When is it proposed to sit again?

I move: That Seanad Éireann: acknowledges that: - the invasion by Russia of Ukraine’s sovereign territory, and the attack on its people, is an outrageous and immoral breach of the most fundamental and basic principles of international law; - the United Nations (UN) Charter requires all countries to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of any state; - the use of brute force by Russia in pursuit of a warped perception of national interest is a serious af…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Minister of State. It was a really comprehensive reply. The cross-government response has been extraordinary, as has been the support of all the people of Ireland who have stepped forward and done extraordinary things. There was a report yesterday on the news about the WALK organisation in my constituency of Dublin South-Central. The members hopped on a bus and drove over with a load of supplies for families who had children with disabilities, in particular, and people of all…

I rise to discuss special needs assistants, SNAs and the front-loading of SNA allocations. Like many of my colleagues, I have received emails as part of a campaign expressing concern with regard to the front-loading model of SNA allocation. I have discussed this with officials in the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and believe it is a really good idea. It is right to have SNAs in place when a child comes into a school, with the school given discretion with regard to the allocation of hours in respo…

I thank the Minister for his contribution. The basis of Senator Mullen's amendments is valid; it is reasonable to expect that there be accountability. I completely and utterly support that. I do not believe it is placed here. As a member of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, having the clear line of accountability is urgent, as is making sure we have a senior Minister who is clearly in charge of disabilities and disability serv…

Next Tuesday.

I wish to express my condolences to the Fitzpatrick family and especially to my colleague, Senator Fitzpatrick. Yesterday in Belfast, some food delivery workers from Just Eat, Deliveroo and a number of similar services went on strike. They withdrew their services on the basis of their terms and conditions. They work in what is euphemistically, and supposedly excitingly, called the "gig economy". I have spoken about this on several previous occasions. Companies like Deliveroo decide they will set up a piece of techn…

The Minister of State is very welcome. It is always a great joy to see her, work with her and admire the great job she is doing. She is exceptional in her role. While I very much respect the vast experience of my colleague Senator Conway, I understand why this has taken time. When we go through the sheer breadth of authorities that needed to move into the other Department, and while I am delighted to be able to call on HIQA and to make demands of the HSE in terms of accountability and requesting support, I can unde…

I thank the Minister for taking these statements. We need to begin by remembering just how horrific it is that today in Ukraine, particularly in cities such as Mariupol, there are people who are hungry to the point of the risk of death. There are people without water. There are people trapped in buildings. This is all due to the oppression and the absolutely horrific, incalculable infliction of suffering by Putin and his crew in their decisions to go into Ukraine. At all times, it behoves us to make sure in our res…

I thank the Minister for the opportunity to address this motion. I want to begin by applauding all that she is doing. A panoply of legislation to deal with gender-based violence will in every way ensure a safer society because the fact is that she is absolutely right. It is almost incredible, unless one happens to be involved in or aware of a case and supporting a community, to realise that there are people who are afraid in their own homes and whose homes are consistently attacked because of their race or religion…

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his tremendous work, not least that which is ongoing in committee. I greatly appreciate it. I want to reflect a little on how the bias can be broken from the perspective of both policy and practice. We need to make a shift in respect of how we plan policy and practice and to ensure we see that through the lens of women's experience. In the first chapter of her book Invisible Women , Caroline Criado Perez writes about the snow-clearing practice and policy in a town called Kar…

I thank the Senator for bringing that to our attention. It is scandalous that there was not a ladies' toilet in this wonderful complex.

I acknowledge that on International Women's Day last year I asked the Minister for progress on surrogacy and provisions for women who are not acknowledged as the mothers of their children in Irish law. I note that yesterday the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy were announced. I hope that next year I will be thanking the Minister when all of us are trotting off to the courts, getting our parental orders and being recognised in law. I thank the Minister and Senators for a good deba…

I congratulate the Minister of State on the significant amount of work that she and her predecessor and my party colleague, former Deputy Jim Daly, have done. The concept of brain health is important. During Covid in particular, we have had many conversations about mental health. If I sprain my leg, it will swell, I will not be able to walk on it and I will be in pain. How do we know when we are affecting our brain health and mental health and what the differences and correlations between the two are? Work needs to…

I pay tribute to the Irish people for the extraordinary and overwhelming generosity they have shown towards Ukraine. The fact that centres all over the country that were set up to collect goods for shipping to Poland have had to stop receiving them because they were overwhelmed is really quite extraordinary. I note the statement by Dóchas this morning that it would be better for people to give money at this stage. If people donate money it can be directed to organisations working on the ground in a humanitarian cap…

I very much welcome the motion and congratulate the Civil Engagement Group for tabling it and giving us the opportunity to speak about the issue. I welcome our guests to the Chamber. I am very struck by the entirety of both Senator Ruane and Senator Flynn's contributions but especially by the line in Senator Flynn's contribution that referred to a message that people are failing. There is an inherent unfairness in that and a perception that somehow it is the fault of the people who are struggling. There is no quest…

I would like to speak about Ukraine. I was really struck by the press release from the Auschwitz memorial at the weekend. It gave a great summary of what our disposition should be. It stated: This act of barbarity will be judged by history, and its perpetrators, it is to be hoped, also by the International Court of Justice. As we stand at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, it is impossible to remain silent while, once again, innocent people are being killed purely because of insane pseudo-imperial megalomania. We exp…

It is regrettable that Senator Ardagh could not find within her the graciousness to acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, because it is she who negotiated with the patron body for the opening of the school yesterday. No doubt the Minister, Deputy Foley, played her part, but the bulk of the work was carried out by the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and not to mention her is distinctly ungracious.

In the past 48 hours there have been a number of muggings and an armed robbery within Dublin South-Central and its perimeters. There was one this morning. Fortunately, the cash box that was taken was empty and, more importantly, nobody was harmed. I am aware of the increasing levels of gardaí and the money that is being put into the justice area and observance, but at the same time there does appear to be some sort of epidemic of a pursuit of cash, whether that is from pensioners in rural communities or a woman as …

I will begin by addressing the remarks regarding the Leader and her interview this morning. I utterly reject the suggestion that any veiled threat was made and any suggestion that the Leader was doing anything of that kind. The fact is that the NWCI is a national body to represent the views, and advance the cause, of women throughout our country. It is not a partisan body or political party. It should conduct itself in a manner that respects the work of women of all political views, not just some. I resent the sugg…