The generosity of the Irish people never ceases to amaze me. This weekend, on Saturday morning, they went out in the wind and rain and walked, ran and swam to raise funds for the Darkness into Light campaign. After all the Irish people have been through this year, these efforts were truly inspiring. They raised over €6 million, a tremendous amount of money. I congratulate all those volunteers who went out. I also welcome the opening of an office in Monaghan town by SOSAD. I encourage anyone who is feeling low, rega…

I welcome the Minister of State to this very important debate. I compliment my colleagues, Senators Blaney and McGreehan, for tabling the motion on behalf of Fianna Fáil. We in Fianna Fáil, like all Members, are delighted to reaffirm our total commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, which was so hard-won back on 10 April 1998. Everyone that was involved in that agreement deserves huge credit. Senator McDowell, Minister for Justice back in the day, also played his part and I acknowledge that, and everyone else who …

Now.

At 10.30 a.m. next Friday, 7 May 2021 in the Dáil Chamber.

Dr. Michael Ryan, the Irishman an executive director of the World Health Organization, WHO, said at the beginning of the pandemic when giving advice to world governments: "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." I thought about that statement many times in respect of our response to Covid-19. One example is that of rapid antigen testing, the pros and cons of which we seem to be discussing for an eternity. We eventually got around to doing a report on it and when this was compiled, it recommended that it be…

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 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794, as regards Eur…

Ba mhaith liom fáilte ar ais a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo tráthnóna. The Minister of State is very welcome back to the House this afternoon for this important debate. We in Fianna Fáil fully support Ireland's opt-in to the Europol regulation. The general objectives of this regulation, which the Minister of State outlined in his contribution, are to support and reinforce action by EU member states' law enforcement authorities and their mutual co-operation, preventing and combating serious crime and…

Next Friday.

I welcome the recent decision by An Taoiseach that there be a review of the North-South interconnector. I thank all the local authority members in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath for their efforts in trying to secure that review. I thank also the Cathaoirleach and other Members for their efforts to secure it. Following that decision, EirGrid announced its intention to place underground the Meath to Kildare line, which is approximately 50 km to 60 km in length, which we very much welcome. However, as Members can …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. We in Fianna Fáil are happy to support this Bill, which puts in place practical reforms to improve the operation of criminal trials and has been called for for some time. It provides for pretrial hearings, which will significantly enhance the trial process for sexual offences, white-collar crimes, organised crime and other complex offences. These fundamental changes will make the process easier and reduce the likelihood of juries being sent away during trials, making the court process f…

Next Friday.

Along with many other people in the country, I watched as our international soccer team went down 1-0 to Luxembourg at the weekend. It was a hugely disappointing result. I looked across the Border and our friends in the Northern Ireland soccer team are on a similar run where they cannot seem to buy a win either. It raises the question many people are asking me that perhaps now is the time for us to have a debate in this country about having an all-island soccer team just like we have in rugby and hockey. The realit…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach fosta. The Minister is welcome to the House. I thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to discuss this very important issue in the Seanad. I sincerely thank the vast majority of citizens of this country who have been doing all they possibly can. Many of them have made great sacrifices in their efforts to contain this deadly virus. Many have lost loved ones in difficult and trying circumstances. I also pay tribute to the front-line workers and all those who have…

Ba mhaith liom fáilte mhór a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach inniu. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis fosta mar go bhfuil a fhios agam go bhfuil a lán oibre á déanamh aige. I welcome the Minister to the House this morning. I thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. This morning I wish to discuss the issue of the funding of local roads, which are vitally important to everyday life in our communities. The local road network is as important to the people of rural Ireland as the M50 is to…

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. I take it from his contribution that no local authority will lose funding this year because of an underspend, which is important, and that local authorities will have the flexibility to have this work done during the summer months when the weather is good. Local road infrastructure is vitally important to local communities throughout the length and breadth of this country. While the Minister is here, I ask him to consider the will and voice of the people affected…

I have been contacted by a number of parents and students who have been impacted by the lack of broadband. These students cannot access their courses or lectures at university due to a lack of broadband or poor quality broadband. Parents scrimped and saved to pay the €3,000 fee to enable their son or daughter to attend college. Unfortunately, this did not happen due to Covid-19 and now they are having difficulty accessing lectures or other material because of poor or non-existent broadband. It is now March and stud…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach tráthnóna. I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this very important legislation. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I very much welcome the Bill which reforms personal insolvency legislation to help borrowers hit by Covid-19 and offers those borrowers whose income has been severely affected the protection of the personal insolvency Acts. The measure will also help borrowers at risk of losing their homes and that is vitally important. I am delighted the…

Ireland, like many other countries in the European Union, has been let down by the vaccination roll-out. Delays in vaccine deliveries have resulted in some people, unfortunately, having to wait longer than they should have waited to get the vaccine. While it is always important to have a plan A, it is also important to have a plan B and plan C when it comes to the uncertainty of vaccination roll-out. I propose that we call Boris Johnson and have a conversation on the potential to source a supply of vaccine from the…

At 10.30 a.m. next Friday.

I had the pleasure of tuning in to Katie Hannon's programme on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday afternoon in which she had Professor Brian MacCraith, chair of the high-level task force on Covid vaccinations, as a guest. He is a highly intelligent and unassuming individual. He has a gift that when he talks one tends to listen to what he has to say. He outlined the timetable for the vaccination roll-out in the country. I found it to be a very positive listening experience. He outlined how the HSE built the infrastructure to d…