I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing my Commencement matter. I also thank the Minister for coming in. I am very grateful that he is attending here himself. As the Minister will know, we would be lost without women. I just wanted to say that at the very start. As we mark 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, it is timely to reflect on both the significant contribution of women to Irish agriculture and the steps still required to recognise and strengthen their role. Women are central to the sustainabi…

I am sorry to hear about the Minister's dad. His mum was obviously a very strong and committed woman. He did not pick that up off the stones. Fair play to her. I thank the Minister for his commitment. As he said, he saw first hand what women in agriculture can do. Nothing changes if nothing changes. What is frightening is that where a successor is identified, that successor is predominantly male. In this day and age, that has to change. I thank the Minister for his commitment.

This year is the International Year of the Woman Farmer. It is a celebration and a call to action to improve visibility, opportunity and leadership for women in agriculture. Only approximately 13% of farm holders in Ireland are female, yet they make up approximately 34% of the agricultural workforce. This shows that many women work in significant roles on Irish farms, but that is not reflected in the ownership statistics. Where farmers have identified successors, over 80% of the identified successors are male. The …

I will start by noting how much the Chair suits you, Senator Costello. Maybe it is something you should think about in the future. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for giving up his time and for his engagement. Fishing is of huge importance to many of our communities and it often goes under the radar because of the numbers involved in fishing compared with agriculture, for example, but to the communities involved in fishing, it is everything. It is often the main source of employment, dire…

Was it nice? Did you enjoy it, lads?

The Minister of State often gets abuse, especially online, but many of the people engaging in that abuse would not know a fish if it hit them across the face. What is very interesting is that the fishing organisations never abuse him, which shows the respect they have for him. They acknowledge and believe that he is doing his best. I will finish by acknowledging the stakeholder engagement. The issue of unsustainable fishing of key pelagic stocks such as mackerel by certain coastal states outside the EU has been rai…

I would like the relevant Minister to come to the Chamber to provide a clear and comprehensive update on the implementation of the pension increase due to retired An Post workers and to explain the continued application of the 2% cap on the pension increase under the 2013 pension accord. Two core issues now require urgent attention. The first is the 7% increase owed to An Post pensioners, comprising 6% from 1 January 2025 and a further 1% from 1 June 2025. The second is the rationale for maintaining the restrictive…

I would like to open a discussion on foreign direct investment and how we, as a country, can entice more of this investment. There was a slot on the radio the other morning during which the lack of office space for big companies wanting to set up here was discussed. Cork city in particular was talked about. Cork city is a brilliant place to set up a business. We have a talented workforce, and it is good for family life. We have a good university and there is proximity to the airport and train station. It was highli…

The issue I raise today is the register of electors. After every election, people say the register needs to be reviewed and updated but it never happens. There has not been any sizeable work done on it for years. People who have passed away are getting polling cards, which is obviously upsetting for families, especially if it is a recent bereavement. It is hard to get people off the register. We must remember these families are mourning and have an awful lot on their plates besides ringing the county hall to explai…

In January there will be many TY students throughout the country choosing subjects for their leaving certificate. Choosing subjects for the leaving certificate is one of the most important decisions students make and it is often underrated how important these decisions are. These choices shape academic pathways. They can open some doors and close others. The importance of choosing the correct subjects is often underrated. I would like a helpline to be set up, even just for the month of January, that students could …

On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I express our sympathy to the family of the late Donal Carey on his passing. I never had the privilege to meet Donal but everything I have heard about him shows he epitomised all that was very good in politics. He was a Member of both Houses and went on to be a Minister of State. He obviously had great taste because he often holidayed in the most beautiful constituency in Ireland, Cork South-West. On behalf of my party, I extend our sympathy to Leonora, Donal, and our former colleague Joe,…

I speak about the recent fatal road traffic accidents. It is all so upsetting. Young people were going for a night out. There was a man at work and a man going to work doing ordinary everyday things and they never came home. I pass on my sympathies to their families, friends and those who will always be affected by what happened. I ask that the Minister would come in to discuss his plans for road safety. Something has to change and, if we can save one life, it would be fantastic. I would like the Deputy Leader to i…

I start by wishing my good friend and colleague, Senator Wilson, a very happy birthday. I think we all agree he is looking very well for 70. Today is World Children's Day. On this date in 1959, the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted and on this date in 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted. This day, 20 November, is a very important day with regard to children. I have just come out of a meeting of the committee on children and equality at which we discussed child poverty and…

Scams have been so prevalent lately that many people are losing an awful lot of money. I feel particularly sorry for older people who have obviously saved money and who can lose it so fast. Many older people are losing confidence in life as a result. They are getting depressed and sad and feel foolish. It is not only old people. We must remember that these scammers are really professional. I came close to falling for a couple of scams. Thank God I did not. Some of these scams so professional and elaborate. It is pr…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus gabhaim buíochas léi as a bheith anseo tráthnóna. Today, we mark a transformative moment in our national journey towards equality, dignity and inclusion. The launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 is not just a policy milestone; it is a statement of values, a commitment to justice and a recognition of the lived experiences of disabled people in Ireland. This is the first strategy published since Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of …

I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes the significant prioritisation by the Government of measures designed to: - reduce out-of-pocket costs of early learning and childcare for families; - better align the supply of State-subsidised early learning and childcare with demand; and - increase the pay and improve the working conditions of early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners, as well as develop career pathways and promote career…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chun an tSeanaid. Tá mé an-bhuíoch di as a bheith anseo anocht. I am honoured to speak today on a matter that touches the heart of every community in Ireland, which is early learning and childcare. Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate and our commitment is clear. It is to make Ireland a great place to raise a family, where every child is given an equal start in life and equal opportunities throughout their journey. We all know the early years of a child's life are the most formative. They sh…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach chuig Seanad Éireann. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé an-ghnóthach agus mar sin, tá mé an-bhuíoch dó as a bheith anseo. Tá mé féin an-bhródúil a bheith anseo mar Sheanadóir Fhianna Fáil cuibheasach nua. In my very brief time, I want to discuss our local councillors. By "our", I mean from all parties and none. I acknowledge the presence of one of our very good councillors, Councillor Caroline O'Reilly, in the Public Gallery. As the Taoiseach is aware, our councillors are the bread and b…

I start by welcoming my colleague Senator Andrews back. I am glad he is back. As they would say in Cork, fair play to you, boy, for what you did. I wish to raise the issue of farm safety. Already this year there have been 16 confirmed deaths following accidents on farmyards and in fields, and obviously others could be added to that list. This number is higher than the figure for the whole of 2024 and so obviously there is a problem there. Nine out of those 16 were people over the age of 65. Decisions taken with reg…

I thank my Fine Gael colleagues for bringing forward this motion. I welcome the debate and Fianna Fáil will not oppose the motion. Our farmers are world-class food producers. They are the social, economic and cultural pillars of our rural communities and Irish society. From 2020 to 2024, with the leadership of the then Minister, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil worked hard to deliver investment on farms and in industry and provide financial support for farmers. This work included a new €1.5 billion agri-envi…