I am sharing time with Senator Cosgrove.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is good to see him. I wish to talk about public transport in County Cork and Cork city in particular. I raise the issue of the need for the light rail project to progress in Cork city. This is something even the Taoiseach spoke about recently in regard to it needing to be a priority for Cork. We really need to see action on the project. The Cork Chamber will agree with me too on the issue of connectivity in Cork and the need to improve it. There is certainly a need t…

Not at all.

I wish to ask what is being done to amend and improve assault leave for teachers and SNAs. With her consent, I will talk about the experience of a special education teacher, Sophie Cole. I had the privilege of meeting Sophie and her husband, Shane O'Brien, last November in their home in Carrigaline, County Cork. They are a young couple very much in love and starting out on their married life together. Their world was turned upside down and inside out when Sophie, a special education teacher with a clear passion, lo…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is welcome that this scheme will be reviewed, as has been promised, in 2025. We await that. It is very important that the unions and the teachers themselves are consulted as part of this. I know this is on the radar of Fórsa, representatives of which I will meet in the next week, and of the INTO. As regards the case I outlined of Sophie Cole and those of many others, six months is certainly not enough. We need to review and extend that. We certainly need to look at ho…

I thank the Minister of State for joining us for the second time today. It is great to have the opportunity to discuss these matters. I raise the issue of safety in Cork city. The allocation of gardaí to the city is nowhere near enough compared with the trends in population growth. I am aware that people in other cities have the same view regarding their location. We need more interconnectedness between the work of the Department of Justice and other Departments in regard to crime and safety. For example, if people…

I intend to speak about housing and education. The Irish Council for International Students launched a new report on the rental sector this morning. It is from the perspective of the experience of international students. The report is stark in that it highlights the overcrowding in the sector, the significant costs involved and the level of scamming that is happening. The report indicates that three quarters of English language students are sharing rooms with more than one other person and that one third of student…

I campaigned quite passionately in 2013 to retain the Seanad on the premise that it would be reformed. I agree with Senator McDowell's proposal and the others. It is a rarity that I would agree with Senator Mullen on a number of issues but I do agree with him today.

This is testament to the Seanad that we can form commonality with people who potentially we would not always agree with and we can have respect for each other. We have two fine candidates for the selection. I said informally to Senator Byrne earlier that she is a fantastic candidate. I will be participating in this election and voting for my colleague, Senator Flynn. She is an outstanding Senator and my colleague, Senator Nessa Cosgrove, spoke eloquently about her. The Seanad was set up originally to ensure that we…

I congratulate the Leader of the House, Senator Kyne. I look forward to working with everyone. I thank the people who supported me in getting to this position, particularly the people in Cork South-Central. I have had three elections this year. I put on record my thanks to my parents, Mary and Ted, my four younger sisters, Michelle, Andrea, Rachel and Celine, and my campaign manager, George Cummins. I want to touch on three issues. I, personally, and the Labour Party are opposed to the proposed privatisation of Bor…

I welcome the Minister of State. We need to be clear that investing in democracy is always a good thing but we in the Labour Party are not convinced that this is the best value for money or the most effective way to invest in our democracy. It is up to the Government to convince us and the public otherwise on this matter. This is about accountability, the effective delivery of government and cost-effectiveness. It is worth noting that this would represent a significant jump in the number of junior Ministries from 1…

I move amendment No. 1: 1. In page 3, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: "Ministers of State: value for money 2. The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 5: “Ministers of State: value for money 5A. (1) The Secretary General of each Department of State shall, not later than 1 April in each year, publish a detailed statement of— (a) the costs incurred in the previous year attributable to the assignment of a Minister of…

A Chathaoirligh and fellow Seanadóirí, táim an-bhuíoch as a bheith anseo. It is an honour to give my maiden contribution to the Seanad. I come to the Seanad in a spirit of collaboration, from the rebel county of Cork. I am proud to wear my red and white today. The urgent issues that we face, including housing, climate action, transport, healthcare and economic justice, demand ambition and our collective collaboration. In an era of misinformation and disinformation, this Chamber has a duty to foster considered and f…