Having looked after children who had been in care over the years, I know of the trauma that even one night in care can cause for a child. That the Minister has disregarded the children under discussion from the remit and payment is absolutely scandalous. He is not acknowledging the trauma they face and have faced over the years. I am very disappointed that he has not agreed to acknowledge in any way the pain and suffering they went through during their time in the mother and baby homes.

I find the last comment by Senator Seery Kearney very insulting.

I am well aware who it was intended for. It is really not about the money here. It is about acknowledging the wrong that was done to the mothers and babies in those homes. The Government has chosen to put a two-tier system in place. I am sure the people who are getting money would not mind even sharing that money with those who were in the mother and baby homes for less than six months. For the Government to totally dismiss their presence and trauma is really unforgivable.

Last Monday, the Joint Committee on Health published a report on its pre-legislative scrutiny on the health and so-called safe access zones legislation. The report is not a great advertisement that the safe access zone legislation should go ahead. It seems that the committee’s job is just to grease the wheels of that process. It contains one weak recommendation on how the provisions of the Bill might be enforced in practice but the report completely ignores the elephant in the room, namely, that the proposals in th…

Before I call Senator Higgins, I welcome Lily Coyle and Ed Nicell and all the SIG staff to the Public Gallery They are welcome to the House this evening.

It is no secret in the Chamber that in my eyes the protection of children and the provision of care for them is of paramount importance. From education to safeguarding to mental health and holistic well-being, the Government's role in ensuring the children of this country are given every opportunity to grow, succeed and flourish cannot be understated. Yet it seems that every week there is another story of children in Ireland somewhere and somehow being failed by the State. This time it was revealed in a HIQA report…

Hear, hear.

I, too, want to be associated with the remarks to the ambassador, H.E. Ms Sochaska, and to Colonel Michal Sprengel on Poland's independence day. I am calling for a debate on independent journalism in this country, and this Government's attitude to it. Does the Government believe that the inconvenient truths are still truths, or that the public has a right to know these truths? Is it the Government's philosophy that oversight and accountability are outdated concepts, and that those seeking to engage in investigative…

Many, many children.

Get started. No pressure.

I welcome the guests to the Visitors Gallery. I hope you enjoy your afternoon here.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I am passionate about apprenticeships, particularly for those between the ages of 16 and 18 years. During the Covid pandemic, I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to Senator Doherty, when she was Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and to the Minister, Deputy Harris, about the issue relating to 16- to 18-year-olds on apprenticeships. They could not get a single penny from the State. If they were doing five hours per week at the local deli or pub, they got €350 per week. If they were doing a…

I call for a debate with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the non-commencement of sections 6 to 9 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014. The Act was passed by both Houses on 27 November 2014 and was signed into force on 4 December that year. As per section 1(3) of the Act, the Minister must commence certain sections, but this has not been done for sections 6 to 9, inclusive. The legislation has been in operation for 3,064 days but the commencement order has not been…

I appreciate the Acting Chairperson allowing me in to speak on this technical Bill. I thank Senators Wilson, Conway and McDowell for raising the issue of the 164-acre site at Thornton Hall. It is part of the Minister of State's constituency. It has been sitting there for the past 20 or 30 years. A significant amount of money was spent on it. It is fully serviced, with footpaths and lighting right out to it. The sightlines are protected from the public. There is no reason we cannot proceed to build that prison. Evid…

I call for a debate with the Minister for Finance about creating tax incentives for people to live in the commuter belt areas of our cities. Such tax breaks could help to stop the brain drain we are experiencing. Many young people are leaving the country because they see no future for themselves here. Teachers, healthcare workers and people in traditional middle-class professions are struggling to build a life for themselves. Now we are educating people to go abroad. Many are going to places where housing is more a…

I commend the Cathaoirleach on last Thursday's event in the Dáil Chamber. He spoke well. I congratulate also Senator Chambers in advance of Saturday, given there is still time to run. I hope she enjoys her day. I call for a debate with the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, on the steps Ireland is taking to combat the human trafficking taking place on our shores. I welcome his signalling that Ireland is to join the EU directive that will amend the anti-trafficking directive, strengthening our ability to combat th…

I second the amendment.

I think you should.

The Minister is welcome. I thought this Commencement matter would be a good opportunity for him to clear the air. The issue on the table is the allocation of €1.1 million to LGBTQ+ projects, having been diverted from schemes for the Traveller and Roma communities, migrant integration and Magdalen laundries redress. This was revealed by Deputy Tóibín through documents uncovered by a freedom of information request. The Minister’s personal request in 2021 to reallocate funding of €750,000 to the LGBT community service…