I move "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". I am pleased to introduce the Court Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023. Article 6.1 of the European Convention on Human Rights provides for the right to a fair trial in a reasonable time period. This right already has constitutional and common law standing in Ireland, and this Bill will place it on a statutory footing and ensure an effective and accessible remedy exists if it is breached, as required by Article 13 of the convention. Deputies will be aware of the judgmen…

He is in Geneva.

I will begin by mentioning the significant investment in the health service since 2020. The Government allocated €23.6 billion net to the health budget in 2023, both current and capital, and an extra €3.2 billion or 15% over the original net budget allocation for 2020. This is the largest allocation ever for the Department of Health. The Government has allocated 27% more in core funding in 2023 compared with 2020, with an additional €4.9 billion being invested in our health service. The net core allocation increase…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and providing me with the opportunity to address the matter on behalf of the Minister. I confirm that the Department’s multi-annual rural water programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services. The programme provides capital funding aimed at improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of rural water services infrastructure. The bulk of funding is spent on the impr…

I thank Deputy Dillon again for raising this important matter. On the multi-annual rural water programme, as I indicated, to date, allocations of just over €74 million have been provided nationally and just under €36 million has been recouped by local authorities. Mayo County Council was allocated over €25 million, of which, to date, just over €8 million has been recouped. There are more than 50 individual projects of various sizes, some large, currently being managed by Mayo County Council that have yet to be comp…

I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. Ireland’s employment permits system is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps for the benefit of our economy in the short to medium term. This objective must be balanced by the need to ensure there are no suitably qualified Irish or EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupations li…

The framework around access to employment permits for this role, as agreed with the Department of Health, includes the requirement for the employment to offer a remuneration level of €27,000 or more, and for the permit holder to achieve a relevant level 5 QQI qualification after two years' employment in the State. The level 5 qualification after two years' employment is the minimum required for this role. The requirement was put in place to ensure all workers in the healthcare assistant role will develop their skil…

This question is for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I am answering on behalf of that Department.

I am answering on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The framework for the HCA provision intended that education and training needs be provided by employers, with employees to be given access to funded educational programmes to gain the required level of qualifications as part of paid employment. Given the mix of public, private and voluntary providers in the nursing home sector, it is important to ensure that there is a common validated framework of minimum standards, clinical career pathways and qualifications for staff. The Covid-19 nursing homes expert panel revi…

I want the acknowledge the presence of Senator Norris, who is here today, despite his ill health, for all of his fellow campaigners and organisers. I acknowledge the hard work and dedicated advocacy that they put in over many years towards the fight for equality. I wish Senator Norris strength and a speedy recovery from his illness. I acknowledge his political career, which has been dedicated - to use his own words here today - to the greater happiness of others. I also join in condemning attacks on anybody in the …

Amendment No. 12 seeks to amend section 12. Section 12 is a comprehensive provision setting out the arrangements for the nomination by the Judicial Council of members of the commission and it is important to be clear about these arrangements. The Judicial Council shall nominate two members of the council to be members of the commission and these nominees shall be appointed to the commission by the Minister. There are three criteria set out in respect of the nominations. Section 12(2) provides that “one of whom shal…

No.

Amendments Nos. 12 a , 12 b and 12 c are grouped. These amendments seek to amend section 13 of the Bill. Section 13 provides for the manner of selection and appointment of lay members to the commission. Lay members are selected by the PAS and appointed by the Minister. The criteria, that is, the knowledge and experience required of lay members, are set out in this section. I thank the Senators for their comments. Amendment No. 12 a proposes to delete the words "are suitable for appointment" and substitute "should b…

I echo the Minister, Deputy Harris, in thanking the House for the opportunity to discuss this very important topic. It is, of course, very difficult and sobering to read statistics that show that this level of sexual assault and violence has taken place in our society. I pay tribute to all the survivors of sexual violence and those who are represented in this study for their strength, resilience and bravery. When studying their responses and this excellent piece of work, it is important to recognise that we have se…

This Bill, which I am pleased to present to the House, has the sole purpose of increasing the statutory maximum prescribed in respect of the number of judges of the District Court, the Circuit Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Senators will be aware that the Report of the Judicial Planning Working Group was recently received and considered by the Government. The Judicial Planning Working Group was established in April 2021 by the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, in line with the commitment in the program…

I thank all the Senators who have contributed to this debate. It has been pointed out this is a short and technical Bill. However, its objective is to provide a continuing basis for an effective courts system, which is of central importance to our society and the economy. Both the Judicial Planning Working Group and the OECD have concluded that significant numbers of additional judges will be needed over the coming years. The Minister is committed to improving access to justice for all of our citizens. It is import…

I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Harris. The Senator will be aware that Ireland, as a member of the European Union, offers freedom of movement to nationals of the European Economic Area and certain family members. The relevant EU legislation in this regard is the directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the member states. On 30 November 1994, the Council of the EU adopted a decision…

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I will raise the matter with the Minister. As the Senator will be aware, Ireland, as a member state of the European Union, offers freedom of movement to nationals of the European Economic Area and certain family members. The relevant EU legislation in this regard is a directive on the rights of citizens of the Union and their families to move and reside freely within the territory of the member state. I again thank the Senator for bringing this matter to the at…

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I thank Senator Seery Kearney for raising this very important matter around safeguards and statutory provisions in respect of the oversight of cash-for-gold outlets. I assure the Senator that a number of key legislative provisions are in operation to militate against criminality in this regard. More generally, Irish law relating to the sale and purchase of scrap metal is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and arises under waste manage…