Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Higgins. The timing of my Commencement matter today could not have been more appropriate because this Saturday is World MS Day. This is observed worldwide, including in Ireland. World MS Day raises the awareness of the needs of people living with multiple sclerosis and their families. It is an opportunity to highlight the work of the professionals who work with and care for people with multiple sclerosis. It is also an opportunity for those with multiple sclerosis and t…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. It is disappointing to hear that the role has not been prioritised. Is it because we have such a wonderful MS therapy centre in the north west? It is fantastic. It is an amazing centre. It is a very different role from that of the community worker. Not only is the community worker's role about signposting and looking at resources; a community worker is also in charge of fundraising. The north west - Sligo and Leitrim - is missing out on significant funding. This weeke…

On a point of order, no one is saying they do not agree with trade. This is totally-----

No one is against trade.

You are derailing it.

How can you say that about the Opposition? It is total lies to say that.

I want to add that. It is beneath the Minister of State to say we are anti-EU. How can he say that? The Labour Party is pro-EU. We would not bring forward these amendments or spend hours debating this otherwise. The issue for us is also the investor courts. As Senator Stephenson said, other big players, including France and Italy, are not in favour of this and 98% of the trade under this agreement is already happening. We have seen how much trade has increased between our two countries. To say we are anti-EU is tot…

We agreed with the majority of the agreement.

I move amendment No. 14: In page 4, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3) and as non-exhaustive examples of the operation of that subsection, the Constitutional order of the State would be compromised if enforcing an award would expose the State— (a) to an award of damages, on a strict liability basis, arising from the enactment by the Oireachtas of a law— (i) the validity of which had been upheld in accordance with Article 34 of the Constitutio…

As Senator O'Loughlin said as well, we can see already that in respect of the trade, we have really good trade relationships with Canada. We know this. I just do not understand why an amendment like this would not be put in. The Minister of State has said that it is too prescriptive but it is protecting us and protecting our own judicial system. Why would we not want to put this in? What is wrong with putting it in? If the Minister of State is not concerned about investor courts why not put this in? Work it the oth…

And the Attorney General does get it wrong.

I welcome the visitors in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. I have just come from their briefing. As someone with osteoarthritis in both knees, I welcome their fantastic programme, which I intend to raise for discussion in the House by way of a Commencement matter. I, too, am very disappointed that services are not included in the occupied territories Bill. I commend Senator Black again on all the work she has done on the legislation. I urge people to take on board the amendments she intends to put forward. If Sp…

Cuirim fáilte roimh na feisirí Eorpacha go dtí an Teach inniu. I was not sure how this worked as a question and answer session. I was not sure how to do this. I am going to base my whole questioning around workers' rights. I am the Labour Party spokesperson for workers' rights, for rural and community development and for the Gaeltacht. I am going to base all my questioning around that. I am delighted the MEPs are here because we do not see them enough. We do not get the opportunity to meet enough so it is fantastic…

My husband is not from Sligo. He is from Cavan.

I also say comhghairdeas agus bualadh bos to Seán Kyne. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leis ina phost nua. It is fantastic for him and I am delighted for him. I also wish Daniel Ennis the very best and congratulate him. I congratulate everyone who ran. It was a long campaign and everyone who ran needs huge credit for putting their name forward on the ballot paper. I was at a great report launch yesterday by the children and young people’s services committee, CYPSC, in Sligo and Leitrim. The report is on transforming youth ment…

I ask the Acting Leader to suspend the House until the Minister arrives.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire.

I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity to discuss this issue. A few weeks ago, ATU and the students' union delivered a presentation in the audiovisual room. It was a student-based survey carried out among local ATU students and property owners on the availability of student accommodation. It found that the situation has deteriorated, rather than getting better. I am sure the Minister is aware of difficulties with accommodation in Sligo that was supposed to be purpose-built student accommodation but ende…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tóg go bog é liom anois. Beidh go leor uimhreacha á liostáil agam. Since being elected to Seanad Éireann, I have been contacted by numerous people from all walks of life expressing their dissatisfaction with the level of public transport available in Tubbercurry in south Sligo. Leaving aside the matter of the full reinstatement of the western rail corridor, which I know the Minister of State, as a west of Ireland man, supports, including bringing it right up to Sligo, the level of…