I thank the Minister of State and the Senator.

I warmly welcome the people seated in both of the Galleries of this House because this legislation is about them, their families, their past, their lives and their circumstances. We all need and require our identity and it is very important to each one of us. As I have told this House before, I am one of seven children and I originally come from the lovely Grangecon, County Wicklow, and the borders of Athy, County Kildare. Through no circumstance of either of my parents, my siblings and I were all brought up in car…

I thank colleagues and thank the Cathaoirleach for his words there. I call on Senator McGreehan to speak.

I thank the Senator.

I would like to touch on what Senator Byrne initially spoke about regarding Ukraine. I wish the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle well. I understand they will be travelling to Ukraine on Monday. It is a great day for both our Houses that the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle’s counterparts in Ukraine are extending an invitation to them. I wish them a safe journey. I hope it will be a successful trip. I hope they will bring our good wishes. More important, I hope they will bring back some messages to us. I w…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 9, after line 40, to insert the following: “ Legislation for a new regulator of the Maritime Casualty Investigation Board 16. The Minister shall, within 9 months of the passing of this Act, bring a report on the feasibility to provide for the establishment of a regulator for the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. The regulator will, if deemed agreeable by the Minister be responsible for ensuring that appointments to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board are appropriate, fair and …

I want to thank my colleague, Senator Buttimer, for seconding this amendment. It is very helpful and it allows us to get our debate under way quickly. I want to acknowledge and thank him for that. I want to also welcome the Minister. I do not want to rehash too much here today. To be fair, we have had a good debate. I want to acknowledge the Minister’s staff who are here as well. This is a very specialised area. I have looked at the reports on the marine casualties Bill as well as issues around marine casualties an…

I thank the Minister and Senators for their contributions. I hear what the Minister says. The easy option is not to reject the Minister's non-acceptance of the amendment and to call a vote, but that is politics. We have enough of that going on here. Let us use this House in a constructive way. The key words in the Minister's statement were that the proposed amendment "pre-empts further legislation". He also said that in regard to the regulator it might not be appropriate, but that he had not teased out that matter …

Hear, hear.

I accept that.

I welcome the Minister to the House. This Commencement Matter relates to the Government's mother and baby institutions payment scheme. I acknowledge the Minister's commitment since coming into office. This has not been an easy issue to deal with as it is complex and diverse, with many strands to it. There are many stakeholders involved, with the lives of many individuals and those of their children, families and guardians affected, and there are a range of dynamics at play relating to this very sensitive and diffic…

I thank the Minister for that informative response. I will comment on three elements. Regarding the eligibility of those applicants who are overseas and outside the State, it is likely that many of them may be living in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and places like that. It is critically important that this message regarding eligibility is disseminated and that to do so we tap into our connections with the diaspora, as well as making contact through our embassy. We have an amazing network of Irish suppo…

One issue I will raise is the sow for Ukraine initiative that came out with the packets of seeds one will see available around this place in the coming days and in every SuperValu and Centra in the entire country over the coming days. SuperValu and Centra are sponsors and have bought into the sow for Ukraine sunflower seed initiative. This is an initiative by people, including Ukrainian people. It is a community initiative from Tullow in County Carlow. Some people think Tullow is in County Wicklow but it is actuall…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for inviting His Excellency, the ambassador of the Netherlands, to the Chamber today. It was fitting and I thank the Cathaoirleach for his remarks to the ambassador, which I clearly enjoyed. It is a wonderful country. As I was listening, I remembered being in the Netherlands picking bulbs at the age of 16 or 17. Many of us went there to pick bulbs. It was a good opportunity for students from Ireland. It is a wonderful country and I am delighted that the Cathaoirleach invited the ambassador…

Before we proceed, I welcome the visitors in the Visitors Gallery. I thank them for their visit to Leinster House and hope they have had a good day here.

Is it possible to speak on that amendment?

There is scope in amendment No. 2 to discuss all that.

I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, after line 40, to insert the following: “Report on Reforms to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board 16. The Minister shall, within 2 years of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, a report detailing the implementation of reforms to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board.”. I will speak on the amendment now and I will speak on the section later. First, I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, D…

That is somewhat disappointing considering all of the commentary of the Minister of State to date. She said that she acknowledged the need for a new mechanism for appointing members of the board of the MCIB. Can she tell me what progress has been made since she made that statement? The Clinch and Lacey reports have done us a service. There is a fear in Government and in the Department about publishing those reports. The Minister of State did not address that, or is perhaps not in a position to do so. I appreciate t…

I want to conclude my commentary on this amendment. I thank Senator David Norris for co-signing it. We had a good debate and a good exchange. I am not on the committee, although I did have engagements with some of the members of the committee as a result of looking at the Dáil transcript and reading the transcript of the committee. All of the contacts that I received were external. They were from people involved in the maritime area of concern, either in business in the maritime area or representing maritime commun…