Dáil Éireann has passed the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023 on 25 October 2023, 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 Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on reimbursement to local authorities for rates refunds provided to businesses as part of the increased cost of business grant. Senator Mary Fitzpatrick - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the commencement of works to regenerate the former Dublin City…

Before I call the Deputy Leader, I welcome the students and teachers from Loreto Secondary School in Wexford. They are guests of Deputy Howlin. They are most welcome here today and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. As is the tradition for any school visits to Leinster House, there is no homework - at least I hope there is no homework for the weekend anyway. Today is the national day for our friends in Austria and the ambassador, H.E. Mr. Nader, is most welcome here. I thank him for being here in Sean…

I join the Senator in welcoming the national executive of Network Ireland including its president, Emma Early Murphy. I thank them for coming to Leinster House and for holding their executive meeting here. It shows that this Parliament is open to all its citizens and making sure that all voices are heard. I thank them for being here today.

I welcome to the Gallery students from Scoil Mhuire, Trim, County Meath. They are most welcome. I do not see their teachers. I am sure they are around somewhere. The reason I ask to see the teacher is to make sure the students do not get any homework for the weekend.

Or next week. I thank Senator Craughwell for his generous contribution in giving no homework on a week off. The honorary consul of Ireland based in Antwerp is also most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank him for coming and for all the work he does on behalf of Ireland in Belgium.

Dia dhaoibh, a cháirde.  I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Lynn Boylan - The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the recommendation of the Climate Change Advisory Council that the Gas Act be amended, if necessary, in line with the national policy on islanded data centres. Senator Micheál Carrigy - The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the timelines for the deli…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House.

Before I call on the Minister of State, I welcome to the Gallery a group from St. Andrew's National School, Lucan. I welcome Senator Emer Currie, all the students along with Ms Owens, Ms Sweetman and Ms Harper and, most important, Senator Currie's daughter, Cordelia. They are most welcome and I thank them for coming to Seanad Éireann today. We hope they enjoy their visit. They are in capable hands. I thank Senator Currie.

Before I call the Acting Leader to outline the Order of Business, I welcome to the Gallery Daniel Beauquis from De La Salle College in Dundalk. He is here on work experience with Senator Keogan. Councillor Gráinne Maguire is here as well. Her formidable mother, May McKeon, is not here today but she was a councillor for many years and is still very active in the community. Daniel is most welcome. I thank him very much for coming to Seanad Éireann today. I also welcome, on this independence day in the Czech Republic,…

I have not read the Senator's poetry-----

I have not read Senator Mullen's poetry but I know he is most certainly a revolutionary in every sense of the word.

I am quite aware he was not referring to himself. On this Czech national day, we wish our friends in the Czech Republic the warmest of congratulations. We know how hard it is to struggle not only to achieve independence but also to maintain it. The Czech Republic and Ireland share a bond in the European Union and we celebrate with the Czech people their independence day. I thank our guests for being with us today.

I welcome to the Gallery the guests of Deputy Emer Higgins, from the Rathcoole Active Retirement Group, who are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for coming here today and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. I now call Senator Kyne.

I thank the Senator for her legislation on this. I know we spoke about this more than two years ago and we did the first Seanad panel forum on this particular topic when we were all doing things by Zoom. She brought in a lot of the experts in this area who highlighted the fact that this really allows the abusers to continue unchecked with their behaviour and in many instances revictimises the victims. I am glad the Minister has outlined that the Government will move this legislation forward in the Dail - I would ho…

I welcome to the Visitors Gallery Councillor O'Callaghan and all the lads from Clare. They are most welcome guests of Senator Dooley. We had a great event on Sunday in Clare commemorating some of those tragic events that happened during the Civil War. I also welcome Colin Harvey, human rights and equality commissioner, and a professor in Queen's University Belfast. I thank him for being here today. I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Given all that is going on in the world, the issues in Northe…

I thank the Tánaiste for outlining the complexity of the situation in Northern Ireland, particularly in respect of the legacy Act. It is one issue that has united all groups in Northern Ireland on the fact that the opportunity to seek justice, however difficult that path might be, should never be denied. The legacy Act is certainly an impediment to this.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to make a statement on the capital funding proposed for St. Tiarnach's Park, Clones, County Monaghan. Senator Fintan Warfield - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on the expected timeline for the receipt, and publishing, of the Low Pay Commission report on youth …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, to the Seanad Chamber.

Members will be aware of the Standing Order relating to making people identifiable without naming them. I ask Members to be conscious of that. It comes under Standing Orders 49A, 49B and 49C. Members may wish to familiarise themselves with those Standing Orders.