Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to conclude at 3 p.m, if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Private Members' business, Pregnancy Loss (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 3 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours; No. 3, Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, changed from Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude at 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than eight minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 4, statements on the post office network, to be taken at 6.30 p.m. and to conclude at 7.50 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed three minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I add my voice to the welcome to our distinguished guests. This is the people’s parliament and we are always delighted to have the opportunity to welcome guests to the Chamber.

First, I offer my congratulations to the Blaney family. There was a civic reception held in Donegal last Friday for the Blaney family, of which Niall is a Member of this House and his brother Liam is a member of Donegal County Council, who have given 100 years' continuous service to the people of Donegal and to this country. That absolutely deserves recognition. I have no doubt it was a very proud moment for them and for their mother, Margaret, and all their friends and supporters. Congratulations to the Blaney family on that very significant achievement.

I wish to raise an issue in respect of Cuan and the excellent work it does. On Monday I had the opportunity to bring the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan to Teach Tearmainn, which is our domestic violence refuge in Kildare. Not only does it serve Kildare and its growing population but also surrounding counties like Laois. Lorraine Rowan and her team do an excellent job. I know that not just from the constant interaction we have but also from feedback from women I refer to them. Cuan has a very good outreach system also and accompaniment to court.

As with anything, it took a long time to get the refuge and the need has grown far beyond the physical premises. Kildare County Council provided two safe houses, which have been very welcome. While there has been a good collaboration, it would be far better if everything was concentrated in the one area for safety, security and other reasons. There is land directly behind, and we hope to negotiate with Kildare County Council about the acquisition. One of the key issues is that at the moment, Kildare is a secondary, not a primary, status area, so it does need to move to that within Cuan. This has been done in other counties such as Offaly and Kerry and that is very welcome. They have been able to progress with expansion plans. It is really important that we look for that and maybe we could have a debate in this House on Cuan and domestic violence.

The LAMA awards have just been announced for 28 February next year. This is the 20th year of the awards and 40th year of the LAMA executive. It is a great opportunity to be able to showcase all the positive things that are happening in collaboration between councils and communities. I urge all of the Members here to support it, to go to the awards, and to encourage the local authorities that we are all familiar with and represent to enter.

PJ Murphy (Fine Gael)
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I rise to speak about the blue badge parking scheme or what would be more correctly referred to as the disabled person’s parking permit. This permit allows persons with severe mobility restrictions to park in disabled parking spaces in our towns, villages and cities throughout Ireland and is issued by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland or the Irish Wheelchair Association. People must reapply on either an annual or a biennial basis to have this permit renewed. Just last month in the audiovisual room of Leinster House, one of my own constituents, a fellow south Galway man, Pat Flaherty from Gort, who is a user of the disabled persons parking permit, made a very good point and argument that people who have a permanent disability, a disability from which they will not recover, should not be burdened with the renewal of this permit on either an annual or biennial basis. If the disability is something that is not going to go away and is something the person is going to live with for his or her entire life, there is no reason this permit should not be issued for a period of at least ten years, doing away with the need and the inconvenience of a person to renew this permit. What is a simple job to an able-bodied person such as renewing a permit like this is a much bigger job for somebody who is faced with mobility challenges day to day basis. I call on the issuing bodies of these permits, both the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland and Irish Wheelchair Association, to look at the issuing of these permits to last for a period of ten years for people who have a permanent mobility disability.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I have three items I want to discuss. First is in respect of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee’s announcement on the commission yesterday. The second item is the new planning guidelines as espoused by the Government, and the third item is the new security allowances and the related circular to be issued today by the Department of housing and local government.

I will go back to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, first. I warmly welcome the announcement that she will establish, with the Government, a commission of investigation into historical sexual abuse in all of the day and boarding schools. The catch here is sexual abuse. I listened to my colleague, Senator McDowell, on "Drivetime" last night and other commentators in the media yesterday and today. There is a sort of subtlety in that - I want to drive that message home here today - abuse comes in many forms, including sexual, physical and emotional abuse. There should not be a hook that will allow the Government off on the basis that the investigation can only be into sexual abuse. All forms of abuse are abuse. If a child of six is beaten over the head for two years in a school, that child stops learning and his or her emotional development is curtailed. That is abuse. Let us not decouple sexual abuse from emotional or any other form of abuse. That is a message I will continue to drive home. Abuse comes in many forms, as does redress. It is not all about money; it is about healthcare, housing and supports such as psychological supports. We went through all of this last week and we know where it got us and which people stood up to be counted and those who did not. Sometimes it is not what you do, it is what you do not do. That is a message I commit to continue to drive home.

In regard to the Government's apartment guidelines, I support the Government in any effort to enhance the development of our homes but I do not support single-aspect boxes facing north that need heating in summer and winter, or single-aspect apartments facing south that need energy to cool down in the summer. We need to look at that again. I sat in on the housing committee yesterday evening where the Minister, Deputy Browne, made the case that between €50,000 and €100,000 per unit would be saved as a result of this scheme. There is no evidence of that. He was not in a position to furnish such evidence to the committee yesterday. I hope we will tease that out during the ongoing debate.

