What about Cavan?

There is one certainty about where we are, namely, that it is uncertain. Considering the complete uncertainty of the situation, the challenge the Government faced was mammoth. In a record spend of €17.75 billion, there are a number of headline figures to which my colleagues have already alluded. There is so much to be welcomed about the €4 billion on health. Ill winds blow good fortune and some of that investment, leaving aside the Covid-19 part of it, might remain with us in the long term. The record €5.2 billion …

The Green Party is delighted to support this Private Members' motion and we commend Senators Mullen and McDowell on bringing it before us. The grotesque scale of the breaches of human rights in China has been well documented. As Senator Malcolm Byrne noted, this did not just happen a few days ago and there is a track record of abuse. As previous speakers have noted, there are over 1 million Uyghurs in concentration camps, suffering assaults, surveillance, destruction of mosques, force-feeding of pork, abuse of the …

The Government has been in existence for more than 100 days but this is the first time I have had the opportunity to congratulate the Minister of State and wish her well in her new role. It may be her first time in this House. She is very welcome. At the time this Government was being formed, people were crying out for a Government. Fine Gael might not be the best friend of the Minister of State's party, although it is certainly its most competitive friend. However, party differences were set aside. Many would not …

I would like to join other Senators in condemning the demolition of the residence of The O'Rahilly. I share their disquiet. It is an assault on both our history and our heritage. I wish to make one additional point to those already made in the House today. No doubt the party in question who is being accused of the demolition will be afforded fair procedure and due process, but I hope that there will be a prompt investigation and that steps will be taken to ask for the house to be rebuilt. It is only when that power…

We appreciate the vital role Covid testing centres play in the ongoing efforts to suppress the virus. Perhaps less is known, understood or appreciated of the vital role played by the Covid assessment hubs. They were opened throughout the country at the start of the pandemic to examine and assess patients, with possible Covid illness, in a safe and timely manner. GPs can refer patients with respiratory symptoms to assessment hubs that help GPs to keep their already busy surgeries as Covid-free as possible, as surger…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and acknowledge the contribution of the Minister earlier. I welcome and acknowledge the solidarity in the Chamber. That solidarity should be a source of strength, not just for people in Ireland but for those throughout the world who value and uphold the rule of law. I also welcome the approach of the Government to date. It has resisted going down the road of Brit-bashing and has instead been resolute and forthright in its response to an extraordinary development where…

General practitioners and pharmacists have grave concerns for their patients about the initial delivery and roll-out of the flu vaccine. Delivery of the flu vaccine has already been delayed and, worse still, the number of vaccines that some doctors have been told they will receive is tiny. I have spoken to GPs and pharmacists, one of whom has received 20 vaccines. One large GP practice received an initial delivery of 60 vaccines. GPs and pharmacists are correctly worried and perplexed about this on behalf of their …

I heard he was a very good showjumper. The British people should speak up on this. I appeal to my fellow parliamentarians in the House of Commons and the House of Lords not to undermine peace or relegate Britain to a state where it cannot be trusted in negotiations. I have concerns about America and Britain and the damage that could be done to western democracy. At least in America there is a possibility that a certain outcome in November's election will alleviate our fears. The British situation is far more seriou…

Senator Wilson's generosity in his remarks epitomises the spirit in the Seanad. It is also a great tribute to Senator Joe O'Reilly. There is a bit of a scene. Senator Norris left out Monaghan. The constituency is Cavan-Monaghan. Many careers that were launched in Cavan-Monaghan crashed and burned. When Senator O'Reilly had his success postponed in 2007, there was another wannabe on the ballot paper. There were about 16 runners and riders. I was in the loser's camp on that occasion. There was a lovely collegiality i…

I thank the Minister for finding the time to address us in the House this afternoon. The context of this emergency legislation is very important. The first sentence of the Bill states: "An Act to make exceptional provision, in the public interest and having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of the disease known as Covid-19". Those powers, to be candid, are extensive. Section 3(1) of the Bill states: "Any member, whether in uniform or not, may enter without a w…

In the course of my maiden address to the House I did not mention the Cathaoirleach and congratulate him on his election. One is never too late to wish a person well in a new role. It is probably the last good wish he will get in this respect but I got it in before the House rose for the summer. I remember the Cathaoirleach canvassing at Monaghan County Council when Senator Robbie Gallagher was a councillor. He brought some razzmatazz to the campaign. It was out of Bobby Kennedy's book. He did not have the advantag…

I wish the Cathaoirleach well. Sport has had a good airing this week and it can be the heartbeat of a community. I know we are doing our best but it is important when sport returns in any shape or form. We should really exhaust all possible channels to ensure we can restart sport while putting health and safety first. My wish this morning, as the House rises for the summer, is discuss the Leinster schools senior cup rugby final for 2020. These children, or young adults, gave six years of their lives to this. We had…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I will begin by congratulating the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, in his new job, which of all the Ministers of State is one of great responsibilities. Perhaps he is first among equals where he is in the eye of the storm. Our country, both landlords and tenants, will be looking for leadership from the Minister of State. This is the crux of the matter. The Government is not an advocacy group but must protect the rights of landlords and tenants and act in the common goo…

Yesterday the Minister with responsibility for climate change, communications networks and transport announced funding to the tune of €4.5 million for 26 greenway projects throughout the country. I warmly welcome this announcement. Recently I spoke to a friend who, by his own admission, is anything but green in his outlook or thinking, but the lockdown gave him some time to think. He escaped the sheer pace and pressure of life and work. He took to his bicycle again for the first time in 30 years and with his two ch…

I also wish the Minister well in her post. Her words here expressed the incredible challenge faced by the industry. She is also on record as saying we will have to think differently about tourism. I am absolutely convinced we will have to reimagine how we do tourism in this country. My colleague from south Kildare, Senator Wall, has extolled some of the virtues of our county of Kildare but there are so many others, not to engage in repetition. The houses on our beautiful stud farms, shared across the north and sout…

It is the less likely ones, such as agritourism, that I will shine a light on during Deputy Catherine Martin's Ministry. I will also be talking to the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, about this. The amazing limestone in Kildare has a propensity and a wonderful opportunity to lend itself to vine-growing, which, in due course over many years-----

-----could become, like in England and Wales, a tourism attraction, given our climate, if we use mildew-resistant varieties of vines. I wish the Minister well. She has a huge task. We hope to see her as frequently as ever before in Kildare and I look forward to working with her as best we can. As other Senators noted, it is very important from an employment point of view. This incredible challenge presents opportunities and it is about how we grasp them. We have to do things totally differently. The Minister's frie…

I understand that she is en route.

I will begin by congratulating the new Minister for Justice and Equality and wishing her well on the road ahead. She is hitting the road running by coming to the House today as we progress this important legislation, which will improve the efficiency of the administration of justice. I acknowledge the work of the Courts Service in recent years in making the workings of the legal system more accessible to the public and the day-to-day administration of justice more efficient. As Senator Ward stated, the Chief Justic…