I am being nice.

I do not want to be at odds with Senator Sherlock because we are not at odds in any sense but let us be fair in the debate on levelling down or levelling up. Trade unions are adept at using the media to put their point across as well. I am not saying their point is wrong; I am playing devil's advocate as the Senator has talked about business interests. I have seen unions take out full-page advertisements as well to put forward their point of view so that can also be argued. We should be balanced and both sides do i…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 18, lines 39 and 40, to delete all words from and including “and” in line 39 down to and including line 40 and substitute the following: “including the rights to privacy and reputation, are protected,”. This is a straightforward amendment that I hope the Minister can accept. It is intended to strengthen the language used. It is also balancing what is set out in subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b), where subsection (2)(a) speaks to "the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution, espe…

To go back to amendment No. 10, it is important that the Minister spoke about reflecting on this. I ask that in doing so she also reflects on what was said before the Oireachtas committee last year by Mr. Ronan Costello, the senior public policy manager at Twitter, who defended the practice of anonymity. People can post what they like under made-up names. Mr. Costello insisted that how accounts behave and not their identities is what is important. That is misleading because if I attack the Minister under some made-…

I support Senator Carrigy's amendment. He and I, and, indeed, all members of the committee, have engaged extensively with many sporting organisations throughout the course of the deliberations. We have heard their experiences both positive and negative from the online sphere and they have made their contributions towards this Bill. Senator Carrigy specifically mentioned Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Mr. Larry McCarthy, who received much media attention for his address to the congress at the start of the year w…

I move amendment No. 28: In page 20, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “(4A) In performing its functions the Commission shall have regard to issues of addiction, in particular gambling, and shall have regard to policies of the Government and of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for Health, and to public bodies whose activities are concerned with those matters.”. This amendment is in a similar vein. In the legislation, there is specific reference to certain policies of t…

I am conscious that legislation pertaining to gambling is due to come before us and, as that commissioner has not yet been established, I did not want to cross over between the two issues. I accept what Senator Sherlock said but I was cognisant of avoiding that. The intention of the amendment was to include a reference in order that, when that office has been established, the online safety commissioner will work in tandem with the other commissioner.

I acknowledge what the Minister said and, therefore, I will withdraw it and reserve the right to reintroduce it.

I welcome the Minister and thank her for the details she has outlined in respect of the tourism sector. One of the phrases she used towards the end was the "tourism ecosystem". She spoke about making sure we protect and grow that. It is a great phrase. It is something that has really grown over the past 20 to 30 years. When I started out in political life back in 1999 as a young councillor, one of my first appointments was as director of Meath Tourism. Back then, the CEO, Ms Bríd O'Connell, always passionately drov…

Before I call on Senator Mullen to speak, I acknowledge and welcome to the Visitors Gallery Jarlath Fitzsimons, whose grandfather, the former Senator, Pat Fitzsimons, was a long-standing Member of this House.

I join the Acting Chairperson in extending my sympathies to our colleague, Senator Fitzpatrick, on the death of her father and our former colleague, Dr. Dermot Fitzpatrick. It is a sad time for her and all her family. Last Sunday, I was in Ennis watching the re-emergence of the great Meath football team and I thought to myself, God, the last time I was in Ennis was two years ago when the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, made his address from Blair House. I reflected on how the world has changed in that period. As I…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming to the Chamber. I ask the Minister of State to now open the debate. He has ten minutes.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to sit again?

I thank Senator Wall. It is one of those occasions where nobody is at odds with each other in the Chamber. We are all speaking with a passion about this particular problem and have done so consistently over a long period. The speakers in this room have been consistent in that. I will take the time to pay tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne. He is the first Minister or Minister of State who is prepared to take this on, grapple with it and not be afraid of those who would try to be a bully, such as …

I could park it there. When the Gold Cup and Cheltenham was over, I could park it. The Midlands Derby was the next day in Uttoxeter and I happened to see there was a horse running in it called Young Dev at 10/1. I was tempted. I can park it but there are people, part of whose brain is susceptible to that type of advertising, who cannot park it. Advertising, particularly online advertising, is the sphere we need to tackle. I support Senator Wall for his passion in this area. I support the Minister of State, Deputy J…

It looks like we are poised to host the 2028 UEFA European Football Championship alongside the UK as we will be the only bidders when submissions close tomorrow. It is great news for football fans and our economy, which will be due to net somewhere in the region of €750 million from visitor spending. It is definitely a more realistic option than going for the 2032 World Cup. Given that we missed out on hosting games in last year's deferred European championship because of Covid, it is fantastic for football fans to…

I thank the Minister of State.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?