This shows that when we have a debate on foreign policy, the values in this House around human rights, democracy and a free press must be essential. That informs our human rights policy. It is a pity that Sinn Féin and the hard left support the Lukashenko regime. I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and those European representatives who have stood against it and will continue to stand against those types of abuses.

I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber, for the energy and enthusiasm he has shown in the establishment of this new Department, and for the work that he and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, have done so far. I echo the Minister in thanking the higher and further education institutions for doing Trojan work in the past few months to adapt to the pandemic but also to prepare for reopening in these difficult times. This is particularly true for how they have ensured students, learners and trainees …

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. One of her hallmarks since she has become Minister is that she is somebody who is willing to listen and engage with all of the stakeholders in the sector. She certainly has been willing to engage with teachers and boards of management. I particularly compliment her on being willing to engage with students. She has actively engaged with the Irish Second-Level Students' Union. I would encourage the Minister to continue to do that. I would also ask that a very clear proces…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my matter. Being in this Chamber feels like one's first day in school. Obviously, I am very happy to pose the first matter here to my Wexford colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne. My matter focuses on data and data protection. I am a strong advocate for the effective use of data in terms of how it can inform public policy, but it also has the potential to grow into being a multi-billion euro industry in Ireland. There are serious concerns however, about the potenti…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate that the Data Protection Commission is a separate agency. My point is that this is about the potential threat to Ireland's reputation, and part of the issue is around the adequate resourcing of the Data Protection Commission, for which the Government is responsible. This will require a whole-of-government response around issues of artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making so there is a clear, consistent policy across the whole of Government …

I thank the Acting Chairman for the allocation of time to discuss this very important motion. As Senator O'Reilly said earlier, but for Covid this issue would be the biggest issue for us to debate. It is essential that Brexit remains to the fore and that is why we have brought it forward, as a group, here this evening. The cross-party support for the motion is welcome. We should also be heartened by the level of support we have received from our European partners and this has been referred to by a number of speaker…

While it is very important that we continue to highlight the plight of professional artists and musicians, I draw the attention of the House and the Minister with responsibility for the arts to the situation facing the amateur arts community. Normally, around this time of year, amateur drama groups are preparing for one-act or three-act drama festivals and amateur musical societies are preparing their productions for the 2021 season. Obviously, because of Covid these cannot go ahead this year. It will be arts and d…

I join the Cathaoirleach in thanking all the staff here and I know some of them had a very late night. I hope we will not be still here at 2.40 a.m. tomorrow. I thank all the staff for facilitating us and the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to use the Chamber. It has been a particular honour and I have now sat in this Chamber as a Senator for more days than I did as a Deputy. This is the final day before the summer recess and although the Houses will not sit, there are cheap headlines coming from certain journa…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, to this House and formally congratulate him on his appointment. I support the Bill because of how it is going to further protect tenants. I wish to respond to a couple of the issues that were raised. I strongly agree with my colleague, Senator Ward, when it comes to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. We do not have a Department of local government in Ireland, we have a Department of centralising government. In the coming years, we must ensu…

That is not true.

I agree with Senator Keogan and welcome the fact that the Minister of State has agreed that this information will be provided in plain English because that will be very important. As I have already mentioned, it should also be provided in a number of other languages, particularly of Polish, Lithuanian and so on, because that would be beneficial. I will make it clear to Senator Boyhan that I am neither landlord nor tenant. I share the Minister of State's concern that a piety emerges when people start to talk in defe…

Hear, hear.

I join with Senator Ó Donnghaile in hoping we will receive an update on this issue. There was consensus in the House yesterday regarding concern at what was happening in Cahersiveen. It is important, therefore, that we receive an update on that situation. I support the re-establishment of the select committee on Brexit. If we had been asked six months ago what issue we would have been debating the most in this House, we would have said Brexit. The reports today highlight how important it is that this country is pre…

I thank the Minister for being available to join us today. I also welcome the series of commitments she has given on direct provision and, on top of this, her sincere personal commitment as Minister, and I know of the commitment of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to address this issue. There is agreement across the House on the importance of this issue of addressing the immediate challenge in Cahersiveen and the broader question of direct provision. What we have seen in Cahersiveen is totally inappropriate with rega…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I agree with Senators Hoey and Ó Donnghaile that we should get clarity as soon as possible concerning the direct provision centre in Cahersiveen. I suggest to the Acting Leader that a statement might be provided on the matter to this House, preferably on the Order of Business tomorrow. Last week, when we discussed the very successful European stimulus package agreed by the European Council of Ministers, I pointed out that although this was a great example of European solidar…

I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister to the Chamber for this very important debate. I know of her personal deep commitment to education and notwithstanding the criticisms of Senator Warfield there is a very clear commitment on the part of the Government to education. It is our top priority. It is probably reflected in the number of speakers on the Government side who are present. There will be no shortage of speakers on the Government side wishing to offer on education, in contrast to the Opposition bench…

To follow my colleague, I would certainly also welcome colleagues to the sunny south east and to historic Wexford over the coming months.

I wish to raise the question of the community employment, CE, supervisors pension scheme. The Cathaoirleach will be aware there was a Labour Court recommendation in 2008. This has been the subject of a long-running series of discussions. I am aware the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, is due to meet representatives of the supervisors next week. I am hopeful that we will finally be able to reach agreement. Many of these CE supervisors have been working for a long number of years. It is important that we implement t…

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.