I move: "That Seanad Éireann: acknowledges that: - Ireland has a proud history of supporting the protection of human rights across the world, particularly in developing countries; - the free profession and practice of religion is a cornerstone of Irish society and is enshrined in our Constitution; - Ireland has maintained good diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China since 1979; - in 2019, Ireland imported some €5 billion worth of goods from China, and exported €8 billion to China; - Ireland was ele…

I finish by stating that there was tremendous pressure to withdraw the invitation to Mr. Zen, as the Chinese designated the cardinal, and Mr. Lee. I was struck by the thought that if this is what China is like now, what will it be like in 20 years?

I again thank the Minister of State. I am grateful to all of the Seanadóirí who took part in the debate today. Having listened to the Minister of State, I am very concerned. I worry that the Government's approach to this debate today and to the issue generally is one of a nod to Geneva but a wink to Beijing at the same time. There is no sign of a copy of the speech from the Minister of State today and I wonder if that is part of a Government desire not to have its words of response reported and to keep this issue a…

I will conclude on this point. I thank you for your indulgence, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. We know how important trade is. I come from a farming background myself. I do not ever want to do anything to damage Ireland's trade interests. However, sometimes other issues must take precedence. As I stated, we cannot have a Chinese wall between our trading aspirations with China and the serious human rights abuses perpetrated by it against its people. That Chinese wall is in evidence today from the Minister of State's speech. …

On the point made by Senator Chambers, I do not support the attack by the Tánaiste on NPHET recently. It was a very individualistic approach that he took, and the thought struck me that if they do business like that, perhaps they will not be doing business very long, either as a Government or in terms of the Government's relationship with NPHET. I see nothing wrong with NPHET communicating its ideas directly to the Irish people. I do not think the Government has a right to expect that it must find out everything fi…

The Cathaoirleach mentioned the departure of Michael D'Arcy from this House. I am sure we all wish him well. For the purposes of the business of the House, however, a lacuna in the ethics in public office legislation has surfaced whereby the cooling-off period provided for in section 22 of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 is unenforceable by SIPO and there is no penalty for its breach. I reviewed the Seanad debate of 2015 on this legislation. I had tabled some amendments on Committee and Report Stages but I am a…

There is no chance of that.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I support the Bill. I commend my colleague, the father of the House, Senator Norris, on persisting with this important cause. I commend Senators Boyhan and Craughwell for also sponsoring the Bill. The Bill is welcome. It has two main effects: it puts the national screening advisory committee on a statutory footing; and, in the context of that committee's work, it requires the committee to make recommendations, not about the conditions tested, but about the expansion of the conditions te…

That sounds like a First World problem.

I support fully what Senator O'Loughlin said about the need for hospice services in the midlands. I was delighted to hear her quote Dame Cicely Saunders, who made such a massive contribution to the world in developing hospice care and in her vision of hospice and end-of-life care. I ask for a rolling debate in the Seanad on palliative care services and end-of-life care. I do this in the context of the considerable media focus over recent days on Private Members' legislation which aims to create a right to assisted …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. This is my first opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment. I wish him the very best. Like Senator McDowell and others, I am supportive of the amendment and I am also supportive of this Bill. The need for an annual report speaks to the lack of transparency in terms of what has gone on. Many people have experienced considerable frustration, including: those who have invested money in forestry and made investments over a period of years who then find they are una…

In trying to please everybody we are in danger of doing our economy and our social fabric serious damage. This is not a crude debate between the economic needs of various sectors of society and environmental and social considerations. It is more involved than that. Foresters have spoken to me about needing to thin their forests but being unable to do so. This has an environmental impact. Biodiversity on the forest floor is impacted because there is less light. There is a greater risk of trees falling due to wind. I…

I welcome the Minister of State and thank the Government for what it has been doing to ensure the continuation of education, not just at third level but all levels, during this time of crisis. We are firefighting at the moment and to some degree we have put aside consideration of many of the things we would aspire to see happen while we deal with the immediate challenges but there are lessons in these days. I think about how we have been going on and one would relate to the leaving certificate and the progression t…

I would love to know if the Minister took time to discuss that with the people in NUIG yesterday because it seems very reasonable to have a mandatory requirement of signing up to a code of behaviour in the current circumstances.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal léi ina ról nua. I welcome the Bill in general terms. It addresses what has grown into a serious problem in recent years. With the very broad right of appeal that exists against the issuing of licences in this area, and felling licences, virtually anybody can challenge a decision. As a result, there is a backlog of appeals that now stands at over two years, which has knock-on effects in many areas. For example, it limits the supply of timber …

The Cathaoirleach has already disposed of Senator Mullen.

I have listened with concern from my office to what is going on here this morning. There are two issues on which I would like the Cathaoirleach to comment. There is ongoing concern among Members, myself included, about the rushing of legislation and the taking of all Stages in one day is clearly within the Cathaoirleach's understanding of what the Order of Business discussion today may entail because, as he said, it is about deciding the arrangements for taking the criminal justice Bill today. The other issue causi…

I have a specific question for the Cathaoirleach about the order and the basis for it. Mr. Martin Groves's letter to each member of the Seanad, which I only saw this morning, states that the Cathaoirleach asked him to remind Senators that this is a special sitting and that the purpose, therefore, of the Order of Business is simply to decide the arrangements. What is the Cathaoirleach's basis for telling us that the fact that this is a special sitting somehow curtails or limits the right of Senators to raise issues …

I do not see any basis in the letter we received this morning for saying that the fact that this is a special sitting should somehow curtail our discretion as to what issues to raise on the Order of Business.

Where is that-----