I join with others in extending our sympathies to the O'Rourke and Naughten families. I also agree with Senator Sherlock's concerns about somebody who is compromised in these Houses, if it is the case. It is a particularly serious matter. However, I note there are politicians who are not compromised but indeed are puppets for Putin and will quite clearly voice his talking points on a regular basis. It is 20 years since Parkrun began. The first Parkrun took place in Bushy Park in London and it now takes place every …

I commend Senator Conway on raising the issue of haemochromatosis. I have haemochromatosis and I am very aware of the importance of the screening strategy, given so many people are impacted by that disease. The issue I want to raise concerns the long-running and ongoing saga of the construction of the primary care centre in Gorey, which I have raised on a number of occasions in the House. The primary care centre was first conceived in 2010 or 2011 and planning permission for a particular proposed primary care centr…

In light of past experience, I am concerned that the Minister and the Department are being fobbed off again by HSE estates. The Minister of State will notice that the HSE said it will be advertising before the end of this year. That is obviously different from what I was told to the effect that it would be quarter 3 or quarter 4 at the latest. Our problem is that the HSE acknowledges that it has been stalled, but the reason it has been stalled is because the HSE failed to take action on these issues. The Minister o…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I appreciate that this is a busy day in the Department of Finance. I particularly appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House to take this matter. The Minister of State will recall that in June and July of this year, we dealt with the issue of a boil water notice in Ferns, County Wexford, which impacted more than 1,700 people. I want to put on the record my thanks to her for raising a number of the issues with Uisce Éireann, even though the responsibility does not fall to…

I thank the Minister of State for outlining the process. I have learned from responses that when I hear from a State agency something is a priority, that tends to mean some time in the next five years. If I am told it is an urgent priority, it might be within two years and an imminent priority is sometime within 12 months. I appreciate and understand the processes as the Minister of State has outlined, but if we are to achieve our objective of delivering houses for people within communities near where they want to …

I echo a lot of Senator Lombard's comments on access to swimming lessons. The Ceannaire will recall that I previously asked for a debate regarding our coastal communities and, in particular, the question of investment in beaches. The Oireachtas committee on the arts previously raised the need to invest in musical theatre and theatre more generally throughout the country. After the GAA, amateur drama and musical theatre account for the largest number of individuals involved in any voluntary activity. I hope a debate…

I will speak specifically to the amendments and to the legislation. While I have some sympathy with amendments Nos. 155 and 156, I am not certain whether they should necessarily be included within the legislation. However, the guidelines adopted by local authorities when large-scale developments are put in place should have greater regard for community and social infrastructure. In fairness to most local authorities, they will conduct community and social audits. There are the requirements with regard to childcare …

Like my colleague Senator Boyhan stated, that is a very welcome move but we need these rural planning guidelines to be published as soon as possible. These have been a long time in the pipeline. The Minister of State knows rural Kilkenny as well l as I do parts of rural Wexford, and he will appreciate the problems that are created. I speak in support of my colleague Senator Chambers's remarks on some of this. Let us be clear. Sustainability is built into this legislation, but sustainability in local communities wil…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. It is unfortunate that I have to raise it in the House but it is primarily because of the lack of information that has been provided to residents in Ferns, County Wexford, by Irish Water. Uisce Éireann issued a boil water notice in Ferns on 28 June due to the detection of the presence of cryptosporidium in the local water supply. It is reckoned that 1,723 people are impacted by this and the residents of Ferns are now on their 14th day of a boil water notice. Res…

I thank the Minister of State for her honesty, as always. It speaks to a bigger issue with Uisce Éireann. A number of us have had problems with the lack of communication before. Of course people do not want to drink water that is contaminated with cryptosporidium, but they want at least to be informed as to what is going on and have an alternative water supply made available. The behaviour of Uisce Éireann in this matter has been appalling in regard to its lack of communication with residents in the area. Of course…

I welcome Senator Nikki Bradley. Your first day in the House is always very special so enjoy it, and get the run of the place, as they say. We look forward to Senator Bradley's contribution for however long the House will continue to sit. We are continually told it will probably be until March of next year. That is the official line. I am a member of the Oireachtas media committee. Yesterday, we had a very useful discussion on the question of journalists reporting in conflict zones and the threats posed to journali…

I am sure the Leader will join me in again expressing our solidarity with the people of Ukraine following the horrific and deliberate targeting by Russia of the main children's hospital in Kyiv overnight. This is part of an appalling ongoing war and it is something we need to regularly recall in this House. Ukraine continues to fight for its survival. There is a dangerous, despotic regime in Russia. While it is often said we are militarily neutral, we cannot be politically neutral. The State needs to reiterate in t…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan. As has often been said before, data is the oil of the 21st century. For oil to be of any use, it has to be extracted, refined, stored and distributed and we need to do this with data as well. Like oil, we certainly need to regulate its use and have to be very aware of its environmental concerns but we do need a strategy around data storage in Ireland. The Minister of State wil…

I thank the Minister of State and I welcome that, but he will appreciate the concern for both multinational and indigenous companies is that if we do not have the necessary infrastructure in place, it will place serious constraints on growth. I obviously welcome the commitment the Minister of State has made that the review of the connection policy for large energy users by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities will be published in summer 2024. Summer can obviously be interpreted in a very broad way; is the…

One of the big changes in Irish society is we are living much longer and will continue living longer. Estimates are that a teenager today has a one in five chance of living to the age of 100. Significant changes are happening in our demographics but just because we are living longer does not mean we are living healthier lives. On current trends, 80% of the population in their 40s or 50s will be overweight or obese by the end of the decade. That has major health implications. All the evidence is that, rather than pl…

Now.

I thank the Minister for allowing the Bill to get this far. It is critical that it proceeds through the Dáil. The Minister is keen to get it before the Committee on Justice. Now that it has passed all Stages in the Seanad, I hope it will move quickly through the Lower House. I express my solidarity with the Minister because she and her family have experienced some nastiness on the part of a fringe minority. This is part of what this Bill is intended to address. We want to support peaceful protest in this country - …

Next Tuesday, at 1 p.m.

I want to raise the case of Mr. Neno Dolmajian. As the Leader will be aware, Mr. Dolmajian was visiting from Montreal. A day after Canada Day and ten days after a vicious assault in our nation's capital, he sadly passed away. His father and sister travelled over from Canada to be with him. This House and this country should express solidarity with his family after this horrific act. Unfortunately, this is not the first case in which a tourist has been assaulted in our capital city. This goes back again to an issue …

It is a good job the Senator spoke after Senator Carrigy.