I abhor the term "unmarried mother". I used "single" to try to be a little more delicate and respectful. I accept the Minister's point.

If a person's internment began with the maternity home it would be reasonable that the date is not the date the person entered into the county home but the date they entered into the maternity home and maternity service aspect. That may be where the affidavit is really important. We are not talking about a six month period but we would need permission for an affidavit to cover the extended period so that there is an earlier commencement date than the date that perhaps the county home record will show.

I want to clarify what I think I am hearing from the Minister, which is that we are creating a redress scheme that responds to a multitude of things. In particular, the stigma that arises from an Irish society that sent women into a mother and baby institution, be it in some guises and instances that was a county home. In others it was clearly a mother and baby home. The labelling is different, but the experience of that stigma, prejudice and everything else was the same. There will be women who went into a materni…

I will make one last plea. I have family; my mother is from County Mayo. The worst possible thing that could have happened to my grandmother was that she would be sent to the county home. I am with Senator Ruane all the way on the issue of being on the same site. Once a woman was within those premises, she was a lesser human being in the manner of her treatment. We can include these women within what we have in legislation. I would be very taken aback if we did not include these women, and there would be yet anothe…

And there were interchangeable staff.

The Minister is very welcome. This is an exceptional plan. It is an extraordinary piece of work, and as the Minister can see, I have marked on it everything which is of relevance to my home constituency of Dublin South-Central. I confess I have not had the opportunity to get out and itemise all of the uplift it involves and the additional beds and services it will provide. However, it is considerable and I intend to itemise that over the next few days. There are considerable investments going into Children's Health…

The Minister has addressed all of the other Senators, but I expected a comment on Drimnagh, Curlew Road and Davitt Road.

Can I have a commitment that the Minister's office will come back to me?

That would be great. We need to know what is the position.

Even Dublin would be happy to concede for Mayo to get Sam this year.

I am a Mayo woman at home in my own house. I rise today to bring to the attention of the House something I have spoken about again and again. Last Sunday we saw the horrific scenes all over social media of a fire in an apartment complex in Blanchardstown. That set absolute fear and panic among apartment and duplex owners in complexes where there are known construction defects and fire defects in particular. For months now I have been asking for a statement in this House. We need clarity. We need to raise issues wit…

I thank the Minister for being so positive on this. I also thank our group’s leader, Senator Doherty, and Senator Ward for their work on the Bill. However, all credit needs to go to Young Fine Gael for its hard work. It goes to show that, if you get involved in politics, you can change and influence matters. Here we are bringing into law a Bill that has been at the heart of Young Fine Gael’s #PricklessNight campaign. Under no circumstances is it acceptable that you would find yourself at risk of unconsciousness or …

According to the note in front of me, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, is to take the next Commencement matter. As he is not in the Chamber, we will move on to the third matter, which will be taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon.

Without preparation, he may not be able to answer it. This is a decision for the Chair. According to the order set out for me, the second Commencement matter, in the name of Senator Boyhan, is to be taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. As the latter is not here, we will proceed to the third Commencement matter, in the name of Senator Ward, and I will make inquiries about whether Senator Boyhan's matter can be dealt with subsequently. Is that okay with the Senator?

I thank the Minister of State. I completely echo the need for physical space. Online is a very unsatisfactory way to conduct legal proceedings. Unfortunately, there has been a miscommunication and, therefore, with the indulgence of the House, I will ask the Minister of State to take another Commencement matter. Apparently, a statement is on its way to him in answer to the matter raised by Senator Boyhan. I apologise for that miscommunication somewhere along the way. The Minister of State will take the fourth Commen…

No, we do not have the response yet. With the Minister of State's indulgence, we will move to the matter raised by Senator McGreehan to allow time for the statement to arrive.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 18 be taken before No. 1. This will be seconded by Senator Dolan. The Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023 is being brought forward by the Fine Gael Group. Its purpose is to formally put spiking on the Statute Book as a stand-alone offence under the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act. Until now, an allegation of spiking is generally dealt with under poisoning and under sexual assault if it results in sexual assault. Ho…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the specific offence of spiking characterised by the administration, injection, or causation of the taking orally of a substance, knowing that the person to whom the substance is administered, injected, or caused to be taken does not consent, or being reckless as to whether the person consents, and where the perpetrator intends to overpower or sedate the person, to engage in a sexual act, cause harm, make a gain or cause a loss, or oth…

It is scheduled for next Wednesday.

I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on this legislation, which, albeit in large part technical in nature, is a comprehensive provision in what it sets out and in the objectives it seeks to achieve. Certainly, we need to strengthen those healthcare professionals who are awaiting greater security following the precarity that arose out of Brexit, which is also faced by our doctors. I was contacted this week by someone I represent who had had a fantastic experience at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear…