We are more than happy to have pre-legislative scrutiny to engage with those with whom we agree and disagree. It is a fundamental and long-standing position of my party. With respect to Deputy Paul Murphy, I have been going to Fine Gael Ard-Fheiseanna for more than 20 years - I presume he has not been to any; I really hope he has not – and I have spoken on countless motions that make it quite clear what my party’s position has been and will always be on the triple lock. I will refer to something specific and unique…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 5th February, 2025, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer on 10th July, 2025, shall be taken in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Rural and Community Development whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Finance.

It is going to be really tough to get through this in four minutes; I wish we had 40 minutes. Perhaps we might have a further deeper debate in this Chamber. I know Senator Stephenson and I are going to work quite closely. Just to reassure her, I would not have missed this debate for anything. That is how important it is. The Acting Chair has been in this seat before and knows we may need to move things around, specifically to address a matter. I have a lot to say but not enough time. I am going to lay out some of t…

I really appreciate the Senator giving us this opportunity and I fundamentally agree with every point she made. I want to put the following on the record of this House. We, in Ireland, have a responsibility in the coming weeks and months to stand up for what is right in the world, and we do that well. We believe in the multilateral order, in the work of the United Nations and in maintaining our commitment. Yes, the US is responsible for 27% of global overseas development aid but the EU is responsible for over 40%. …

It is a great pleasure to be back in the Seanad. It is great to have at least one familiar face from my own time here, a man who was never so happy as when he saw me leave the labour panel, Senator Joe O'Reilly, who called for this debate. I an grateful to the Senator, the Leader and the Deputy Leader for providing time for it. This is a good time of year to take stock of our relationship with the diaspora. I will go into that in a little detail when we talk about it later in the debate. It would be remiss of me to…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. From the outset, I did not say this in my opening because the Cathaoirleach was not present, I wish to make a personal commendation and pay credit to the Cathaoirleach as a person, as a Senator, as a Cathaoirleach and, indeed, previously as a Leas-Chathaoirleach for his work in this area, albeit not just in terms of developing initial strategies and his spokesmanship. Many of us perhaps do not see this but I have had the pleasure of travelling abroad with him and engaging with him on the …

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to close this very important debate today. I also welcome our Ukrainian friends who are here in the Gallery, especially their truly excellent ambassador. I thank them for their continued advocacy. There was a sheer breadth of contributions over this period, from all parties and none, from such a range of Deputies. It is a rare time we see such universality and agreement reflected. That should be commended. I thank all Deputies for continuing to show their support and the support…

No.

I take this debate on behalf of the Tánaiste as his Minister of State. If it is appropriate, I will pay credit to the Deputy for his time in the Chair and for his mentoring and guidance of new TDs the first time they rose in a debate like this. My first Topical Issue was during the height of the first lockdown of the Covid pandemic. These are far more comfortable surroundings for those who will be making their first interventions. As State land vested in the Minister for Defence, the Curragh is recognised as a work…

I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for his supplementary contribution. For the information of the House, as the Minister with responsibility for defence, the Tánaiste is the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. Under that Act, the Curragh Plains are recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance. As I have already stated, the Tánaiste remains absolutely and fully committed…

If it is agreeable, I will share time with Deputy Geoghegan - half and half. May I make a personal embarrassing comment to say how brilliant it is to share time with Deputy Geoghegan? We have been personal friends for more than 20 years. To be sitting on the same Government bench as him is really good and really cool. What is seldom is wonderful but as the Ceann Comhairle knows, we are all friends here, particularly when we disagree. That is the attitude but we will split time - eight and seven minutes. He may be a…

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this extremely timely and important debate. Before I speak to the motion, I commend the Deputies present who made their maiden speeches, particularly Deputy Gibney, with whom I share a constituency. I thank the Deputies for the heartfelt issues and genuine concerns raised by all Deputies. Regardless of whether they agree with the Government or what they think of it, we should all be able to join together in absolute condemnation of the violence and suffering in the Midd…

It is not.

No, you cannot do that.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Credit Review is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance. It was established by the Minister for Finance in 2010 under section 210 of the NAMA Act 2009, with the objective of facilitating access to bank credit for viable businesses. In the years since its establishment, Credit Review has proved an invaluable source of support and information for Irish SMEs. Its primary task is to provide an appeals service for SMEs that have had their applications for c…

I wish to start off by thanking all Deputies who contributed to this debate. I particularly thank my dear friend, Deputy Griffin, for his contribution not only this afternoon but over the last decade and a half for the people of Kerry at a local and national level. To say he has done the State some service is an understatement. I wish him, Róisín and the boys all the best. I am delighted to confirm for the House that he is stopping on the way home to buy them two full Liverpool kits to wake up to tomorrow. That is …

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate. In the time available, I will try to touch on as many of the points that have been raised as possible. On Committee Stage the Minister Deputy Chambers or I will be able to go into a bit more detail, particularly on some of the issues raised on the Opposition side of the House. I will begin with Senator Maria Byrne's comments on the regional uplift. There are no plans to reintroduce the regional uplift or to introduce alternative regional specific changes to th…

Everything we will be saying in the coming general election-----

We were not in coalition with them either. Perhaps it was Independents who were in coalition on the previous occasion.