It was not a senior moment that caused him to go over time, either.

I wish everybody a very happy St. Brigid's Day. I have great sympathy with Ciarán Mac Guill, scoláire agus fear Gaelach, writing from France in The Irish Times during the week. He writes that until now, St. Brigid's feast day has been an authentic, community celebration of the historical Brigid, a fifth century abbess who founded monasteries and contributed enormously to the growth of the early Irish church. He says that it is paradoxical that brave new secular and politically correct Ireland should indulge in the …

There is a disrespect to the historical St. Brigid whereby myths and legends that would compete with and contradict her holiness and spirituality are propounded. We should focus very much on the historical St. Brigid. At some point, I would like a debate on media coverage of migration issues. I wonder whether such coverage is making the tense situation in parts of our country better or worse. There are many unanswered questions, no matter how one looks at it, about the terrifying report in The Irish Times at the we…

Comhghairdeas.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I was not here yesterday, but I wish you well as you start out. I also wish the Leader well and offer my congratulations on her good news. I also welcome our Turkish delegation. On St. Stephen's Day I read on the front page of The Irish Times that 95% of parents whose babies are diagnosed with Down's syndrome at the Rotunda Hospital choose to have an abortion. That was according to the master of the hospital, Professor Fergal Malone. He went on to say: The reality is the v…

I would like to make a contribution but I do not want to do so under false pretences. I do not propose to propose anybody.

I thank the Acting Chair. I have a few thoughts I would like to offer. I would very much like to start by saying how glad I am to see Senator Norris here today. I know I speak for everybody on that much. When I go home at weekends I go through Ballinasloe sometimes. A long way out from Ahascragh there is a place called the Horse Block. There is a reflector sign there to tell people there is a T-junction and they see it at long way before they get there. I think about the Horse Block when I am walking in the directi…

It is great to see Senator Norris in the flesh as well as on the wall. I was approached some time ago by Senator Buttimer who asked me whether I would support him. I said I would be delighted to do so. It is not that I think my views are particularly special but I want to make several important points and I would be grateful for the attention of the House to allow me to do so. I agree with Senator Buttimer on many important things. I disagree with him on many important things. I suspect that on some of those import…

I will, and I have made my point on that. I thought it was a useful point but people will make their judgments on it. All that being said, I learned in recent times that my friend Senator Boyhan intended to put his name forward. I agree with everything he has said. It is important we have elections. It is important and desirable for us to have a secret ballot for the election of the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann. It would be a very good thing if, in the near future, we had an Independent in the Chair of Seanad Éi…

The Senator has led the way on that. The second thing is equally important. Only this week, we heard a report of how judges had said the Legislature had waited for too long, left it for too long or failed for too long to legislate. I have wondered why our judges are making judgments on what the Legislature seeks to do. There is supposed to be a separation of powers. However, the point is that the Judiciary does not control what we as legislators do and, therefore, it is no great harm for judges to say what they do …

We had a debate recently on nursing home care, to which I contributed. I would like us to continue that debate on the care of older people in nursing homes and home care settings early in the new year. Yesterday, the Oireachtas Life and Dignity Group welcomed Trinity College Dublin's Professor of Medical Gerontology, Desmond O'Neill. Many people will remember Professor O'Neill for his excellent work on the Leas Cross report and his continued advocacy for the need to respect the dignity of older persons, particularl…

My words will be brief, following on from the excellent and well-deserved tributes from my colleagues, Senators McGahon and O'Sullivan. I would also like, on behalf of my group, and personally, to extend my sympathies to Aileen and all the family. I, too, had the privilege of serving alongside Terry during that term from 2011 to 2016. In rising to pay tribute to a person whom I got to like very much, I am also paying tribute to him on behalf of another family member who served during that term, my first cousin, for…

Go raibh míle maith agat agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State although it has to be said that the issue I am raising today has nothing to do with international road transport and logistics or with postal policy and Eircodes. That is not to take from the Minister of State's very fine contribution as a politician and as a Minister of State. However, I requested that we postpone this until such time as there was a Minister from the actual Department dealing with the matter available …

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. What is going on is that the Government is driven by the advice promoted by campaigning groups that prioritise ease of access over various threats to women's health and well-being. I mentioned the issue of safeguarding, but the physical risks to women's health associated with telemedicine abortion should be also addressed. If no physical consultation takes place and a women self-reports the gestational age of her pregnancy incorrectly and the stage of pregnancy is undere…

My amendment is in this group but I am happy to wait for the Minister's response.

I am happy to wait if I am allowed to come in afterwards.

I welcome the Minister. I thank him for his engagement, and that of his officials, with me and other Senators, which arose out of concerns I raised on Committee Stage regarding a number of issues, including the one that is the subject of this amendment. It is fair to say that the Minister and I both clarified our thinking, to judge by the difference between the language in the Bill on Committee Stage and today. I also thank him for having his officials write to me with a summary of the discussion we had when we met…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 64, lines 27 and 28, to delete “her pregnancy” and substitute “the unborn child”.

We will check the record to see whether Senator Dooley has said it about anybody else.

Maybe Senator Dooley will be there.