I move That Seanad Éireann – - expresses its deep sadness on the death of former Senator, Michael O'Kennedy; - conveys its sincere condolences to his wife Breda and family; and - expresses its gratitude for his notable contribution, as a member of Seanad Éireann, to Irish public life and for his dedicated service to the people of Ireland.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Office of the Ombudsman) Regulations 2022, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 11th March, 2022.”

I move: (1) That Seanad Éireann resolves that - (a) a joint sitting of both Houses of the Oireachtas shall be held in the Dáil Chamber on Wednesday 6th April, 2022, at 9.50 a.m., and His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, shall be invited to address such joint sitting via video conference; (b) the Ceann Comhairle shall be Chairperson of the joint sitting and shall adjourn the sitting immediately following the concluding statement by the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann; (c) the arrangements shall …

The Order of Business is No. 1, Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 1.15 p.m.

It will keep me on my toes. I want to join An Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the visitors today. I do not think they appreciate how lovely it is to see them here because we have been very lonely for the past two years. We have walked around without even being able to talk to one another because there was so much social distancing and fear of being caught by our colleagues who mind us so well. They are very welcome and I thank them for coming. A number of colleagues have asked for an energy debate-----

I thank the Deputy. A debate on energy has been requested by a number of colleagues, namely, Senators Burke, Buttimer, Malcolm Byrne and Boylan. We have to talk about a variety of issues, not just security of supply but also rising energy costs and the impact not just on households but on our businesses and farm contractors. The farming community is a wider community. I will arrange that debate. Next week's schedule has already been completed, but I will arrange for a debate the week after Easter. A number of colle…

The Order of Business today is No. 1, motion to approve Ireland’s opt-in to an EU measure on hate crime and hate speech, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. and to conclude at 2 p.m., with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed five minutes, the contributions of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply.

A number of colleagues have raised Ukraine this morning. I wish to note two things, the first being the pregnant lady. I agree with Senator Sherlock in that I do not think that photograph will ever be erased from my mind. I note also the very elderly lady who was being carried away in a blanket by two soldiers and the sheer fear on her face. The gentleman on this morning’s programme said they do not even have time to dig graves because of the bombing and the shelling. He had no idea who the 47 bodies were who were …

The Government will do what it can. I agree completely with colleagues that we need to do more. What really worries me is to see somebody as practical and prudent as the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, which we all know he is, as worried as he was yesterday. It tells me there is far more pain to come. The display of greed we saw in this country yesterday and the day before was absolutely shameful and it needs to be called out. Senator Ahearn talked about the new organisation the Minister for Agriculture, Food…

The Order of Business is No. 1, statements to mark International Women's Day 2022, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.15 p.m., with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes and those of all Senators not to exceed six minutes, with the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, statements on brain health and dementia, to be taken at 2.15 p.m. and to conclude at 3.45 p.m., with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes,…

Senator O'Reilly asked a question and will not even stay for the answer.

I did not expect to be called so soon to respond. The last speaker, Senator Boyhan, raised mink farming, but Senator Pauline O'Reilly - in some strange tones - expressed her concerns publicly this morning on the drawn out delay, month after month, with the animal health and welfare Bill. I was here last Thursday debating it, as I am sure all of my colleagues were. As Senator Boyhan says, there are some concerns, but it has nothing to do with mink. There is some element of trying to put this as anti-Fine Gael, anti-…

I thank the Acting Chairperson for her commitment to this particular topic. It is very evident that she cares about it. I also acknowledge the Minister of State's dedication and commitment. What she said she would do before she was Minister of State and what she has done match each other perfectly. Her determination to do even better says an awful lot about her. I thank her. At the risk of being accused of what Senator Mullen said earlier about being narcissistic and talking about myself, I really believe that all …

Bualadh bos. The ambassador, Ms Karadjova, is very welcome. I thank her for visiting. I wish her, all the citizens of Bulgaria and all the Bulgarian Irish citizens who are part of our community here a very happy national day. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the earlier signature of the Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the first meetings of the Joint Committee…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senator Carrigy. I will pass on his comments to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine today because I fear that in order for us to be effective in our sanctions against Putin and Russia it will certainly have an impact on the economies of all the European countries and indeed the western world. How to plan for that is what the Senator is asking for a debate on, and I will ask for that today. I have no doubt that Senator McDowell would have written a far more strident,…

I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

I move: That— (a) the Joint Committee on Autism, and (b) the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, may meet, notwithstanding the fact that in advance of the first meetings of each Committee, the full membership of either has not yet been appointed.

I move: “That Seanad Éireann: recalls: - that in the first Article of Bunreacht na hÉireann the Irish nation affirmed its inalienable, indefeasible, and sovereign right to choose its own form of Government, to determine its relations with other nations, and to develop its life, political, economic and cultural, in accordance with its own genius and traditions; - that Ireland believes in, and is fully committed to the core principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN Charter), which include the sove…

I am unfortunately in the position of not being able to speak Irish, but I have to say that was one of the most humbling addresses I have ever witnessed in the 11 years I have served in the Oireachtas. I thank you so much for coming, Linda, for sharing your experience and journey, and for your humbleness to how you approached the conflict and anger you experienced over the past ten years. You are so good to have given up your time and for sharing your experience today. It has enriched my day, my week and my experie…

Notwithstanding that all of the amendments have been ruled out of order because they impose a charge on the State, very similar amendments were presented to the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, when we last sat. I cannot speak for everybody, but when we suspended that day, the Minister of State told us that she would come back and provide a response to the spirit of what the Members were trying to relay that day. We are waiting on that response. The spirit of what we are trying to say is that the State is closin…