That is why people are outside this House today.

Absolutely. Read everything that I have said about the industry.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. The purpose of this Bill is to extend the emergency provision contained in a number of pieces of emergency legislation enacted at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Without this extension, the emergency provisions would expire on 9 June 2021 and along with them the emergency powers to circumscribe the rights of individuals and impose penal sanctions on them. This legislation was enacted under the aegis of expedience given the nature of the Covid emergency. Since then, …

I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss housing, a topic that has not left the headlines for almost 14 years. How long has Ireland had a housing crisis? How long has Ireland been in its homelessness crisis? How long will it be before the Government seeks to deliver effective solutions to these problems? The Government has committed to the mission of housing for all, and this is the first problem. The mission should be homes for all, and the Bill should have a name change accordingly. A fundamental attitude c…

I am sorry. I have no more time but I believe the Minister gets my drift. I hope he acts accordingly.

I thank Senator Bacik for bringing the Bill before the House. Last year, Meghan Markle documented in an article published in The New York Times her personal experience of miscarriage. Her words have instigated an open and public discussion on the topic which truly underscores the need for the Bill. She wrote, "Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few." I agree with her comments. Women who have experienced miscarriages have often suffered in silence, witho…

I, too, welcome the Moorhead report on councillors' pay going to Cabinet this morning to be signed off. Independent Senators have done considerable work on this issue in recent years. Senators Craughwell and Boyhan have been relentless in representing councillors' needs, as have I since I became a Senator. I am delighted that the Government of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael has finally delivered for our hard-working councillors throughout this country.

I beg the indulgence of the House to discuss an initiative I started in February 2019. The Feel Good Project is a community-based initiative set up with the aim of providing support services and education to people on a range of issues, from addiction and drug use to mental health and wellness. The hub of the project is in Duleek and it provides free access to mental health and well-being programmes on Tuesday evenings. In March, I tried to broaden the reach of the Feel Good Project nationwide. The simple concept w…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

Having 40% women Senators has driven women's health into the limelight. I am very thankful that we are doing that, for once.

I thank Senator Black for continuing her work with the people of Israel. I thank the Minister of State and I will use one of his lines. Some injustices can be corrected for the world to see. I hope he does all he can.

I second Senator Boyhan's amendment.

I welcome the Minister. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí; praise the young and they will flourish. Many of us will recall this Irish saying from our schooldays. Indeed, there is great wisdom and merit in that saying. However, praise can only do so much. The youth of Ireland need support, especially as we emerge from 14 or 15 months of rolling lockdowns that have affected them severely. Fifteen months is a long time in anyone's life, particularly a child or a young person. Young people are at a crucial time of personal…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I move amendment No. 6: After the second paragraph under “calls on the Government to:” to insert the following paragraph: “- , in recognition of the detrimental impact that this pandemic has had on the psychosocial development of young people, to create an annual scheme that would give young people free access to engage in a variety of pursuits with a social dimension be they educational, sporting or recreational in nature, and that this scheme would be particularly focused on all young people in second level educa…

The repair and leasing scheme is one that seems good in principle. It provides upfront funding to property owners to perform renovations on vacant properties and, in return, the property owner agrees to lease the renovated property back to the local authority to provide social housing for 25 years. I have recently established the number of dwellings delivered by local authorities under the scheme. From 2017 until the end of 2020 the number of dwellings delivered nationally under the scheme was a mere 234 in four ye…