I move: "That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 20th October, 2021.”

I move: "That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, it be an instruction to the Committee of the whole Seanad, in relation to the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021, that the Committee has the power to make amendments to the Bill for the purpose of providing that a housing strategy, prepared by the planning authority, must take into account the need to ensure that home ownership as a tenure type is provided for and estimated in the housing strategy; and to m…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the joint meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on the roll-out of the progressing disability services programme and assessments of needs, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude at 6.30 p.m., with the time allocated …

I thank the Cathaoirleach and colleagues. Senator Boyhan is very welcome as to the Bill which will probably have some amendments from Opposition parties. It is very important that everyone knows what we are trying to learn from this, which was that the process of SHDs, as we all know, was flawed. I have not seen the recommendations from the horse racing report published today but I hope that it addresses some of the issues that have been highlighted here and in the media over the past number of years. I thank Senat…

We will not be cynical yet. Senator Hoey raised an issue on behalf of the Labour Party. Many others would share the view that the new national maternity hospital should be independent of any authority other than State policy on the delivery of maternity care. That certainly could do with updating, as we have all spoken about before. I recognise that the Senator also supported Senator Gavan in his praise for Senator Black. She raised this matter here last week and spoke eloquently for three or four minutes on the wo…

I will definitely be retired at that stage. It is just not good enough. It is not from a lack of ambition, so there has to be some other plausible reason, and we need to feel our way through to get to the bottom of it. The Senator has asked for a debate on the issue and I am glad he has. I will certainly take pleasure in organising it. We will in the next few weeks get to the bottom of what is going on, so that one third of the Irish population will be able to come out of their houses in the morning, will not have …

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders– (1) the Joint Committee on European Affairs, the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU may hold a joint meeting to consider the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community; (2) the quorum of the join…

The Order of Business is No. 1, the Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1 p.m.; and No. 2, Private Members' business, Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2021 - Second Stage, to be taken at 2 p.m. or 15 minutes after the conclusion of No. 1, whichever is later, with the time allocated to the debate not to exceed two hours.

I sometimes think that I am unshockable. I have been here for a few years, but I am actually shocked by what the Senator said. I am the mother of a young man who is on the autistic spectrum. He is just the most gorgeous young man one could possibly meet. He is sitting his leaving certificate examination this year and he has had the same journey over the past couple of years that all our other children have had. He has the highest aspirations for himself and gets supported in the same way as my other three kids do, …

I am sorry. With respect, Senator McDowell brought the matter up this morning at our weekly meeting of group leaders. The schedule for next week was given to people at that meeting today, which is only Thursday. The Order of Business only comes from and reflects the schedule given to the leaders of the groups on Thursdays. It is given to everybody 60 minutes before we come in, and there is little difference, if ever any difference, between the information I provide on Thursdays and what happens then in the followin…

Senator Fitzpatrick brought up the much awaited and anticipated climate action plan. I am sure we will have plenty of debates on that topic in the weeks to come. Senator Conway referred to and congratulated Niamh Daffy, the current CEO of Cara, and that is well deserved. I will follow up for the Senator regarding the commitment made by the Minister for Health here some weeks ago concerning the cost associated with HPV vaccines. I am happy to accept Senator Malcolm Byrne's amendment. I wish him every success. Once t…

I acknowledge Senator Ó Donnghaile's contribution this morning.

Senator Craughwell raised concerns about the Air Navigation and Transport Bill. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the meeting on Tuesday, despite having raised the time constraints with the Minister last week, because we were dealing with the Order of Business. Since I missed the meeting, I did not see the presentation that was promised to us. I will inform the Minister today that we need to see the PowerPoint presentation and seek an undertaking in that regard. I give Senator Craughwell and the 11 or 12 othe…

I apologise to my colleagues but today I propose, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or on the Order Paper of the House today, that No. a 1 on the Supplementary Order Paper be taken before No. 1, without debate.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, or the Order of the Seanad of 21st September, 2021, initiation of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021 may proceed pursuant to Standing Order 145, notwithstanding that pre-legislative consideration of the Bill pursuant to Standing Order 143 has not been waived.”

Senator Higgins must not have been at the meeting. I was not at the meeting either. We changed the procedure at the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight meeting during the year.

Yes.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2021, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, motion regarding a reasoned opinion of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications regarding the EU legislative proposals, COM (2021) 5…

That is true. I appreciate that Senator Boyhan has a job to do but he knows that I have done my best. I will try again. I never say never. The Senator will ask and I will ask and we will see if we can get a better date than 23 November. That said, at least we have a date, even if we are not happy with it. We will try to bring it forward. I will do my best and I am sure Senator Boyhan will do his best too. Senator Ahearn raised the quite bizarre situation whereby in one of the largest counties in the country there i…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021, copies of which were laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 20th October, 2021, be referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)( b ), which, not later than 7th December, 2021, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2) shall accordingly apply.