On International Women's Day, it is a sad state of affairs that 22 million women on the Continent of Europe are fleeing for their lives and those of their children at the behest of a brutal dictator. At the weekend I had the privilege of being invited to Ukraine by President Zelensky's party. I travelled with Billy Kelleher MEP to Lviv. We had an invitation to see at first hand the crisis on the other side of the border. It would be an understatement to say that the scenes there are heart wrenching. For miles, ther…

I welcome the Minister to the House, and recognise and thank him for the leadership he has shown on this particular issue on behalf of the Government and the people. Many striking issues arise from this outrageous act of barbarism perpetrated by an evil thug. One of the most striking is that we did not really see it coming. Notwithstanding the best available intelligence, the international community felt that it was a bluff. That outcome was designed and delivered through the way in which information was provided t…

I welcome the three MEPs and thank them for their presentations. Mr. Kelleher at the outset talked about the Seanad being a Chamber of non-partisan politics and that is partly true. It is also well recognised that the three MEPs among us work collectively on behalf of the Irish people and the island of Ireland when they work in the European Parliament, notwithstanding the fact that they are in different groups and come from different political backgrounds. That is one of the important things about the way in which …

I move: That Seanad Éireann: Approves the calling of two Citizens’ Assemblies to consider the following matters and to make such recommendations as it sees fit and report to the Houses of the Oireachtas: (1) a Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, with a total of 100 members, including an independent Chairperson and 99 randomly-selected members of the public, to examine how the State can improve its response to the issue of biodiversity loss, and to bring forward the threats presented by biodiversity loss and th…

It falls to me to welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for bringing forward this motion, which is in line with a commitment made in the programme for Government. It follows from a successful approach to dealing with matters that have been sensitive and often difficult to grapple with at a political level for a variety of reasons. I always had concerns about citizens' assemblies until such time as they became really important and were fruitful. I had always questioned, perhaps as an observer befo…

I might get some clarity from the Cathaoirleach before I make the point I wish to raise. Our colleague raised the issue of the unrest in Canada and requested he write to the Canadian ambassador. Before he does that, we should have a full debate in the House and let all sides of that issue be discussed. My reading of what is going on in Canada is that it is really an extension of Trumpism, whereby a certain group of far-right protestors, using Covid-19 to further a separate agenda, have intimidated journalists and r…

The Leader may be aware that the week commencing 28 February to 6 March is to be Eating Disorder Week. I raised this issue previously in the House, and I know that it is one the Leader is very familiar with. Notwithstanding that the Government set aside significant amounts of money last year and this year, there is a considerable delay in rolling out appropriate services. I believe there are only three centres in the State that deal with eating disorders and offer the kinds of therapy that people need. There is one…

I welcome the Minister. Like many others, I welcome the Government intervention in assisting people with the significant cost-of-living increase, particularly concentrated in the energy sector. The €200 benefit payment and €125 lump sum payment on the fuel allowance will not solve all the losses of people for sure, particularly those on low pay and in receipt of social welfare, will have suffered as a result of this. I need to speak out against the people who say it will make no difference. For those people I deal …

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address this matter. As she will know, Shannon Heritage is the tourism attraction division of the Shannon Group. It comprises Bunratty Castle, King John's Castle, Craggaunowen Castle and Knappogue Castle. It has the management contracts for a number of other facilities around the country. As the Minister of State will know, this business was transferred from the old Shannon Development into the Shannon Group when Shannon Airport was established as an independ…

I thank the Minister of State. I really appreciate her commitment and that of the Government to the recognition of the strategic importance of Shannon Heritage to the tourism offering of the island of Ireland. People in the mid-west are more than well aware of its importance and it is particularly pleasing to know that the same is true at the heart of Government. The Minister of State's goodwill and her positive sentiment is accepted wholeheartedly but we need her to use her good offices to support the project, whi…

In light of what appears to be cross-party consensus that we must put a little more time and effort into this, I support the principle of the suspension being proposed, taking into account what the Minister of State has said. We do not want to in any way frustrate the work she is doing. There is an effort being made by IALPA and its members, and they really have no vested interest in this other than to be assured that the passage of this legislation meets the highest possible standard. In light of events that have …

Will the Senator take a question? Is that permissible?

For clarity, the Senator talked about manipulation-----

It will only take two seconds.

The Senator said that "the business case was manipulated" and was an "effort to defraud". Are they his words, which is fine, or did I understand he was quoting the head of the Air Corps?

Okay.

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “acknowledges that:” and substitute the following: - a Government decision was taken on 27th July, 2021, to commence the formal procurement process for the next Irish Coast Guard aviation services contract in line with the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016 (Statutory Instrument No. 284/2016); - the Government decision was based on a detailed appraisal and business case undertaken in accordance with the public spending code; - on 2…

It is on the Order Paper. I very much support the Government counter-motion. The provision of an effective maritime search and rescue service is critical to Ireland as an island nation with a strong maritime sector. The sector depends on the reliability and professionalism of the Irish Coast Guard and all the component parts, including the Coast Guard aviation service, to offer a service that can deploy at a moment's notice to rescue people in distress and bring them to a place of safety. I know full well the benef…

I also wish to be associated with the expressions of condolence to the Murphy family and Ashling’s boyfriend, Ryan Casey, on what is a tragedy for all of them and their community. No words spoken here will bring any comfort to them. It is important that we mark this tragic event because it has brought about an outpouring of sympathy and grief and resolve to sort things out across the State. Much has been said in the past fortnight about violence, particularly physical and sexual violence against women. We have hear…

I also do not want to hear it said that it is not all men. Of course it is not all men who reach a point where they rape, murder or plunder the rights of women, but an awful lot of women are undermined by men every day. A culture of misogyny is endemic in our society, sadly. Whatever its origins, and we all have a fair idea of where it comes from and how it has been allowed to continue, it is there. We can expect the Government to do the devil and all, and I have no doubt that it will, but unless men take responsib…