Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá áthas orm a bheith páirteach le mo chomhghleacaithe chun Seachtain na Gaeilge a chomóradh. Níl mé líofa ach ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá. Cosúil le Paul Mescal, déanfaidh mé iarracht.

Is ceart go ndéanfaimid ár dteanga agus ár gcultúr a cheiliúradh. Léiríodh an scannán is áille i mbliana i nGaeilge, is é sin “An Cailín Ciúin”. Guím gach rath ar fhoireann na scannáin sin sna seachtainí amach romhainn. Rinne an Rialtas cinneadh suntasach maidir le cainéal teilifíse do leanaí a bhunú. Measaim go bhfuil sé seo an-tábhachtach. Ar deireadh, ba mhaith liom moladh a thabhairt do TG4, Raidió na Gaeltachta agus, go háirithe, cuntas Twitter TG4 as ucht na hoibre go léir.

I wish to be associated with the tributes paid by Senator Martin and the Leas-Chathaoirleach to the late Congressmen Brian Donnelly on his contribution to Ireland generally, in particular in the context of the Donnelly visas and his and his family's support for the peace process and building relations between Ireland and the United States. I also want to praise my colleague, Senator Martin, who raised the question of the Antarctic Treaty. The Shackleton Museum is located in Athy and the treaty is important to the m…

I too welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and congratulate him on his important role. Unlike my colleague, I would certainly not describe him as hapless. He is well able to express opinions on a range of issues. While this matter relates to the transport brief, the Minister of State's role on EU affairs is pertinent given the importance of Rosslare Europort and the completion of the last leg of a 340 km motorway that runs all the way from Belfast to Rosslare. For that reason this is vitally important…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I am grateful that the commitment is still very much there. Concerns were raised locally that there have been delays. This is certainly welcome. I had hoped the response might have given a more indicative timeframe as to where we are going with this, especially given that Iarnród Éireann and Rosslare Europort have now committed to the development of a master plan with Government support. We cannot have a world-class port put in place if the necessary infrastructure li…

Like my colleagues, I welcome the Bulgarian ambassador. We appreciate the support and solidarity that Bulgaria has given Ireland during the Brexit discussions and we want to extend that friendship. I also welcome the British ambassador and his team. Today is St. David's Day, and one of the countries the ambassador represents is Wales. Unlike Sarah Palin and Russia, I cannot quite see Wales from my house but on a clear day, Wales can be seen from Wexford. It is important in the context of building relationships betw…

With reference to Pat Leahy's description of the Order of Business as "windbagging" on any topic and looking for a debate on it, the same could be said of editorials in the The Irish Times . I echo the call by my colleague, Senator Horkan, for a debate on Ireland's EU membership, which has been enormously positive for this country in terms of both the contribution the EU has made to Ireland and the contribution we have made to the EU. I was fortunate to attend the launch by the Tánaiste in the Department of Foreign…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful that the Government is accepting the principle of what we are seeking to achieve here. I am happy therefore both in moving this Bill, to move the proposed Government amendment and to accept it. This will allow for consideration of this Bill, it is a timed amendment, and it will allow for the Bill to go before the justice committee. My friend and colleague, Deputy James Lawless, as Chair is going to be quite happy to have engagement, debate and consult…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Seanad Éireann: condemns: - any attempt to promote division and hostility towards those who come to Ireland seeking safety; notes that: - the right to protest peacefully is enshrined in the Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights; - balancing the right to protest with protecting the public and upholding the law is a complex task, and that An Garda Síochána, through its human rights-led approach to policing, seek…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. This Bill relates to targeted protests. In the case of the example he gave of a protest arising out of an industrial dispute at a factory, its provisions would not impact on such an event, even if it took place in a residential area. I take Senator McDowell's point that the restriction of 200 m can be a challenge. The issue is really to do with targeted protests and clearly identifying them as such. In the context, for example, of some of the decisions by the US Supre…

At 2.30 p.m next Tuesday.

I congratulate the Minister of State. I commend him on his work as the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. He did an exemplary job. I wish him the best of luck in his new post. I thank him for taking this matter on behalf of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. I want to raise the question of the short-term tourist letting register being proposed by the Government. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, whi…

I note the Minister of State's language when he indicated the Department stated that it is impossible to estimate or that it cannot estimate how many properties will be available. This is not what it says on the Department's website, which indicates much more clearly that we will see 12,000 coming back into use. Nobody disputes the need for a register. A register makes sense; it has to be a level playing field. The difficulty is that because there has not been adequate consultation with stakeholders, it will have a…

Like others, I welcome the Cathaoirleach and the Leader to their new roles. I echo the comments of Senator Paul Daly, who expressed some of the concerns around what has been happening at Coillte and the lack of transparency there. I support his calls for a debate. Today's announcement of Oscar nominations is welcome. A record number of nominations are Irish or related to Ireland. It is particularly positive for the Irish content creation and film industries. We have sought a debate in this House on the future of th…

On a point of order, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhaigh, what is the relevance of this to the motion before the House?

I echo the expressions of sympathy for the late Private Seán Rooney, his family and the wider Óglaigh na hÉireann community, which is a close-knit community. Private Kearney and the other soldiers who were injured must also be in our thoughts. Ireland has a proud tradition in peacekeeping and is the only country that has taken part in every UN peacekeeping mission. That is something of which we are very proud. When somebody gives his life in this way, it is right the nation should remember him. Colleagues spoke of …

I move: That Seanad Éireann: notes that: - CERN is one of the leading scientific research organisations globally; - Ireland is one of the few European Countries not in membership; welcomes: - the announcement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, that he intends to bring a paper to Government setting out Ireland’s intention to apply for membership; calls on: - the Government to proceed with Ireland’s membership of CERN; - the Department of Further and Higher Education, …