Next Tuesday.

I will speak on a similar theme to that raised by my neighbour and friend, Senator Martin. Today marks the 49th anniversary of that terrible day when three bombs exploded in Dublin city centre and a fourth in Monaghan town. Of course, the Belturbet bombing is a different matter also, but it was a day of huge violence. It was the greatest loss of life in this part of the island and an awful, terrible day. Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement, and as part of that agreement, we should be acknowledging t…

I appreciate the opportunity to come in for a moment. I was at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, which is obviously relevant to the House in a big way. It would be out of order not to attend that. I will say a few brief words. First, I congratulate Senator Warfield and his Sinn Féin colleagues on bringing forward the motion. It is timely and important and will have unanimous support. It is a privilege to lend my own support to it. I acknowledge the presence of Senator Norris toda…

I had a conversation recently with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, on accommodation and am aware that he is working hard on it, but I want to draw it to the attention of the Leader of the House. I suggest that we have a debate on it, or that, at a minimum, the Leader bring us an up-to-date report on it and express the urgency of the matter and our concern. I ask that purpose-built student accommodation be provided on every campus, including the campuse…

Is deas an rud é a bheith ar ais ar an lá iontach geal seo. I will begin where my colleague left off by congratulating the Leader and wishing her and Jarlath the very best for Saturday. It is great news and we wish her well. I hope they have a great day and they get good weather for the photographs. If they get the weather, the two of them will make good photographs.

The material is good, if the weather allows it. The greatest and most important challenge for us in the House is to create equality of opportunity and a level playing field for each of our citizens. Two recent initiatives have considerable potential in this regard. One is the book scheme from the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley's Department. I do not have the full details of the scheme, but I understand it gives €96 towards the provision of books. This is a significant advance. The second important initiative,…

I join in the kind and properly good words to Noel Murphy. I had the privilege of working with him as a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence for some time. We all worked with him when he was Superintendent here. He is an absolute gentleman to work with. He has a lovely personality and easy manner and I want to be associated with wishing him a great retirement, as we all do. I echo the words of the Cathaoirleach and other colleagues. I will turn to the question raised very well by my colleagu…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for welcoming the pupils, teachers and SNAs from St. Anne's National School in Bailieborough. I live beside St. Anne's. It is a wonderful school community and we in Bailieborough are very proud of it and the achievements of St. Anne's in so many areas. It is an excellent school for which the entire community feels ownership and pride. It is wonderful that they are here. It typifies the excellence of the school that it is considered important to visit the Houses of democracy to see how Gove…

I thank the Deputy Leader of the House and Fine Gael leader in the Seanad, Senator Doherty, and my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, for the work they have both done on this Private Members' motion and on its co-ordination and wording. It has our enthusiastic support. I express my gratitude. I will make a couple of general points and then focus on the motion. There are a number of reasons this motion is so important. The sexual abuse of any human being, but particularly children, is a horror. I know it to be a horr…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the Order of the House today, the proceedings on No. 3, statements on housing, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 p.m., No. 4, statements on Inland Fisheries Ireland, shall be taken at 7.30 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes.

I welcome the Minister. I congratulate him on his successes so far, his ambition for the future and his willingness to adapt the plan regarding public lands and the nursing home provisions. We should be completely flexible and anything that can be done to deal with things on a day-to-day basis should be done. Obviously, supply is key to getting people into houses, having competitive and affordable rents and homeownership. In 2022, 29,851 houses were completed, an increase of 45.2% on 2021 when the figure was 20,560…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the Order of the House today, No. 3, statements on housing shall be brought to a conclusion after 15 minutes, and No. 4, statements on Inland Fisheries Ireland shall be taken immediately thereafter and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Some days ago I had the pleasure of coming in here to welcome the Windsor agreement, and to appeal to the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, and, very importantly, the business community and civic society in Ulster to embrace the agreement and maybe impress upon the DUP leadership the importance of accepting it. As a Border person, I reiterate that plea to civic society in Northern Ireland, to the business community and to all people there to put pressure on to get the Windsor agr…

I congratulate Senators Blaney and McGreehan on bringing forward the motion and on their exposition in respect of it. I welcome the victims' families to the Gallery. I met them briefly as I came in. Our hearts go out to them. They are very welcome, and they have all our support. I thank the Minister for indicating in his speech that he will meet the families and that process will be put in motion. I am delighted that is the case. I want to acknowledge that. I support the call of my colleague from County Cavan, Sena…

Now.

Now.

I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

Is cúis áthais dom fáilte a fhearadh roimh an Aire Stáit agus mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil dó as a bheith ainmnithe mar Aire Stáit. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach Seachtain na Gaeilge a cheiliúradh agus tá sé oiriúnach agus tuilte go mbeadh na ráitis seo againn. Tá saibhreas inár dteanga dhúchais agus is eochair é do mhothúcháin, béaloideas, stair, litríocht agus oidhreacht na tíre. Is é an dualgas is mó atá orainn ná iarracht a dhéanamh Gaeilge a labhairt sa Teach. Bíonn cineál eagla orainn ach níl aon ghá leis s…

It is appropriate that Senator Wilson, a cousin of the legendary Fr. Des Wilson, is chairing this particular debate.

That is not without its own appropriateness. I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his appointment to the crucial role of Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. I also welcome the Sinn Féin motion. I agree with its sentiments and I congratulate Sinn Féin on putting it on the programme. At this juncture, I will appeal to the British Government from this Chamber to change tack on the ill-fated legacy Bill and to look at a much more considered, conciliatory and consultative appro…