The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the seventh report of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1 in the Dáil Chamber and to conclude at 12.30 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall in regard to amendments include only those set down or accepted by …

I congratulate the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and her husband Paul on their lovely news. It is a really exciting time for them as a young couple but it highlights the disenfranchisement of a lot of women in this country in terms of the access to the equality so many women and men take for granted. It is definitely an issue we need to address not just because a female Minister happens to be expecting her first baby and making history but because it should have been done a long time ago. We need to stop ta…

I am actually talking about both the GAA and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. These decisions are not made in isolation. I am an avid follower of ladies Gaelic games, maybe even more so than the lads. I get significant enjoyment from sport, particularly GAA. It was really disappointing that the women were moved from Billy to Jack at the weekend, first to accommodate a training session for a men's team. I totally get that the men's team need to train and it is their own ground, but I do not think the way the …

I apologise for not responding to the Senator on that issue. I have not had an opportunity to-----

I thank Senator Keogan.

I move: That the report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the amendment of Standing Orders 60 and 61 and the adoption of new Standing Order 60A be adopted, laid before the House and printed.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 47, between lines 10 and 11, to delete the text inserted by amendment 4 at Seanad Committee.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements for the sitting of the House on Tuesday, 8 December 2020, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; and No. 2, Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 11 a.m.

There are plenty of issues for me to respond to today. I thank colleagues for all of the items raised which I propose to respond to working backwards. I do believe there is a need for a debate on fiscal policy but whether it is beneficial to have it between now and Christmas is probably debatable. I will ask the Minister to come to the House for that debate but there is probably a variety of Ministers that need to come in for that debate. The world is an entirely different place today than it was when colleagues we…

I am sorry, I misunderstood that. Again, I genuinely do not believe that people know that the committee is meeting every single day. Most Oireachtas committees meet once a week and some meet only once a fortnight. It is a huge onus on all of us to make sure that everybody knows there is a huge volume of work being done. That is especially the case in a week when we see the reports spoken about by Senator Byrne that do not paint a very good picture, and particularly in a week when the Government had to acknowledge t…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business: The Seanad on its rising on Thursday, 3rd December, 2020, shall adjourn until 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 8th December, 2020 and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) The Order of Business shall be proposed at 10.30 a.m. in the Dáil Chamber; (b) Commencement matters shall be taken at 1.30 p.m. in the Seanad Chamber, and up to six matters may be selected by the Cathaoirleach for discussion; (c) Business ordered to be taken su…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the order of the House today, Committee Stage of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 be brought to a conclusion no later than 6 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government; and that Report Stage shall not be taken today.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 - Second Stage, to be taken at 2.45 p.m. in the Seanad Chamber, with the time allocated to all Senators not to exceed ten minutes each, time can be shared and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate, and any division demanded thereon to be postponed until immediately after the Order of Business on Wednesday, 2 December 2020.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I am very happy to accept the amendment to the Order of Business and we can take No. 24, motion 8, before No. 1. A number of sectoral debates have been requested which I will certainly attend to at the end of the Order of Business. I will attempt to arrange them as quickly as I can. The time will be difficult for us between now and Christmas but I agree with a number of speakers this morning on employment rights, particularly in our retail sector. We have a rolling suspension of redundanc…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today. I feel like we have a weekly date to discuss things. It probably goes without saying that this year has been an extremely difficult and trying time for everybody in the country, but for none more so than our front-line workers, in particular those working in the healthcare system, including our doctors, nurses, porters, cleaners and healthcare assistants. It has been tough for them and in uncertain circumstances they have stepped up to stop the pandemic i…

I am nearly lost for words. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to give us an update. He stated that we are going to compensate young women and men for not going to work in Captain America's on a Friday night so that they keep themselves safe and can go into the Mater, St. Vincent's, Blanchardstown and Drogheda hospitals to provide a service. We are going to compensate these young people if they get sick but we are not going to give them a few bob for the work they are doing in keeping our citizen…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in this afternoon and giving of his time to not only update us and listen to what I hope will be constructive suggestions that genuinely will be taken on board. There is no doubt - I certainly hope - that the world is living through a once-in-a-generation crisis. From when that crisis started to become a daily occurrence for all of us last March, we moved very quickly, both in Ireland and in every country, to absolutely protect our vulnerable citizens, front-line workers and…

I thank the Minister of State for his attendance in the Seanad this morning to discuss this issue. It is hugely important to the transgender community in Ireland, as well as their families, friends and supporters. Last year, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, became increasingly aware of the difficulties faced by the transgender community in accessing essential healthcare in Ireland. He listened to that community and in taking on board their concerns, he set up and established the national transgender hea…

I genuinely thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to give us that information because the members of the committee have not been able to get it in any other format. I appreciate not only that the Minister of State said he had actually received the report but also that the seven recommendations have been read and some actions taken. I say on behalf of the transgender community that is greatly welcome. I have two requests. I ask for the Department of Health, if not to re-engage with the entire committee…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) Order 2020 - back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, the Planning and Development Bill 2020 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m. or 15 minutes after the conclusion of No. 1, whichever is the later, and to conclude within two hours, with the time allocated to group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all ot…