I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Domestic Violence Judgments Register Bill 2026. I acknowledge Jason Poole and the Poole family. The fact that we are debating this legislation today is due in no small part to their determination and courage in campaigning following the tragic death of Jennifer Poole. It is lovely to see them here with us in the Chamber today. I commend them on their bravery and continued work. No family should have to discover only after losing a loved one that there was in fact a history …

Sinn Féin will not be opposing this legislation, as it addresses many of the issues we have raised over the years in relation to media ownership and independence. Almost a decade ago, current Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan commissioned the report on the concentration of media ownership in Ireland that highlighted Irish media ownership as being at high risk due to the influence of figures like Denis O'Brien. That report found that Ireland had one of the most concentrated media markets of any democracy and it stated that …

Whisht up and talk about the Bill.

The Senator is able to interrupt when he wants. Do not be shouting back and forth about Sinn Féin. This has nothing to do with Sinn Féin. You are in government. The Senator is talking about records. Talk about record homelessness, please. That is on your watch. Whisht up.

Senator Flaherty is able to do it all the time when he wants.

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House.

Yes.

Lovely. I am choosing not to engage with the class clown who just wants to run down Sinn Féin on housing rather than look closely at the current policies. All the records the Government has were spoken about. I am talking about the record homelessness and the people I meet every day. I think it is time for the Senator to go back to school when he looks at the power-sharing arrangement.

No. I am sorry. The Senator is not allowed to talk down to me. This is my time, so Senator Flaherty needs to sit there and be quiet and listen to me. Okay?

We have power-sharing in the North, but we are not in bed with the Opposition like the Government is. The Senator should go back to school and learn how things work. I am glad to have the opportunity-----

Sorry, this is my time, so shut your mouth or get out.

No, I am sorry-----

No, I am sorry. On a point of order, I am trying to have a chance to speak. Can he shut his mouth?

Now, for people who do not believe Sinn Féin wants anything to do with rural planning and does not understand rural life, some of us do live in a rural constituency. I live in a rural constituency called County Laois. I deal with the issues we have and I do not see records being broken with all the progress being made. I do welcome the opportunity-----

Please, Senator.

I welcome the opportunity to talk about rural planning and how important it is for rural communities. I have come from the social protection committee, where we have had the GAA in. Those witnesses have been telling us about declining demographics. I see this happening. I see it in the village I come from, Ballyroan. We can see the impact this has, so I really welcome the opportunity for us to try to make a difference here. Every week since I started in this job, someone has contacted me who has not been able to ge…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to take this issue. I raise this Commencement matter because of a young woman in Laois who contacted me recently. Like many others, she never imagined she would find herself fighting not only a serious health condition, but also a healthcare system that seems unable to provide the care she urgently needs. Following spinal surgery, this young lady developed a neurological movement disorder that now affects her ability to stand and walk. She relies on a walking …

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate her taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health. I welcome the funding but have a couple of points to make. In the case in question, the person has actually emailed the Minister twice and is getting no response. It is a young girl in her early 20s. I definitely will send over the details to the Minister of State. The woman has really been failed by being told she will have to wait two to four years before she even gets an appointment. This is a young girl who cannot …

I second the amendment.

Just over a week ago I stood in this Chamber speaking about the incredible success of Rosenallis National School robotics team in County Laois who represented Ireland on the world stage at the VEX Robotics World Championships. They managed to bring home the judges' award. This is absolutely fantastic. Like so many people across Laois I felt immense pride seeing these young people from a small rural school compete internationally and achieve such remarkable success. It shows that innovation can happen in Rosenallis …