I welcome the Minister to the House. I feel somewhat overdressed on this occasion. If it were not for Mr. Groves I would be the only creature in the Chamber wearing a tie. This is not a criticism. I welcome the news that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will remain in Cabinet for the duration of her maternity leave with her duties to be taken over by a colleague. I am glad that a means to facilitate this was found. I would, of course, welcome any constitutional or legal change that would bring about a more permanent w…

Replying for the other side of the House, as it were, I wish all the women here, all the women of the world and, indeed, all of us a happy International Women's Day. I add my few words of thanks to the women of the world and the women I know for all that they are and do. I raise the so-called zero Covid proposal for even harsher lockdown measures for the remainder of the year. A report was published recently of the international correspondence and workings of the so-called Independent Scientific Advisory Group whic…

Gabh mo leithscéal, ach an mbeadh aon seans cóip a fháil d’aitheasc an Aire Stáit?

Táim buíoch den Aire Stáit agus beidh fáilte agus fiche roimhe nuair a thagann sé.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus roimh an Aire Stáit. Is mór an tábhacht a thugann muid sa Teach seo don Ghaeilge agus do stádas na Gaeilge inár sochaí. Is coicís na Gaeilge atá i gceist anois, agus de réir a chéile tá na hócáidí seo ag dul i méid, ach guím Seachtain na Gaeilge shona ar gach duine. Déanaimís uilig iarracht an Ghaeilge a labhairt sna laethanta seo, an méid agus is féidir linn, chun cur le tábhacht na Gaeilge inár dtír agus chun borradh agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do lucht labhartha na Gaeilge, bíodh …

Is ceann de na fadhbanna atá againn sna laethanta seo ná déileáil le Covid. De réir mar a thuigim, tá ráiteas an Aire, an Teachta Catherine Martin, lasmuigh ach ní féidir é a dháileadh go dtí go dtosaíonn sí ag labhairt. Ag an am céanna, níl daoine ag teacht isteach chun scripteanna a dháileadh a thuilleadh. Chiallódh sé sin go mbeidh orainn uilig dul amach chun a ráiteas a fháil agus teacht isteach arís leis an script le linn í a bheith ag caint. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil aon bhealach timpeall air sin. Tá sé sagh…

An dtuigeann Seanadóir an pointe nuair a chuirtear an kibosh ar rud, nó an caipín bán?

The data protection regime that has grown up over the past two decades is, generally speaking, a good thing. Like State regulation of any area, it has its downsides. The nature and scope of data protection obligations are complicated, to say the least. One downside is that GDPR is often invoked to deny citizens access to information to which they are entitled. We have all encountered such cases. Ordinary people and small voluntary organisations are also not certain of their obligations. I know of more than one loca…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach agus leis an Seanadóir Keogan as ucht a cuid ama a roinnt liom. We should always try to give the Government the benefit of the doubt regarding the measures needed to fight Covid-19. We see this, however, as an example of where the credulity of the Oireachtas and the patience of the people are being stretched. It seems ridiculous that, after three waves and many thousands dead, we are only now debating a system of quarantine for incoming travellers. After all, it is exact…

The last 12 months have been very tough for charities, particularly charities that normally fundraise outdoors or at events. They have been badly hit. One thinks, for example, of the Irish Cancer Society's annual daffodil day appeal which is coming up next month. It is likely to be greatly affected. We need to do all we can to support charities and promote charitable giving at this time. At the same time, however, we need to make sure we do not forget the lessons learned in recent years about problems in charities …

O'Leary is no longer turning in his grave.

The general narrative on the change of government in the United States has been good riddance to Trump and welcoming the United States back to the civilised world. However, if one considers President Biden's recent comments on China, one has cause to be worried. He was at best incoherent and, at worst, worryingly nonchalant about the abuse of human rights and human dignity being perpetrated by the Chinese regime. Asked at a CNN town hall about what China is doing to the Uyghurs, he said: "Culturally there are diffe…

I compliment Senator Paul Daly on the points he made and on his commitment to climate awareness and sustainability. Indeed, I compliment the Senator on his choice of language where he encouraged us to beware of putting the cart before the horse. It would have been so much easier to modernise that phrase and say beware of putting the trailer before the tractor but he, quite rightly, chose the environmentally-friendly image. I agree with everything that he had to say in his speech. This is one of those debates in whi…

The Senator is one of the lucky minority.

I have given it up for Lent.

That is even worse.

Can we look forward to Château Martin in due course?

Well said.

I oppose nobody, a Chathaoirligh.

I may, of course, oppose certain ideas along the way. The announcement of the proposed arrangements for the leaving certificate this year is, it is to be hoped, a move towards certainty where there has been considerable confusion and upset. I have no doubt that some of the confusion will continue and that there will be twists and turns in the road. I am concerned about the cancellation of the junior certificate. Parents have been in touch with me to say that this announcement, made in February, will have a signific…