a worrying evolving trend of protests outside politicians' homes. While we all want to protect the right for people to protest peacefully, that trend has taken a more sinister and worrying direction. It is important that we do everything that we can to protect those who are democratically elected and have a mandate to represent their constituents and to work on behalf of this coun…

I welcome the initiative by the Labour Party in tabling this Private Members’ motion on gender-based violence. While these issues have been discussed both in this House and outside of it over the past number of weeks, it is important that we are having a focused discussion. Indeed, we will be having a further discussion this afternoon as well more broadly. The motion rightly commends the courage of Natasha O’Brien. I acknowledge her and the courage she has shown over the past few weeks. To reiterate, in our collect…

This is not the first time we have had to come together in the face of violent and horrifying circumstances. The murder of Ashling Murphy continues to weigh heavily on all of our hearts, and our thoughts remain with her family and partner, as well as with the families of all the other women who have been killed by men in this country. The femicide watch list, compiled by Women’s Aid, names 20 women whose lives were brutally cut short since Ashling’s murder. We remember and honour these women as we continue our figh…

I will try in the time I have to respond. There has been a huge number of contributions this afternoon following on from Private Members' business this morning. As we discuss this issue, I am very conscious that, for all of us, to the very fore are victims and survivors and how we can do more to put in place the resources, supports and structures to change attitudes and behaviours. We have acknowledged, and rightly so, a number of young women in recent days who have come forward and shown huge bravery. There are ma…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to introduce the Bill. I take the opportunity to thank Senators for their contributions on this Bill last week during Second and subsequent Stages. No amendments were made to the published Bill on Committee Stage in the Seanad. The Bill introduces a number of important reforms in the law across a broad range of areas. These amendments reach across many aspects of people’s lives and have the potential to make a significant difference. They …

I apologise. It should have been here. One example of where a prosecution might be sought in this regard is where an airline allows someone who requires a visa for Ireland to board a flight to Ireland without the required visa. This Bill amends the maximum fine increasing it from €3,000 to a class A fine which has a maximum of €5,000. This more closely aligns the fines payable in Ireland for this offence with fines in other European countries. Section 3 of the Act provides that a person accused of committing such a…

You are not getting away with that.

I do appreciate the Deputies who are here and have raised points. I will always take them on board and engage where issues have been raised. To clarify, I was shaking my head in relation to the comment on the Seanad because I attended the Seanad and there were no Opposition Senators there to discuss or debate any elements of this Bill. In terms of this being a miscellaneous provisions Bill, Deputy Howlin and I spoke about this when we discussed the last such Bill, of which this may be the fourth I have introduced i…

I thank all three Deputies for raising this important matter. I appreciate the important role that our legal profession, our barristers and solicitors, play in the administration of criminal justice. I am aware of the proposed withdrawal of services on 9 July, 15 July and 24 July. Like everyone here, I hope this can be avoided. My Department has commenced a review of criminal legal aid. We have a dedicated team of officials working on this. The Department will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders, incl…

I mentioned the overall change because this is all part of the work that is being done. This is linked to last year’s 10% increase and is part of improving the overall system, which includes fees, so I would like to think that the action I have taken to date shows my good faith commitment to restoring fees. This is not just about the 10%, but a potential further 8% and another 8% on top of that. That is not going to happen overnight. We had a conversation in the Chamber only a few hours ago when we discussed needin…

I thank all Senators for their contributions and in particular Senator Martin and all supporters of the proposed Private Members' Bill. It has had a significant amount of support. When we engage on the topics of domestic and sexual violence, coercive control and abuse of women and girls the support is unanimous and the overall objective of all of us is to make our country a safe space for women and girls, in particular making sure the judicial system works for them and with them and does not serve to retraumatise t…

The bells are ringing.

I move: That Dáil 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, 2024 and ending on 29th June, 2025. The two motions before the House seek the approval of Dail Eireann to continue in force provisions in the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 aimed at combating terrorism and organised crime. Given the nature of…

As I did not do so earlier, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. I had the pleasure of meeting him on many occasions. I know people remember him fondly for many different reasons, in particular his wonderful and colourful coverage of our national sports. Later on, as the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, I had the pleasure of meeting him at many events where he advocated for and on behalf of the older people's councils and other groups. He a…

I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2024 and ending on 29th June, 2025.