It is always a pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the Chamber. He is doing towering work in his own specific portfolio of responsibility. That is for another day, however. I would just like to commend him on that. He is here standing in to discuss a most pressing emergency. Previous speakers said that it is urgent and an emergency. In an emergency, normal rules do not apply. It is unprecedented. Yes, property rights are enshrined in the Constitution but they are not absolute rights. I note…

Previous speakers have, correctly, made reference to "eviction", which is an emotive term. It is also draconian but, at the end of the day, that is what we are talking about. With regard to the legislation, in the many years in which it has made judgments, the RTB has never used the word "eviction". It orders what is called a "termination of tenancy" and may order that the tenants hereby vacate the dwelling by a certain date. If the tenant does not do so, the landlord goes to the court. Very foolish landlords could…

Personal rights are covered in the Constitution as fundamental rights; they may not be absolute rights. Article 40.1 of the Constitution provides that everyone is equal before the law and the State cannot unjustly, unreasonably or arbitrarily discriminate between two citizens. If the Houses of the Oireachtas were to enact legislation that would do that, it would be exposed to a constitutional challenge. I do not believe the legislation as proposed is in breach of the Constitution. If I did, I would not support it. …

The proposal in the amendment is clearly very well intended. Diversity is clearly required and is not reflected on the Bench at the moment. However, I am not convinced of such listed detail in a specific statutory provision. I do not believe it is necessary and it could have an unintended consequence. It could become a distraction and burdensome. While a noble aim, it is disproportionate and misplaced to insert it in a statutory provision in this instance.

This one single amendment is substantive. It is so central and fundamental. It is like a belt and braces approach to the whole thinking and statutory intention behind the Bill. It would have the benefit of, if needs be, saving the Bill from itself. There might be a constitutional challenge at some later date but the Legislature should never fear a constitutional challenge. That is part and parcel of a robust democratic system. To look at the statutory intention, maybe the transcripts of these debates could be read …

Constitutionally sound.

I am old enough to remember the late Rory Brady in a different role and he was a wonderful Attorney General. I have no doubt that it was said in the Law Library that these were very non-party political appointments but that probably does not give the assurances going forward that it was done right now or it was done right then.

Transparency is a very easy word to say and I have not met anyone yet who was not into transparency. I would make a general point with reference to invoking Article 26 of the Constitution, that it is rare that that happens. Ideally, that would be a wonderful way of extrapolating the point on whether or not this issue is constitutional. In the absence of that, this is an issue for an academic discussion at some stage as to the locus standi . That is why what we are doing today is so important because it would be dif…

Supreme Court.

Last weekend, Naas and Kill saw the inaugural Féile Liam O'Flynn, a festival on a national stage that will become an annual festival to celebrate the life, times and contribution of famous and renowned Kildare uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn. It also celebrated the contribution of so many Kildare people to music. There were workshops, scholarships and sessions, and thousands flocked to Naas. There were full houses and exceptional goodwill and atmosphere, supported by the spouse of the late Liam O'Flynn, Jane O'Flynn. W…

On behalf of the Green Party, I extend a very warm welcome to Seanad Éireann to Lord McFall of Alcluith. He is a reforming voice in his own House and, in many respects, his quest for reform of the House of Lords mirrors an appetite for real reform of Seanad Éireann. For instance, he is on record as saying that he would like to see the House of Lords as a vibrant outward-facing legislature that reaches out as widely as possible. He has described himself as a change agent. We could do with more change agents in this …

The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. I surmise that the heart of this legislative initiative is more transparency and open competition. Each generation should not fear review and reform. Ways can always be found to make things better than they are because nothing is perfect. However, as other speakers have said, the appointments process in this State to date has served us very well. It is very important not to throw out the baby with the bath water. The Bill proposes to establish a judicial appointments com…

I commend the motion. The proposer of the motion cited Article 2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and other contributors have referred to the symbolic nature of the motion, as well as the substantive point. Article 4 of the Constitution states "The name of the State is Éire , or, in the English language, Ireland ." Article 5 of the Constitution proclaims "Ireland is a sovereign, independent, democratic state." The Constitution establishes a polity that can be safely described as republican just as France or the United Stat…

I appreciate we will be talking about the budget later but I want to acknowledge that the Government really seemed to have a go today at making a tangible, robust response to the crippling issue of the cost of living. It has done so in a robust way but in a way that is not economically reckless. In this cost-of-living crisis, we should not lose sight of mental wellness and the power of sport to connect and help people. Last weekend in Belfast, at the ripe old age of 37, Eric "Lilywhite Lightning" Donovan from Count…

As he would tell people, his life was full of adversity but he turned it around. He would say boxing probably saved his life and now he is a role model who visits schools and gives talks. TG4 brought his boxing fight live into many homes in Ireland. Gabhaim buíochas le TG4 agus déanaim comhghairdeas le Eric Donovan. Is ambasadóir iontach é don dornálaíocht agus don spórt. Tá an-áthas orm ar a shon. Gan dabht, tá súil agam go mbeidh seans aige troid i gCill Dara le haghaidh craobh na hEorpa. Bhí mé ag caint le muint…

Hear, hear.

Many words of sympathy and condolence have already been spoken in respect of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I commend those who arranged a minute's silence in this House yesterday. I attended that with His Excellency, Paul Johnston, the British ambassador to Ireland. I recall the Leader of the House, while she moved the motion of sympathy, including that we should remember people in the Republic of Ireland who also feel that they suffered a loss. I believe the last few days have done us all proud. Parliamentary…

Last Sunday, an extraordinary general meeting, EGM, of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, IABA, took place in Roscommon town where the delegates voted against allowing company EGMs and annual general meetings, AGMs, to take place in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, again concerning EGMs and AGMs, a motion to change the wording in the company's constitution from State to the island of Ireland was not passed. In advance of the recent EGM, the Ministers with responsibility in this area, namely, the Minister for Tour…

The IABA delegates acted in a reckless way with no regard whatsoever for the fine boxing heritage and history in this country. They do not reflect the followers of boxing. They do not reflect the Kellie Harringtons and Katie Taylors. They do not reflect Eric "Lilywhite Lightening" Donovan from County Kildare, who epitomises all that is decent in the sport of boxing and wish him well as he has a title fight in Belfast in September. I urge the IABA delegates to rethink their actions and hope they have not done irrepa…

The night-time economy task force report was published in September 2021. It contained 36 actions across a broad range of issues associated with the night-time economy, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities for families and other age groups into the evening, and looking at new ways of encouraging innovation and creativity in the night-time economy. An implementation group made up of key Departments, agencies and sectoral representation has been established to ensu…