Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit and his team. I have been asked to put forward amendments to amendment No. 13c on behalf of Senators Ruane and Higgins. When this legislation passed through the House in 2019, my colleague, Senator Higgins, raised the intergenerational issue of turbary rights. I acknowledged that the then Minister of State, Senator Kyne, accepted an amendment from her, which required that the Minister would lay a report before both Houses containing guidelines and recommended thresholds for the e…

I move amendment No. 1 to consequential Dáil amendment No. 13c: To delete paragraph (a) and substitute the following: "(a) The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall, within twelve months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas containing guidelines and recommended thresholds in relation to the exercise of turbary rights including a definition, or definitions, of "household use".".

I move amendment No. 2 to consequential Dáil amendment No. 13c: In paragraph (a), to delete "12 months of the coming into operation of this section" and substitute "12 months of the passing of this Act".

I move amendment No. 3 to consequential Dáil amendment No. 13c: In paragraph (a), after "report", to insert ", including guidelines and recommended thresholds, and".

I move amendment No. 4 to consequential Dáil amendment No. 13c: In paragraph (a), after "report", to insert ", including guidelines and recommended thresholds, and analysis of data collated".

I move amendment No. 5 to consequential Dáil amendment No. 13c:

On behalf of Senators Ruane and Higgins, I have been asked to move amendments to the consequential amendment No. 14c8. We have some concerns about the wording used in amendment No. 14c8 and are a little unclear as to what is intended. Amendment No. 1 seeks to delete the phrase "as the Minister considers necessary from subsection (5)(b) as it caveats the provision that a review conducted under paragraph (a) shall include designated blanket bog natural heritage areas and other blanket bog natural heritage areas with …

I move amendment No. 1: In subsection (5)(b), to delete “as the Minister considers necessary”.

I move amendment No. 2: To delete subsection (6).

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am sharing time with Senator Boyhan. I will speak for 12 minutes and he will speak for four minutes. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for coming before the House this evening. I want to introduce to the House the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023. I arrived in this House just over a year ago and in my maiden speech said that I had three objectives here, the first of which was to make friends amongst all parties and none. My second obj…

It is cynical. It is hypocritical. You know what? It is consistent. I say this because Eoghan has been on a waiting list for years. Tens of thousands of children and young adults have been on waiting lists. What the Government is doing with this Bill is putting it on a waiting list. If nothing, the Government is consistent. I therefore ask in relation to that amendment that we have a free vote and for the whip to not be applied, so that people can vote with their consciences. I sit on the disability matters committ…

I thank the Senator.

It is shameful. Do not do this.

I thank the Minister of State for her comments. Before I conclude, I thank all of my colleagues from the Civic Engagement Group, the Seanad Independent Group, the Labour Party, Sinn Féin and the Green Party who support my Bill. To echo Senator Ruane, I am an independent Senator and it is very difficult for me to secure time for a Private Members' Bill. To push this back for a year is an unnecessary and cruel action. I echo Senator McDowell's statement that this is purely an attempt to kill this Bill. The contents o…

It is designed purely to kill the Bill. It flows from a systemic thinking that a good idea can only come from the Government benches. It is not being accepted because I sit on this side of the House. The Minister of State knows where I am coming from and the journey we have undertaken. I spent 20 years outside those gates holding up placards and made three attempts to get into this House. I have produced a Bill that would simply bring us into line with other civilised countries in the European Union and the Ministe…

Next Tuesday.

I beg the pardon of the Cathaoirleach and Senator O'Loughlin.

I apologise but I was just dealing with an urgent message. I wish to raise the case of Captain Dr. Lisa McNamee. She is a young female medic in the Defence Forces. She was commissioned in good faith in 2017 to complete a special military medicine training scheme. It is part of the overall GP training scheme. She entered that scheme, as did other doctors, in good faith. The training promised by the Defence Forces has not taken place. She is being told that if she wishes to leave the Defence Forces she must pay €90,0…

This is discouraging other young doctors from joining. It is essential for our Defence Forces to have medical personnel out in places such as Syria and Lebanon. I have asked for a meeting with the Minister and a debate on this issue. I have also asked the Minister to come to the House. Can we have a debate on this matter? I feel this woman is being targeted. Given everything we know about this organisation, can we please do something for this young woman?

Welcome home. Fáilte abhaile. When I think of diversity and inclusion, I always think of liberty and freedom. The first shots for liberty and freedom were fired in the Battles of Lexington and Concord in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. In fact, almost 50% of the continental army of the United States in the Revolutionary War were Irish emigrants. In the field, many of them spoke Irish. It prompted Lord Mountjoy to remark when he went home with his tail between his legs - sorry to our British friends - that Americ…