I would like to welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to the House. I wish to start my contribution by joining with colleagues in thanking Senator Chambers for her leadership and inclusivity in relation to our committee. It has been a learning curve for many of us. As a new Seanad Member, it was very important to me how she treated new Members and everyone on the committee. I thank her for her inclusivity in everything that she did in relation to getting us all together and arranging the list of people who we engag…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is his second time here today. I congratulate Senator Malcolm Byrne and his colleagues in Fianna Fáil on bringing forward the Bill. The Senator correctly said that in 2021 I introduced a Bill on behalf of the Labour Party on the use of the CCTV and the prosecution of offences. It was quite similar to what we have before us. The bottom line on this is what happens next. We heard Senator O'Reilly state it is with a committee at present. When I introduced the Bill last …

First, I raise an announcement on promised legislation in recent days. I spoke recently to the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, on when we can expect a long-overdue gambling control Bill. Colleagues have mentioned this previously. I congratulate the Minister of State on bringing this Bill through Cabinet and preparing it for debate in the Houses. However, we cannot afford to wait much longer for that debate. Recently, Drogheda United joined the growing number of League of Ireland clubs that have rejected sponsorsh…

I am particularly proud to co-sponsor this Bill. It is a very important moment for us in this country to have the Bill coming before us. I too pay tribute to the Leader of the Seanad for allowing it to come before us today. That is very important. I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is a very important discussion and we must have more of them. I put on record my thanks to my former colleague, now Deputy Bacik, for her wonderful work on the Bill. We all know what she has done for women's health i…

I know we discussed this last night. As Senator Boylan said, it was discussed in the Dáil too, where Deputy Duncan Smith had a conversation with the Minister, since we had an amendment about it. I know the Minister is prepared to provide a report on that. I welcome that. We previously had a Bill in the Seanad on this important topic. I welcome that the Minister will prepare a report on this important matter for many people in this country.

I am moving on.

I welcome the Minister to the House. As mentioned in the Dáil, the Labour Party welcomes and will support the Social Welfare Bill 2021. For many, social welfare benefits will be the only source of income. This important legislation will result in an additional €558 million in 2022, as the Minister mentioned. This is very welcome for so many people. Like other speakers, I want to mention local employment and the contracts. The Minister will be aware that I raised this issue with her and officials from the Department…

It is hard to follow those heartfelt words from Senator Black but I will try. I also welcome the Minister to the House. There can be no doubt that one of the industries hit hardest by the Covid pandemic is live music and entertainment. Once again, it is this industry that is being told it must reduce the numbers attending its venues. It is those working in this industry who are listening to the prospect of further restrictions in the venues where they perform. I recently raised the case of a late-night venue in my …

I welcome the long overdue announcement yesterday of the site for a new secondary school in south Kildare, which will be located on the former Magee Barracks. It also raises a number of questions, however, foremost among which is what the students who do not have a place for next year will do. We have a meeting this evening with the Minister for Education at which I hope some answers will be forthcoming. It also raises questions about the Educate Together model announced in 2018 for the school and whether that will…

I welcome the Minister to the House this evening. Importantly, I should first put on the record that for another short period I will be member of the current commission. Senator Kyne mentioned that in his contribution. I want to welcome some of the new contents of the Bill, particularly with regard to the PBO. I have seen some of what is involved there. It is a very positive step in relation to what we need to do here in the Oireachtas. Particularly as a new Member, I think it is positive for everybody on all sides…

It surely is.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Acting Chairperson for the build-up. Being from Kildare, I am acutely aware of the importance of the horse racing industry to the county. It is not known as the Thoroughbred County for nothing. A 2019 Deloitte report on the economic benefit of breeding and racing in Kildare found that almost 5,000 people were employed in the county in direct and secondary employment and the industry was worth in the region of €421 million to the county, with €79 million in bloodstock sales by vendors there. One can quic…

And the bank holiday.

Hear, hear.

Senator Garvey has not seen anything yet.

Keep going.

I welcome the Minister. I put on record my thanks and the thanks of the Shackleton Museum, Athy, and its board of directors to the Green Party for tabling this important motion. I especially thank the Green Party Senators here, particularly Senator Martin. I also acknowledge Councillor Colm Kenny, who played a crucial role in bringing this forward, along with Senator Martin. I acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who recently visited the centre in Athy, and the part that he has played in bringing the m…

I want to raise several issues. I have received a series of calls and emails in recent days from teachers in the main. The message was the same in all of the correspondence I received. The conditions in which they are working and in which our children are attending school are totally unacceptable. There are stories of windows being left open with the heating turned up to the last but the temperature in the classroom reading just 6°C. I am sure other colleagues in the Chamber are also hearing this. Searching clothin…