I move: That Seanad Éireann calls on the Rehab Group/Enterprises to implement the recent Labour Court recommendation which called on Rehab to honour the long-standing redundancy agreement with SIPTU, with particular reference to the 38 staff made redundant by Rehab Enterprises in Limerick in 2021.

Well said.

I wish to put on record that I am more than disappointed that the Minister for Health is not present. He has bottled it because he knows he has no answers to the issue I will raise in respect of University Hospital Limerick, UHL. I am interested to hear the response of the Minister of State who is from Limerick. He may be aware there is considerable divergence between the official HSE figures for the number of admitted patients on trolleys and the figures as counted by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, IN…

I thank the Minister of State. The point is that the divergence between these figures is such that the HSE figure is simply incredible. I have a huge concern that twice in this Chamber over the past month, the Minister for Health rejected the INMO figures. He insisted there were just eight people on trolleys on 1 February when he was here and he told me that I did not have my homework done. It turns out that he has just written a note to say that he cannot attend school today. The fact he is not here is an absolute…

There have been 12 years of failure from Fine Gael on this issue.

I join with others in wishing everybody well on this International Women’s Day. I too wish to bring up the issue of housing and the appalling decision by this Government to end the ban on evictions. Like Senator Clonan, I was really struck by "Prime Time" last night and by "Morning Ireland" this morning. A woman called Grace spoke on "Morning Ireland" this morning and she said: "I have been praying to any God that's there to please just help me to get somewhere to get some security for me and my child." She said th…

Well said.

The Minister of State is very welcome. I welcome this debate and the constructive points made on all sides of the Chamber. When I reflect on the Good Friday Agreement, I am always reminded of the words of Nelson Mandela. Although he was, of course, talking about his own country at the time, he very famously said that it is always impossible until it is done. That phrase very much sums up what was achieved through the Good Friday Agreement. Politicians of all parties deserve tremendous credit for an agreement that h…

I raise the issue of illegal pushbacks across the European Union and the devastating effects they are having on the victims themselves but also on the values that we so often hear proclaimed regarding the European Union. I want to quote directly from a report from the Greek Council for Refugees that was published two weeks ago and has not made any news on this side of the media. Regarding about 37 Syrians, including 17 children, who were effectively abducted by the Greek coast guard and Greek police, it states: Onc…

On this, the eve of International Women's Day, this Bill presents a timely reminder of the many ways in which the State and the Government have failed ordinary people, and in particular women. However, this Bill also presents an opportunity to put these same women front and centre, and acknowledge the dedication and sacrifices they gave to make Ireland a better place for women in the future. I am conscious in particular of Vicky Phelan. Vicky's refusal to accept the demand for confidentiality opened the door to tru…

Well said.

I welcome the ambassadors to the Gallery. I second the proposal by my colleague, Senator Ó Donnghaile, to amend the Order of Business. I spoke on the same topic in the Chamber yesterday evening, assuming the Government amendment would be forthcoming. I expect everyone in this House would find it unacceptable for the Bill to be left as it currently is, which would mean a woman availing of domestic violence leave will face a pay deduction for that leave. It is entirely unacceptable. This Chamber has a tradition of co…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. As always, the Minister is very welcome. Historically, Ireland’s stock and quality of public infrastructure has been poor by international standards. Poor quality roads, water and telecommunications infrastructure, in addition to a lack of schools and hospitals, compounded by poorly-balanced regional development, has diminished ordinary citizens’ quality of life. Chronic underdevelopment in public housing has exacerbated the housing crisis. I do not need to remind …

I move amendment No. 4: In page 11, to delete lines 15 to 43, and in page 12, to delete lines 1 to 10, and substitute the following: “(5) The pay in respect of an employee’s domestic violence leave shall— (a) where applicable, be paid to the employee in advance of his or her taking the leave, (b) be at the normal weekly rate, or as the case may be, at a rate which is proportionate to the normal weekly rate, and (c) in a case in which board or lodging or, as the case may be, both board and lodging constitute part of…

The Minister will be aware that there is a very significant concern in respect of the domestic violence provisions in this Bill and the failure to date of the Minister to follow through with the commitment that one of his officials gave in the past week, which was to propose an amendment to do away with the provision of a reduced rate of pay for domestic violence leave. I note that there is no such Government amendment proposed to do that. I am genuinely shocked by that. I spoke yesterday evening on a related matte…

I want to welcome Sarah Benson from Women's Aid, who is in the Gallery to witness this debate first hand. The Minister said he has listened to concerned voices. I do not understand how he can say that when he knows the reduced pay provisions remain in the Bill. What the Minister has not done in his response is in any way address the Sinn Féin amendment. The key part of the amendment is that pay in respect of an employee's domestic violence leave shall be at the normal weekly rate or, as the case may be, a rate whic…

That does not fix the Bill.

Why will the Minister not accept the amendment? Please explain.

Of course we welcome these amendments, but they do not address the reduced pay provisions that remain in the Bill. While we will support the amendments, I put it to the Minister that they still do not address the issue of reduced pay. I note the Minister's comments when he introduced the amendments. It is important that he puts on the record here this evening that he will ensure that victims of domestic violence receive their normal rate of pay. That is a simple ask. The Minister could have accepted it via our amen…

I second the amendment.