Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

I concur with the Leas-Chathaoirleach's remarks. I am not quite sure what he said in his last few sentences but the ambassador is most welcome.

I have no doubt it was complimentary and it was informative. Before I announce the Order of Business, I extend a vote of sympathy to our colleague, Senator Timmy Dooley, on the passing of his father, Mr. Joe Dooley, who was buried in Clare two days ago. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. I am sure I speak on behalf of all of the House in extending our sympathies to Senator Dooley and all of the Dooley family and to all of their community.

I acknowledge the passing of Judge Séamus Hughes, a former Mayo Deputy, who passed away after an illness. I extend our sympathy also to Deputy Alan Farrell on the passing of his father. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements for the sitting of the House on Thursday, 14 July 2022, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 – Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 …

If it is okay with Members, I will not go through everything in as much detail as usual as we have run over time considerably to accommodate people coming in on the last Order of Business before the recess. On the point raised by Senator Seery Kearney, I certainly would be in favour of a collective approach in this House to a weekly debate on that issue. What is going on is disgraceful. People are being left with what is, in effect, a life sentence because they get no help. It is breaking up families and leaving pe…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, unless otherwise ordered, the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the sitting of the Seanad on 14th July, 2022: (1) The Seanad shall meet at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 14th July, 2022, and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) Standing Orders 29 and 30 shall stand suspended; (b) there shall be no Order of Business; (c) the business to be taken shall be confined to the items set out in the Schedule to this para…

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I wish to put two issues on the record. At 3 p.m., on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I will launch the women's health policy. It is a culmination of ten months of work by me, other female Oireachtas Members and councillors. We have made over 103 recommendations, engaged with more than 30 organisations, conducted two national surveys and held a national conference on women's health. A huge amount of work has gone into putting this policy document together.…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to the House. I am pleased to share my time this morning with Senator Burke. The issue we are raising is the ongoing campaign by Tús and the rural social scheme to make changes to how they operate. On Monday night, Senator Burke and I attended a meeting in the TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar. It was attended by more than 450 members of schemes from throughout County Mayo, local councillors and Oireachtas Members from the county. The changes announced in recent weeks, in par…

I thank the Minister of State. It might be of assistance to the two Ministers and Minister of State concerned if he were to let them know there is a briefing in the audiovisual room today at 12.30 p.m. They would be most welcome to attend and meet directly with rural social scheme and Tús supervisors and hear directly from those affected. When these schemes were first set up they were seen as job activation measures that dealt with income support and rural isolation. They have evolved over time to become essential …

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the appointment of Members to the Joint Committee on Standing Orders (Private Business), to be taken without debate on conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Electoral Reform Bill 2022 – Committee Stage, resumed, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 2.45 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepte…

I ask Senators to bear with me because I want to properly deal with the amendments that have been proposed. I thank all Senators for their contributions on the Order of Business. In taking the Order of Business on behalf of the Leader, I am relaying information of which Members are already aware. I am not in a position to accept any of the amendments. I apologise to Senators for the obvious disappointment that will bring. I concur with many of the remarks in respect of the pressure that is put on this House to pass…

I hear that. I hear what was said and I know that Senator Ruane read out the comments of the Minister. I can only relay to the House that the Minister was asked. The request was made. If we were to sit beyond next Thursday, going into Friday or the following week, the amendments would not be taken in the Dáil. That is the response I have been given. I am being honest and open with Members. I am sure they are aware of this anyway. There is a significant amount of business and we have tried to accommodate it. This mo…

As I said, I was not a party to or watching proceedings so I have no idea what was said. I know there are different views involved. All Senators who have made points on the issue believe what they are saying even if others strongly disagree. I know there are ongoing issues in that regard. I will move on. Senator Hoey spoke about the demonstration relating to inequality for children outside today. There are families still awaiting support. I know Senator Clifford-Lee also spoke about those issues. Many of us are tie…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Last night I attended a meeting of about 450 people in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre in Castlebar organised by representatives of the rural social scheme, RSS, and Tús and also attended by SIPTU. As anyone working in public life knows, a meeting of that scale takes a lot of organising so there was an impressive crowd there last night. It took place on foot of the campaign that has been ongoing for many years to improve the operation of Tús and the RSS in terms of how they operate, the el…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and extend a warm welcome to our distinguished visitors, namely, Joe and Frances, the ambassador and Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022, instruction to committee, to be taken on completion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Sick Leave Bill 2022 [Dáil] - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn at 2.20 p.m., …

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator Kyne welcomed today's announcement from the Department of Social Protection and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, of significant reforms to CE, Tús and RSS schemes. These reforms were also welcomed by Senators Murphy, Buttimer, Maria Byrne and Dolan. There is widespread support for those changes. As many Members pointed out, there are in excess of 25,000 people across all three schemes. They employ a significant number of people in our communities …

If that is happening, it needs to be communicated to the principal and, if that is not successful, it should go straight to the Minister's office because that should be dealt with. While I am sure it is only a small number, shame on any teacher who would do that, or that any child would be left at the back of the classroom and not treated the same as every other child in the school. I note the Senator has received support this morning for that debate and I have requested a debate at the earliest opportunity. It is …

It is unlikely to happen before the summer. We are at the mercy of Minister's office to try to get a date from him or from the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton. We will try to get that as early as possible. Senator Boyhan spoke this morning about the Social, Economic, Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland, SEEFA, and the briefing that was organised by Deputy Jackie Cahill this morning in the AV room. There are ongoing issues with forestry. We will certainly request a debate with our Minister of State, Sen…

There is no evidence to suggest that is the case, and others would disagree with the Senator. We will not rehash the debate. My point is that making abortion illegal does not stop abortions happening and that there is a reason we make them legal, namely, that it makes them safer and that we know that women need access to that care for a variety of reasons. What we have not done in this country, however, is enough work to make the choice to go through with a crisis pregnancy a bit easier for some women who may feel …

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, in relation to the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022, it be an instruction to the Committee of the whole Seanad, that the Committee has the power to make amendments to the Bill for the purpose of- (i) amending the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 to make provision in respect of applications to the Environmental Protection Agency for licences, reviews of licences or revised licences in circu…