I convey to the Leader through the Deputy Leader my gratitude as when I raised two weeks ago the University College Cork report into a foetal medicine specialist's experience of carrying out late-term abortions in the context of children diagnosed with a fatal foetal so-called anomaly in utero , she undertook to ask the Minister to come in to discuss the matter in this House. I have not acknowledged that she did so and I am very grateful that she did. I ask that this happen as soon as possible and there would be a …

In recent times, universities have been confirming that in most, if not all cases, there will be little face-to-face teaching. Instead, they will be relying on online learning. Even that pill-sweetening phrase, "blended learning", seems to have little applicability in reality. Students are wondering why there is no corresponding reduction in the fees they are required to pay for their courses. This is especially the case considering colleges make so much of what they call the college experience when they justify th…

Should it not be "campi"?

I thank the Leader of the House, in absentia , for facilitating this debate on foot of a request I made last Wednesday when we had a motion on this topic before the House that was to be taken without debate. That followed a rather short and truncated debate at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science some weeks ago. It is important that Seanadóirí discuss these issues as they progress. The motion before us last week was on the establishment of the M…

Tá fáilte a chur roibh an Aire. The Minister is very welcome. Ireland's membership of the EU since 1973 has brought about a gradual reduction of our economic and political dependence on the UK. We ended pegging the level of the punt to the pound sterling, joined the euro currency and participate in a number of criminal justice matters which the UK opted out of, all without significant disruption. Having some clear blue water between ourselves and the UK has proven to be good for Ireland in many ways but Brexit is a…

It would be good if we had a debate in this Chamber on that last important and sensitive topic. Article 44.2.1° of the Constitution states, "Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen." Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights binds Ireland to ensure that "Everyone has the right ... either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his [one might say his or her] religion or bel…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. His personal expression of the importance of public worship for him and many other people will be appreciated by people of faith. However, he is in the unfortunate position of not being the Minister with Cabinet responsibility and having to come to this House to give a reply that does not address the core point I raised. There appears to be no constitutional justification for creating restrictions with penalties and not excluding public worship. In the Dáil, in respon…

I would like to propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I propose that No. 1 not be taken without debate and that a 45 minute debate be allowed, with the associated changes being made to the Order of Business. I am a member of the education committee, all members of which had something to say on this important issue. The future of our technological universities and their establishment is an important issue and merits Senators having an opportunity to comment on the matter. I had intended to raise the issue o…

But-----

But it does occur in-----

We have serial advisers in the present company.

I thank the Leader for the options and I am happy to withdraw my amendment on that basis.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus guím gach rath ar a chuid oibre. Some 3 million Irish people are members of credit unions at present, following in a long tradition of co-operative action within local communities. The movement started more than 60 years ago to try to free communities from the grip of moneylenders and loan sharks. Sadly, those practices and those practitioners are still with us and credit unions still act as a bulwark against them, so they deserve every possible support and encouragement from …

It would match a demand.

I was amazed by the decision of Dublin City Council a couple of nights ago in respect of a proposed development at Oscar Traynor Road. This is an area of Dublin near which I used to live. There was a plan to have 253 social homes, 172 affordable homes, 214 cost rental homes and 214 private homes on the relevant site. Councillors put a stop to that entire development by a vote of 48 to 14. The result is that not a single unit will be built on the site for at least eight years. The supposed reason for the decision is…

The Senator would need a few more Oireachtas envelopes for that.

I will be brief.

I thank the Senator. The day might come but the weather will be considerably changed in this country when it does, I suspect. An Leas-Chathaoirleach agus an Aire Stáit, fáilte romhat. When I think of this Bill, I am reminded of the story that all of us have heard many times about the old man in Connemara who is asked the way to Dublin when a motorist stops his or her car and the old man replies, "If I were you, I would not start from here at all." I say that with great respect for Senator McDowell and the former Se…

Yes, of course.

It is very helpful that the Senator brought that fact forward. Neither of us is an unqualified admirer of the Citizens' Assembly mechanism, to say the very least. What is urgently needed, if politicians are genuinely sincere about reform, and as I said last week, is that we identify a date by which the necessary reform must be carried out. We also need a committee of these Houses to consider and be tasked with coming up with a proposal that will, in my view, necessarily encompass a proposed constitutional change an…