The Government-mandated lockdown restrictions are causing immeasurable harm to the most vulnerable in this country. Sadly there has been a dramatic upsurge in the incidence of domestic violence. At the height of the previous lockdown, Women's Aid responded to a 43% increase in calls from women who were trapped with abusers at home. Women's Aid expects that it will be responding to thousands more pleas for help from victims over the course of the current lockdown. Figures released today by Safe Ireland show that alm…

I have been in this House for eight months and this is the first opportunity I have had to talk to the Minister regarding Covid-19. I welcome him here to listen to our submissions regarding the Government's response to Covid-19 and the level 5 restrictions. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have died of Covid-19 and as a result of Covid-19. I appreciate that it is always hard to lose a loved one or a relative regardless of the cause or circumstances. The suffering of those bereaved dur…

I will also support the amendment to the legislation. The Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 was signed into law by the President on 11 September 2020. That date of September 11 - or 9-11 - struck me as somewhat ironic. This country and its people are being ruined and reduced to ground zero by the incompetence of this Government in managing the pandemic by means of effective policies. Untold damage is being done to the health and wealth of the people. Despite the Government advocating a livin…

Considerable attention has been given recently by the Oireachtas and the media to the ways in which the State has failed the women of Ireland. From that litany of failures, two examples include the suffering of women as a result of inadequacies in the provision of healthcare, such as the continuing CervicalCheck controversy, and the failure of this State to prevent the abuse of women in mother and baby homes. On the issue of maternity care, I would like to know from the Minister of Health what concrete progress has…

The Minister is welcome to the House. I wish him well in his portfolio. He has taken on the role with gusto. I believe he will make changes to affordable and social housing and I have great confidence in him. I will support the Bill and a number of the proposed amendments. While it gives certainty to those who are renting and bans evictions, my main concern is the ten-day grace period, which is simply not sufficient as we approach Christmas. Many families are very fearful as we face into the level 5 restrictions. S…

I welcome the redaction part of the legislation that the Minister has taken up from Senators Boyhan and McDowell. What happens to the data of an individual who gave a testimony to the confidential committee and is now deceased? Does any individual named in that testimony have access to that data? Are such individuals contacted? How will the victims be contacted for opting in and opting out, and the sensitivity around that?

There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice. I oppose this Bill, both its spirit and letter. I also oppose the way that it and other measures such as the extension of the sunset clause for Part 3 of the Health Act 2020 and other draconian legislation which underpins this Bill are being railroaded through the Oireachtas with little or no time for pre-legislative scrutiny or debate on amendments. Speaking as an Independent Senator, without access t…

The Dáil is still sitting.

I second that proposal.

I second Senator Boyhan's amendment. I am not sure whether we can call the Taoiseach and Tánaiste into this House. It has never been done by any Senator here before. I would like to call them in to account for their chaotic mismanagement of this crisis and to give reasons, backed up with solid evidence, why we are ignoring smarter strategies as we face into level 5 restrictions. This nation is in shock this morning. We are in level 5 again. We are yo-yoing in and out of lockdowns. We, as politicians, have failed wi…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

Thank you. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I strongly object to the extension of the Act conferring power on the Minister to impose lockdown restrictions on the nation from this day until 9 June 2021, as set out in Part 3 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020. These repressive measures have been railroaded through both Houses without adequate time for debate and scrutiny as to whether they are actually necessary and proportionate. As t…

I want to bring to the attention of the House that this is Tusla National Fostering Week 2020. I implore any parents who may have a space in their home to consider fostering. I raise the issue of the EU's flight travel policy that was voted on this week and that will be voted on by our Government on Tuesday. We are closed for business. We need a debate with the Minister with responsibility for tourism and the Minister for Transport, so they can tell us what they will do to reopen our economy. Foreign direct investm…

Sorry, I cannot use that word. I beg the Cathaoirleach's pardon.

Please forgive me. We are taking up valuable time.

We do not want to be a pimple on the posterior of Europe.

Is the Cathaoirleach saying that I am unladylike?

Thank you kindly.

Oh my goodness. I have run out of time.