On prevailing side: this member voted with the winning side in 634 of 639 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 | 2,937 | 2020-07-09 – 2024-11-06 |
| FG | Fine Gael | 1,385 | 2020-03-20 – 2026-09-24 |
Membership spells on record: FG 2007-07-23–2011-04-25 · FG 2011-02-25–2016-03-09 · FG 2016-03-10–2020-03-29 · FG 2020-03-30–2024-11-29 · FG 2024-11-29–present
I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Charlie McCoalogue to the House. It is good to see a full Cabinet Minister taking a Commencement Matter.
I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to the House. She is very welcome. Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 have been ruled out of order.
Amendment No. 7 has been ruled out of order.
Amendments Nos. 8 and 9 are in the names of Senators Higgins and Ruane but they are not here.
Does Senator Martin wish to come back in?
As there is no one present to move amendments Nos. 10 and 11, they cannot be moved.
Amendment No. 12 is out of order as it is outside the subject area of the Bill. As there is no one present to move amendment No. 13, it cannot be moved.
When is it proposed to take the next Stage?
I welcome to the Visitors Gallery some people from the great city of Cork. They are all very welcome and, in particular, I welcome Brenda O'Connell. I thank all of them for being here this afternoon. I wish them a very pleasant visit to Leinster House.
The Ceann Comhairle and I have been working at the commission on ensuring that comes into force as a matter of urgency. I thank the Minister of State for her alacrity and her proactivity with the Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and Michael McGrath, in pursuing and supporting that measure.
When is it proposed to sit again?
Thar ceann Sheanad Éireann, is cúis mhór áthais dom fáilte chroíúil a chur roimh Mairead McGuinness, an Coimisinéir Eorpach um Sheirbhísí Airgeadais, Cobhsaíocht Airgeadais, agus Aontas na Margaí Caipitil. On behalf of Seanad Éireann, I am delighted to extend a céad míle fáilte to Ms Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union. Before joining the Commission in October 2020, Ms McGuinness was the First Vice-President of the European Parliament from …
Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCoimisnéir as ucht na hóráide iontach agus laidir a thug sí inniu. I welcome to the Gallery Ms Patricia Reilly, Commissioner McGuinness's Head of Cabinet and thank her for her assistance in making today possible. I also welcome Ms Barbara Nolan who is head of the European Commission representation in Ireland. Thank you for being here today. I now call on the Leader of the House, Senator Lisa Chambers.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank all Members for their contributions. It should be noted that Seanad Éireann has an important EU dimension. I congratulate our delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe led by Senator O'Loughlin and previously led by Senator Joe O'Reilly, who has served as vice president. I thank Senators Gavan and Garvey for their participation. I also congratulate Senator Conway on his appointment as the new Chairperson of the EU scrutiny committee Senator Higgins referred to.
I wish everyone a happy Europe Day.
I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator John McGahon - The need for the Minister for Justice to make a statement on the operation of Article K.3(2)(b) of the Treaty of the EU concerning travel facilities for school pupils from third countries resident in a member state. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin - The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to make a statement on plans to secure the long-term viability and heritage status of the Curragh plai…
I welcome the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to the House. It is great to have a Cabinet Minister in the House for Commencement matters and I thank him for being here.
Could I just say, before the Minister leaves, that it is refreshing and positive to see a full Cabinet Minister taking a Commencement matter in the Seanad. The Minister might communicate to his Cabinet colleagues that it would be welcome and a wonderful sight to see Cabinet Ministers taking Commencement matters. I thank the Minister for being here this afternoon for that.
I have written to all Cabinet Ministers on foot of comments from Members of the House complaining at the lack of Cabinet Ministers, as well as Ministers of State complaining on the floor of the Seanad about they having to take two, three or four Commencement matters. It is genuinely very positive to see a Cabinet Minister here. Go raibh míle maith agat.