To wrap up, I think this section is a flaw. As the Tánaiste said on his previous visit to the House a year or two ago, the Seanad exists to tidy up, improve and polish legislation. That is all we are trying to do. The Minister has a job to do, as do I. I am nailing my colours to the mast. This section is flawed and it will unwind and bring down the legislation. The Minister should remember I told him so.

Hear, hear.

I agree with Senator Higgins in this regard. She mentioned possible flexibility around whether the time specified in amendment No. 41 would be 12 or 18 months. Let us say it will be 18 months for the provisions of amendments Nos. 40 and 41. I genuinely hope that the Minister will be in this role in 18 months' time and that he will be coming back here to tell us about his great successes and achievements in this regard. I mean that sincerely. I look forward to seeing what will have happened in 18 months. Hopefully, …

I thank the Deputy Leader for outlining the proposed Order of Business. My apologies for being delayed coming to the House. I know the Cathaoirleach, too, ran up the stairs. I do not think any Senator has delayed the start of the Seanad by ten minutes. I have just come from an amazing event. I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and the Leader of the Seanad for presiding over the joyous and exciting unveiling of a portrait of Senator David Norris, our esteemed colleague. The Senator was very gracious and t…

I second that.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and I will be brief. I welcome this afternoon the publication of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine report on the Irish horse racing industry. It is an extraordinarily interesting report and I am one of a number of members on the joint Oireachtas committee. The report has 11 strong recommendations dealing with doping, drug tracing in horses, corporate governance issues and also the composition of a board. Given the very significant amount of public funds that go into t…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House to discuss the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People programme and assessments of needs.

I thank the Minister of State very much for her honest and refreshing approach in her statement. It is refreshing to see someone of her calibre come to the House to share that information with us.

The next speaker is Senator Warfield. He will be followed by Senators Conway and Kyne who will share time.

Senator Conway proposes to share with Senator Kyne. Is that agreed to? Agreed. They will be followed by Senator O'Loughlin.

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his opening statement on the Bill. I thank his Department and the officials in the civil justice legislation division of the Department for the very comprehensive briefing note provided. It is very helpful. As previous speakers have stated, it is a complex issue on which we need to tread softly and carefully. The Minister of State mentioned the issue of the legal cliff edge on 30 November, of which all present are aware. The Minister of State referred to legal uncer…

I welcome the Minister of State. This issue relates to homelessness and young people. If the various controversies relating to homelessness in the past few months - and I do not intend to go into them here - have taught us anything, it is that we need to be constantly vigilant to ensure that those experiencing homelessness are given all the supports they need, that there is no exploitation of them or their vulnerabilities and that the necessary protections, including legislative protection, Government protection an…

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply. I will reflect on it and perhaps come back to the Department later. The reply has confirmed that we have 2,344 children who are homeless. That is too many. I know the Minister of State knows that. It is desperate that 2,344 of our children are in emergency accommodation. It goes back to the long-term plan and the strategies being worked on, and I acknowledge and accept that. However, we have to be continually vigilant and ensure the protection and safety o…

I will be brief and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for facilitating me. I want to share several points with Members today. I thank the people who engaged in a very constructive and interesting debate although we did not get the outcome we sought. There has been huge interest in it and I hope we will have another opportunity at another time to engage on it. It was a very interesting debate. If I represented people on a Luas line, a train line or any other form of public transport, I would be very concerned. We exch…

I also raised an issue in respect of the Order of Business.

The Leader does not need to be sorry.

I welcome the Deputy Leader to the House and welcome her setting out her draft Order of Business for today. I concur with Senator Dooley on his comments about a designated policing unit in An Garda Síochána for transport. I will not elaborate much more on it because I have an amendment to that effect and look forward to Senator Dooley's support and engagement as we discuss the Private Members' business later this afternoon. It makes common sense. We have heard much talk about a designated policing unit in all quart…

I thank the five Senators who contributed to the debate. I now invite the Minister of State to make his concluding remarks.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.