I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this issue. She is correct in stating that drug-related intimidation is a scourge on our society. As the instances of drug taking increase, there is regrettably more drug intimidation. The model behind drug dealing is generation of profits for drug dealers. As a society, we all need to recognise that and people need to understand when they start experimenting with drugs that the consequence of it is that they can expose themselves to this drug-related intimidation. An Garda Síoc…

The Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor will move the amendment when she is closing. I will begin in the same way all the other speakers have begun, by commending Deputy Ward on the Bill he has put before the House this evening. It is important that we can have a debate on nitrous oxide. Regrettably, everyone in this House is aware of the prevalence of nitrous oxide being used throughout the country. It is evident in the canisters on the ground in all parts of Ireland. Deputy Gould suggested it was limited t…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. He is correct to say that he has raised this issue with me privately. It does not come as a surprise to me. He is correct in stating that the issues that have been identified have been raised in the media. At the outset, I commend the Deputy. It is important that we take into account the position of victims in the criminal justice system. Historically, the criminal justice system is very much associated with determining the guilt or otherwise of the person who is…

I acknowledge what the Deputy has said and agree with him. What happened to Fionnuala Bourke was that a harrowing and desperately traumatic crime was perpetrated on her. The perpetrator received a sentence and justice was done. My understanding is that she did not commence that sentence because at the time, she was being detained within the Central Mental Hospital. What happened in this instance was that there was a detention but not a detention on the basis of the guilt of the perpetrator because of the crime she …

Hear, hear.

I move: "That the Bill be read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Bill to the House. I look forward to hearing the contributions of colleagues. As Deputies will be aware, back in 2023 the Houses enacted the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act. The Bill I am introducing today is an amendment to that legislation. The legislation the Houses enacted in 2023 constituted an important contribution to updating An Garda Síochána's technological capabilities by providing it with a statutory basis for the o…

That is wrong.

The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025.

This is the last time I will speak before Christmas. I wish the Ceann Comhairle, all Members and the staff who work here tirelessly throughout the year a happy Christmas. I thank them on my behalf and on behalf, I would say, of all Members of the Oireachtas for their outstanding work. I also want to thank my officials in the Department of justice for their tireless commitment to providing assistance and help to me as Minister. I will deal with a couple of issues raised by Deputies. I would like to respond to everyt…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1).

I appreciate the contributions Senators have made to the Committee Stage debate of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill. I have been here for around 20 hours of debate on Committee Stage. I have listened attentively and the debate has been illuminating and helpful in making me consider proposed amendments that I will bring on Report Stage. I will come to that presently. On the last occasion, Senator McDowell was not criticising me, but he said he thought it would be disrespectful if amendments were not made in light of …

The point Senator McDowell is making is on the basis that we are going to have a very large, powerful Internet service provider which is the respondent. The reality is that is correct and probably will be the case. However, I have to look at it completely legally and neutrally, and whether I like it or not or he likes it or not, we have an entity, the Internet service provider, that does not have legal liability for the defamatory publication. In many respects it is similar to a financial institution against whom s…

The Statute of Limitations is one year but it can be extended to two. The type of identification order granted in the Circuit Court will be granted, hopefully, on an immediate and summary basis, on the basis that the Internet service provider will turn up and say, "Yes, if we get an order, we will comply with it." That is how it is operating in the High Court and how it should operate. I thank Senators for their contributions.

I will reply quickly. They can come in.

I thank colleagues for their contributions. I thank Deputy Ward for tabling this amendment. Deputy Ward would be aware that we had a good conversation and discussion about his amendment on Committee Stage. We all share the same objective here. Obviously, CAB does an excellent job in seizing assets that are the proceeds of crime. In recent years, we have managed to develop a situation where we can get some of those assets and reinvest them back into the community. I want to see that sum of money growing each year. I…

I will.

I thank the Seanad for taking this motion. It is before the House to permit Ireland to opt into an EU proposal for a Council decision authorising member states to sign, in the interest of the European Union, the third additional protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. The third additional protocol is not a protocol of an EU legal instrument; it is an international agreement under the auspices of the Council of Europe. Only sovereign states - not the EU as a supranational …

I do.

Ar dtús, gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí. I thank the Senators for their contributions. I acknowledge the points that were raised by Senators Gallagher and Kelleher. They are obviously very much in agreement with the proposal. I also want to deal with the point raised by Senator Ryan. It is an interesting point as to whether, when it comes to Protocol 21 opt-in, we should opt in under Article 3 or Article 4. As I have stated previously, I think there is a significant advantage to opting in under Article 3. The …

It is my view that section 22, which we are discussing at present, is probably the most consequential and important provision in the Bill. The reason I say that is because it is predominantly the case at present that people in Ireland who are defamed are defamed on an online basis. They find themselves being subject to very serious defamatory publications that are made in circumstances where the identity of the publisher is unknown. Therefore, it is important that, as an Oireachtas, we try to put in place a statuto…