The Order of Business is No. 1, Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024 - All Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m., and proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 2.15 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government, with time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister on the debate on Second Stage not to exceed ten minutes, grou…

I thank Members who contributed. Quite a number of Bills were put on the Order Paper today. I will be accepting all proposed amendments that were put to the House today. Senator O’Loughlin spoke about skin cancer and its prevalence. She made a call that skin protection products should be VAT free. That is certainly worth considering. She also spoke about public safety and policing in Newbridge and that people do not feel safe. She also made a call that caretakers get permanency and pensions, like school secretaries…

Senator O’Reilly spoke about the need to put an end to the waiting list for assessment of need. That is an admirable campaign and one we can all get behind. Senator Boyhan has three asks. He spoke about children in institutions. We know the Senator’s long-standing work and advocacy in that space. He also made calls on the USC and a national forestry authority. Senator Martin proposed that No. 11 be taken before No. 1. I am happy to accept that. I agree that oesophageal cancer is an important topic that needs furthe…

Tomorrow morning at 9.30.

The Order of Business is No. 1, address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima, to be taken at 1 p.m. in accordance with the arrangements agreed by the House on Thursday, 17 October 2024; No. 2, motion regarding approval by Seanad Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024, back from committee, to be taken at 2.15 p.m. and to conclude at 3.15 p.m. if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks by the Minister not to exceed five minutes, group spo…

I too extend a very warm welcome to the Young at Heart Parke retirement group from County Mayo.

I would. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy the visit to this House, to the other House and to the grounds as well. I am sure they have been well looked after. It is great to see them here. I thank all Senators who contributed to the Order of Business today. Senator Fiona O' Loughlin acknowledged that today was Irish stammering day. The Senator said that we should all be very aware of making sure we invest in supports for people. The Senator congratulated the Irish stuttering organisation for its activitie…

The Senator repeatedly interrupts-----

Senator-----

There is heckling from the floor. If the Senator wants a response then let me respond at the very least. The debate on that Bill was yesterday evening. That was the opportunity for all Members in the House to contribute. The Bill had passed with the support of anyone who turned up yesterday, who made the time to be here yesterday, and who spoke on the Bill in support of that Bill. My information in terms of the Curragh is that ultimately every local authority has a responsibility to make sure that housing is provid…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. It is most unfortunate to have somebody heckling from the floor as I make my reply, which is a lack of respect. Senator Paul Gavan spoke this afternoon about the respect at work document launched by a number of unions, including SIPTU and Mandate. The Senator talked about the challenges some workers face in becoming unionised and challenges at work. I believe we are all in support of employees having access to unions. The Senator has raised important points. On low-paid workers I wish to …

I thought the Senator said she was against the cap. I think it needs to be looked at. In any event, that will be a matter for people at higher levels of office than us. There is huge capacity in the regional airports. If even a fraction of the passenger numbers was to be redistributed to them, it would mean a lot of jobs and opportunities in those airports. The journey of Shannon Airport began 60 years ago. The large cluster of multinational companies located at the airport has leveraged having an airport there. Th…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. XX) (Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit) Regulations 2024, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, Social Welfare Bill 2024 - all Stages, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which sha…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator O'Loughlin raised issues surrounding domestic violence from the perspective of men who may be on the receiving end of it. She commended the work of Men's Aid and put its details out there for those who may need to contact the organisation. She also spoke about a positive community gardaí meeting in Rathangan, County Kildare. She referenced school secretaries who are now employed by the Department of Education, which is welc…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. XX) (Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit) Regulations 2024, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 10th October, 2024.”

It is my pleasure to second the Curragh of Kildare (Amendment) Bill 2022, put forward by Senator O' Loughlin and to speak about the Curragh. As a Mayo person, it might seem strange that I speak so fondly of the place but I actually spent quite a lot of time there during my time in the Defence Forces. As an Army reservist I did much of my training in the Curragh. I did my potential officer and young officer courses there. We walked and ran every inch of those Curragh plains, night and day. I got to know it intimatel…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the Order of the House today, No. 4, Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024, be taken now and brought to a conclusion after two hours.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This Bill seeks to amend the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Broadcasting Act by inserting, in section 9A, a new offence of catfishing. Catfishing is a relatively new word to our vocabulary but its development coincides with the use of the online space. More and more people are working online, socialising online and operating in the online space. That brings new and inventive ways for people to do bad things. This is about improving the law a…

I thank the Minister of State for delivering the reply on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. As I suspected, he suggested that the current harassment legislation is sufficient. I will again make the point, as I did with the stalking Bill. One of the reasons we finally acknowledged, as a Government, that it was important to have a stand-alone offence of stalking was that there was evidence from the UK that showed when you have a stand-alone offence and call it what it is, and where it is very clear,…

Next Tuesday.