I commend the motion. I am delighted we are having this discussion. Where I live in Sligo, the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, is fantastic. It has become a technical university. It is a huge investment into the area and we are all very proud of it. On transport infrastructure, I raise the issue of connectivity between all the ATU campuses - Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. If the western rail corridor was opened up, it would make a massive difference. In all the campuses, particularly in Sligo, there is a …

I welcome the Minister to the House. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for bringing this Bill forward. As a party that always stands up for workers, the Labour Party welcomes the Bill and the sentiment of it. It is poignant that it is union week, and it is coming up to May Day. I am proud to say that my Labour Party colleague Ruairí Quinn brought in a public holiday on 1 May to celebrate workers’ day. This morning, we were at a briefing on the protection of SNA workers and teachers. It is important that we not only look …

I welcome the Minister of State. I have worked as a professional youth worker for the past 25 years. This is an area close to my heart. As Senator Kelleher said, mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. These are children we are talking about. I do not think anyone wakes up in the morning and says, "Do you know what, I am going to get involved in crime." If we review the statistics of young people who are involved in crime or heading into crime, the majority have lived with some level of disadvantage. They have lived through…

I move amendment No. 1: To insert the following after “That Seanad Éireann”: “, subject to a clear prohibition on the development of a Liquid Natural Gas terminal,”. While generally perceived as a document which sets the agenda for accelerated housing delivery, the draft revised national planning framework is concerned with all aspects of life, including a 26-page section on climate transition and our environment. Therefore, I bring forward this amendment primarily because of the recent policy reversal by the curre…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. World Down Syndrome Day took place on 21 March and many of us will have celebrated in all our constituencies with wonderful music and dance. There were performances celebrating World Down Syndrome Day, and I was fortunate to attend a wonderful event in Sligo Town Hall. When I was there, I spoke to the mother of a young person, Constance. Constance is now aged 20 and has Down's syndrome. Constance has always been a very bright and enthusiastic child who has made really good and con…

I thank the Minister of State. It is really good to hear such a positive response. With regard to delays in treatment, parents and experts are saying that if it is not treated within the first 18 months, the delays in treatment can lead to irreversible and permanent regression in people. From speaking with parents of children who are displaying symptoms of Down's syndrome regression disorder, they are hoping that we could establish a task force that would encompass all the different professionals in the HSE and Dow…

I raise the issue of dense breast tissue. Marian Lovett was an extremely talented and much loved art curator and mother. I was never lucky enough to meet Marian who raised her family along with her life partner Shane in a rural part of County Sligo. Anyone who knew or met her spoke about her personal qualities and she was a fierce advocate for social justice. Marian passed away last autumn at the age of just 61 as the result of breast cancer. She received a clear mammogram in 2022 but just a year later, was diagnos…

Tá fáilte romhat, a Aire. Beir bua agus go n-éirí an t-ádh leat i do phost nua. I commend my colleague Senator Laura Harmon on introducing this Bill and welcome to the Gallery all the people who have worked very hard with her on bringing it forward. I also commend the Cross-Party Group. This Bill is about protecting the vulnerable and marginalised, and it is about clamping down on predators who are taking advantage of the housing crisis to target vulnerable people. It is vital we do not view the content of this Bil…

I wish to share time with Senator Harmon.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Go n-éirí an t-ádh léi ina post nua. As other people have said, we really hope she succeeds, for people with disabilities, their families and their caregivers most importantly. I wish to talk about the specific issue of triage for young adults with additional needs in emergency departments. I will give an example. Lauren is a young adult from Leitrim with Down's syndrome. Like many young adults with Down's syndrome, Lauren occasionally suffers from episodes requiring medical asses…

The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank the Tánaiste for coming in as well because I know he is probably flat out today with various things. Everyone here has said we are in a worrying state of affairs now. I welcome the Tánaiste's remarks about working collaboratively. I am also encouraged by the fact there will be major capital infrastructure projects and that we can open our economy up to supporting indigenous companies, including in terms of regional development within our own country. It will be really …

Last week I was contacted by three second-year students - Dara Flynn, Avie O'Brien and Abbie McMorrow - who attend Ursuline College in Sligo town. Their names are . As part of their CSPE project, under the guidance of their teacher, Regina Grennan, they invited an ambassador for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind to talk to their class and discuss her experiences of navigating Sligo town with her guide dog, Sasha. As well as being an ambassador, Jackie McBrearty is also visually impaired. She spoke with warmth about ho…

The Minister, Deputy Foley, is very welcome. While the title of this debate is childcare, the preferred title for the sector among early years educators is “early childhood care and education and school-age care”. I know that many educators and their trade union SIPTU have communicated this message to the Department of children on many occasions. The shortening of the title of the debate to childcare can perhaps be seen as indicative of the lack of respect being shown to the sector, which is led by some of the most…

The Minister is very welcome. I echo what Senators Noonan and Andrews have said. This is not an easy task and we all need the Minister to succeed in his role. The release of the latest record homelessness figures showed that there are 158 adults in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal in emergency accommodation along with 16 families, including 43 children. We have outlined all the problems here and it is clear that the Government’s approach is not working. Surely it is madness for us to continue to pursue a policy direction…

I welcome the Minister. I commend the Civil Engagement Group on bringing this Bill forward. What they have done is a reflection of the way the Irish public are feeling. As a group, it has used everything in its power to try to stop the genocidal horror that is unfolding in front of our eyes. The Government is way out of step by not listening and doing everything it can to stop the genocidal horror that is happening. We are here today because the number of aircraft permitted to bring military weapons and ammunition …

Last week, I raised the proposed move of Donegal Education Centre from Donegal town to Letterkenny. Unfortunately, it looks as though this imminent move is still to happen. I urge the Minister for Education to intervene. Last night, an AGM was held in Donegal town, and the board of management is still refusing to properly engage with public representatives and the six employees, whose jobs will be moved from Donegal town to Letterkenny. The decision to move Donegal Education Centre is important not only for the six…

I have.

I welcome the Minister of State. In 2021, Ireland banned the importation of fracked gas. The Cabinet decision on Monday, 3 March to procure a State-owned liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal coupled with the granting of planning permission by An Bord Pleanála last week for a 600 MW gas-powered power station indicates a reversal of this policy. Conventional natural gas is damaging to the environment. LNG or as we know it, fracked gas, is particularly and immediately damaging to the local environment. It is known aro…

The Minister of State mentioned a temporary gas reserve, energy security and an emergency reserve. In the area I represent in Leitrim, people have been campaigning for this for years. I believe the evidence is very strong. Will the Minister of State ask the Minister what does he mean by "temporary"? How long will it take to build the terminal? It took five years to build a terminal in Poland. If we are actually supposed to reduce our emissions by 2050 how does it make sense? Do we really want to invest this money? …

On the day that is in it, I wish I did not have to read this but it is the elephant in the room that is preventing us here in the Seanad from fully doing the job we are elected and paid to do. The notion that TDs who negotiated the programme for Government are in opposition and should be allowed speaking time from the Opposition benches is farcical and flies in the face of democracy. It does not just affect the Dáil but it also affects us in the Seanad Chamber. Since I was elected to the Seanad as a first-time Sena…