I thank the Minister of State. I will be brief. I commend him on the work he is doing in the sports Department and, in particular, his focus on ensuring that facilities across the country have access for both men and women. Very recently he had the privilege of visiting my hometown of Castlebar and he visited our key project in the town, the Leisure Complex at Lough Lannagh, which involves the development of our climbing wall. We were very fortunate with the sports capital allocation last year to get significant fu…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, to the Chamber. I want to discuss an issue that I have raised in the House before, that is, the level of bed nights contracted by the Government to house refugees. I will preface my comments by saying, as I did on 18 May when we had statements in the House, that this is not in any way to suggest we are not supportive of helping people or that we want to limit our capacity to assist those fleeing war. However, there has been a direct impact on tourism in many countie…

If the Minister starts talking about accommodation audits and providing gap analysis, the eyes of most people in the industry will just glaze over because that is not really a tangible response. Looking at additional accommodation development, we have accommodation, it is just being used for different purposes. The Minister should look at getting some of that accommodation back into use for tourism for next year. That is the easiest way to do it. Six months ago, the Minister was in this Chamber. On that day, she sa…

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business. Senators Seery Kearney and Malcolm Byrne spoke about the situation in Ukraine and the fact that events in the Middle East have somewhat eclipsed what is continuing to happen in Ukraine. I have requested a debate with the Tánaiste on the situation in Ukraine. We will get that scheduled at the earliest opportunity to keep the issue on the agenda here. Senators O'Loughlin and Fitzpatrick spoke about the Irish citizens who are making their way through the Ra…

I have no difficulty defending that position. Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the meeting with LAMA this morning. Most political groupings met with LAMA today to deal with some of the issues it is raising. I concur with the Senator that the role of a local councillor has developed, expanded and become more demanding in recent years. They have the same safety concerns that we, as Oireachtas Members, experience. They are dealing with the same issues with which we are dealing. It is a full-time job but it is almos…

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about the issue in Ukraine, as well as the appointment of 14 new Irish ambassadors across the world. He welcomed the latter expansion and wished the appointees well in their new jobs. I will accept Senator Carrigy's amendment to the Order of Business. The Senator spoke about Louis Belton and his level of service to his community. Those observations were eloquently put. We wish his family well in their time of grieving. Senator Keogan called for a debate with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman…

I move: That leave be granted to withdraw the following items from the Order Paper: (a) Statements on the Department of Social Protection’s response to Covid-19 ( resumed ); (b) Statements on Ag Climatise - The National Climate and Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector ( resumed ); (c) Statements on Business and Covid-19 ( resumed ); (d) Statements on the European Digital Green Certificate ( resumed ); (e) Statements on Housing for All – a New Housing Plan for Ireland ( resumed ).”

The Order of Business is No. 1, Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023 - all Stages, to be taken at 3 p.m., with the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion after two hours by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or…

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator Conway raised the tourism sector and stated tourism accommodation is being used to house a significant number of refugees. The issue has been raised on numerous occasions in the House. There was a debate in the House with the Minister a number of months back. It is a concern, particularly in counties like Clare, where Senator Conway resides and where tourism is a big employer. I will raise the issue with the Minister. The Senator rightly acknowle…

If the situation proceeds as is, despite the concerns raised, and if there is an incident – maybe there will not be – we will look back on this period knowing that we made the wrong call and the issue could have been addressed. I hope that people are listened to. Senator McGreehan spoke again about the flooding on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth. We send our sympathies to the families, businesses and communities in Cork and Louth who have experienced significant flooding in recent weeks. Watching the impact on…

I welcome the Tánaiste. This issue has gripped all of us for the past two weeks. What we are witnessing in the Middle East and in Israel and Palestine is absolutely appalling, horrific and a black mark on humanity. The deaths of huge numbers of innocent civilians - babies, young children, Holocaust survivors and the elderly – in Israel and Palestine make for huge grief and sadness across the region and across the globe. It is impacting Palestinians, Israelis and Jewish people everywhere. We see the closure of schoo…

I move: That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the Order of the Seanad of Tuesday, 17 October 2023, that statements on the situation in Israel and the occupied territories shall conclude not later than 12 noon.

The Order of Business is motion No. 127(7) regarding the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude after 35 minutes, if not previously concluded, with the debate confined to contributions from group spokespersons not exceeding five minutes in each case, time may be shared, and notwithstanding Standing Order 38, the proposer of the motion shall not reply to the debate; No 1, Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022 - Seco…

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator O’Loughlin, like many others, wished the junior certificate students well today as they get their results. It is an important milestone for those young people as they move along in their academic journey. The Senator also spoke about the section 39 workers and the strike that was averted yesterday. She welcomed the fact the strike did not go ahead and that a deal was done in the early hours of the morning. The Senator also drew our attention to B…

I have read it verbatim. That is what I have here in black in white. I am making the point that it could be said by Members that potentially there is a little bit of a grey area when one might suggest the President may have strayed beyond the article. I will just leave it at that. Perhaps it is something we will have to come back and look at because it is an unusual situation that we find ourselves in. It is quite an unprecedented situation within the country that we are having this conversation because it has not …

I will leave that alone. Senator Warfield also spoke about Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. There was criticism of her actions. My view is that she has cleared that up and there is a particular context for Germany in all of that. That is probably enough said on that as well. Senator Moynihan asked that No. 127(7) not be taken, which is the motion before the House. I will not be accepting the amendment that was proposed by Senator Moynihan and seconded by Senator Flynn. I want to acknowledge that the situa…

That is included.

I will respond to that.

In the first line, the word "condemns" is there. In the second line, the word "condemns" is there.

It also specifically references the 1,000 children the Senator mentions. That is in the updated motion. I appreciate it was circulated only very recently and not everybody would have had a chance to go through every line in the detail that we normally would. No one party or public representative has the moral high ground on this conflict. Everybody is deeply concerned and affected by what is happening in the Middle East. There may be slightly differing views on certain elements of it, but there is utter condemnatio…