The Minister of State is welcome back to the House today to discuss this important Bill. From a Fianna Fáil perspective, we very much welcome this legislation. It is a short Bill, but that does not take away from the importance of it. We can be very proud of our judicial service and how it has served this country for many years, notwithstanding the fact that legislation is currently going through both Houses to reform it. I bow to the knowledge of my two colleagues to my left in relation to that. Notwithstanding wh…

Next Tuesday

I, too, would like to have a say on GAAGO, which has been discussed by many Senators this afternoon. The reality is that the digital age is with us and no one will stop that train. In respect of GAAGO, perhaps we are moving too fast in that it appears that we are leaving many people behind us. The reality is that for many people in this country, broadband is a big issue. Having the wherewithal to be able to handle digital platforms is a challenge that they have yet to come to terms with. Because of that, we are lea…

The ambassador is very welcome. It is a case of "Hello" and "Goodbye". I thank him for his service. The Order of Business is No.1, motion regarding Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023, back from committee, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude at 12.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed five minutes and those of all Senators not to exceed five minutes, time can be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply …

I thank Senators for their contributions on a wide range of issues. The last shall be first in this instance and I will start with Senator Ahearn. He referred to the RRDF and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. Great work has undoubtedly been done in that regard. The Senator raised a problem with the way the fund was set up, with one phase depending on the other. I will ask the Minister to attend the House to debate the issue. She has a great deal on her mind at the moment. There has been speculation in the media that …

As always.

Senator Kyne discussed Pobal's social inclusion programme and how great work had been done in funding projects across the country. He spoke about how Galway, being such a large county, should ideally be split in two. That seems to make sense. He also referred to how the closing date was imminent. He would like to see the county being split and has asked for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to consider the matter. I will contact the Minister. I understand that the clos…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, ag an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, Teachta Byrne, ar ais chuig an Teach ar maidin. This morning, myself and my colleague, Senator Blaney, would like to raise the issue of the sports capital programme with him. As he will be well aware, this is a programme that is eagerly anticipated and awaited by every sporting enthusiast and club the length and breadth of the country. I am sure there is not a sports club in the country that has not receiv…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Deputy Donohoe is a very prudent Minister. One thing we can assure him of, as I am sure the Minister of State does every day, is that every penny spent in this area of sports funding is money well spent. I look forward to the announcement shortly of the details of the new round. I know the Minister of State would like to get on with it. I hope he gets the green light soon.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the collection and transfer of advance passeng…

I welcome the Minister of State. From a Fianna Fáil perspective, this debate is very much welcomed. We are very happy to support the motion as outlined. It is heartening to see such positive co-operation between the EU states. It is important, as we try to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute those involved in terrorist offences and serious crime. It is a positive thing that we have this co-operation. Prior to Brexit, I would imagine the UK also was part of this EU agreement. What now is the protocol in relat…

I propose that Senator Wilson act as Acting Chairperson for the remainder of the day.

I wish to use my time to remind families about the 28 April deadline for parents to apply for school transport for the first time. This Friday, 28 April, is an important date. This applies to pupils who will be attending junior infants in a primary school or indeed first year in a post-primary school for the first time in the academic year 2023-24. It also applies to pupils who changed their home address or are attending a new school in that year. I commend my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Foley, who secured vita…

Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo ar maidin. I am here this morning to seek an update on the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategy that we are beginning to roll out throughout the length and breadth of the country. As the Minister of State knows, many community groups across the length and breadth of the land have worked and fundraised hard to ensure that their communities have access to defibrillators or automated external defibrillators, AEDs, in the instance of cardiac arrest. AEDs are portable…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. The statistic he gave about the current rate of survival in this country was 6.1%. As the Minister of State said himself, 178 people were able to return to their families, which is a very positive development. He also said that the European norm is slightly over 10%, which shows we have a way to go. I very much welcome the strategy. It is an excellent idea. We have a resource within each community throughout the country in both the Garda fleet and the fire service veh…

I want to raise the issue of career guidance in our post-primary schools. I am sure we all agree on the need for guidance for our students and young people, particularly post Covid and considering the pressures young people are under at this time of year leading up to exams. I would like to welcome the young people to the Public Gallery this afternoon. As the Acting Leader will know given her background, since 2012 the allocation of guidance hours is a matter for the school management. It is up to the school manage…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. My colleague and I wish to highlight the problem of accessing public eye care in Ireland but we have a potential solution. I look forward to the ministerial response in due course. Unfortunately, many adults and children must wait too long to receive public eye care in this country. Figures for 2022, compiled by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, show that over 33,000 people were on an outpatient eye care waiting list, with over 12,000 of them having waited lo…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Members regularly come into the Chamber to highlight problems. We have done that this morning but we are also highlighting a potential solution and I would ask that Government grasp that. I take some encouragement from the response that the Minister of State has given us in that work is taking place. I implore him to expedite that work so that, as Senator Conway outlined in his contribution, a stitch in time saves nine. It is imperative that we work fast on this parti…

Like my colleague Senator Burke, I support Senator O'Sullivan's proposal to have a discussion on NGOs. It would be a very worthwhile and very interesting discussion and I would certainly welcome it. This morning I will discuss penalty points. Penalty points are designed to encourage safe driving and to reduce casualties on our roads. If a person drives over the speed limit, he or she gets three penalty points and an initial fixed-charge fine of €160. Most drivers, as we know, are careful and responsible on the road…

Not agreed.