Before we agree the Order of Business, I welcome the residents of Sunbeam House in Wicklow town. They are guests of our colleague, Senator Pat Casey. I hope they enjoy their visit today. I also acknowledge Deputy Martin Daly and his guest in the Gallery. I hope you enjoy your visit to Leinster House.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to discuss this all-important issue. I am glad he acknowledged the fact that what we all saw on the RTÉ programme across two nursing homes was not reflective of all nursing homes. That is a really important message. When we think about the residents, the people who work there, their families and the greater community that watched that programme, it is horrific. It was frightening that people were so neglected. I am glad to hear from the Minister of State that the Government …

One last thing I wish to discuss is the fair deal system. While it works for many, Nursing Homes Ireland found from surveying its members that their costs had gone up 36% but their income levels had only increased by a small amount, some by less than half of that. While I am not saying prices should go up, we have to try to support nursing homes to keep them accessible to all so that people can afford to go to them, given how we do not have enough public beds. We need to move to a model of nursing home care where e…

I welcome the guests of Deputy Aidan Farrelly from St. Seton's Secondary School in Ballyfermot. I hope they enjoy their visit here today.

Before I move to the next speaker, I welcome Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn and her guests from Dublin South-Central, as well as Jamie Malone and some of his family members from Louth. They are all very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit here.

Before I move to the Minister of State, I welcome Deputy James O'Connor and his guest, Mr. John Lundy from Cork. I hope you enjoy your visit here to Leinster House today and to the Seanad especially.

I will divide my time with Senators Kyne and Nelson Murray.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: acknowledges: - the publication in 2019 of Smile agus Sláinte - National Oral Health Policy; - that the Dental Treatment Services Scheme provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders; - that taxpayers may be able to claim tax relief on specialist dental treatment; - that under the Treatment Benefit Scheme taxpayers may qualify for dental benefit; - that the Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulator of the dental profession in Ireland; and not…

Amendment No. 5 has been ruled out of order because the establishment of a survivors support and advisory office would involve several costs. The amendment must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 42 as it has the potential to impose a charge on the Revenue.

Amendments Nos. 6 and 8 are related and may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Through the Chair.

Is Senator Ruane pressing the amendment?

I welcome to the Gallery Deputy Maxwell and his guests from Ballybay, County Monaghan, including Stephen and Julie Patten, who got married last Friday. I congratulate them both and wish them long life and happiness. I acknowledge and thank the survivors, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Mary Donovan, Mary Smith, Sheila O'Byrne and Miriam Moriarty Owens, for being in the Chamber for this discussion.

Only the proposer of an amendment can speak on it a second time.

The Senator may address that amendment when we come to it. Is Senator Ruane pressing amendment No. 6?

The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, is very welcome. We will now deal with No. 1, motion regarding the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and No. 2, motion regarding the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. Both motions will be debated together and decided separately. I call on the Acting Leader to move No. 1, motion regarding the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998.

I thank the Minister of State. Group spokespersons have ten minutes and all other Senators have five. Senator Robbie Gallagher is first.

Before I move to the next speaker, I welcome Deputy O'Connor and his guests from the USA to the Gallery. They are very welcome. I hope they enjoy their stay here.

I remind Senators that, when matters are still under investigation, we have to be careful about naming people. I thank Senator McDowell.

Dáil Éireann passed the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 18 June 2025, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Is that agreed? Agreed.