You are all natural, Malcolm. It is fine. On a more serious note, it raises wider concerns. The Irish Times is the newspaper of record. We need to be able to trust what it prints, both online and in hard copy. To be fair to the editor concerned, they were unlucky. It was only a matter of time before it happened. Maybe it has happened previously and we have simply not been aware of it. They dealt with it in the right way and acknowledged that it was a mistake on their part. They are improving their editorial process…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 31st March, 2023.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 3rd May, 2023.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. X) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 4th May, 2023.”

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 4th May, 2023.”

I welcome the boys and girls to the Chamber. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. X) Regulations 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. Y) Regulations 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1 without debate; No. 3, motion regarding Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees)…

I thank the Members who contributed to the Order of Business today. Senator Malcolm Byrne acknowledged the work of some primary schools in his own county of Wexford - Kilrane National School near Rosslare Europort and Bunscoil Loreto in Gorey - which have taken in a considerable number of Ukrainian students, and more than maybe other schools across the country. The Senator acknowledged the work they have done, in particular Bunscoil Loreto, which celebrated Europe Day by singing "Ode to Joy" in six languages. It is…

The request has gone in. We would be delighted to get the Minister, Deputy Harris, if he can make himself available in the coming weeks, but it may be the Minister, Deputy McEntee, if it does not happen. We will certainly get somebody on those important topics. I would agree with the Senator that the level of reservists, in terms of the Reserve Defence Force and the Garda Reserve, and the volunteerism that we have benefited from as a country over so many decades is certainly in decline. Numbers have reduced conside…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. X) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 4th May, 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 May, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 7…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. Y) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 4th May, 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 May, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 7…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 4th May, 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 May, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2) shall accor…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank the Civil Engagement Group for facilitating this debate and for using its Private Members' time to allow us to debate this legislation. As per the recommendations of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Fianna Fáil will be opposing the Bill today for the following reasons. The Clerk of the Seanad being a member of the commission will create a potential conflict of interest for the Clerk in being both the returning officer for Seanad electi…

Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

With the agreement of the House, I will be sharing my time with Senator Malcolm Byrne; I will take three minutes and he will have one.

I welcome Commissioner McGuinness to the Chamber. It is a pleasure to have her here. I thank her for such a comprehensive overview not just of her extensive portfolio, but also the key issues affecting Europe and Ireland today and into the future. It is good that the Commissioner began by talking about Europe Day and the 51 years that Ireland has been a member of the European Union since the referendum in 1972, which was historic, the signing of the accession treaty in 1973 and the key and remarkable changes we hav…

I welcome my neighbours to the Gallery from the Ballyheane and Ballintubber area, including Fianna Fáil members and my dad Michael. It is great to have them all here. I thank them for coming up. The Order of Business is No. 2, motion regarding Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 3, statements on Ireland's application for membership of CERN, to be taken at 4.45 p.m. and to conclude at 5.45 p.m. if not p…

I extend a warm welcome as well to Merlin College, its students and their teachers, namely, Aaron Staunton and Sinéad Ní Neachtain, whom I had the pleasure of meeting earlier. They are here at the invitation of Senator Ollie Crowe and with Councillor Cheevers as well. All the students are welcome to the Chamber. I hope they got to see a little bit of how the Seanad works. They probably viewed the Dáil as well. They are most welcome to Leinster House. I thank all Members for their contributions to the Order of Busin…

It is open to any Member of the Oireachtas to write directly to the Chair of any committee to request that an item be put on the agenda. The Senator can attend any such committee as a non-sitting Member. He is entitled to participate in any meeting and to ask questions. That might be an avenue for the Senator to explore. Senator Ahearn spoke about companies continuing to sell to Russia and has asked for the Tánaiste to address the matter. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about young people in Cabra. I commend them for the…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 3rd May, 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 May, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2) shall accordingly a…

I agree with the Order of Business. I welcome the ongoing work on pensions, in particular for younger people, the move to an auto-enrolment system and the current debate on the age at which people should be auto-enrolled. There was a debate on radio yesterday. I put some stuff out on social media and asked what age people should be auto-enrolled at and asked to pay into their pensions. I got various responses. Some said that 16 made sense. They understood that it was 16 because once one starts working and pays from…