We were presiding over what the previous Government had done throughout the country.

Deputy Browne is the Minister for housing.

He is the Minister for housing.

We have the highest levels of homelessness on record.

I also want to speak to this amendment. I support the calls for a report in relation to how this will affect balanced regional development. I live close to Cork Airport. I want to talk about the development of that airport, as well as two other airports in the Munster area, namely Shannon and Kerry. I welcome Adrienne McDonnell and Noel Hughes, who are in the Gallery. They are concerned residents who live near Dublin Airport. I have an amendment later on, which I will speak to. Generally, we in the Labour Party are…

I will speak to amendment No. 25. I acknowledge that the Minister has said that he acknowledges that the voluntary dwelling purchase scheme could be improved and contact with residents is important. How can that be improved? Who is going to be ultimately responsible for that? Amendment No. 25 would, at line 22 on page 34, insert a new section, entitled, "Equivalent reinstatement standard for voluntary dwelling purchase scheme". This amendment arises from recommendation No. 15 of the pre-legislative scrutiny report …

I am sharing time.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. This is a moment that requires courage and political leadership from the Government. When we look to the past and see moments where people took stands, we note it was because they had courage in the moment. It is not something that can be applied retrospectively. I commend Senator Frances Black on introducing the occupied territories Bill initially. I acknowledge Mr. Conor O'Neill, who was in the Gallery, for the work he has done in relation to this. Where do we even start? The Minister…

In relation to the site of the Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork, this week is critical because we will be hearing the decision in terms of planning for the building of 140 apartments there. I want to call out the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, in relation to this issue. The site is located is his constituency. Just last year, on 29 June 2025, he spoke at the commemorative event held there. The Taoiseach has spoken out of both sides of his mouth in respect of this issue. He has been weak on it. He needs to stand…

I want to speak briefly on this topic to put my thoughts on it on record. I have concerns about the increase in the number of criminal convictions we may see of people who will have drugs on them for personal use. I echo the comments of Senator Higgins in relation to the health-led approach. We need to take into account that many people have repeated convictions for drug use because they are stuck in a cycle of addiction. That is not of their own choice. If we are to repeatedly convict them, that will not contribut…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. As I am conscious that we may have a guillotine at 6 p.m., it is important that we try to get to all the amendments, if possible. I intend to move amendments Nos. 28 to 30, inclusive, and No. 32. From the outset, I am proud of the Labour Party's efforts in relation to this and the counselling notes piece. Ultimately, personally and from a party perspective, we are against counselling notes being used in trials, as has been said by other Senators, survivors and the countless emails that …

I echo the concerns of colleagues over the amount of time we have to scrutinise this legislation. It is important that we get to have a full debate in the Seanad in relation to it. It was quite appalling that the tech companies refused to engage with Oireachtas committees. I thought it was a real mark of disrespect to the media committee, but also to the committee on artificial intelligence. When we invited many of them in, I think only one showed up. This is something on which they need to engage more with us as p…

I raise the issue of learning to drive and supporting approved driving instructors in this country. I was on the phone this morning to a driver instructor in Cork. His name is Michael Kenrick, and he runs a page, Get Your Licence. He was updating me on some of the challenges that instructors are facing. First, they are not entitled to any grants for electric vehicles, whereas taxi drivers, for example, can avail of a grant of up to €25,000. I believe this needs to be reviewed. Driving instructors are often the firs…

I thank the Minister of State for joining us for this debate and for his remarks. I now call on Senator Scahill to reply to the debate.

I welcome to the Gallery former Minister Tony Killeen and his guests. I also welcome the guests of Deputy Lahart.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, to delete line 11 and substitute the following: “(b) the date of birth of the convicted person;”. I want to speak to amendments Nos. 3 and 4 together. From the outset, I want to make clear that this is a very important Bill that has the full support of the Labour Party. We need to make sure that it is watertight and operates as intended. That is why we have tabled these amendments. We believe that there is a real risk of misidentification in the proposed register and we aim to cou…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “(ca) the record number assigned to the proceedings by the court;”.

I move amendment No. 10: In page 5, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "(10A) A person who believes that information contained in a judgment included in the Register is liable incorrectly to identify him or her as a convicted person may apply to the court which ordered the inclusion of the judgement in the Register for a determination under subsection (10C). (10B) On receipt of an application under subsection (10A), the Courts Service shall— (a) annotate the relevant judgment on the Register forthwit…

Yes.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 19, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “ Amendment of section 19A of Criminal Evidence Act 1992 16. The Criminal Evidence Act 1992 is amended by the deletion of section 19A and the substitution of the following: “19A. (1) In this section— ‘competent person’ means a person who has undertaken training or study or has experience relevant to the process of counselling; ‘complainant’ means a person in respect of whom an offence is alleged to have been committed; ‘counsellin…