I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I thank and commend Senator Norris for this legislation, which I, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party in the Seanad, will support. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to support and to adopt it. This Bill is a labour of love. It comes from the heart. It is not dead or boring legislation or just words on paper. It really comes from a person who not only knows our city and our heritage but who also absolutely loves, values and cherishes it. In this leg…

I join Senator Buttimer and all Members of this House in celebrating Pride month and lamenting RTÉ's role in this situation. It would be welcome if the Leader could facilitate a debate on the issue. As we have come out of the pandemic, this is our first Pride month in almost three years during which we can get together and celebrate. In the Dublin Central constituency, we will be celebrating Pride. The same constituency will tomorrow be celebrating one of the country's most famous literary sons, namely, James Joyce…

I also offer my condolences to the family of Councillor Collins. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. I wish to raise the issue of domestic violence and violence against women and children, as was reported today in the annual report from Women's Aid for 2021. The report describes things like hammers, hurls, golf clubs and ordinary household items being used in the hands of abusers who are perpetrating real violence on women and children in their own homes. The report from 2021 said there were 33,000 disclosures of domestic…

Taxis are an essential part of our public transport services. The ten-year rule requires that vehicles more than ten years old be retired from service. Next year, in 2023, more than 5,000 taxis will need to be removed from the road, which represents about one third of our national taxi fleet. Taxis allow essential workers to go to work and attend medical appointments. They allow people to reduce their carbon emissions by not having to own and operate their own car but avail of a car service. They offer a secure and…

Next Tuesday.

I welcome Cara and her parents. I heard her on the radio this morning and well done to her. She should not have to be making all the efforts she is making but she is doing a great service to children all over the country. They will all be proud of her and I am sure they are cheering her on. I would like to raise the provision of abortion care. As we all know, it is four years since the vast majority of people in Ireland voted to repeal the eighth amendment and for the provision of abortion care. However, today only…

I wish to raise urban regeneration, in particular in light of the report which was launched this morning by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The report details not less than 39 recommendations to be taken to address dereliction and to champion urban regeneration. The report, with cross-party support, specifically endorses a number of actions that are captured in Housing for All. I refer to initiatives such as the lease and repair scheme, the buy and renew scheme and the livi…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank the Cathaoirleach and Seanad for facilitating this Commencement matter seeking a commencement date for construction of a commemorative site at the national monument on Moore Street. As everyone knows, Moore Street is the most historic trading street in the city. It is the birthplace of our Republic. Despite being rich in history beyond anyone's dreams or what anyone could imagine, the street has been dominated by dereliction, neglect and antisocial behaviour for…

I refer to the €121 million in urban regeneration funding for the north inner city quarter to regenerate places such as the fruit and vegetable market. It is absolutely shameful that the market is still closed. There is the promise of a city library on Parnell Square. The most basic thing in a capital city is a decent city library. All of that is really welcome and reflects the Government's understanding of the need in the area. I welcome that the OPW has indicated it will imminently commence works on the national …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: - “the Bill be read a second time on 30th June, 2023, to allow for further consideration of the Bill.” I welcome the Minister of State to the House again. I am delighted to see him here to discuss this important legislation. This is an initiative I wholly support. It goes to a subject close to my heart, as someone who has fought far more elections than is good for anybody’s health. I have also dealt with far too many posters over…

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad to discuss childcare and for all the work on childcare he has done since taking office. I have had to go to him about a number of issues and he has always been very responsive. I believe he places a very high value on childcare, including in the early years. This can be seen in the changes and improvements being brought about by this Government. In particular, I welcome the changes to the national childcare scheme, particularly how they apply to those who are socially a…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad today to discuss local government. I do not know who requested this debate but I always welcome the opportunity to talk about local government. It is right here in my heart. I was first elected in 2004 to the country's largest local authority, Dublin City Council. I do not think there can be any greater honour than to be elected to represent your local community. Today's debate, as I understand it, was triggered by an "RTÉ Investigates" programme. We are talkin…

Hear, hear.

I thank Senators Ruane and Flynn and the Civil Engagement Group for bringing this motion. I am delighted to welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome the group Housing Action Now and I understand there is a group of artists as well. I apologise for not knowing the latter's title but I have heard about its work and commend it on that. I am delighted the Minister of State has come to the House to debate this issue with us. As Senator Flynn said, we have debated housing many times since the new Government …

I offer my sympathies and condolences to the Murphy family and to Senator Paul Daly and his family as well. It is a sad time for them. It is a sad time for our country, for Europe and for the world. Later this evening we will have statements on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I agree with Senator McDowell and wholly endorse his call for us not just to have statements but to have a unanimously agreed motion from this House utterly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the brutality and inhumanity that Russia is …

I would like to raise the issue of teenage violence. In recent years there have been many reports of teenage violence in the media and they include teenagers being violent to other teenagers in every place from Dalkey to Malahide, Rochestown and Carrigaline. Most recently, this week my home community of Cabra featured in the media. This violence is characterised by gangs of young people making random attacks on other young people. These are violent assaults and in Cabra there were a number of assaults before Christ…

I draw the attention of the House to a report launched yesterday by Women's Aid, which documents the findings of a survey it conducted with the support of Red C Research and Marketing into relationship abuse, specifically relationship abuse among young people aged between 18 and 25 in Ireland. The research was done over the course of two years and the findings are stark. It has prompted Women's Aid to launch a campaign entitled "Too Into You". The findings tell us that more than half of our young people have experi…

While Sinn Féin and its friends, the investors, are laughing at renters, the Government is not. The Government is spending €900 million of taxpayers' money to support more than 100,000 renters. On top of that, it has committed €20 billion to increase the social and affordable housing stock and to give people a chance to own their own homes. Two citizens' assemblies were announced yesterday, one on biodiversity and another on the prospect of a directly elected mayor for Dublin. There should not be a hierarchy of cit…

There is a commitment within the Government to holding a citizens' assembly on drugs. I absolutely support that and it is one on which we should ask the Minister for Health to update this House in regard to when it will be convened. I welcome the commitment of €8 billion to retrofit homes. It will allow people who own their own homes, or who own and operate public buildings and community facilities, to make those buildings warmer, more affordable and healthier, and allow us all to reduce our climate footprint. It i…

I welcome the Minister for Justice and thank her for coming to the House today, as well as for supporting my colleague Senator Chambers in this legislation she has brought to the House. I commend Una Ring, Eve McDowell and every victim and survivor of stalking, abuse, harassment and violence in whatever form it takes. Right from when she took office, the Minister made it a priority to update the laws and the State's response to victims of abuse and violence. The work she is doing is incredibly important, not just f…