-----so I am sure some of the Senator's colleagues will table an amendment in the Dáil that will make him feel more comfortable with the legislation. To go back to one of the issues raised earlier in the debate, when, as I said, I was listening in my office, I heard Senator Clifford-Lee give us all some clarity on independence. What does independence mean? We have had a referendum in this country. The people have spoken and we do not need to go back and do it again. The issue around the independence of a chairperso…

Senator Mullen and I can discuss this ourselves elsewhere, maybe over a coffee or something stronger.

I welcome the Acting Leader. I find myself in a situation where I disagree with all three previous speakers and I do not even know where to start.

Business as usual seems to be the order of the day for the previous speakers. I have long said that I am against the Galway ring road, not because I am against all roads but because we are in the middle of a climate crisis. This is an old solution and new roads on this kind of scale have not been shown to reduce congestion. In fact, they lead to more congestion as we get more sprawl. That said, the attacks on the justice system in relation to judicial reviews by Senator Kyne's party colleague, the Minister of State…

I am delighted that this Bill has reached this Stage. I thank Senator Chambers for pursuing it doggedly to get to this point. It has proceeded quite quickly and I do not think it would have proceeded to this Stage if not for her determination. The reason the Bill is so important is that we are in a crisis. There has been no reduction in violence against women. Stalking does not always result in violence but it creates a level of fear and interruption in a woman's life. The victim is usually a woman although it some…

The Order of Business is: No. 1, motion regarding Ireland's Opt-in to the 2021-2027 Asylum Migration and Integration Fund - Regulation (EU) 2021/1147, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021 – Committee Stage, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 1, whichever is the later; and No. 3, Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022 – Second Stage, to be taken on the conclusion o…

I thank the Senators for their welcoming remarks. I do not know how the Leader manages to respond to everyone but I will give it a go. I begin by responding to Senator Hoey, given it is important when someone raises the death of someone who did so much for society and human rights that we acknowledge that at the outset. I extend my condolences to the family of Eoin Collins, who did so much for Ireland and for equality. Senators O'Loughlin and McGreehan and others raised the Count Her In campaign, and a launch is ta…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Regulation (EU) 2021/1147 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, a copy of which was laid…

I understand the Minister of State is taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys. If there are outstanding matters, I ask that the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, refer back to me. I understand she is not available today. I wish to speak about an organisation called Green Sod Ireland. It is an amazing organisation which does its work voluntarily. Like many environmental organisations, it is scraping around in search of funding to keep itself going. One of the key …

I thank the Minister of State. The type of language she is using is very welcome. It is a change from where we were a couple of years ago and that is very welcome, as is the amount of funding. However, I go back to my point on multi-annual funding, which is what these organisations are seeking. The Department has a key role in this regard. It is not just for other Departments. I ask the Minister of State to request that the Minister review that to ensure all organisations providing community engagement and communit…

I join the rest of the Senators in congratulating Senator Chambers. This is a very significant day. We are all passionate about many topics but, on that day in September when we all spoke, there was an outcry. The Minister is showing that she listened to that and particularly to the voices of the women who have come forward, Una and Eve, and those of women all across the country. It is important to say that there are also men - and I know of some - who have experienced this kind of behaviour. It is also really impo…

The Minister is very welcome to the House. Everything in this country feels like a fight for women. This is not a fight that we should have to fight alone, but it often feels like we are. I know that men are there walking with us sometimes, but it always feels that we have to ask them to do so. It also feels that we ask Governments continuously to take action, as well as schools and society more generally. There are pockets of things going right, such as inter-agency responses such as the Barnahus in Galway, which …

As I am chairing this portion of the debate, I take this opportunity to thank everyone. Obviously, I do not agree with the comments of everyone - having debate is what the Chamber is about - but it has been a welcome debate. Some have mentioned that they are shocked by some of the things that some of the women have said. Personally, I am shocked that people are shocked by some of what has been said because they strike a chord with many of us. That there is that level of shock that we walk around in the world afraid…

The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne and all the other Fianna Fáil Senators. We have discussed this issue before, including when Senator Wall introduced legislation. The important thing to remember about dumping is that there is no witness who can make a statement and bring it to the Garda. The ultimate victim is the environment, which is voiceless. It means extraordinary measures are required to tackle this problem. I am talking about all types of wildlife crimes, which the Minister…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, and I thank all the Senators for their support. The Minister is very welcome. I am delighted to see him here to discuss this really important topic of climate and agriculture. He will know that I am a member of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. This is an issue that is really close to my heart. It is important to say that environmentalists, myself included, do not point the finger of blame at farmers. That is a really important message. Because the emissions fro…

I wish everyone, including the Deputy Leader, a happy new year. Several things have happened in the past few weeks and months. It is so difficult to encapsulate it all in three minutes. I know that we will have lots of opportunities. I thank the Leader and Deputy Leader for making those opportunities available to discuss the death of Ashling Murphy in greater detail than I can go into now. There is an awful lot to be said about the society that we live in. We must really give that the time and invite in the appropr…

The Minister is welcome. I thank the Chair of our committee, Deputy Kehoe. I have enjoyed sitting on the committee. We work well as a team and do in-depth work. Some of the other committee members have spoken before me. It has been eye-opening to see things from everyone's perspective. We have disagreements and people come from different perspectives. One of the things we can agree on is that there are changes needed in the education system. Work is under way on a report on reform of the leaving certificate. I woul…

The Minister is very welcome. The Bill is about putting into place what was already described in budget 2022. There are a few important points to note. The first is that the Bill has been deemed by independent analysis to be progressive. Second, I and my Green Party colleagues very much want to ensure that the carbon tax is used in a way that will promote this progressive agenda and go towards helping those who are most at risk and in need. That is exactly what the Bill does and what the budget did overall. Third, …

Is the Senator pressing the amendment?

Amendments Nos. 3 and 34 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.