I welcome the ambassador. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the orders of reference of the joint committee on drugs use, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Agreement on a Unified Patent Court) Bill 2024 – Second Stage, to be taken at 12.15 p.m. and to adjourn at 1.30 p.m. if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to…

I am surprised at what Senator Craughwell said about turbines. My understanding from the housing committee was that turbines are getting smaller rather than bigger. I am surprised by his point and I will certainly raise it as an issue. It seems contrary to what we were told in the housing committee as we went through the planning permission for all of these, especially offshore. Do I infer Senator Craughwell's support for the patents Bill? It is very important and I appreciate it. The language might already be publ…

The group is very welcome. The minute I go back to my office I will contact the Minister on the issue of photographic ID. While we are on the subject of mother and baby home redress, it is my memory that on the record of the House the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, when it was raised with him that people were left out of the scheme, said he would review it. I have it written in big bold print on my desk with a view to holding him rigorously to it. With regard to the drug trials, I know Senator Boyhan is working very ha…

That is the experience of the people advising the Senator. However, there are huge amounts of money out there - €80 million from the Government and €80 million from the EU is considerable support. We need people coming up. I liked the championing of the ideas and the opportunities in this. That is to be commended and amplified further. I would say to Senator Clonan that there is no doubt there is a grave injustice going on. The administration of disability services and supports for families within the HSE is absolu…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders— (1) a Special Committee consisting of five members of Seanad Éireann be appointed, to be joined with a Special Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann, to form the Joint Committee on Drugs Use (‘the Joint Committee’); (2) the Joint Committee shall consider the Report of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use (‘the Report’) and shall provide a response to the subject matter of the Report, including a reasoned response to each of the 36 recommendations contain…

I welcome the Minister of State. This is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, so I am mindful of that. On 7 February last the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on the steps of the Iveagh Markets on Francis Street, made a fantastic announcement of a €9 million investment there for works to preserve the building. It would be really fantastic except it is exactly the same announcement that was made on 21 September 2023 by both the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Noo…

I thank the Minister of State. The urban regeneration and development fund certainly is a noble undertaking. Two minutes of her statement were taken up with outlining what it involves. That is not the Minister of State's fault; she is merely the messenger. I want to know when the Iveagh Markets building will be of use to the people of Dublin rather than standing there unused. The problem is that it has stood empty for decades and was allowed to deteriorate. It is fantastic that the building is to be stabilised and …

I thank the Cathaoirleach and welcome our guests. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the earlier signature of the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; and No. 2, on the Supplementary Order Paper, motion regarding the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2024, to be taken at 11.45 a.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes, those of gr…

Senator Maria Byrne raised the peculiarities of BusConnects, wherein there are great opportunities but also peculiar omissions. I have great sympathy with the Senator and completely support her need to advocate for the provision of a bus service. What would appear to make total sense does not always translate into the plans. This has been my experience of BusConnects in Dublin. I urge the Senator to have a meeting with the NTA and BusConnects and reason things out. They have been amenable to change and to listening…

The matter was in the High Court. It had to be brought there. It is not the case that it just suddenly appeared out of nowhere. That did not happen.

The matter was in the High Court and was lost in the High Court. It is now in the Supreme Court. The claim the Government was unaware of it is a false accusation. There is no such thing the Government would not be aware of. That would not happen under any circumstances. As to what level of knowledge the Government had, it would, of course, have had a level of knowledge that there is a Supreme Court case. It is the normal function of the Supreme Court and within its remit to hear cases like this reasonably frequentl…

The Senator is accusing me of not being accurate. That is grossly unfair and grossly wrong. It is absolutely wrong. I appreciate it may come in the way of-----

The Government would be aware of cases in the Supreme Court it is obliged to know about.

As to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, I cannot absolutely state his position. I am not authorised to do that. It is a function of the Supreme Court to take challenges. Regarding the referendum, the Senator has accused the Government of a sinister intervention.

The Senator used the word "sinister". He said there were sinister actions on the part of the Government. He made that accusation and I have also been following what he is saying on social media. The fact is that the commitment to addressing the disparity of views on the Constitution has been a commitment of the Government, with discussion taking place with the women's caucus and various other groups and NGOs for a very long time.

It is a fact that the matter has been raised on numerous occasions and there is a sequence of events. On many occasions in this House, I have heard the Senator speak about councillors. There are local elections, as he knows. There potentially will be a general election within the next 12 to 13 months. It is reasonable that a referendum would have been called. I have a difficulty with actions being ascribed to conspiracy theory and described as sinister. A Chathaoirligh, do I respond at this stage to say I am not ac…

I will not be accepting the amendment to the Order of Business. Senator O'Loughlin spoke about the call by the Taoiseach yesterday, working with the Spanish Government, for a review of the trade agreement between the EU and Israel. She asked that the Commission take note of that call. It is a vital call and a very suitable intervention when innocent civilians are being butchered. We need something done as a matter of urgency.

I am very proud that we led that call yesterday with Spain. I also welcome the decision by the Tánaiste to make a commitment to allocating funding of €20 million to UNWRA. He is satisfied, on behalf of the State, that it should be done. The money is needed to support the civilian population in Gaza. I join Senator O'Loughlin in congratulating Professor Michael O'Flaherty on his appointment. It would be interesting at some point to have statements on the role of the Council of Europe. An opportunity for the House to…

I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

I completely support the motion. In a way I regret that it is needed. It has certainly been a very long two years and quite horrific. There are invitations in and I have already committed to events on the weekend of 24 February. As of today, how many thousands are dead? How many homes have been destroyed? How many lives have been completely and utterly destroyed? While we are all reeling at the horror of Gaza, Ukraine has been put to the side and forgotten about. My few words today will be to remember that. We must…