I thank the Deputy.

I thank all my colleagues for their contributions. It is also notable and unusual that everyone who spoke is very much in favour of the legislation, with full support across the House. I welcome that. It is important that people who are involved in criminality and generating wealth from it, know that there is unanimity in this House in our opposition to them and in our desire to combat them. I will deal with some of the issues that were raised by colleagues. Deputy Mark Ward spoke about white-collar crime. It is th…

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 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 Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European U…

I thank Members for their contributions. I will reply to some of the important issues that have been raised by colleagues in the debate. First, I welcome that Deputy Carthy indicated that Sinn Féin will not be opposing these motions. I ask him to give consideration to supporting them. I do not see any reason they would not be supported. They are there for the purpose of trying to assist the State in combating people who are keen to commit serious criminal offences and terrorist offences and I ask that he give his c…

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 Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Unio…

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 Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European U…

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 Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Unio…

Hear, hear.

I thank the Deputy. Two months ago, I was down in Limerick and I had the opportunity to meet An Garda Síochána there and, indeed, representatives of Limerick Chamber of Commerce. I am aware of the issue in terms of the desire to get more gardaí on the streets in Limerick. I hear the same thing throughout the country. When it comes to the allocation of resources, however, I do not direct the Commissioner as to where he should send new recruits.

There will be an attestation on 22 August. I will certainly communicate what the Deputy has said to me here but I cannot guarantee him. I am not going to be a Minister for justice who directs the Commissioner to send gardaí to certain areas.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(4)) (Data Protection Commission) Regulations 2025; Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(4)) (Information Commissioner) Regulations 2025; and Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(4)) (Comptroller and Auditor General) Regulations 2025; copies of which were laid in draft before Dáil Éireann on 2nd July, 2025. I am seeking the House’s approval of regulations made, drafted and signed by me under section 60(4) of t…

I thank Deputies Carthy and Gannon for their contributions. Deputy Carthy was correct in stating that these regulations are not seeking in any way to restrict the rights of a data subject. In fact, they are seeking to add protection to the rights of a data subject by ensuring that the three agencies that are the subject matter of the regulations act only where necessary and in a proportionate way when they are seeking to restrict access. I welcome the fact that both Deputies are supportive of the new regulations. D…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on an issue that is of significant importance and has widespread impact throughout our society. It is the issue of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The purpose of keeping this issue in the public domain and discussing it within the Houses of the Oireachtas is to ensure that we can identify the appropriate measures to combat it. This is an activity and criminal behaviour within our society that we must make further effort to confront and eradicate. It remains…

I dtús báire, gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Dála as páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht. I thank all the Members for their interesting and informed contributions to the debate. I also want to welcome to the Public Gallery any people who are victims of the criminal activity that we have been discussing here today and the people who are supportive of them. I also want to put on the record my acknowledgement of the work done by David French in respect of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill. It is going to b…

I have gone on too long.

I thank the Leader of the Seanad for listing this business this afternoon. As Senators will be aware, I am here to present the Defamation (Amendment) Bill to Seanad Éireann. Those aware of the statutory provisions in respect of defamation will know that when it comes to any legislation governing defamation, we are trying to balance two conflicting constitutional rights. On one hand, we are trying to take into account the right of the individual to his or her good name; and on the other, we are trying to take into a…

I think it is the Senator.

Gabhaim buíochas le gach Seanadóir as a gcuid óráidí spéisiúla. I thank the Senators for their contributions. I thank Senator Gallagher for indicating his and Fianna Fáil's support for the legislation before the House. I then listened very carefully to Senator McDowell, who has great experience in this area, having been the Minister that steered through the Defamation Bill that became the 2009 Act. I assure Senator McDowell that I would never accuse him of having any conflict of interest in respect of how he steere…

I thank Deputy Carthy for his question. As every Member of the House knows, a visible Garda presence is really essential to ensuring the public feel a sense of safety. It is also essential from the Government's perspective and from the objective within the programme for Government to build safe and secure communities for the public to enjoy. In February, there was the first Garda recruitment campaign of 2025. I am pleased to say this competition was particularly successful and more than 6,700 applications were rece…