I will be brief and refrain from making many contributions until we get to Committee Stage. The message is not at all that surrogacy is great, but that surrogacy is unfortunately necessary for some people. It is about the necessity of surrogacy so some people can enjoy a family life in they way they intended to. There is also sometimes a misunderstanding of what altruism means. Sometimes when people say something is altruistic there is a sense that somehow it is charitable or free in nature, which is not true. Altr…

The site at Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, County Tipperary, was home to one of Ireland's most infamous mother and baby homes, operational from 1931 to 1969. During this time, 6,414 women were admitted and 6,079 children were born there. Within two years of it opening, it was acknowledged that there was a problem with infant mortality and the congregation sent a representative to investigate the cause. Some 1,090 infants and children born or admitted to the home are known to have died. As part of the mother and baby h…

The final part is the most important part there. The groups involved felt their analysis had been done and then there had been radio silence rather than a response to it. The insight that those with the expertise required to review the findings are currently reviewing them is helpful. Will the Minister of State relay to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, that it might be helpful if he gave an updated timeline to the survivor groups in order that they are not waiting for information? Waiting has played a huge role for a…

Okay. I thank the Minister of State.

I second the motion. In our thousands and in our millions we are all Palestinian. I once read that humans are wired for interconnectedness and interdependence and not for conflict or killing each other. This is why the chant, in our thousands and in our millions we are all Palestinians, deeply resonates with me and what I believe is the essence of what it means to be human. Right now we have a brutal Zionist regime trying to destroy this very essence. Some think the only thing we can know is what we can put into wo…

Inspections already happen.

Today, we ask the Minister of State to speak specifically on the consideration the Department has given to the request and when a decision can be anticipated. In response to a written question raised by Deputy Cronin regarding the flotilla, the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, set out the general procedures on providing the flags for the vessels. This is information we already know. We do not need the Minister of State to set out again the process of registration, inspection or surveying of vessels in the genera…

That is extremely important because we are under the impression that an application has been made through Deputy Chambers’s office. We have been in communication with people on the flotilla, including regarding their legal advice, and they have the steering committee there as well. The people on board the flotilla are also under the impression that the requesting application has been made as per what was requested from them to the Department. That is an extremely important piece of information. People on board and …

Due to the nature of the Bill, the Leas-Chathaoirleach might want to withdraw his comment.

Like others have said, this is important legislation. It is welcome. It has been long awaited. It will completely reform the regulatory landscape for the gambling industry in Ireland. I am glad this Bill has finally made its way to us here in the Seanad. I look forward to working with the Minister of State and my colleagues here in the Upper House to make improvements to the Bill in the amending stages. It has been two years since the Joint Committee on Justice completed its pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill. I…

On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, I send our solidarity and thanks to Academics for Palestine, who have been mobilising across several universities around the country today and on the island of Ireland, calling for universities to take a stand on the genocide in Gaza. Universities in Ireland, bar one, have been completely silent on the issue of the killing of thousands and thousands of people in Palestine over recent months. This comes after some universities did not remain neutral when it came to the war on…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business. Often when you travel as a politician internationally you can come back feeling a little bit dismayed at the response of some countries to talk of a ceasefire to halt the destruction of a people like we see in Gaza. Even though we can always do more - we need to do more - and that is what this legislation can do, Ireland has a real role in continuing to push the agenda internationally so that the international community acts. The arms embargo is one way of doing that…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “ “An Coimisiún” means Coimisiún na Meán;”. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 seek to add the clarifying definitions that “An Coimisiún” and "Commission" refer to "Coimisiún na Meán” for the first Part of the Bill. Up until Part 3, the phrase "the Commission" refers to this, yet after that, the phrase "the Commission" refers to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, and the phrase "an Coimisiún" is instead used to refer to…

I will withdraw the amendment but reserve the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

The section grants sweeping powers to the Minister to make "regulations prescribing any matter or thing which is referred to in this Act". The provision is unduly broad and does not put in place adequate guardrails that would limit ministerial discretion in respect of such regulations. I accept further regulation may well be needed and would indeed be welcome on a number of issues. Our later amendments recommend the Minister conduct a review of various elements of the Bill with a view to potentially regulating furt…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Definition 7. In this Part, “Commission” means Coimisiún na Meán.”.

It is unusual to have reports ruled out of order on the grounds of posing a cost to the State. Over the years, we have tabled many amendments on introducing reports, including ones that have actually come to fruition and been carried out by Departments, that were not ruled out of order. It has always been a positive addition to much of the legislation that has passed through the House. Regarding the amendment on algorithmic safety, we are aware of the excellent provisions within the digital services regulation whic…

I appreciate that and I appreciate the Minister of State's comments on the last section about engagement. It did not lodge in my head at first when I came in that we have all remaining Stages today so I do appreciate any further conversation we can have on it. I also want to note the accessibility of online platforms in relation to the UNCRPD, which is also similar in terms of the last amendment, but very focused. If that can inform some of those conversations as well that would be helpful.