A couple of years ago, there was talk of bringing the Seanad on tour but there is really no need because it lands in every town and village in Ireland sooner or later. I acknowledge what Senator Chambers said about the issue of women's health and Fianna Fáil's proposals in that area. I commend Fianna Fáil on its focus on that area. I might say a bit more about that tomorrow. However, I plead that the issue of women's health always be pursued in the way that brings the maximum number of people on board because it is…

She only said some decent people I noticed.

He is a hell of a man for one man.

Hopefully, it will not be a good day on Sunday week.

That was the Leader's ascension.

Well said.

Not on Report Stage.

Would the Senator take a question?

Is there a specific section into which the Senator proposes to insert that?

I have not spoken to my amendment No. 22. I do not know if the rules preclude me from doing so.

It might have been academic as to whether I had been precluded because the Minister has responded, at least in part, to a similar amendment Senator Higgins tabled. I am referring to the issue of academic freedom. Senator Higgins's similar amendment to section 8 refers to the specific issue of the academic freedom of students. I take on board what the Minister said about existing legislation that needs to be read in parallel with this legislation regarding guarantees of academic freedom. However, my amendment to sec…

I welcome the Minister of State. The fear is that if there is a failure to ensure adequate resources are made available to schools opening special classes, and if there are not proper supports, including supports from the HSE such as occupational therapy and speech and language supports, as well as psychological supports from the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, the legislation could be seen as a box-ticking exercise. Worse, it could be seen as an attempt to place blame or to be seen to be doing so…

I welcome the Minister to the House. Much of the criticism of the Government that followed this decision from the European court was around the issue that the Government seemed to have sat for a very long time on an uncomfortable reality that there had been a decision as far back as 2014 against the country in the context of the Digital Rights Ireland case. When the decision in the Graham Dwyer case was handed down by the European court those who followed that case and took a strong view of privacy rights more or l…

I echo what Senator Buttimer just said about the pre-budget briefing of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland entitled Dementia Can't Wait. I have personal reason to be very grateful for the good work that organisation does. One of the points that came across clearly today was that the work of caring, be that within families or paid care, must be valued. People must be paid a proper wage. There is a problem in some areas, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach has pointed out, in getting people to do this important work even when t…

Somewhere in the west I imagine.

Under Standing Order 62(3)(b), I propose a vote be taken by other than electronic means.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 2 be amended by the deletion of all words after "12.45 p.m." and the substitution of the following: "and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn after two hours". The reason I am proposing this will be obvious to all. It was interesting to hear Senator O'Loughlin welcoming people to the Visitors Gallery, as indeed do I, and commenting on how desirable it is that people see democracy in action, when this very day we have a Governme…

I am talking about Bills as important as the Electoral Reform Bill, to which I have one amendment and my colleagues, including the university Senators, have amendments, and the very important Higher Education Authority Bill, about which the university Senators have major concerns which are reflected in amendments we have proposed, amendments which will probably not get heard because the Government wants to ram through legislation at the end of term because it has not been doing its job properly up to now instead of…

Yes.

I would love to know what is 400 years old that we think should not be changed. Does the Senator mean the statute for fraud or something?