I point out that we have had two Ministers at the Department of Transport here this evening to represent the Government. They deserve respect for their office and for their work. They regularly show up here, as does the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I think the Senator has some sort of personal vendetta against the Minister. It is unfair. I note that the Senator is not going to withdraw her statement but, to be honest, I think it is really shoddy behaviour. I will leave it there.

St. Peter's GAA is a juvenile amalgamation of three Gaelic football clubs in rural north County Dublin, namely, Clann Mhuire, Ballyboughal and Garristown. All three clubs have a rich and deep tradition of football. When the players reach minor level, they go back to their home GAA clubs to continue playing at a very high level. St. Peter's GAA is going from strength to strength, but with changing weather patterns it has become apparent the current facilities are not fit for purpose. They are not available when the …

Yesterday, a former garda, Paul Moody, received a sentence for coercive and violent behaviour towards a former partner. Senators will recall that this former garda is currently serving a sentence for coercive control of a partner. This latest incident predated the person who made the report in the case of the sentence he is now serving. The very brave Nicola Hanney reported absolutely horrific abuse and coercive controlling behaviour, following which he received a conviction. Remarkably, the woman in the case dealt…

Gabh mo leithscéal, but I just got a message that the House needs to be suspended so the Minister can go to a Dáil vote.

I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic. I commend Senator Boyhan on putting it on our schedule and the Minister on coming here to partake in this very important debate in this, the United Nations International Year of the Women Farmer, which aims to recognise and support women working across agriculture and food systems. This is so important when we look at the issue of climate change and increasing food insecurity in many parts of the world. We must examine food security ourselves. Whi…

My father attended Kildalton and met my mother at a dance nearby.

I rise today to talk about the centenary of Fianna Fáil and to say that I am a proud Fianna Fáil member standing here 100 years since our foundation. Our weekend Ard-Fheis was a great opportunity for us all to reflect on the progress we have made as a country and that Fianna Fáil has been central to that progress. While that narrative does not suit everybody, it is the truth. Fianna Fáil has always stood for progressive, centrist politics and politics that brought people together to find real and practical solution…

Hear, hear.

The Minister of State is very welcome to the Seanad. I want to speak specifically about Lusk round tower and belfry. It is a topic we have discussed previously. I want to use this opportunity to talk about it. Lusk community council has been working with the OPW since October 2024. The first challenges it encountered were in getting this beautiful belfry and round tower open. I will touch on the history of the belfry and the round tower. St. Maccullin is connected with the area as one of the early Christians in Ire…

Today is International Nurses Day. It is an opportunity to recognise and pay tribute to nurses and midwives and recognise their contribution to the Irish health system. I particularly want to pay tribute to all the nurses and midwives in north County Dublin. As of June 2025 there were more than 92,000 nurses and midwives on the register in Ireland. This is the highest ever recorded number of nurses and midwives in Ireland. The workforce, as the Leader can imagine, is strongly gendered, with around 90% of registered…

Hear, hear.

And his wife.

I welcome the opportunity to debate this important issue. As most Members of the House know, it is a topic I am passionate about. As has been outlined, domestic and gender-based violence is a scourge on society. We need a whole-of-society approach to eliminating this scourge and we need men involved in the conversation. We need positive role models. We need to highlight and tackle the issue and not sweep it under the carpet as happened here for so many years. The Domestic Violence Act 2018 was groundbreaking legisl…

I thank the Minister for coming in to discuss this important topic. It is of such importance that it should be on the schedule regularly. Energy security is at the forefront of our minds currently but it should remain so. It is what will drive global geopolitical conflict in the future. It is the question of our time and we need to prepare adequately. We have had a couple of shocks with the invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. We know insecurity is coming and we know our vulnerabilities. As the …

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 12th March, 2026.

This is a good day for those homeowners in Wexford and Fingal who will finally be included under the scheme. I thank the Minister for his ongoing engagement with me on this issue. As he outlined, some 39 homes are thought to be affected in the Fingal area; one in Ballyboughal, two in Lusk, 30 in Rush and six in Skerries. This is a legacy issue, as the Minister outlined. This legacy has been hanging over the heads of those people for a long time. They will finally, if the motion is passed, be able to get their homes…

Elected.

I thank the Minister of State for outlining the importance of this Bill. We are all very much aware of what is happening to energy prices currently. It is very difficult for individuals and businesses. I commend him and his colleagues in government on taking the action they have taken this week. We are very concerned about the humanitarian impact of war in the Middle East, but the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz unprecedented. There is a very real risk of major economic global shock and we are starting to see the …

I ask Senator Murphy to remove his comments from the record of the Seanad regarding my colleague, Senator Joe Flaherty. He said that mud-slinging seems to be his stock-in-trade. He is a very fine representative-----

I have served with him for many years. He is a fine representative who contributes constructively. He does not deserve to be spoken to like that. He referenced a number of things that are true. Paul Quinn was savagely beaten. Every bone in his body-----