I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the House.

I rise today and also wish everyone a happy St. Brigid's Day. We have had a number of events in County Kildare already to celebrate Brigid 1500. We had a brilliant night in the library in Athy two nights ago at the We Shall Overcome event. Last night, we had a great light show similar to what I am sure happened in County Louth last night. It was terrific to be there to witness Brigid in all her forms, and also the pause for peace, which we are having in this House today. I want to commend the Cathaoirleach on that …

I welcome to the Visitors Gallery the young Travellers from all over Ireland with the youth service group Involve. I hope they enjoy their day with us here in Leinster House. They are guests of Senator Flynn.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the Minister of State. On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome the establishment of the tribunal of inquiry. There can be no doubt, as previous speakers indicated, that its establishment has taken a long time. It is important to acknowledge what we have before us. As Members have done in this House and in the Dáil previously, we pay tribute to the Women of Honour. I welcome them into our Visitors' Gallery. There can be no doubt that were it not for the tireless work of this group we would not be discussi…

I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome the debate. I acknowledge that this Bill is an effort to alleviate some of the pressures experienced in the coronial service. We are all conscious that we are having this debate at a time when there are huge backlogs in the service. Coroners provide a vital service in technical terms but also do a lot in shaping the experience of bereavement for families or friends who have lost a loved one. They ensure bereaved families are informed and that any questions the latter …

I, too, welcome our guests to the Gallery today. As a member of the autism committee, I am proud of the achievement of getting autism-friendly accreditation for the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is a really important day for us all. I give particular credit to the chair of the committee, which I know Senator Ardagh has already done. Senator Carrigy has driven this through the Houses over the last year or so. He has been an excellent and exemplary chair in doing so. He deserves great credit for what has been achieved…

I second the amendments, if that is in order. I welcome the Minister to the House today. This is an important conversation. I spent 11 years on Kildare County Council and attended JPCs. It is important that we ensure local authority members continue to be represented on JPCs or community safety partnerships as they are now. Our amendments have been tabled to ensure that a local authority member will be the chair of community safety partnerships. We have heard that this may be the case, but we seek clarity on that. …

Continue please, Senator.

I want to share some time with Senator Sherlock, if that is okay. I welcome the Minister to the House today for this very important debate on the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023. I will be concentrating much of my contribution on my experience of dealing with cohabiting couples and our own Labour Party Bill, the Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant's Pension) Bill 2021 and of course, as has already been said by colleagues, the landmark ruling we have just received from the Supreme …

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This business is to conclude after 90 minutes if not previously concluded.

Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Amendment No. 3 has been ruled out of order as it is not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill.

I agree it is very important. Before I ask the Minister to respond, I want to welcome a Belgian student and guest of Senator McGreehan, to the Gallery today. You are very welcome to the Seanad.

I thank the Minister. Before I go back to Senator Sherlock, I welcome members of the Department of children and equality network. They are welcome to the Gallery. I hope you enjoy your stay in the Seanad. How stands the amendment?

Amendment No. 5 in the names of Senators Hoey, Moynihan, Sherlock and Wall is out of order. It is not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill. That brings me to amendment No. 6 in the names of Senators Ruane, Black and Flynn.

I will get a note for the Senator.

No, I will read out the reason as requested. Amendment No. 5 relates to the publication of candidates' postal addresses on ballot papers at elections. The topic strays too far wide of the provisions of the existing Bill, which relate to Dáil and European Parliament constituencies and their reconfiguration on foot of the recent reports of the Electoral Commission. The amendment must be ruled out of order, in accordance with Standing Order 154, because it is not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill.

Is the Senator pressing the amendment?