Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Cuirim fáilte is fiche roimh an Comhalta Néill agus an toscaireacht atá linn ó na Stáit Aontaithe. Tá céad míle fáilte rompu go léir. Congressman Neal and his delegation and our other distinguished guests are all very welcome. The great strength of Seanad Éireann is that they will not have to wait until tomorrow to hear a Belfast or Six Counties voice and perspective on the latest events. It is for that reason that I hope Congressman Neal and the Chair will forgive me if I go just a little over time. For the past 1…

Inné, bhailíomar taobh amuigh de gheataí Theach Laighean chun tacú le feachtas An Dream Dearg ar son Acht na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh. Beidh lá dearg i mBéal Feirste ar an Satharn beag seo ar 1 p.m. agus tá súil agam go mbeidh comhghleacaithe ón Oireachtas ar fad in ann a bheith i láthair linn ar an mórshiúl bríomhar dearfach agus dearg le fearg sin. Yesterday we gathered outside the gates of Leinster House to support An Dream Dearg and Conradh na Gaeilge's call for an Irish language Act to be implemented in the North. Th…

It is good to see the Deputy Leader back in the hot seat; it suits her. I want to begin like my colleague Senator Chambers by commenting on the decision by the British Government to legislate to break the law. It is unilaterally legislating to amend aspects of the agreed protocol, a protocol that it negotiated and signed up to and that its Parliament endorsed. We were told that this was an oven-ready deal, that it was about getting Brexit done and that, in fact, Brexit was done. However, it is now increasingly appa…

Hear, hear.

It is shameful.

Did Senator Craughwell say "confirmation suit"?

May I make a brief point of order, with the indulgence of the Leas-Chathaoirleach? I know the Acting Leader will want to be aware of it for the purpose of the record. When I was condemning the amnesty proposals of the British Government at Westminster, I should have made him aware that today is the anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and there was a wreath-laying ceremony on Talbot Street this morning. I am sure all our sympathies and solidarity are with the families and survivors.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit atá anseo fá choinne na ráiteas tábhachtach seo. Sinn Féin believes in the EU. We believe that Ireland's future is at the heart of a just and equal EU and we will continue to engage with its institutions actively and critically. While there is much good in the EU, there are areas where we should continue being critical. We are concerned about the continuing and increasing militarisation within the EU. We believe it is important that Ireland maintain the freedom to develop its own i…

I suggest that Senator Sherlock makes the most of her time.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: - upholds the Good Friday Agreement, in all its parts, and calls for its full implementation; - condemns the vote in the British House of Commons to reject the House of Lords Amendment 40 to the ‘Nationality and Borders Bill’; this decision will see the imposition of an ‘electronic travel waiver’ for non-Irish and non-British citizens travelling from the South into the North of Ireland; - notes the total absence of information regarding the imposition of this unnecessary and punitive me…

Hear, hear.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. Táim breá sásta go bhfuil an seal seo agam freagra a thabhairt ar an díospóireacht anocht. I thank the Minister for his contribution, and all my colleagues who support or will not oppose this motion. Both stances are appreciated. It would be remiss of me not to mention the legitimate and understandable concerns around racial profiling, because they have featured several times in this debate. It is right for this issue to be raised. There are live concerns the other way …

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom labhairt faoin toghchán ó Thuaidh. I am sure the Leader will agree that the people of the North have spoken at the election last week to the Assembly, and they have spoken clearly. They have, in the first instance, elected a majority of MLAs who support the protocol and want to see it embedded, resolved and continuing to work for everyone. They also elected a majority of MLAs and parties who want to get back to work and who want to see the institutions, or the Good Friday Agreement in …

I begin by raising the ongoing issues with the backlog in the Passport Office. The last time I raised this, the Deputy Leader spoke of her experience in applying for a passport for one of her children.

She finally got it. I am very glad to hear that. Unfortunately, that is not the experience for hundreds, if not thousands, of other people, but I am certainly glad it is resolved for the Deputy Leader. There was a very welcome motion on this issue from colleagues in Fine Gael a few weeks ago and a number of commitments were set out by the Government. However, we are not seeing a clear pathway out of this issue so it would be timely for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House to address it. We should h…

However, I am in a collegiate mood so I will avoid the temptation other than to say that I wish candidates well. We all know it is not easy to go forward in, and to fight, an election campaign. For them and their families it is a very trying, but often very exciting and worthwhile, time to get out and engage with the electorate on the doorsteps. I wish candidates and their families well. However, I hope following tomorrow's result that the outcome, whatever it is, will be respected and that the parties will return …

I apologise to the Minister for missing her contribution on this. The amendment is clear in what it is trying to do. It is accepted in the Bill that repeated viewing of harmful content carries a risk of harm or being desensitised and of normalising harmful content. This risk is particularly relevant when it concerns staff who service providers and big tech. They are relied on to review content to support moderation and adherence to online safety codes. Concern was expressed by witnesses during pre-legislative scrut…

I take on board what the Minister said. I hope that before we reach Report Stage we will be able to engage on this issue and see whether there is work we can do collaboratively to deal with some of the issues raised. I am conscious of what she has outlined with regard to the remit. Perhaps there is work we can do in advance of Report Stage. On this basis I will withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to resubmit it on Report Stage.