Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with others in thanking my colleague and friend, Senator Keogan, for organising the coffee morning. It was fantastic. It was great to see such diversity, different backgrounds and different traditions, all together. It is important to acknowledge that.

I ask the Leader for a debate at some point on the Children's Rights Alliance Report Card 2022. I want to dwell on the positives of that report, which was circulated to all Members. It was confirmed by the Children's Rights Alliance that the Government has made very positive progress over the past 12 months in the following areas: children living in direct provision, which is interesting; pathways for undocumented children; reform of early childhood education and care; and harassment and harmful communication and related offences. They are the four areas singled out by the Children's Rights Alliance as areas where the Government has made substantial and real progress.

I want to acknowledge that and to ask that we would have a debate on the report. If ever we needed to be mindful of undocumented children coming into our State, now is that time. While it is great to have people welcoming children and supporting them, we have to be careful about the areas they are arriving into, where they are to be housed, cared for and supported, and their welfare.We have always got to be vigilant where there are children. That is important. I ask the Leader if we could have a debate on that.

There was some discourse about mink earlier, which I watched on the monitor. The way we order business in this House is a matter for the Leader and I have every confidence in the way that is being done. I accept there are controversies about mink, but the one thing I can say from the debate in this House is that no one is in favour of continuing mink farming. Let us clear up that misconception. I am totally against mink farming. There is nobody in favour of mink farming right across this House. What everyone wants is a fair deal for mink farmers. That is all: a fair deal for them and their workers.

It is spring and the mink are raring to go. If ever there was a headline for a press release it is that: "The Mink are Raring to Go, and it is Spring". Legally, they can mate from 1 March. All mink farmers today are currently in possession of a full breeding licence. My last word on the matter is that there are only three mink farmers in this country and they are acting fully within the law. It is legal for them to do what they want. Let us just take time and get a fair deal for mink farmers.