Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Civil Defence is a fantastic voluntary organisation with a proud history of more than 70 years. It plays a vital role in protecting and safeguarding the lives of people throughout Ireland. It is responsible for providing emergency response and relief services during times of crisis such as floods, storms, fires, landslides and other disasters. It also provides a range of other services such as first aid, search and rescue, emergency transport, evacuation and public education, as w…

It was widely reported in the media yesterday that the Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF, provided answers to a family concerning a 1974 murder in Belfast. The late John Crawford, a father of nine, was shot dead in west Belfast in January 1974. Almost 50 years later, the family of the late Mr. Crawford was given a report by loyalist paramilitaries setting out the circumstances of the killing. His son Paul got the report from the UVF. It is important to point out that an investigation by the Historical Enquiries Team, HET…

The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is welcome to Seanad Éireann. Friedreich's ataxia is a rare, progressive, life-limiting neuromuscular condition. This disease was first recognised in 1863, and after many decades of research, the first and only treatment called omaveloxolone has recently been discovered. It can slow progression of this illness by 50%. I commend the groundbreaking work of Reata Pharmaceuticals, Texas, on delivering this cutting-edge medication. In the US where it has been approved it gives a p…

I thank the Minister of State. Are we at the ready? Will things change? Sufferers want assurances. We have a track record of being in the Vauxhall non-league conference in terms of speed, when it comes to approving and funding such drugs. What is stopping Ireland being in the premier division? Then again, should we not all be equal in the context of the EU, as we are equal members of that family? Perhaps, there is a need for a fundamental, global and societal response, which has equity at its core. These sufferers …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Green Party grouping welcomes this short Bill put before the House as a step in the right direction as part of the overall jigsaw. It comes from the Government. To give some credit to the Government, it appears to be in listening mode. More judges have been called for, for as long as I remembering practising in the Law Library. To see a Bill come before the House is a positive step in the right direction. I also commend the Department on listening and on accepting my Bill last…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I thank her and the Department officials for engaging with me in respect of concerns which I have flagged but are not fully allayed. I would like to raise three issues under section 13. I have not tabled an amendment, but I am discussing it now to ensure it is kept alive on Report Stage. I hope the Government will deal with this as it would save me having to do so. I hope to be given an adequate explanation with regard to section 13, which relates to sanctions. It pro…

The Minister of State might take note of that.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I begin by welcoming the Minister of State to the Chamber and by commending Senator Garvey for leading out on this issue. It is enthusiastically supported, as one might imagine, by Senators Pauline O'Reilly, the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and myself. We have been campaigning to seek positive inroads for many a long year on this and today, hopefully, could be a day of bright, new, encouraging news but I will wait to hear what the Minister of State has to sa…

The Minister of State is very welcome to Seanad Éireann. While it is good to see him in the Chamber, many people in Kildare will be disappointed that the Minister for Health is not available to answer this question today. It has been reported that about 200 women from County Kildare are unnecessarily compelled to travel to the Coombe hospital every month for antenatal maternity care because the maternity service, which had been in Naas for many years, was removed at the time of the onset of Covid and has still not …

We also commend and are grateful to the hard-working staff in the Coombe but there is an avoidable, unnecessary situation. With respect, there is no comfort in the Minister of State's reply so the campaign will go on. I urge the Minister of State to use his ministerial influence to give us this assurance. He gets it. He is a dad of young children. He knows this is unnecessary. He knows that the Celbridge and Newbridge services, while good, are midwife-led, although they are supported by consultants in the Coombe. T…

It is most appropriate the Seanad has set aside time later to discuss the crucially important report of the independent review group on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces. I thank the Women of Honour for speaking out about their experience in the Defence Forces. Their courage and bravery in sharing their stories has brought to light the urgent need for change within our military culture. It is because of their voices this report was commissioned and because of their voices we can, I hope, take steps …

The Minister of State is, as always, very welcome to the Chamber. He stated that the Bill is a further strengthening of the existing laws. He also stated that transparency is key and, with frank candour, accepted that lobbying is a part of the greater workings of the democratic system. Lobbying can sometimes be misunderstood and misrepresented as something untoward but, of course, once it is done properly and in a transparent way, it is part of the framework of organised society and decision-making. However, I emph…

I propose that notwithstanding the order of the House agreed today, Second Stage of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2023 be taken at 12.45 p.m. and that the sitting now be suspended until the said 12.45 p.m.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Seanad. The announcement by the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, of free school transport for all was initially greeted by many with great fanfare. The reality on the ground for some communities is entirely different. It has turned the lives of people living in the communities of Rathcoffey and Straffan upside down. It has caused chaos that is ongoing. There is a single bus service serving these communities that goes to the Maynooth Education Campus. At present, 26 s…

I thank the Minister of State for outlining the facts. A number of parents are tuned in live to this at home. They will be putting all their hopes in the review but they have not heard anything new. They feel they are running around in circles. They are losing hope. They simply want an adequate bus service of sufficient capacity to bring all their children to the school. I know that this is the responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I hope there will be something new and radical in her review’s outcome and c…

I welcome the Minister of State. I commend Sinn Féin on tabling this motion and for the tone, tenor and language of its Members' opening contributions. As no doubt proud republicans, it demonstrated a generosity that was so needed in the past. For the future, including the current big challenge but even looking beyond that, we can take great strength from the past. Then UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, are quite correctly credited for their great contribution but we hear less about former…

On 28 February, Ireland lost a very valued friend when former Congressman Brian Donnelly passed in Massachusetts. He was a renowned Democrat with strong west of Ireland connections. He came on board to support the John Hume school of thinking and the consent principle, which was very important at a moment in time when Irish America needed leaders. Probably most significantly, along with Tip O'Neill and Ted Kennedy, he was instrumental in forming the bipartisan congressional approach to Northern Ireland with the Fri…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank all of the Senators who co-sponsored this legislative initiative, along with my own Green Party grouping and Senator Garvey, the Green Party leader, for ensuring this Bill received the priority listing I believe it deserves and merits in our rare Private Members' business slot. I know the Members have read the legislation and it is great to have the Minister in the Chamber to respond to it. It is a short piece of legislati…

Yes.

Closing comments would usually include some rebuttal remarks but the House is more or less agreed. There are no divisions, so with the leave of the House, may I share my time with Senator O’Reilly?