I will come back to the Senator.

The Order of Business is No. a 1, motion regarding the report of the Committee of Selection, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 1, Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and to conclude at 3.15 p.m., with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes, and all Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given not less than six minutes to reply to the deb…

I thank my colleagues for the variety of topics that have been raised today. The only thing I can say in response to Senator Ned O'Sullivan's passionate monologue is that he is a wise man and it would be wise for all of us to heed his words and advice. Several Senators have asked for a debate on cybersecurity. I will ask for one as soon as I can. If I am to be honest, I am not even sure who is the Minister in charge of cybersecurity. I will have to go and find out. Senator Malcolm Byrne is right when he said data i…

The Order of Business is No. 1, the Education (Leaving Certificate Examinations) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude at 12.45 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall with regard to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Government.

A wide variety of topics have been raised for discussion. In response to Senator Maria Byrne's matter, I have requested a debate with the Minister for Health on the ongoing vaccination programme. It is quite disheartening to hear that the two people the Senator brought to this House’s attention last week still have not even had contact. I do not know if my office can be of any assistance but I am willing to help. If the Senator would like to make contact with me afterwards, I will see if I can help. I wish the Lime…

The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the future of banking in Ireland, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and to conclude at 3.30 p.m., with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply; Private Members' business, No. 55, motion 9, re carers, to be taken at 3.45 p.m., with the time allocated to this deba…

I thank the Chairperson and colleagues. Senator McGahon is looking like a new man today and he has set the bar for all of us to achieve over the next couple of weeks. Some of us are looking forward to a haircut more than others, perhaps. The Senator made a very valid point. We spend more time sometimes looking at and researching issues than actually doing them, which tends to be frustrating. I will write to the Minister in respect of the three-day tax saver ticket which the Senator has raised on a number of occasio…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) (Exclusion of Workers in the Fishing and Shipping Sectors) Regulations 2021, back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on the European digital green certificate, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and to adjourn at 3 p.m., with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to …

There have been three requests to amend the Order of Business. To clarify, I can accept the Labour Party's amendment and that of Fine Gael. I am not sure if Senator Boylan meant to finish her statement that she would like the Bill taken after the Order of Business. I cannot take the Bill after the Order of Business but I can have it added to the Order of Business and taken later today, if that is what she meant. I hope it was. If that is the case, I can accept the three amendments today. Senator Ward asked for a de…

I do not have an issue with that but there are people with heartbreaking stories on each side who will have been retraumatised by the announcements made yesterday.

It is not acceptable and I look forward to the debate on the Private Members' motion Fianna Fáil has tabled for Monday evening. It will give everyone an opportunity to say how they feel and how disgusted we would be by such unilateral action, which we will not tolerate. Senator Joe O'Reilly raised the need for a debate on the future of banking. I am lucky in that I am in a position to say that such a debate has been scheduled for next week. I look forward to hearing everybody's contributions, particularly with rega…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Protection of Young Persons (Employment) (Exclusion of Workers in the Fishing and Shipping Sectors) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 3rd March, 2021.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to take this debate today because it was difficult to get. I appreciate that although the Department of Foreign Affairs is not responsible for rolling out the digital green certificate, he is here to represent the Government's views. I am genuinely appreciative of that so nothing that I say is personal to him. I want to make some remarks about mandatory hotel quarantining because the Minister of State opened his remarks by saying that it was part of a response to the situati…

The Order of Business is No.1, motion re Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2021 (Restaurants operating as takeaways), to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion re Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2021 – back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2, without debate; No. 3, motion re the Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community, extension of …

I would have opened the proceedings today by expressing all our condolences to our colleague Senator Mullen but I was not aware of his loss. I apologise for that. On behalf of every Member of this House, I wish him well in what must be a horrific loss after his daddy passing away. I express our condolences to him and his entire family. I wish Senator Cummins well with his meeting today. Please God this will be the start of something wonderful and great for the south east in getting its own technological university.…

I can do that today, that is no problem. I do not know why our procurement laws do not have a clause such as that suggested by the Senator. Any State-sponsored or State-supported company must have a minimum standard of engagement with its employees and it certainly sounds as if the example the Senator gave us this morning is falling far short of that. I will send the Senator a copy of that letter. Senator Moynihan spoke about what she feels is a contradiction in terms regarding the expansion of the definition of co…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 14th April, 2021

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 14th April, 2021.

I move: That the Orders of Reference of the Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community, as agreed by Order of the Seanad of 25th September, 2020, be amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph 7: ‘7. the Joint Committee shall make its final report to both Houses of the Oireachtas by 30th July, 2021, and shall thereupon stand dissolved.’

Happy Koningsdag also to your good self. I thank the Cathaoirleach for raising it this morning. Anyone who knows my part of the world will know there are fields and fields of beautiful tulips in Rush and the areas surrounding Rush. Once we get out of our 20 km zone and when inter-county travel convenes again, people might go to have a look. It is beautiful. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements for the sitting of the House this Friday, 30 April, 2021, to be taken on conclusion of the Ord…