I move recommendation No. 4: In page 99, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “Report on VAT cut for hospitality and hairdressing services 72. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Seanad Éireann a report on the consequences for employment, prices and Exchequer revenue arising from the reduction in the VAT rate applying to hospitality and hairdressing services.” I am withdrawing this recommendation.

I am still not clear on some issues. The Minister of State said that she is not a clinician but I am sure she has spoken with plenty of clinicians in reviewing the Bill. When it comes to the difference between 14 and 21 days I recognise what she said about the case-by-case basis, but maybe she could elaborate on that. I was not really clear on the justification for not having a limit of 14 days versus 21 days or for the case to be 15, 16 or 17 days. It would be helpful for me to understand the rationale behind that…

My concern is that the reply the Minister of State gave regarding the 14 and 21 days is based on current provision in the health service. That is what I understood from what she said about all of the different requirements regarding assessments. What I heard is that doctors would not be able to deal with a 14-day review as opposed to a 21-day review in light of the current staffing situation. That does not sound very human rights-focused. It sounds like it is based on demands within the system. Perhaps the Minister…

I will add a little bit to what Senators Boyhan and Black have said. No one is saying that any of these bodies do not intentionally have the best interests of the child in their minds but the sad reality is so many children have fallen through the cracks, whether that is in the care sector or in CAMHS. They are, for various complicated, bureaucratic reasons - understaffing or whatever the reason might be - simply not having their needs at the centre of it. It is a point to highlight. No one is saying that is not in…

I share my support on this. It is about making sure that the language we are using in legislation reflects the lived experiences of people within this context and that we are humanising it. This legislation deals with really difficult and challenging contexts for individuals. This amendment is an important way of responding to the communities affected and of making sure that they see themselves reflected accurately in a way that is not stigmatising.

The Minister of State mentioned longer term or lifelong challenges or conditions versus more transient mental health issues. It is worth pointing out that plenty of people experience quite severe transient conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder where women experience severe suicidal ideation. It is important to say that lots of very severe mental health conditions can be transient and it is not necessarily somebody living with a condition that is long term, be it long-term psychosis, where he or she nee…

Senator Flynn mentioned being all talk and no action and the idea people think they are coming into the Oireachtas for a photo opportunity. It is so bleak and so true. We all have a responsibility to do more when we talk about inclusion by actually practising it. That is true across the disability committee and all committees, in ensuring the voices of disabled people are platformed in those spaces. Disability rights issues cut across every forum, whether transport, infrastructure, healthcare, education or even for…

I am very happy the Minister of State is here today. It is great to have a Minister from the Department answering in response to a Commencement matter. I will use my time to highlight an urgent and deeply neglected women's health issue, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD. It is a severe hormone-based mood disorder affecting an estimated 6% to 8% of women. It is debilitating and recurrent but, crucially, is treatable. Yet, in Ireland, many women have never received a diagnosis, let alone received appropriate care…

I thank the Minister of State and appreciate her commitment to this. It is brilliant that Shauna has spoken out publicly about this but it should never take women having to expose such personal things in public to get action. Will PMDD specifically be in the HSE campaign the Minister of State mentioned? While I recognise GPs are the first port of call and pathway for many people, the reality is many GPs across the country do not know this condition in detail and are not treating women or outlining the right pathway…

I will not be supporting this motion. Budget 2026 saw almost €20 million being used to prop up a declining greyhound industry. This industry does not enjoy widespread public support, largely due to the significant and widely known animal welfare concerns. I reject the continuous tying together of the horse racing and greyhound industry funding model. This motion once again binds together the two into a single inflexible funding model. While these regulations appear technical, they have real consequences. Every year…

Could I make a quick point of order?

I want to make a quick point of order in terms of making sure the record is accurate because-----

Something was inaccurately attributed to me. My entire contribution related to greyhound racing industry. I did not say anything relating to horse racing standards. I just wanted to make that point.

I am sorry; it was not to do with the Minister. It was to do with some of the contributions from the Seanadóirí.

The Tánaiste said in April that the Government would use all tools at its disposal in response to the genocide in Gaza. He said the occupied territories Bill would be back in these Houses to be passed by the end of November, yet there is still no sign of it. The work has already been done. We have had seven years to hash out the implementation of the Bill. The foreign affairs committee unanimously agreed on a cross-party basis to recommend the full implementation of the Bill, with services. Have any of the committe…

I wish to share time with Senator Cosgrove.

We should be really clear about one thing when we talk about aligning ourselves further with the UK. The narrative in the UK at the moment is they want to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is a cornerstone of the Good Friday Agreement, so I would caution any move towards that in Ireland. It is deeply problematic that we are even touching on that. Successive Governments have built a system where profit is being made off of human suffering. We can talk here and say that we want to move IPAS c…

I move amendment No. 12: In page 14, lines 8 and 9, to delete “but that have as their main purpose the prevention, restriction or penalisation of” and substitute “have the effect of preventing, restricting or penalising”. I withdraw the amendment but will bring it back on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 15, lines 40 and 41, to delete “manifestly unfounded” and substitute “an abusive lawsuit against public participation”.

This Bill represents a huge and welcome investment in our future energy supply and infrastructure and is desperately needed, so I welcome it. However, we have an issue in Ireland when it comes to equity and fairness in the electricity framework that we currently have. This legislation comes at us at a time when Ireland's electricity system is under significant pressure and households and small businesses are struggling with energy bills that remain far too high. Additional investment in the grid are welcome, but it…