I welcome this morning's news that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has announced that the Seanad by-election will take place and that 11 February 2022 is the date by which nominations must be received. This is good news. It was officially announced this morning. We must always welcome elections. I wish all of the people who have been considering standing for election for a long time the best of luck. It will, no doubt, be a challenging and an exciting election. It wi…

I did not make the announcement as such. I just passed on what I heard.

I will pass on that one.

I welcome the Minister for Justice to the House and she has ten minutes initially.

I thank the Minister. There was a lot to get through there.

Before I call the next speaker, I must flag that we agreed during the Order of Business that we would adjourn this debate at 2 p.m. There are three more speakers and I am conscious of the need to let everyone contribute. I am sure the Minister would like to add a few words to wind up. I call Senator Martin but ask him to be conscious of time.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

In line with the Order of the House for today, we must be conscious that this Bill must conclude at 3 p.m.

I thank the Minister for taking this debate. In preparing a few words for today, I want to open with a quote from someone I much admire, a former abbot general of Glenstal Abbey, Mark Patrick Hederman. I think it is apt and appropriate for today's debate. He states: When we as citizens have courage, that does not mean we have the means. But it does mean that we can stand up for ourselves. And then the Government have to follow on. I don't think the Government does anything really creatively, until they have to do i…

I raise a substantial report that was produced in 2017, Finite Lives, by the then Senator, Marie-Louise O'Donnell. It was a substantial body of work, supported by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and its launch was one of his final farewells. It was his largest gathering in the House, with many people packed into the Chamber. The report, which was extensive, examined dying, death, bereavement, the challenges in that context and the need for a major conversation on the subject. I was reminded of the report in the cont…

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the Minister of State. I understand the motivations of the proposer and seconder of this Bill, but I have reservations about it. As I understand it, the Bill seeks "to empower local authorities to authorise the installation and operation of surveillance devices for the purposes of deterring, preventing, detecting and prosecuting certain offences, to provide for exchange of certain data from third party data controllers to local authorities for the purposes of the performance of their functions in relation…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have always said this Government will be very much judged on its track record and delivery in health and housing. I think we all know that. I will focus on one simple measure concerning health. It is in response to an email every Deputy, Senator and Minister received from the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, NAI, as part of its campaign for 100 extra nurses in neurology. Patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment and I think the Minister of State and I…

With all due respect, I fully appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is taking the matter for the Minister for Health. The reality is that we have to look at what is on the ground. Today, I have called out ten hospitals individually. We were told what was recommended and what is the current status. The reality is that currently there are 41.5 nurse specialists in those ten hospitals when the recommendation is that there would be 142. The simple ask by this association is for 100 nurses. We can have…

I welcome the Minister to the House and join others in acknowledging the significant communications campaign he undertook. It was unusual in that the Minister took the time to tour marts, when he could and when it was safe to do so. I attended two marts and to see the Minister in the ring, not selling animals but selling policies, was really good. It was a real hands-on approach to engagement and it was appreciated. Those who know about cattle dealing and cattle marts are the heart of politics, agricultural languag…

I wish all Members well in their important work as they embark on another term in the Houses. The Order of Business gives us as Senators an opportunity to raise issues with the Leader. I am conscious that one of the strongest roles we have here in addition to legislating is advocacy. I have always said one of the great powers we have is to shine a light in dark places, speak for the voiceless and bring the concerns of people and the nation in through the Leinster House gates. I focus today on the Irish Thalidomide …

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for selecting this most important matter. I would also like to welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the House and thank him for his presence. It indicates his absolute commitment to agriculture, horticulture and the potato sector that he has come here to respond to this Commencement matter. Part of the context for raising this question is that I am a member of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as the Minister is aware. We have had some d…

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply and look forward to considering it in great detail. He is right that there is enormous potential. In any crisis there are opportunities and, therefore, we must focus in on them. I hear what he says clearly about the strict plant health regulation requirements, and that is very important. I also hear what he says about exports. The industry has to lead here. My final call to the Minister is that, conscious of the area involved and its importance and significance to t…