That is fine. However, if the woke agenda is not about crushing the right to peaceful protest, it is not about anything.

These amendments are about securing the right to peaceful protest on a life and death issue. Many people who do not share my views on abortion, and are closer to what is the Minister's public view at least that it is nothing to be regretted, and nothing to be described as being better if it were rare, have a problem with the legislation because they are at least democrats. They would say that they are not on board with peaceful people, even if they are men, being targeted by the Garda. That is not just because gard…

I will conclude on that. The reason I quoted Pastor Niemöller was because he pointed out that when we do not speak up for other people's rights, even the rights of those we disagree with, sooner or later, the protections we ourselves need are gone. As I said, those who do not share my concerns around the substantive issue here should reflect on what they are supporting here today, which is an attack on peaceful protest, as the Minister admitted.

On a point of order, I did not so describe the Minister. I said his behaviour would have been compatible with such regimes, which is true.

Vótáil.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, lines 12 and 13, to delete “, within that 100 metres”.

Vótáil.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(3) Nothing in section 2(2) shall prohibit a person from engaging in debate or lawful protest, advocacy or dissent on premises occupied by a designated institution of higher education, provided such debate, protest, advocacy or dissent is not directed at a specific relevant healthcare premises or persons accessing a relevant healthcare premises.”.

This amendment provides that in page 6 and between lines 15 and 16, the following words be inserted: "Nothing in section 2(2) shall prohibit a person from engaging in debate or lawful protest, advocacy or dissent on premises occupied by a designated institution of higher education, provided such debate, protest, advocacy or dissent is not directed at a specific relevant healthcare premises or persons accessing a relevant healthcare premises.” It should seem obvious to everybody that if there is one place where ther…

No doubt of it. Thank you. All I know is when the Order of Business is decided, it is decided at the behest of the Government because the Government has the majority of seats in here. I am not saying there is anything procedurally-----

I just want to reply to what you are saying there because I am not suggesting there was any procedural incorrectness. The incorrectness-----

The incorrectness of the guillotine is that it is antidemocratic in that it seeks to foreclose debate before amendments have been properly discussed or in some cases even voted on. I am simply-----

Thank you. It was you who pointed this out to me. I did not need to be reminded that this was procedurally in order. I never claimed otherwise. What I am saying is that it is undemocratic to pursue this and all the more ironic when what we are talking about here is crushing dissent against legislation and policy which involve the destruction of innocent life. That was my only point. The Minister also saw fit earlier to suggest there was some kind of a dark irony because some people who were against freedoms were no…

Yes.

Vótáil.

It is a sad piece of legislation, following many others sad pieces of legislation. We live in a country where many older people and people with vulnerable healthcare situations are worried about having to go to hospital. They are worried about what will happen to them if they go to hospital and are worried about the fact this Government is unable to manage our healthcare system properly despite the relative wealth and strength of our State. The Minister has got an easy win for himself by caving in to an activist gr…

I join in the tributes and words of sympathy to the Dowling family. We should not be surprised that it is an onerous task to be a Senator on the Labour Panel. It is certainly a laborious task anyway. I make the point to the Ceannaire Gníomhach, Senator Seery Kearney, that it is about ten months since the scandal of the secret payments at RTÉ emerged, causing the State broadcaster to take a massive credibility hit. It was a serious scandal, with Oireachtas inquiries bringing to light the corruption, hubris, sense of…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I do not intend to take up the full ten minutes allocated to me. There are just a few issues that I want to raise with the Minister. He has already addressed several of the matters I had hoped to raise. I do not know if the Minister has had a chance, in this House or elsewhere, to acknowledge the very tragic passing of Paddy Dunican, the manager of Kilbeggan racecourse. It is appropriate that I raise this matter here in the presence of Senator Daly as well. I am sure the Minister, given…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and welcome the Minister back to the House. In drafting these amendments, we have been mindful that it is not always clear what is and is not caught by this or any Bill. I am open to the argument, though I do not think the Minister has made it, that the Bill does not explicitly criminalise silent prayer. However, given the breadth of section 2(2), considered in conjunction with section 1, subsections (2), (5), (6), and (7), it seems possible that silent prayer is criminalised if one can te…

Unless the Minister engages I will leave the O'Shea report for another day and will not speak about last night's documentary. I have already made my position on the documentary and on RTÉ's behaviour with it known at an earlier stage today in the House. Suffice it to say that I think the many flaws in Ms O'Shea's knowledge were clearly exposed at the committee, not least in her apparently being unaware of the fact that some countries have a mandatory waiting period. My friend and colleague Senator-Clifford Lee real…