Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. While we wait for the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, I welcome to the Public Gallery visitors from John Scottus National School who are guests of Deputy Hayes. There are also two guests of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I apologise as I do not have their names. Also here are Caitríona Boyd and her grandfather Tony Dunne. You are all very welcome. I hope you enjoy your visit to the Oireachtas. Those who are here from the national school will have no homework for the rest of day…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish.

I second that.

I second the proposal from Senator P. J. Murphy that we deal with No. 12 before dealing with No. 1 on the Order Paper. I welcome the news announced yesterday that the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O'Donovan, brought a memo to the Cabinet yesterday in relation to the repurposing of the former International Rugby Experience museum on O'Connell Street in Limerick city. This is an award-winning building. It was built out of the generosity of the McManus family and was gifted to the State. At th…

I welcome Senator McCarthy who has with him Victoria Mary Clarke, Rosa Clarke, Kate O’Toole, Councillor Gaye Ralph, Anne Lane and Winnifred Burke. They are here to celebrate International Women's Day in advance. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

I welcome the members of the P. H. Pearse cumann, who are guests of Deputy Malcolm Byrne. I presume they are from Wexford. They are very welcome. May they enjoy their visit here this evening.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and his officials. I thank them for coming to the Chamber to discuss this all-important topic. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.

I understand Senator Brady is sharing time with Senator Kyne. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome our visitors from Borrisokane women's and men's sheds, who are guests of Deputy Ryan O'Meara. You are very welcome. I hope you enjoy your visit here today.

As there are no other members indicating I now call an tAire to respond.

I acknowledge an Seanadóir Boyle and his guests, Brendan and Sarah Brady from Donegal. I hope they enjoy their visit today.

I thank the Minister for State for coming to discuss this all-important topic. I would like to pay a compliment to all volunteers because right across every city and county, there are volunteers everywhere. They are out on a daily basis. They are out in all types of weather. They are on the side of a pitch. They are involved in community centres. They are involved in so many projects. With the Tánaiste, I visited St. Munchin's Community Centre last Friday. When the Ukrainian crisis hit, it took in many Ukrainians, …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, and his officials from the Department.

We are on amendment No. 1.

We now move to amendment No. 2. Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are related and Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, are physical alternatives to No. 2. Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

You will have to move it when we get to amendment No. 5. You can speak to it now.

Dáil Éireann passed the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 18 February 2026, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Chris Andrews - the need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on the regulation of urban horses. Senator Patricia Stephenson - the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make a statement on Ireland's position on the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, following the joint statement to the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe in…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, to the Chamber.