I thank Senator Kyne for raising this important issue as to whether Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority could agree a single point of inspection for oyster fishermen rather than duplication of inspections. I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who sends his apologies. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for aquaculture licensing and its regulation, a remit which includes oyster farming. However, as the Senator rightly points out, …

I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue. Referring it to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for consideration by his officials and Inland Fisheries Ireland, as the competent authority, is an important step taken by the Minister. While the inspections conducted by these statutory agencies are operational matters, there may nonetheless be an opportunity for better communications between Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority on the wild oyster …

I thank the Senator for raising this issue relating to the process of introducing a directly elected mayor for Cork city and county. The forthcoming direct election of a mayor of Limerick on 7 June is one of the biggest reforms of local government since the foundation of the State. The Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 was signed into law on 6 March 2024 and gives effect to the plebiscite of May 2019, where the people of Limerick voted to have a directly elected mayor. Plebi…

I again thank Senator Lombard for his insightful and important question on directly elected mayors, in particular for Cork city and county. An information leaflet on the election of the mayor was recently delivered to every home in Limerick and explains the many benefits for Limerick which may apply in regard to the directly elected mayor. I understand the Senator's point, which is beyond the answer I have given, which just sets out the current law. There is a more political question to be answered and I will certa…

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this very important issue of the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the ongoing protests in Georgia and to reiterate Ireland's support for Georgia's path to accession to EU membership. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I welcome the discussion of this matter and thank the Senator for raising it. Ireland has always been a strong supporter of EU enlargement. The Senator referred to the largest-ever enlargement and, of…

Ireland stands with the Georgian people in their pursuit of democracy and membership of the European Union. We will continue to urge the Georgian Government to withdraw the law and implement the necessary reforms to ensure Georgia's place in the EU. The EU has made it abundantly clear to Georgia that it is willing to work with the country to advance its European perspective but the Georgian Government must respond to this by abiding by European Union values, rules and norms. We are not seeing this. I urge Senators …

I begin my statement today by welcoming all present to the Seanad. I thank Members for having me to provide a statement on this motion on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman. The Government continually has a strong commitment to achieving gender equality in Ireland through a variety of actions, which is a key tenet of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s mission towards a fair and inclusive society where everyone can reach his or her full potential. One way that this can be …

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Senators for the debate on the expansion of the parent's leave and benefit entitlement from seven to nine weeks. Regarding the uptake, from January to end of April 2024, there were 25,578 applications for the benefit, comprising 10,285 men and 15,293 women. Perhaps the gap is not as big, therefore, as we might have expected. As for surrogacy leave, officials are working with the Department of Health, Social Protection and enterprise to scope out surrogacy leave. I am told it is sti…

I thank the Deputy very much for raising this very important issue of the extension of access to the junior certificate school programme digital libraries to those schools that joined DEIS after 2022. The junior certificate school programme is a national programme sponsored by the Department of Education and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. Introduced in 1996, it is a social inclusion programme that is aimed at students who are identified as being at risk of being socially or academically isola…

I thank the Deputy again for raising this important matter. The junior certificate school programme aims to provide a curriculum framework that assists schools and teachers in making the junior cycle more accessible to those young people who may leave school without formal qualifications. It attempts to help young people experience success and develop a positive self-image by providing a curriculum and assessment framework suitable to their needs. Since its introduction in 1996, the JCSP expanded from 32 schools to…

The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, sends her apologies as she cannot be here. I will give the response on the Minister's behalf. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the current position and understanding regarding the recently announced closure of Newpark Academy of Music. Newpark Academy of Music is a private academy located in Melfield House, a 200-year-old building on the grounds of Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock, County…

I fully understand and appreciate the concern raised in relation to the decision to close Newpark Academy of Music. No disrespect was shown. I was simply setting out the factual position that the academy does not come under the Department of Education's remit. I have no doubt the decision has been devastating for all of those involved. That said, the role of the Department of Education is to support, fund and deliver primary and post-primary education in the State. In addition, the decision to close the academy was…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitatio…

I thank the Deputies for their contribution and support for our participation in this new instrument. To respond to Deputy Tully, it is the case, as she said, that new technologies are vital to the detection and investigation of child sexual abuse. An Garda Síochána favours employing specialist software, including software that enables victims to be identified through facial recognition, and this supports the importance of enacting the facial recognition technology legislation as a priority. I thank Deputy Howlin f…

I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that the period of operation of sections 1 to 7 and 9 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14 of 2021) be extended for a further period of 6 months, beginning on the 1st day of June, 2024 and ending on the 30th day of November, 2024. I am here to introduce a resolution on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to extend the sunset clause in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021. The extension of this Act will allow the hospitality sect…

I thank Deputies Howlin, Murphy and Canney for their contributions. A number of similar themes were raised. Reference was made to obstructions faced by people with disabilities or visual impairments and the elderly. My own sister is in a wheelchair and I fully agree with everything that Deputies have said. As it is necessary to get a street furniture licence, I would say to the local authorities that it is their duty to ensure that where they are issuing these licences, the footpaths remain clear of obstructions. T…

I will certainly bring the Deputies' comments to the attention of the Minister.

I welcome the opportunity to present the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 to the Seanad. The Bill completed its passage through Dáil Éireann at the start of this month and I am glad to be able to bring it before the Seanad today for consideration. I trust that Senators will appreciate the important measures it contains on victim-centred reform of our criminal justice legislation. The sexual offences and human trafficking Bill will update our sexual offences legislation and enhance prot…

I thank Senators for their contributions to today's debate on this important Bill. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 sets out a package of measures which will introduce important reforms across a number of areas. The common ground underpinning all of these measures is our commitment to strengthening protections for vulnerable victims. Enhancing protections for vulnerable victims is a priority for me and my Department and this is borne out by our achievements in this area. A number o…

I am happy to present the Gambling Regulation Bill to the House. This is an important and necessary Bill to address and regulate gambling in Ireland. I know the Bill has significant support and I look forward to Senators' contributions. The Internet has made gambling easier to access than was ever thought possible. Everyone, including children, has relatively easy access to gambling sites on phones. Therefore, it is vital to have a robust regulatory environment in which people can enjoy themselves, operators are pr…