Next Tuesday.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 9 be taken before No.1. The Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025 seeks to provide protection to people working on the front line of retail. There are more than 300,000 people working in retail throughout the country, in every town and village. We buy our milk and newspapers from them. They are essential in all of our communities. Unfortunately, far too many retail workers are going to work every day and night in fear of being assaulted, be that verbally or…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to create specific offences for assaulting or threatening retail workers carrying out their employment.

Tomorrow.

I welcome the Aire to the Upper House. Comhghairdeas to him on his appointment as Minister for Justice. He has been a breath of fresh air since taking office. His hands-on approach to the bread-and-butter issues of justice in our communities and throughout our country is welcome. I wish him well in his role. He has a big task ahead. I am seeking an update on the Department's work on the production of a retail crime strategy. The Minister will be aware that the CSO recorded a 12% increase in thefts last year. Forty-…

I acknowledge the ownership an tAire has taken of this issue since he took office. It is welcome that he proposes to introduce exclusion orders and that he is preparing the Defamation (Amendment) Bill to introduce a defence of retail defamation. I acknowledge the work of An Garda Síochána under Operation Táirge; the more than 8,000 arrests last year are welcome. However, the Minister acknowledged that the low level, insidious, casual, opportunistic shoplifting has a really corrosive effect. Although An Garda may ha…

I draw the House's attention to the publication yesterday of the 2025 quarter 1 business outlook report from Dublin Chamber of Commerce. This body represents more than 200 businesses in the capital. Being a Dub, I am always looking for an opportunity to champion our great capital but it is really important for everybody in the House to recognise that by 2040, more than 54% of the country's population will live in the city. A total of 1 million people live in Dublin and 50% of the gross value added in the country is…

Today is World Autism Acceptance Day 2025 and it is an important day in the calendar when we are asked to pause and to recognise the importance of neurodiversity, to give recognition to the strengths and talents of autistic people, and to promote and champion understanding, acceptance and support for neurodivergent people. I congratulate everyone who participated in Dublin city's first ever half-marathon last weekend. The sun shone in Dublin city and it was a truly glorious day weatherwise. More than 12,000 individ…

I thank the Minister for coming to the House today and for facilitating an early debate on housing for this Seanad. It is the single biggest threat to far too many of our citizens' lives, young and old. I really appreciate and I believe the House really appreciates the priority the Government and the Minister, in his new Ministry, are giving to housing. I wish him well. He has our absolute support. When I say it is the biggest challenge facing this generation I speak as a mother of three young adults. I live with t…

This morning, I share the great news with the House that Drumcondra is the first village in Ireland to receive the prestigious autism-friendly award. The award celebrates communities across Ireland that have demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering autism inclusion and understanding. It is awarded by AsIAm, the autism campaigning organisation. The autism friendly project in Drumcondra has been driven by an amazing young woman, who is a mother, Lucy Crean, and others. In a voluntary capacity, they worked with s…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to our debate this afternoon.

We will allow the Minister of State to continue for another minute.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. He will have a further ten minutes to come in at the end of contributions from the Senators. Before I call Senator Joe Flaherty from Fianna Fáil to make his contribution, I welcome the students of St Peter's in Wexford, who I understand are the guests of the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Verona Murphy, who I am sure wishes she could be here with them at this moment to share in this debate. However, she does have other matters to deal with and I am sure she will do that very competentl…

Well said. Professionalism is in rare supply in the other House at the moment. I call Senator Joe O'Reilly. Is the Senator sharing his time?

Will Senator O'Reilly need the full ten minutes?

Okay. We will do that. Please, carry on.

I am sure the Minister of State is giving this matter his attention.

I thank the Seanadóir. I call the Minister of State to reply. He has ten minutes.

I will give the Minister of State a minute or two.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. In a world where we are surrounded and bombarded daily with bad news housing stories, I want to talk about one positive housing story. The croí cónaithe vacant property grants were introduced by the previous Government in 2022. I had the privilege of working with the previous Minister, his Department and our local authority members to introduce those grants, because we all know the fastest and most sustainable way to increase our housing supply is to use the va…