Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support everything Senator Lombard said about farm safety.As Members are aware, I introduced the Farm Safety Agency Bill 2018 in the previous Seanad, which got to Second Stage, and I hope to get it back on the floor of the Houses as soon as it is possible to progress it further. Everybody will have an input on Committee Stage. While it may not be a silver bullet solution to the major problems that exist, I hope it will be a launch pad or a starting point.

Before Senator Lombard raised that issue, I had intended to raise Brexit. It was probably the most widely discussed issue if we were to analyse the previous Seanad but for obvious reasons relating to the Covid crisis, it has gone somewhat under the radar. However, it has not gone away. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on it at the earliest possible convenience. I know we will probably have Covid-related emergency legislation to get through but as soon as we have an opening it would be important that the relevant Minister or Ministers would come to this House and brief us on where Brexit is at the moment and the progress or lack of same that is being made. As I stated, it has not gone away and aside from Covid it will probably be the factor with the biggest influence on the economy and society in the future.

I plead with the Leader to use what power she has to reconvene what was a very constructive and hard-working committee, namely, the Seanad select committee on Brexit that sat in the Seanad Chamber. There is still a need for the committee and I plead with the Leader to use her influence to have the committee reconvened.