The ambassador is very welcome. Today is our last Order of Business before we break for the summer recess. I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all the staff who look after us in this House, be they ushers, catering staff, those who clean our offices or those who keep us in check. I thank everyone for their hard work in the year to date. I wish colleagues a happy summer, a good rest and a lot of time in their constituencies. The Order of Business is No. 1, the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 – Message from …

For Senator McDowell's information, the Taoiseach is coming in to hopefully talk to us about Seanad reform on 27 September, arising from the invitation issued last week by the Senator’s colleague, Senator Boyhan. I note Senator McDowell's request for a debate on illegal gambling and slot machines. He explained this to me before. I will ask the Minister to come in for a debate but, as we are to get the gambling Bill, I assume she will tell us that Bill is coming. We might put down joint Commencement matters to ensur…

I ask the Minister of State to excuse my ignorance, but as regards the report we are going to produce on availability or access for households, will we have consultation with the households? Will the report just be on the basis of what people have harvested for the past number of years? How will we compile the report and what will it be based on?

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, for coming to the House. I welcome my Young Fine Gael colleagues who are in the Gallery today, who are co-sponsors of the Bill. Despite the fact that we are only talking about section 1 today, I am grateful that we are progressing the Bill. I acknowledge that the Minister wishes to consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, and the Garda Commissioner on the Bill. I hope to have these requests back before we come back in September because I am very keen…

The Order of Business is No. 1, Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023 – Second Stage, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

I suggest Senator Kyne’s sympathies are probably misplaced. The Inland Fisheries Ireland saga has a long way to go but, to be fair to the people who are appearing in front of the Committee of Public Accounts this morning, I do not know anybody who does not bring their best game face when they come to sit in front of that committee. As the Senator has said, I believe there is a long way to go on this issue and we will watch with bated breath. Senator Burke, coincidentally, probably because he was not in the Chamber …

Yes, I will certainly do that but, more importantly, we will arrange the debate on Seanad reform to try to coincide or to happen before An Taoiseach comes to us in September. I will certainly play my part in trying to get him here as quickly as we can. Senator Gavan spoke this morning about the section 38 and 39 workers. We hear a great number of platitudes with regard to people’s intentions in respect of the workers in this industry and all of the reasons they are precluded from actually having salaries set for th…

Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Bill 2023 – Second Stage, to be taken at 12.15 p.m. and 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, with the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes in which to reply.

I extend my sympathies as well to Aisling and her family on the very sad passing of her daddy. As to what Senator Gavan brought up this morning, he is right: I definitely do not know anything about it, and maybe most other people in this Chamber do not know anything about it. That is not good enough, so I will ask not only for the debate but also for a statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to see what the reaction is.

I am always honest with the Senator when he brings things up here. I know very little about the conflict between Türkiye and Syria, other than that there are 3.5 million refugees from Syria in Türkiye. It just does not make any sense. I will get the Senator the statement and will certainly ask for the debate, although maybe not between now and the end of next week. That is no problem. I thank the Senator for raising that. Senator Maria Byrne brought up the kind of sneaky campaign that has gone on subliminally or un…

Okay. I will bring it to his attention and come back to the Senator with a response. I thank her for raising that. Senator Keogan asked for a debate on the proposed use of body cams and the purchase of same by An Garda Síochána when the legislation has not even been drafted yet. I will see if I can get a response for her to see if we can do that. Senator Seery Kearney spoke about what I can only describe as an absolutely astonishing reveal yesterday by, for anybody who was not in the audiovisual room, the Justice f…

I thank Governor Healey for an inspiring speech. Like so many Americans, she has made the trip back home to Ireland. They have pulled back to where their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were born and raised, visit our small, little towns and villages, and reconnect with family who, in many cases, people only ever heard of through stories from their relatives. It is probably fair to say that in Ireland, we are always talking about the diaspora. We talk about those people who left the country decades ago…

I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2023 and ending on 29th June, 2024.

Our guests are all very welcome. When Mary Jackman was laid to rest this time last year, tributes flowed in from across her beloved Limerick and beyond. At home, she was described as one of the great icons of her local community. In reference to her political career, she was described as a pioneer of opportunity. Throughout her life, Mary Jackman was most certainly a pioneer. With her mother's side of the family having been what she described as roaring Fianna Fáilers, she had the audacity to join Fine Gael. By God…

The Bill is absolutely necessary. While we might argue about the definition, we can all agree that the rise of hatred and ill-behaviour by some people in this country towards others has grown exponentially. I do not know whether that is to do with the advent of social media over the past ten years that we have more of a platform for people to show their hatred. Society itself is changing. People always had platforms and they always had pens and paper. We definitely need to do something to recognise that there are t…

Next Tuesday.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements for the address to Seanad Éireann by Maura Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Tuesday, 27 June 2023, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 44F) (Appointed Day) Order 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regul…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and colleagues. In reply to Senator Warfield, I am certain the Department of Social Protection will respond, when it can, to the accusations and, in particular and more importantly, to the results of a finding by the Data Protection Commission. I will certainly pass on the Senator's message and I will see if I can seek a response for him. Senators Kyne and Casey both brought up relevant issues on the same topic, so I may ask for a debate on rural transport. Senator Casey's request was to l…

-----and today's announcement is very welcome. On Senator Malcolm Byrne's contribution, I have a number of young friends who were at the Association of Irish Musical Societies, AIMS, celebration over the weekend. It is a great event every year which brings much excitement but it also brings gratitude for what they give to all our communities and societies. I congratulate the Gorey Musical Society and wish it continued success. I am sorry for the Senator's loss on hearing about the passing of Fintan Cleary and for t…