The Order of Business is Nos. 1, address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, to be taken at 3 p.m. in accordance with the arrangements set out in the motion agreed by the House on Wednesday, 17 May 2023; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 - Second Stage, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude at 6.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes and those o…

I thank the Senators who contributed. Senator O'Loughlin spoke about the Newbridge community group, the public meeting held to discuss commuter issues and the group's disappointment over the NTA declining to attend. She also spoke about Irish Water, the inability to get answers where water quality was poor but not an immediate threat to public health, and how Irish citizens in those areas were entitled to expect better quality. Senator McDowell raised the issue, as he has done previously, of the Garda Reserve. We h…

That is correct.

The former Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern is very welcome to the Chamber. It is a pleasure and a privilege for us to hear, in fascinating detail, his recounting of the lead-up to the Good Friday Agreement, the behind-the-scenes conversations and all of the detail that went into delivering what he delivered. It is important that we mark the 25th anniversary of the referendum, which took place 25 years ago yesterday. It was an all-island vote and a democratic endorsement by the Irish people of the Good Friday Agreement.…

I am sharing time with Senator Gallagher. The Minister is welcome to the House. It is an important day for a number of people who are watching and listening to this debate. I acknowledge Eve McDowell and Una Ring, who are observing proceedings from their home locations in counties Cork and Sligo. I thank the Minister for the acknowledgement in his opening remarks of the work done by Eva, Una and me in bringing forward the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021 in the House last year.…

Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

I will raise an issue around the national development plan, NDP, and key projects in road infrastructure that are committed to by the three parties in Government. The NDP cannot be undermined by any one single member of Government or one party. I refer specifically to the N17 Knock to Collooney road which is due to be upgraded. It is a treacherous stretch of road. There are parts of that national route that have an 80 km speed limit because it is so treacherous. The road is long overdue an upgrade. This will cost i…

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I preface my comments by saying the war in Ukraine is a humanitarian crisis and we must do all we can to help and support people. We have both a moral and legal obligation to do so as well as having the support of the Irish public in that endeavour. The focus of my contribution is on the implication of the significant loss of bed capacity in tourist accommodation throughout the country due to Government policy to house refugees in hotels and guesthouses, in particular budget h…

Next Tuesday at 12.30 p.m.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding arrangements for the address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach, on Tuesday, 23 May 2023, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, motion regarding the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. Y) Regulations 2023, back from committee, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of No. 1; No. 3, motion regarding the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022, instruction to committee, no…

I thank Members who contributed to the Order of Business today. The first to do so was Senator Davitt, who spoke about the security of councillors and the news that a security grant will be made available to Members of the Oireachtas to assist with the costs of the CCTV and other security measures where An Garda Síochána deems that to be appropriate. I agree that there are many councillors across the country who face the same challenges that many of us do. That should be given due consideration. If the scheme is to…

-----in circumstances where Members may need the grant but may choose not to avail of it. I ask the commission to re-examine that. The grant should be made available up to a certain amount. If someone wants to go above that amount, that will be absolutely fine. Many Members will not avail of the grant in any event. We should not deter people from availing of it, however, especially when one considers all the talk we have had about the security of Members in recent months. Let us not fall at the final hurdle. The ca…

I welcome Niamh to the Seanad and wish her well in her work experience with Senator Conway. She will find no better Senator to work with in advocating for those issues. The two will form a formidable team, no doubt, while Niamh is working here. I also wish her well in her studies. I take on board the points raised by Senator Conway around reasonable accommodations and how nothing has changed. We will certainly request a debate with the Minister around how we can modernise the way things are done today. There should…

I move: That Seanad Éireann agrees with the recommendation of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight that, in accordance with the provisions for the address to Seanad Éireann by Distinguished Persons, Mr. Bertie Ahern, Former Taoiseach, be invited to address Seanad Éireann on Tuesday, 23rd May, 2023, and, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, unless otherwise ordered, the following arrangements shall apply: The proceedings in respect of the address shall commence at 3 p.m. and shall conclude…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. Y) Regulations 2023, a revised copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 12th May, 2023.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, in relation to the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022, it be an instruction to the Committee of the whole Seanad, to which the Bill may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, that it has the power to make amendments to the Bill which are not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill, for the purpose of amending the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 in relation to the paymen…

Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Planning and Development (Exempted Development) Regulations 2023, back from committee, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023, back from committee, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1 without debate; No. 3, motion re Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. X) Regulations 2023, back form committee, to be taken on conclusion of No.2 without debate; No…

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business today. Senator Casey spoke about the recent auction for offshore wind, which was considered a success and will provide energy for 2.5 million homes. The Senator is correct to say that we had the opportunity a decade ago to be a global leader in this but we lagged behind. However, we are getting going now and we are open for business, which is a great thing to be able to say. It is great to see the likes of Wicklow getting a successful project with more to…

Not about fake tan. You are all natural.