We will agree to disagree.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 12, line 33, to delete “3 years” and substitute “2 years”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 13, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “(b) Furthermore, the Mayor shall not engage in any other type of paid employment during their term of office.”. I gather that I will need to speak to amendment No. 8, and I think the Acting Chair mentioned that amendment No. 11 is also included, is that right?

I thank the Acting Chair. The Minister of State is welcome back. With regard to amendment No. 8, if we want this position to be a truly transforming one for local democracy, the position of mayor must be the sole focus of anyone elected. To allow for other employment during the term of office would be a definite signal to the electorate that this is not a role that has value. If it is to have value, it must be the single focus of any elected mayor, and removing the opportunity for other trade and occupation opportu…

The Minister of State could save time.

On a point of order, and I mean this respectfully, the Minister of State is speaking so fast that I cannot understand what he is saying. I know he wants to get the Bill through, but I ask him to speak at a pace that we can understand. I want to listen and respond.

I think we are almost out of time but I will say, and I mean this respectfully, I am so disappointed. The interpretation of the plebiscite the Minister of State has included in this Bill is so conservative. If we were to ask the people of Limerick if they would like their mayor to tackle the issue of waste management, they would tell us that of course they would. The idea that it would instead lie with the director general, an unelected position, rather than with the democratically elected mayor, is not acceptable.…

Not just yet. What time are we due to conclude the debate?

That is good because I have an extra five minutes. I wish to make a point in all seriousness about the inclusion of these amendments. I acknowledge the fact that the Minister of State has answered on the policing issue by saying the community safety partnership has not yet been set up and has expressed the wish that the mayor will be chair. That is now on the record of the House, which I welcome. Let us consider the issue of Limerick regeneration, which the Minister of State says is already accounted for. If it is …

I report progress.

I want to, on behalf of not just myself but my colleagues in Sinn Féin, offer our condolences to John's family, to the Fine Gael party and in particular, Deputy Richard Bruton, who I have got to know quite well through our work together on the enterprise committee and who I have the height of respect for. There is no doubt that John Bruton made a very significant contribution to Irish life over four decades of service. Even looking at the range of Ministries he held, including industry and energy, education, financ…

The Minister of State is very welcome. The Bill is required for Ireland to participate fully in some of the institutional mechanisms available in Europe to support the people, the economy and the infrastructure of Ukraine. The Bill seeks to enable the State to take part in donor and trust funds that have been established by the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and, for that purpose, to allow the State to enter into contribution agreements related to these funds as pr…

Not at all, a Chathaoirligh, you are the finest. With regard to the Commencement matter this morning, I, like all Members, put on record my solidarity with Senator Clonan. On countless occasions, Deputy Quinlivan and I have tried to get answers in respect of University Hospital Limerick and the trolley crisis there, but we are yet to have a line Minister come to the House to deal with a Commencement matter on that issue. It is incredibly frustrating and it is disrespectful to the House. I know the Cathaoirleach wil…

Well said.

The Minister of State is welcome. Sinn Féin is supportive of this Bill and the EU Digital Services Act as it seeks to regulate very large online platforms and provide a more equitable online environment. The Bill aims to address illegal and harmful content. It is hoped it will also rein in the powers of big tech and give Internet users a bit more control over their digital lives. Given the rise in disinformation and harmful content on social media and various online platforms, it is essential this legislation is ef…

It is great to see our colleagues here today. They are very welcome. Sinn Féin will be supporting this Bill. I will begin by quoting a speech made by Deputy Mark Ward last year when he was speaking on this Bill in the Dáil. He said: We need to ensure that children are not groomed into crime and that they can ... be children - playing football, taking music lessons, hanging out with their friends and doing all of the things that children do to reach their full potential. To ensure that this happens, we need to resou…

I want to begin by joining with others in offering my condolences and those of my party to the family of Mr. John Connor. The restoration of the Executive and Assembly is very good news for all of the people of Ireland. It allows for the full operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all its interlocking institutions, especially the all-island North-South institutions. It is an opportunity for Ms Michelle O'Neill to fulfil her promise to be a First Minister for all the people of the North. It will provide hands-on…

Listening to our colleagues, Senators Mullen and Keogan, brought me back in time to 1983, when I first got involved in political action. I campaigned against that awful eighth amendment. Their speeches brought me back to a time when they were the dominant voices. That suffocating oppression of women was mainstream and so strongly in place that it was a horrendous time. As a result, each year thousands of women were forced to go elsewhere for essential healthcare, to access abortion. It is good to see we have come a…

Well said.

I thank the Minister of State for coming in this morning. I also wish to express my disappointment that neither the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, nor the Minister, Deputy Harris, were available to come in. The Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, carried out an extensive survey of more than 550 academics, including lecturers and researchers, in third level institutions throughout the country. It found that almost one third were employed on fixed-term or hourly-paid casual contracts. The precari…