Senator O’Loughlin spoke at the outset of the Order of Business and paid tribute to and congratulated the women’s football team and wished them well as they depart for the World Cup. There was a reception last night attended by many Members of both Houses with Vera Pauw and her team to wish them well. It is fantastic to see the team doing so well and they are great role models for young girls right across the country. We hope they have a successful World Cup. The Senator acknowledged the work done by UCD students i…

I move: That Seanad Éireann, in accordance with Article 15.1.3° of the Constitution, hereby determines that the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands may meet on Arranmore Island, County Donegal, on a date in 2023 to be decided by the Committee, in order to hear from community groups and populations on the Islands, first hand, on the operation of national and local policies as they affect Islanders: provided that, pursuant to Standing Order 82(3), Members may particip…

I also want to acknowledge Eve McDowell and Una Ring for the work they have done as campaigners, working with myself and others, including the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for most of the last two years. It has been a long road but we are nearly there. We had thought the Bill might conclude today but these amendments are there to enhance the legislation. As we have heard from the Minister, the intention behind the amendments is to strengthen the Bill, putting victims at the centre and making sure that we give as much …

Now.

On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I take the opportunity to commend Senator Malcolm Byrne on bringing forward the Bill and getting it to Committee Stage. We have had a lot of conversations around Seanad reform in the Chamber in this and previous terms. We all accept that the way the Seanad has been established and the fact that only graduates of certain universities have a vote needs to be addressed and the courts have acknowledged that. I understand a body of work is being done in the Minister's Department to deal with it…

I take the point on board. One of the amendments concerns the register of electors, so I was giving voice to this aspect. I can understand the Minister's point in the context of the amendment not being accepted but it was concerned with expanding the register of electors. The point I was making regarding the TCD panel is that when it was set up as it was, it made sense and there was a good rationale behind it. We have a small number of colleagues on those panels, and out of fairness and interest as well to those in…

The Order of Business today is No. 1, motion regarding the Orders of Reference of the Seanad Select Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of a Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating corruption, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, motion regarding appointment of a member to the Policing Authority,…

At the outset, Senator O'Loughlin spoke about the loss of life we have experienced in the country. There have been sad situations including the woman who took ill while flying; the young mother; Greig Oliver, the Munster Rugby coach who was with his son, Jack, in South Africa and had a tragic accident there; and the two young men who just graduated from secondary school, Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall. I concur with the Senators' remarks. Many Senators expressed their sympathies with the families, communities and th…

I move: That, in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight pursuant to Standing Order 98(2)( b ), the Orders of Reference of the Seanad Select Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments, as agreed by Order of the Seanad of 7th December, 2022, be amended by the addition of the following paragraph after paragraph (10): (11) the Committee shall have the power to undertake travel, provided that the power under this paragraph is subject to such rec…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating corruption, replacing Council Framewo…

I move: That Seanad Éireann recommends, pursuant to section 62C(7) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, that Jane Mulcahy be appointed by the Government to be a member of the Policing Authority.

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 30th June, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)( b ), which, not later than 11th July, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2)…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 30th June, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)( b ), which, not later than 11th July, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. XX) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 23rd June, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)( b ), which, not later than 11th July, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2) shall acc…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the appointment of an ordinary member to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, to be taken on the conclusion of Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of a proposal for a regulation on a computerised system for the cross-border electronic exchange of data in the area of judicial co-operation in civil and criminal matters, namely, the e-CODEX system, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. …

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business today. Senator Cassells spoke this morning about the ongoing challenges for An Post workers who await a restoration of their pension. That is, I think, some 7,000 members. A letter will go from my office today to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, asking for an update as to when that will be resolved. Senator Paddy Burke spoke about planning, and the recent meeting with Mr. Niall Cussen. Senator Burke spoke ab…

I move: That Seanad Éireann, in accordance with section 8(3)(b) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003, as amended, appoints Senator Rónán Mullen to be an ordinary member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in place of Senator Lynn Ruane who has resigned her office in accordance with the aforementioned section 8.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Regulation (EU) 2022/850 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on a computerised system for the cross-border electronic exchange of data in the …

I move: That Seanad Éireann, having regard to Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and noting that a copy of the following proposed measure was laid before Seanad Éireann on 6 January 2022: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice in cr…

I move: That Seanad Éireann, having regard to Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and noting that a copy of the following proposed measure was laid before Seanad Éireann on 6 January 2022: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 2003/8/EC, Council Framework Decisions 2002/465…