I join you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, in welcoming the Minister to the Chamber. I congratulate her on her new-found responsibility in the Department of Justice. I wish her well in that Department. I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak in this important debate. The Fianna Fáil Party totally supports the motions, which provide for the continuation of certain provisions under the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and also the continuance in operation of section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) …

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, 2021 and ending on 29th June, 2022.

I would like to address the unfortunate confusion which seems to have arisen around outdoor dining. With the good weather, it is very heartening to see so many people out and about and our towns and villages alive with people sitting and enjoying a bite to eat and maybe a glass or two of wine or beer in the great outdoors. It is a lovely, heartening, uplifting sight to see. Unfortunately, confusion has now arisen about the legality of the public space some pubs and restaurants are using to serve alcohol in some ins…

The Minster, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is very welcome to the House this afternoon. I thank Senator Chambers for sharing time. There is no doubt but that the Bill has the potential to tackle climate change, which is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime. This is a global crisis that I believe needs a global response if we are to save our climate. Climate policy on climate change needs to be foreign policy. I came across some quite startling statistics recently that show China's daily emissions are equivalent to a…

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I wish to raise the registration of rights of way and the coming deadline of November. I understand there are two methods by which rights of way can be registered. One is that the person who requires the right of way can contact the landowner or owners and ask them to sign an easement which can be lodged with the land registry. Alternatively, the person seeking the right of way can lodge an application with the land r…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I feel there is a lack of awareness in regard to the changes that will occur post November 2021 not just among the general public but also among the legal profession. I repeat my request that some form of public awareness campaign is launched by the Department outlining clearly the changes that will occur post November 2021, given there is a lot of confusion and fear. Rights of way can be a very contentious issue that can divide communities and neighbour…

I welcome the Minister of State back to the Chamber. I compliment our erstwhile colleague, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, on his excellent work on this area. I know the long hours he put into the Bill. As he is from a business background, he was acutely aware of the difficulties caused by not having proper legislation dealing with this area. On a side note, I was sorry to learn that he would no longer be with us. He was an excellent Senator who contributed significantly on a vast number of areas. The Seanad is poorer for his a…

I am okay. I will wait until the end.

I thank the Minister of State for his contribution this afternoon. I might digress somewhat with some latitude from you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. As the Minister of State and Members are probably aware, thousands of people have made the journey here today from Donegal and Mayo to raise their plight in respect of mica.

I appreciate that but I wanted to mention it.

I have been contacted by many people over 60 years of age who feel aggrieved they are still waiting on their second vaccine slot despite the fact that many younger cohorts are now fully vaccinated. Many over-60s feel they are vulnerable to the virus and many medically high-risk individuals are in the same boat. The gap between first and second dose of AstraZeneca was originally 12 weeks but I understand there are recommendations the gap can be reduced to 8 weeks. I appreciate that was the medical advice at the time…

I concur with Senator Horkan's contribution. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Some would say that we are merely engaged in a bit of housekeeping. As the Minister of State outlined, the Bill reflects what we are already doing and transposes an EU directive into Irish law, which is to be welcomed. Senator Horkan said I stood aside to let him speak on this occasion. As the Leas-Chathaoirleach knows, us country boys are very obliging and we would not like to think that the city slickers would take advantag…

I welcome the fact that this year's national TidyTowns competitions are up and running again, having not gone ahead last year. It is great news for some 900 communities of various sizes throughout the length and breadth of the country that do great work week in, week out, tidying up their villages and towns. I refer not only to the picking up of litter we usually see volunteers doing, but also to actions they take to address climate change with respect to biodiversity or sustainability projects. By and large, the T…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this most important issue. At the outset, I commend Senator Boylan, and indeed my Sinn Féin colleagues, on bringing forward this legislation. From a Fianna Fáil perspective, we will certainly not oppose it. We very much welcome it. As previous speakers have commented, events have moved on, in that the Legal Aid Board has moved to remove the housing assistance payment, HAP, from the calculation for entitlement …

I too acknowledge the comments of my friend and colleague, Senator O'Donovan, and wish him all the best in the future. I raise the issue of the plight of adult medical card holders and their difficulties in getting dental care and treatment. It is believed that last year, one quarter of participating dentists left the medical card scheme. As a result of that, there are many towns throughout the country that have very few if any dentists participating in the adult medical card scheme for patients. The dental treatme…

On Monday, 24 May, at 10.30 a.m. in the Dáil Chamber, or earlier if necessary.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit as teacht go dtí an Teach ar maidin. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil a lán oibre le déanamh aige. Gabhaim buíochas leis as a bheith anseo chun caint linn faoin ábhar iontach tábhachtach seo do na daoine as Contae Mhuineacháin agus Baile Átha Cliath. I welcome the Minister of State to the House this morning to discuss this important issue. Today, 17 May, marks the 47th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Each year, we gather here to discuss this issue but, unfortunately, ther…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. The events last week in regard to Ballymurphy give us all hope. I am sure the people of Monaghan and Dublin who were following the developments last week in regard to Ballymurphy, which occurred in 1971, are, perhaps, hopeful that their day too might be coming. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to do all they can, as I know they will, to ensure these families can finally get closure. Forty-seven years have passed and a lot of these people a…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. The Minister of State is very welcome and I thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to be here. Everyone agrees about the benefits of CCTV systems. They are located in many of our towns and cities, and are invaluable pieces of equipment when it comes to the investigation of crime or preventing crime. A UK study in 2013 estimated that 20% of crimes were prevented by having a CCTV system in place. There is no doubt they are hugely beneficial pieces of equi…

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response, which I welcome. It is still worth noting that up to this point it has been a very cumbersome process and the figures the Minister of State has given go some way towards substantiating that point. I would like to see a system that is much more expeditious in how conclusions are reached when applications go in. As the Minister of State said, and rightly so, they are hugely beneficial to the communities in which they are installed and they are an added to…