I am not quite sure how to respond to this. The only information that is new in this statement is the fact that the building is held freehold in Camolin. Finally we know that this title issue raised by the HSE was a nonsense. Next year, we will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of the failure of the HSE estates to do anything. The Minister of State's own Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform is cited here with regard to a circular. He can hardly be satisfied that this is how to effectively ma…

I join Senators in thank Tom Hickey for his work. I wish him the best in the next chapter in his life. The Ceannaire may be aware that the leadership elections for the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, took place this week. I commend all those who contested them, including Francie Gorman, the new president. In particular, I congratulate Alice Doyle, who is the first ever female deputy president elected to the IFA. I know Alice. She, her husband Tom and their family farm a beef and tillage farm at Balloughter, just ou…

I pay tribute to the work of the Minister in the area of women's health. His record and legacy when it leaves the Department will show that he has done more in this area than any other Minister since the foundation of the State. If we look at the issue of termination of pregnancy, one of the best ways to deal with it is through having proper sex education and access to contraception, and ensuring every baby is wanted, as many in the pro-life campaign would argue. The Minister has led the way in work on this. I vote…

I propose we adjourn sine die .

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I raise the question of the ambulance base at Gorey, County Wexford. I am sure the Minister of State will join me in paying tribute to our hardworking ambulance crews across the country. The ambulance crew that is operating in Gorey is operating in a Portakabin that is completely substandard and unacceptable as a workplace. The National Ambulance Service Estates Strategic Plan 2016-2020, which was produced in consultation with the HSE, stated clearly that there was at Gorey a "new…

I appreciate that the Minister of State is answering on behalf of the Department of Health but tell us something we do not know. Essentially all we are told is that it is included in the capital plan even though it had been in the strategic plan for 2016 to 2020. There has been no progress. What the Minister of State is clearly saying is that the HSE has given no real commitment to the development of the ambulance base in Gorey. The Minister of State said it cannot be seen in isolation from the delivery of related …

Like others, I pay tribute to Senator Mary Seery Kearney for all of her work on the surrogacy issue. She brought her personal story but she has clearly delivered on this issue. I want to say, "Well done". On the other issue, I pay tribute to all of our healthcare workers, including many of those who come from all over the world. I see at first hand the vital work they do, in particular during the Christmas season. We should remember that Christ himself had to seek refuge. It is important to remember those who have …

The Leader will be aware of the hurricane that happened in Leitrim and the impact it has had. I have raised in the House previous similar incidents in Foulksmills in south Wexford. Extensive damage was done to a number of homes as a result of winds blowing at a rate of up to 130 km/h. Any of the much needed supports for Leitrim village should also be made available to those in Foulksmills. Only very limited supports have been made available. This speaks to the bigger issue of the increased number of adverse climate…

I also join the Cathaoirleach and Leader in congratulating Mary on her service. I wish her the very best for the next chapter in her life. I also welcome Emma, Yvonne and Michelle to the Gallery. They have been doing enormous work in north Wexford to resolve the school bus issue, which I know many of us have to address. There are a number of issues I would like to raise today, the first of which is the commencement of public sector pay talks, which is very welcome. As the Cathaoirleach will know, it has always been…

I move: That Seanad Éireann: notes: - the enormous challenges and opportunities that Artificial Intelligence(AI) and emerging technologies present for all sectors of society; - that AI will be embedded in almost every aspect of life; - that AI could lead to significant positive improvements in delivery of services such as healthcare or in transport; - the particular impact of the use of AI on elections and on the democratic process and how it can contribute to the spread of misinformation and disinformation; - the …

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I also thank my colleagues here in the Seanad for their input on this issue. A number of people have praised the role of the AI ambassador, Dr. Patricia Scanlon. It might be in order at some stage, and perhaps in the new year, for us to invite her to address the Seanad and inform us about her work and her perspective as to how AI is impacting on the ground. I agree with the Minister of State that my motion focuses on AI but the full title was artificial …

At 1 p.m., next Tuesday.

I welcome the proposal from the Minister for Social Protection to extend pension rights to family carers. I want to ensure that it is extended to foster carers. Foster carers do an incredibly important job in this State. There are about 6,000 vulnerable children and young people in care, and 90% of them are looked after and brought to realise their full potential by foster carers. One of the difficulties is that, because people make so many sacrifices in order to become foster carers, they can lose out on some of t…

I thank the Minister of State for the continued investment being made in sport across a range of levels. I refer to the investment to Sport Ireland and the national governing bodies. There is often much criticism - and rightly so - of some of the governing bodies but it should be acknowledged that many of them are effectively implementing the sports strategy. I pay tribute to the Federation of Irish Sport for the leadership it has shown in this regard as well. I thank the Minister of State for his indication. When …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I want to raise Ireland's relationship with Hong Kong and, in particular, the continued crackdown by the Chinese communist party not just of journalists, politicians, pro-democracy activists and students but anybody who seeks to question it in any way in the special autonomous region of Hong Kong. In recent years, because of the introduction of the national security law, we have seen increased crackdowns against any of those who dare to question Beijing's authority. We have seen t…

I thank the Minister of State. I am very grateful both for his statement on this matter and, indeed, the strong stance of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs on human rights and continuing to raise it and making sure that Ireland's voice is heard in the case of Jimmy Lai and so many others who are being unlawfully detained. That is critical. We must also bear in mind that more than 5,000 Irish citizens are currently estimated to be in Hong Kong. They could be subject to the requirements of the national se…

I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the Latvian ambassador and extending best wishes for Patriot Week.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023 – Second Stage, to be taken at 1.15 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and time may be shared, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 – Report Stage (Resumed) a…

I agree with the remarks by Senator Seery Kearney concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the horrors that continue to be inflicted there. I have proposed on a previous occasion that we have statements on this matter with the Tánaiste. It is critical at this juncture that we do not forget about that horrific conflict. I agree with Senator McDowell that we should not be dismissing or expelling ambassadors. At all times, we must keep diplomatic channels open. I am probably one of the most critical in this Hous…

Like the Cathaoirleach, I wish to echo the tributes to Senator Norris. As he has not informed the Clerk officially, there may yet be time to persuade him to change his mind. In fact, some of the deserved glowing tributes might do that. Having just learned of the interview, as Senator McDowell has informed us, I would certainly support Senator McDowell's suggestion that we acknowledge not just Senator Norris's contribution to this Chamber but to Irish life generally. I raise the Government's very welcome decision to…