Senator Malcolm Byrne highlighted the fact that 9 May is May Day in the European Union. Senator Kyne opened proceedings by calling for a debate on the capital health spending plan.

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 31st March, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)(b), which, not later than 11th May, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2) shall…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for coming to the House. I appreciate that the issue I am raising is not directly under his remit but I would be grateful for his assistance on it within his Department. The problem of abandoned vehicles has the potential to affect people living on every housing estate, back road and boreen. It has an impact in every part of the country. Vehicles lying idle on our roads are not just a safety hazard; they are rightly recognised as an environmental and financial scourge. …

I am absolutely fascinated that everything the Minister of State has read out exists. I am delighted that it does, but I have to tell the Minister of State that it is not working. I am even more fascinated by the line "The success of our approach in this area is demonstrated by the most recently available results", which do look great but they are not reflected in what we see. There are the two examples just from the past couple of weeks. I am now going to do an audit of abandoned cars in my county, and I will prob…

The Order of Business is No.1, motion regarding an appointment to the Policing Authority, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/818, to be take…

I thank colleagues. Senator Kyne asked me to investigate or at least discuss the matter of the Aramark employees who had been promised the €1,000 payment for their Covid-19 service and who have not yet received it. He asked me to find out what is going on with the Minister. I will certainly send him a note today. Senator Kyne is also looking for a debate on the extension of the waste action plan for a circular economy to all households, particularly the brown bins. The cynic in me tells me that given there are some…

Yes, it would be nice to do something to recognise his bravery. Senator Malcolm Byrne mentioned the guests from his media freedom event this morning. He recognised the illegal detention of Jimmy Lai, whose relatives were present in the Chamber this morning and to whom I wish to send our solidarity. Senator Black proposed an amendment to the Order of Business - it was seconded by Senator Higgins - and that is no problem at all. She also spoke about the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2022, which came into pl…

I move: That Seanad Éireann recommends, pursuant to section 62C(7) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, that Anthony Harbinson be appointed by the Government to be a member of the Policing Authority.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, the Finance Bill 2023 - Second Stage, to be taken at 2.45 p.m. and to conclude at 4.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, those of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time can …

I am not really sure what we can do. All I can do is bring the issue to the attention of the Minister and ask him to query it. I know there are not direct beneficial lines between the State and Vodafone, but there certainly are a hell of a lot of indirect benefits to Vodafone as a result of what State infrastructure development is doing. I will raise it with the Minister and see what kind of response I get back.

We will find some mechanism to see if we can call the issue out.

Customer care has to be king for most of these leading companies. What the Senator has described today does not really meet the standards we expect. Senator Davitt also supported Senator Boyhan's request for a debate on rural housing with regard to the guidelines that have been changed recently and especially the impacts they are having on our rural families, up and down the length and breadth of the country. Senator Boyhan also brought to our attention this morning the Macra na Feirme campaign and I suppose I have…

With that said, I want to support the calls to support Macra na Feirme's campaign tomorrow. Senator Gallagher brought to our attention the deadline of 28 April, which is this Friday. We will not even feel it. We remind all of our constituents that those first-time applications for school transport have to be in by Friday. I know the scheme was oversubscribed last year, but good tweaks have been made this year to ensure that people accessing the scheme who really need it are not pushed out by people who are just acc…

I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 5th April, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)( b ), which, not later than 26th April, 2023, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 75, and Standing Order 77(2) shall accordingly apply.

The Order of Business is No.1, motion regarding the arrangements of the address to Seanad Éireann by the president of the GAA, Mr. Larry McCarthy, on 26 April 2023, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2., the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022 – Second Stage, to be taken at 11.45 a.m., with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, those of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed four minute…

I do not know what to say to Senator Murphy, other than to commend him on continuously raising Robert's case here. As Senator Murphy knows, I met with the Australian ambassador to see how somebody as far removed as me could attempt to make the issue as urgent for others as it is for his family. You get the standard answers that everything that can be done is being done. The Senator got exactly the same answer from the current Minister for Foreign Affairs as I got from the previous Minister, who held that portfolio …

I move: That Seanad Éireann agrees with the recommendation of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight that, in accordance with Standing Order 57(2) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the President of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Mr. Larry McCarthy, be invited to address Seanad Éireann on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023, and, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, unless otherwise ordered, the following arrangements shall apply: The proceedings in respect of the address s…

I welcome the representatives from the ICSA and the IFA to the Visitors Gallery today. I thank the Minister for his very lengthy statement setting out the situation regarding the current offering of the Government and the State to our sheep farmers. However, it is clear from listening to them that sheep farmers are in crisis and the financial supports we have given to them are not enough. It is very obvious to say that profit margins continue to fall when all the costs of these farmers continue to rise. We see shee…

It is very fitting that all the visitors in both Galleries are women. I acknowledge their presence and welcome them. I want to make a shoutout to my colleague, Senator Boyhan. His contribution at the outset of this debate was striking and startling. I am always struck by his commitment and passion when he speaks about his own life experiences. I thank him for that. I thank the Minister for his contributions and for his efforts in respect of the Bill to date. We all know that the Bill is significantly different and …

I can say only that Noel looks far too young to retire. I thank him for all his service and dedication over the years and wish him and Fiona a long, happy and healthy retirement. I hope he enjoys it. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Employment Equality Act 1998 (Section 12) (Reservation of Vocational Training Places) Order 2022, back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; and No. 2, Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to …