I welcome the Minister back to the House. We in Fianna Fáil welcome the opportunity to debate this Bill and fully support the objectives behind it. This legislation represents a significant and necessary step in modernising and consolidating Garda powers, ensuring that they are exercised within a clear, coherent and constitutionally sound statutory framework. It responds directly to recent judgments handed down by the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union that highlighted shortcomings in the …

Next Tuesday.

Tomorrow morning at 9.30 a.m.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo inniu. I thank her for taking time out of her schedule to be here. The topic I want to discuss is one I know is close to the Minister's own heart, namely, the interim special school in County Monaghan. I know that the Minister of State kindly gave up her time last week to visit that school and a number of others. The visit went down a treat so I thank her for her time there. As the Minister is aware, the parents of County Monaghan have been campaigning for a number of…

I thank the Minister for her response and concur with her 100%. There was a very warm feeling from her visit last week. Every time I go into or come out of that school, I feel good because, as the Minister herself said, speaking to parents and hearing how the opening of that school has transformed their lives completely is a hugely positive thing. I commend everyone involved in getting this open. We look forward to the expansion to the rear, which will potentially consist of six modular units. In tandem with that, …

I second the motion. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo inniu. Like Senator Wilson, this is the first opportunity I have had to converse with her in the Chamber and I wish her well in her new role. I take this opportunity to thank the men and women of the Defence Forces for their excellent service to the country at home and abroad. They do us proud every time they put on their uniforms and we are deeply indebted to them and their families for their service to the State. It is fair to say the Minister h…

It is not agreed.

A Leas-Chathaoirleach, I am happy to withdraw.

Hear, hear.

I lend my voice and support to those involved in the campaign in relation to dog attacks on sheep. As we know, the lambing season is just beginning and is a very busy time for farmers. Unfortunately, the incidence of attacks on livestock is on the increase. Last year, 2025, there was a 4% increase on the 2024 figure. There were some 287 attacks by dogs that involved almost 2,100 animals, and two thirds of those, some 1,600, were sheep. It is a very traumatic experience for the farmers involved, not just from a fina…

Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit ar ais chuig an Teach seo ar maidin. The Minister of State is welcome back to the Chamber this morning. I thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I would like to discuss the chronic need for additional funding for local and regional roads in counties Cavan and Monaghan. This is despite the fact that last year record funding in excess of €19 million was allocated to County Cavan and over €18 million was allocated to County Monaghan. That was a €1.75 million increa…

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. As I said, the council conducted a survey recently on the quality of the roads in County Monaghan and 24% were found to be in the worst possible category. This clearly proves that there is a chronic need for additional funding for local and regional roads. That report is with the Department and I also mentioned it to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I hope the Minister of State will convey to the Minister that there is a chronic need in both Monaghan and Ca…

Today, my thoughts are with the family of the late Columba McVeigh as they will spend yet another Christmas without locating the remains of their beloved Columba. I was saddened yesterday to learn the search that had been taking place on the top of Bragan Mountain in County Monaghan had been stood down, unfortunately without a positive result. Columba McVeigh was 19 years of age when he was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA. Over 50 years have gone by now and the family still longs to find the remai…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach agus cuirim fáilte ar ais arís eile go dtí an Teach seo tráthnóna roimh an Aire. I thank the Minister sincerely for his efforts in relation to his attendance in the Chamber. It is appreciated by all the Members. He is giving his time freely and it is appreciated. To conclude my contribution and following on from the contributions of my two learned colleagues to my left, the whole area of social media seems to be in many ways a bit of a runaway train at the moment. We are tryi…

The vacant property grant has been a hugely successful initiative introduced by the Government. To date, over €230 million has been paid out nationally with over 15,500 applications. It has been a huge success and I think most people would agree with that because it is tackling two issues: dereliction, which is a blight on our landscape, and, in bringing down dereliction, creating a home for a person going forward. That is what we all want and we need much more of it. I welcome today's announcement of the grant for…

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 Council Decision authorising Member States to sign, in the interest of the European Union, the Third Addit…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. The Minister is very welcome. I acknowledge his commitment to this House. He has been very attentive to all debates in the House, which is very much appreciated by me and other colleagues in the Chamber. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I am happy to support the protocol as outlined by the Minister. As he stated, it relates to a proposal for mutual legal assistance on criminal matters. It is vital that we have co-operation and the sharing of information and that it is done legally wi…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach. I welcome him back to his old stomping ground and thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I wish to raise a very important issue with him. A striking feature of our towns, villages, sporting grounds and other facilities all over the country in the past few years has been the growth in the provision of automated external defibrillators, AEDs, by local communities. Communities understand the value and importance of the availability of defibrilla…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I commend the Irish Heart Foundation on the work it does. This is a proposal that has come from it. As the Minister of State outlined in his contribution, it would seem to make perfect sense. I welcome the fact that we are looking at this within the next year or so with a view to bringing it into the driver theory test in this country. That is a sensible and welcome development. As the Minister of State outlined, it is about having the knowledge in your …

Thursday in County Monaghan is known as "standard day". The standard being referred to is The Northern Standard newspaper, which has been in circulation in County Monaghan since 1839 when it was founded by a gentleman by the name of Arthur Wellington Holmes. It is with great sadness that I bring the news to the House this morning that, after 186 years, next Thursday will be the last edition of The Northern Standard in County Monaghan. That will cause great sadness and regret to many households throughout the length…