I echo the words of others by acknowledging Senator Norris's return to the House and wish him well in his recuperation. I commend the family of Margaret Keane in Coventry, England. Members may have read about the case on social media. Margaret's family had to lodge an appeal following a decision by the Consistory Court of Coventry, which initially refused an Irish-only inscription - in ár gcroíthe go deo which means in our hearts forever - on Margaret's headstone. The Chancellor of the Diocese of Coventry said that…

Mar gheall gurb é an Aoine atá ann, b'fhéidir nach mbainfidh mé úsáid as an am ina iomláine. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome the Minister. I associate myself with what Senators Dooley and Moynihan have said about front-line transportation workers. As someone who has used public transport to access this institution during the course of this pandemic, I have seen first hand the effort they have put in during this period. It is important we reflect and acknowledge that here in terms of the statements. We do not…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus leis an Aire Stáit fosta as an gceist seo a ghlacadh. Tá a fhios agam go mbeidh mórán eolais aige agus aitheantais tugtha aige freisin don ábhar seo agus do na fadhbanna atá ann fós maidir leis. The Minister of State will know that mutual recognition of professional qualifications is a live issue. I appreciate that and also that the matter is still being negotiated and discussed at committee level. The Minister of State will also appreciate and understand the u…

Go raibh maith agat as an eolas cuimsitheach sin. As I said at the beginning of my remarks, I appreciate that this is a movable feast at the minute, and that the Minister of State is in the midst of it. What is crucial and important for the people affected is that they hear an update from the Government. However, going forward, beyond the details of what the Minister of State is suggesting, as welcome as that is, it is vital that the Government assures people it is doing everything in its power to mitigate the wors…

I wish to reiterate my call for statements with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the implementation of the Irish protocol. We all agreed at the beginning of the term that we should not allow the issue of Brexit to fall off the agenda or the radar of the House. We are at a critical juncture in terms of getting information to people. The Seanad affords the opportunity to cut through some of the spin and some of the more misleading statements on the albeit imperfect protocol and the teething problems that many busi…

On 5 February 1992, members of a notorious UDA gang entered the Sean Graham bookmakers on the lower Ormeau Road and murdered five people. Several more were injured and untold devastation, pain and loss were brought to this proud, tight-knit and small inner-city community. Last Friday, on the 29th anniversary of the massacre, families and survivors gathered, as they do every year, but on this occasion in small, socially distanced numbers, to lay flowers and say a rosary at the spot where the attack took place. Their…

I have just a few lines left and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence. As the Leader knows, we were promised a new, accountable, just and respectful police service. We are determined to have one. Many people are justified in their view that the PSNI is not that service yet but nationalists and republicans are determined that it will be.

And it was on the button.

Like my colleagues, I will be brief because I agree with the sentiments expressed about the complex and technical nature of this. Like Senator Gallagher, I do not have the legal background and expertise of others present, so I am acutely aware of the need to address the complex nature and tone of the legislation that comes before us and how we can support the work of ensuring that the public can absorb and understand this important and broadly encompassing legislation in a more informed way. While I appreciate that…

Given the advice from the Leas-Chathaoirleach around the impending conclusion of this Stage I will not take a prolonged period to speak. I believe colleagues have raised eloquently many of the concerns we have. My guess is that many Oireachtas Members are not even aware of concerns about how intrusive elements of this guidance appear to be. That is why it is welcome that Senator McDowell, through this amendment and his contribution on Second Stage, has at the least begun a discussion on these issues. Other colleagu…

Hear, hear.

Tugaim beannachtaí na féile Bríde do na Comhaltaí go léir. Mar atá ráite ag comhghleacaithe cheana féin, seo lá speisialta agus ceiliúradh speisialta. Anois go bhfuil an t-earrach bainte amach againn, is cúis dúinn píosa dóchais a bheith againn agus muid ag dul ar aghaidh i 2021. I want to move an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 29, motion 8, be taken before No. 1. Now is the time for calm heads and solidarity in the fight against the global pandemic. It is also a must that the EU and the British Govern…

I move: That the Clerk of Seanad Éireann do send to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage notice of a vacancy in the membership of Seanad Éireann occasioned by the resignation of Senator Elisha McCallion, a member elected from the Oireachtas Sub-Panel of the Industrial and Commercial Panel at the General Election for Seanad Éireann, April, 2020.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus gabhaim buíochas leis as a bheith linn don díospóireacht inniu. I express my concern and disappointment, shared by colleagues, at the fine imposed on the State as a result of the delay in the passage of the Bill. Without over-egging the pudding, that is an important point to put on record once again, for all the reasons articulated by colleagues. As has been said, this is significant and substantial secondary legislation and it is primarily technical in nature. The Minister of…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus an gCeannaire fosta. I remember when I came here first in 2016 I would very often advocate for the Government to prepare for constitutional change. Many of the responses were that it was not the time, asking why I was raising this and saying that people were not talking about it and that there was no need for this. The onset of Brexit and the Covid crisis has crystallised the immediate need for a conversation about how we function in the here and now and, more importantl…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tréaslaím leis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Seanadóir Clifford-Lee agus Conway i dtaca le straitéis chumarsáide trí mheán na Gaeilge agus trí mheán Braille chomh maith. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and welcome her to the House for this very important debate and statements. I will make a few points at the start before I get to the substantive part of my remarks. I am sure it will be unsurprising to Senator Craughwell that I disagree with him on this. I do not quite …

Like other Senators, I am very conscious of the symbolism and significance of having Senator Boyhan in the Chair for this debate. The last few weeks have been extremely difficult for survivors and their families. The publication of the report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes has reopened many difficult memories and caused enormous upset and re-traumatisation. Today, the report into the mother and baby homes and Magdalen laundries in the North has been published. I have no doubt this wil…

I echo the words of well wishes for Christmas and the new year. I did not wish to bring in a sombre tone but while we reflect upon what a year it has been, unfortunately, we are still in this year and it remains a very worrying and unsure period for people, not least heading into the Christmas break. I wish to use the platform afforded to me here this morning to encourage people to remain steadfast in adhering to the consistent and long-standing public health advice on the Covid-19 pandemic that is familiar to us a…

Mar dhuine as Contae an Dúin, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le hiománaithe Chontae Aontroma as an bhua s'acu ar an Domhnach. I wish to begin by congratulating and commending the County Antrim senior hurlers for their Joe McDonagh Cup win at Croke Park on Sunday. There is a real burgeoning resurgence in hurling in the county and while it is not confined to Belfast alone, we all know the very rich hurling history and heritage of the Glens. I particularly want to reference Gaelfast and what it is doing at a …

Nelson Mandela said: If you talk to a man in a language he understands that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language that goes to his heart. That is a very important sentiment as we reflect on the passage of the legislation. I led the Sinn Féin team on the Act in the last Oireachtas, and colleagues have rightfully acknowledged the Cathaoirleach's leading role in that legislation. I celebrate the passage of the Act. Being involved with it was a very positive experience. We now need to be at a point w…