If we consider the traditional model of how media used to operate, we will note it was very clear that newspapers and broadcasters who reported on the news were subject to particular standards and expected to uphold them. The difficulty at the moment is that we effectively have the Wild West. This Bill and the Digital Services Act have been trying to put some guardrails in place. I agree with Senator Higgins that we constantly need to review the trusted flaggers and vetted researchers. I disagree strongly with Sena…

On a point of information, that is what the legislation provides for.

I begin by echoing the concerns expressed by my colleague Senator Ardagh. The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act will probably be the most significant legislation enacted this decade. It is the world's first comprehensive law on AI. I know we had a Commencement debate on this, but things are moving quite quickly. This week, the German Government agreed to support the new AI Act. It has been signalled as a priority for a number of EU member states. The Leader will be aware that I have been seeking a select o…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank my colleague, Senator Crowe, for the opportunity to say a few words on the Bill. It is a technical Bill but it does have a number of important functions. It is critical that it is enacted by 17 February as we have discussed. This has to be seen as part of a suite of European legislation to ensure a safe, open, fair and innovative digital space throughout the European Union. The Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act and the forthcoming AI Act are all critical to ens…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Seery Kearney and the Fine Gael Senators for putting forward this important motion. It is well known that the Minister of State is a champion for disability issues. I sometimes think she ends up bearing a lot of this on her own shoulders. A challenge in this space around disabilities and support for carers is that it has to become a whole-of-government approach. Listening to Senator Lombard, I was conscious this is about local governments taking responsibility. I w…

Today, at the end of January, might be an unusual time to start talking about beaches. As part of a coastal area, beaches are an integral part of our tourism offering. We have a problem with coastal erosion on a large number of our beaches. At the same time, we are also seeing local authorities trying to improve the quality of services that are available. I have raised the issue of Ballymoney beach in north Wexford, where a young man, Mr. Matthew McGrath, has been campaigning for disability access. The tender docum…

I join others in congratulating those who worked to achieve autism-friendly status for this building. Today marks 700 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday, 18 people were killed and more than 130 wounded as a result of Russian air strikes on Ukraine. It is essential that we continue to stand with the people of Ukraine as a country and in multilateral institutions. It is important that, even though there are conflicts in other parts of the world, we do not forget about this horrific conflict and Russia…

It could make the news.

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House and I know that he has a strong personal interest in this issue. I am concerned that we are only five months away from the election of this office, yet we are only debating the legislation now. I appreciate that is not the fault of the Minister of State but a number of us have asked to deal with this legislation earlier because the creation of this office is quite a radical shift in local government and we should be ambitious. While I get the point that Senato…

The mayor will propose the budget. Again, the question is the levels of control over funding. It is all very well being able to propose a budget but what about when one has very limited control? I accept that this feeds into the bigger debate that Senator Boyhan has raised around local taxation and revenue raising, services, etc. We need to examine some of the powers and specifically what powers we can give. I am just thinking about the citizens whom the Minister of State will know too well in Limerick city and cou…

I do not think anybody in the Chamber or outside of it doubts the interests of local authority members in community safety or working closely with gardaí. Senator Boyhan, in rather Churchillian tones, spoke about how he will have engaged with them on their work at a local level. As the Minister outlined, public safety is about a lot more than just sitting on a committee. It is essential that, on a year-round basis, councillors and elected and community representatives co-operate with the Garda to ensure public safe…

It is getting results.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, for coming to the House to discuss the unified patent system and Unified Patent Court. While I appreciate that this issue may not necessarily knock other issues off the front pages, for those involved in developing patents and intellectual property creation, ensuring that those rights can be protected and vindicated right across the European Union is critical. We should make that process as streamlined and easy as possible. As the Minister of State will be aware, Irel…

I welcome that. I think we should work together and look in a cross-party way to try to generate support for this referendum. It will require a bit of explaining. Having been asked about it on local radio, it is not always the easiest thing to explain. It is important for those creating intellectual property that we are able to vindicate and respect that right across Europe and it is important for the opportunity for enterprise in Ireland as well. I have the fear that during the referendum, people will use it as a …

The Deputy Leader may have seen the documentary "Jackie & Coco" on RTÉ last night but she will be very familiar with the very moving story. It was a beautifully put together documentary by the filmmaker Ger Walsh and Atom Films for RTÉ. This is the sixth anniversary of Nicole Fox's death. She died, as people know, as a result primarily of online bullying. Her mother describes herself as very much an ordinary person - she never anticipated what she had to do - but she is an extraordinary woman. She fought to ensure …

I move: “That Seanad Éireann: notes: - the hugely significant contribution of the Chinese people to the development of global culture and trade; - the recent visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Ireland; - the increasingly authoritarian behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party and its oppression of minorities and repression of human rights; supports: - the desire for friendly relationships between the peoples of China and of Ireland and the European Union; - the views expressed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Fore…

The Tánaiste will also be aware of the role artificial intelligence in playing in emerging technologies and in transforming all of our lives. There has to be concern that AI will be used in a way that is for the public good and that we will not see it misused. There has to be deep concern about evidence of China using technologies for the purposes of creating a surveillance society and stamping on the rights of its own people. At a multilateral level, when we take an active part in shaping global AI policy, we must…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, for standing in for the Tánaiste to conclude this debate. The Tánaiste set out very clearly what I think is the correct foreign policy for Ireland, which is our support for multilateralism where it is based very strongly on human rights. I agree with Senator McDowell that some of those who are most loudly calling for the expulsion of ambassadors from this country are remarkably silent when it comes to the totalitarian Chinese Communist Party. The Tánaiste is corre…

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The HSE boasts on its website that it is "the largest property owner in the State, so staying on top of all our facilities is key to the smooth functioning of our entire health system". Among the main strategic objectives of the HSE estates section are: "To provide appropriate facilities that serve and accommodate patients and staff in a relaxed, nurturing and caring environment and support the delivery of clinical services" and "To maximize the use of our buildings and land bank …