I second the motion.

I welcome the Minister of State. For too many families in my area, securing an appropriate school place for a child with additional needs is a battle. It is a battle against waiting lists, inadequate resources and a system that often places too much bureaucracy ahead of children's rights. In County Limerick, the reality is stark. Parents of children with autism and other additional needs are struggling to find suitable school places. Mainstream schools are under pressure and struggling to provide proper support due…

Sorry, is this on all amendments?

I will speak for a second, if that is okay.

Amendment No. 10 is to ensure there is ongoing training and professional development for our investigators. Maritime technology, safety regulations and accident investigation methodologies are consistently evolving. Investigators must receive continual training to ensure their work remains aligned with international best practice. This amendment would place a legal obligation on the Minister to ensure this happens. Amendment No. 11 would enhance accountability by requiring that the MAIU's annual report include upda…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 10, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(a) staff should be qualified master mariners, ship surveyors and/or marine engineers and their competencies should include marine engineering, naval architecture and seagoing experience; (b) appointment of staff should not be at the sole discretion of the Chief Investigator; (c) necessary staff qualifications should be outlined in a protocol between the Minister and the MAIU.”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 10, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(2) The Minister shall ensure the investigations must be held by suitably qualified persons who have appropriate working knowledge and practical experience in the subject matter of the safety investigation they are conducting.”.

I move amendment No. 10: In page 10, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: “(5) A person who holds, or held at any time during the one year period immediately before the relevant date— (a) an established position as a civil servant as an officer of the Minister, or (b) an unestablished position as a civil servant as an officer of the Minister, shall not be eligible for appointment as an investigator under subsection (1).”.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 13, after line 39, to insert the following: “(3) The Minister shall ensure all investigators undergo training and continuing professional development programmes in order to ensure standards in investigations are fully compliant with best practice.”.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 14, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(4) The annual report will also identify the safety recommendations issued and action (by whatever body or authority) taken or planned in accordance with recommendations issued previously.”. Amendment No. 12, is all about strengthening co-operation between the MAIU and other authorities. When a maritime accident occurs, multiple agencies may be involved, whether it is An Garda Síochána in the case of criminal investigations, aut…

Was it?

I am sorry. I bunched that in with the other amendment.

No, that is okay.

I wish to share my time with Senator Tully.

I welcome the Minister of State. I speak today on an issue impacting on every community in Ireland but that is particularly urgent in my area, County Limerick. Every year, we see the devastating impact of road collisions on families, friends and communities. Nationally, 2024 was one of the worst years of road fatalities in almost a decade. Unfortunately, Limerick was no exception. Behind every statistic is a life lost, a family grieving and a community shaken. The roads in rural Ireland, and especially in Limerick,…

I welcome the Minister. Agriculture is the backbone of rural Ireland, supporting communities, protecting the environment and ensuring food security. Yet, time and time again, farmers feel abandoned and left to navigate a system that is often unfair, bureaucratic and increasingly unsustainable. Sinn Féin has a clear ask. We want the Common Agricultural Policy to be fair for all farmers. We believe payments should be fairly distributed. We support the full convergence of entitlements and the ending of the outdated sy…

I welcome the Minister. The first issue I want to raise is early breast screening. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Ireland. Despite medical advances, we still lose too many lives because early detection is not prioritised. Our current screening is for over-50s. We would like to see 40 as the cut-off. We need targeted awareness campaigns to encourage younger women to check for symptoms and access medical advice early. We also need investment in genetic testing for those with a family hist…

I welcome the Minister. The issue I am raising affects countless women across Ireland who dedicate their lives to raising families, caring for their loved ones or working tirelessly on family farms and who find themselves at a financial disadvantage when they reach pension age. These women who give so much to their families, communities and the economy are being penalised by a pension system that fails to recognise their contribution. This is a long-standing injustice that must be addressed without delay. Women who…

I thank the Minister. That is exactly what I was going to raise with him. The education piece is the most part. For so many women whom I have met over the past couple of months, their issue was more that, if they had had another couple of weeks or months adding to their pensions, they would have come away with full pensions. They just lacked those couple of contributions. Maybe a bit of education coming from the Government will help these women to see how much more they need.

I welcome the Minister of State. I strongly oppose the merchant shipping Bill in its current form. While the intention behind this Bill to strengthen maritime safety and ensure proper maritime accident investigations is one we would all support, this legislation falls far short of what is needed. Time and again, the Government has ignored expert recommendations, failed to implement best practices and disregarded the voices of those who have lost loved ones at sea. This Bill is a missed opportunity and is incomplete…