Next Tuesday.

I will, and I thank the Minister for being here today. Banning the use of technology from states engaged in war crimes and genocide should not even be up for debate. It should just be a given. We know that An Garda Síochána has, and is probably still using, Israeli surveillance technology. Given Israel's record, this is highly problematic from a national security perspective and because it is supporting a genocidal regime that uses this very technology to target Palestinians. We know that in 2023 An Garda Síochána …

I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, after line 40, to insert the following: "(3A) A member of An Garda Síochána shall not deploy biometric analysis unless authorised in advance by a member of An Garda Síochána not below the rank of Chief Superintendent, who shall record in writing the grounds of necessity and proportionality for such deployment.". This amendment seeks to ensure that there are safeguards in terms of how this technology is used and that there is no overreach by ensuring the deployment of biometric ana…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 8, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: "Processing and storage of data 43DA. Biometric data processed under this Act shall— (a) be retained only for the minimum period strictly necessary, (b) be stored and processed exclusively on servers located within the European Union, (c) not be accessible to private contractors, and (d) be deleted immediately once no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected.". This amendment seeks to ensure greater protection als…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 8, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “Prohibition on procurement or use of certain technologies 43DA. (1) An Garda Síochána, the Minister, or any public body acting on their behalf shall not procure, license, contract for, deploy, or otherwise make operational use of any biometric analysis technology, surveillance technology, software, hardware, dataset, or related service supplied by— (a) a company incorporated, headquartered, or substantially operating in a state en…

I grew up in Limerick city and then moved out to the county when I was 17. I thought my life was over. How could I live somewhere where there was not a shop two minutes' walk away from me? I ended up loving it so much, however, that I actually moved further into the county. I am in a place now where the bin service will not drive down to us because we are so rural. We have to bring the bins three miles up the road for the bin service to collect them. That is the choice I made because I absolutely love living in the…

I support the motion and, in particular, the amendments to it that have been put forward. What we are witnessing in Gaza, the West Bank and across the wider region is not simply another cycle of conflict. It is a catastrophic assault on human life, international law and the very principles the European Union claims to uphold. For far too long, the international community, including many within the EU, has responded with statements of concern while continuing business as usual with the Israeli state. That contradict…

I want to start by wishing all the exhibitors well this weekend at the Bloom Festival, where we showcase the best of our gardening, Irish products, food and sustainable living. As Senators know, it is sponsored by Bord Bia. It was raised with me over the last couple of days that there will be exhibitors there showcasing Irish wool. The Irish wool that they showcase actually has a product that is imported called merino, which means it is not actually 100% Irish wool. There is a company called Galway Wool. I have dea…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. This is very important and far-reaching legislation that will deserve careful scrutiny because it deals with the balance between public safety, effective policing and the protection of civil liberties and privacy rights. Sinn Féin believes that facial recognition technology and other biometric technologies can have a very rewarding and positive role in assisting An Garda Síochána, particularly in the investigation of serious crime, matters relating to the security of the …

I move: That Seanad Éireann: notes with extreme concern that: - 7,062 eviction notices were issued to tenants from January to March this year, up 51 per cent on the same period in 2025; - new private rents have hit their highest level in 25 years with the rate of rent inflation at the highest since records began; further notes that: - for three consecutive quarters, the number of eviction notices has increased dramatically, 38 per cent in Q3 2025 and 41 per cent in Q4 2025; - statewide, market rents have jumped 7.8…

I welcome the Minister to the Seanad. I and my colleagues in Sinn Féin have brought this motion forward because we remain deeply concerned about the rental sector in Ireland and, of course, the Government’s policies which are worsening the housing crisis month by month. The updated homelessness figures will be out this Friday and no doubt the figures will, sadly, break new records. Every month more people are forced into homelessness. More young people end up back with their parents in their childhood bedroom and u…

I have been hearing about safeguards for tenants and renters and Ireland having some of the strongest protections for renters. If people cannot afford to rent a house, the safeguards and strongest protections are not worth the paper they are written on, because people will not have the house to have those safeguards. They will be stuck in emergency accommodation. I did smirk and laugh a little bit while some of my colleagues across the floor were speaking because I found it quite comical to hear that the Government…

No. I am speaking without interruption.

The Government's representatives need to start listening to what the people who come into their offices are saying. They need to actually listen to them, because I do not think anybody across the floor listens. People are in bits. They cannot find somewhere to live and when they do, they cannot afford it. People are constantly in fear of being evicted because the new rules that came in ensure the landlord can up the price once they evict the tenant. It is an absolutely ridiculous rule to have put in place. The rent…

The only thing that does not work in this country is the majority of people's wages. For middle-income earners, the only thing not going up is their wages. The costs of paying for the food shop, car insurance, rent, insurance and tax have all gone up for them. The cost of everything they are paying for has gone up because of inflation. The only thing not matching it is their wages. What do I say to Jane and her husband, who are left with €130 a week just after paying the rent? They have two kids. What if a school t…

I want to refer to the barriers to nursing home care. I know about these from my experience of trying to get a place in a nursing home for my mother, who has dementia. She has the type of dementia where she walks a lot, so she is not the ideal patient who will sit down and be quiet all day. Nursing homes seem to have such long lists of people to choose from that she cannot get a bed in one because she would take more care than somebody who will sit down all day and be quiet. That is the first issue. The second issu…

I wish to briefly speak about two of our amendments that were ruled out of order. Amendment No. 38 sought to add something that the Government has shown its aversion to throughout this whole process, namely, democratic scrutiny. This amendment would have ensured that we, as Members of the Oireachtas, and the public received proper oversight and scrutiny of what the Government is trying to do here and the implications for our legal obligations and wider ability to affect public policy decisions. It would have ensure…

It is because they were ruled out of order so late in the day.

That information is not on the grouping list.

I completely understand that.