Finally, I thank the Association of Irish Local Government, the Local Authorities Members Association, the Senators here and the councillors who lobbied hard to see a reasonable and fair increase in the allowances for security. That process has now come to an end. The Minister with overall responsibility for housing, planning and local government has prepared a circular and my full understanding is that it will be issued to everybody this morning. I thank the Minister for seeing that through. I thank all those who advocated to make the case for a better deal for our city and county councillors in regard to the security allowance attached to their work.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I support the comments of my colleague, Senator Boyhan, with regard to abuse.

Tomorrow in the European Parliament, there will be a vote of no confidence in European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Sinn Féin has absolutely no faith in Ursula von der Leyen to act in the interest of Ireland or working people across Europe, or to respect human rights and dignity abroad. Von der Leyen's Commission has stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel as it commits genocide in Gaza, trampling over the EU's self-professed liberal values of equality and human rights. The reality is that Ursula von der Leyen is a one-person wrecking ball of the European ideal. At every turn, von der Leyen has worked to ensure Israel is free from any sort of consequence for the sickening brutality it inflicts on Palestinian people daily. Likewise, Ursula von der Leyen has led the charge for the militarisation of Europe, breaking the EU's own budgetary rules in the process. She is eager to funnel billions to arms companies in foreign wars but does not lift a finger to help those in poverty across Europe or address the climate crisis. Von der Leyen is dead set on centralising power in the European Union to within her own office, expanding the Commission's role far beyond what was intended under the treaties in order to pursue her own ambitions. The issue raised in the censure motion around the Pfizergate scandal is a glaring example of the lack of transparency within von der Leyen's Commission. She is creating a culture where power is highly centralised and the Commission's work is done without the express approval or even knowledge of member states. I hope all of the respective parties' MEPs vote against Ursula von der Leyen tomorrow. A vote for von der Leyen is a vote for Israel, for imperialism and against democracy.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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In 2024, the Government made a commitment to bring 30 seriously ill children from Gaza to Ireland for lifesaving treatment. This was a scheme many of us welcomed. However, so far only 12 of those children have arrived here. What is happening to the other children? We have heard there is an issue with their visas. There seems to be some sort of spat between the Department of Health and the Department of justice. How is it that two of our own Departments cannot manage to process emergency visas for siblings of extremely ill children who are living in the catastrophe that is Gaza? Surely this is something that could be sorted out immediately. Do those little children know they are waiting to be evacuated? Do their parents or siblings know? Are they waiting and waiting while starving and in terror of bombs and snipers? We continuously hear from this Government that we need real actions and yet on the other hand the Government cannot sort out visas for these sick children. Particularly devastating is that there have been reports in The Irish Times that at least one of those children is now dead. That child died while waiting for our Government as it dithered to get visas sorted. I do not need to tell the Leader how angry I am and how angry people throughout this country are that critically ill children from Gaza who were promised sanctuary and urgent treatment in Ireland were failed. The promise has been broken in the most devastating way. We do not know how many others of those children have died but one is certainly too many. I am fed up with the platitudes, the notion that Ireland is doing better than everyone else and the taking of the moral high ground. What we have actually gotten from this Government is platitudes. The Tánaiste has said we need more than just words, but we cannot manage to process visas for critically ill children who are living in a war zone. We see this pattern: words over action, and process over principle. Children are dying not because we cannot help but we choose not to do so. We choose to delay processing their visas. I feel that, in this way, we are failing and this Government is failing the children of Gaza. There is no other government. There is no abstract Civil Service. It is this Government that has failed to do this.

We see this morning that Palestine GAA is still waiting for visas for children who were supposed to come here in the very near future. Their host families and the volunteers are ready. All of them have been left in limbo. We hear that the Department of justice has not provided any updates as the deadline looms for their visas. I urge the Tánaiste to take up this issue. He needs to make it his personal responsibility to get these visas sorted out both for the group from Palestine GAA and for the children on the sick list who are coming to Ireland for sanctuary. I ask the House that we appeal for this to be done before next week's recess.

Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)
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At this evening's meeting of the committee on agriculture, various farm bodies will attend to discuss farm safety, mental health and farmers' mental health and well-being. In previous years in the Seanad there were statements on farm safety during Farm Safety Week. I do not know what has moved but last year and again this year Farm Safety Week has fallen during our summer recess. It is a missed opportunity so with that in mind I ask the Leader to include Seanad statements on farm safety in the autumn that, albeit they would not be during Farm Safety Week.

I warmly welcomed the announcement in recent weeks by the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, that 40 farm safety and well-being projects throughout the country will be funded to the tune of €1.68 million. We cannot stress enough the importance of safety awareness on farms, especially during the summer months. That Farm Safety Week falls during the recess - from 21 July to 25 July - is probably a missed opportunity in that we will not get the opportunity to highlight the issue. With that in mind, I plead with Senators who are able to do so to share on social media as much as possible of the coverage of Farm Safety Week from the very dedicated organisations that cover farming matters. It would be greatly appreciated. The big solution to what is a major problem is awareness, so a simple share on social media could save a life. I plead with Members because the Seanad is not sitting that week - I am saying this for the third time - and therefore we cannot have statements. A little share on social media of all the good stuff on farm safety that will be put up would be greatly appreciated.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the guests, from Carlow-Kilkenny, of Deputy Catherine Callaghan. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for being with us today.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I rise today following a visit to Ballaghaderreen in west Roscommon last Friday with Deputy Grace Boland for the unveiling of a mural dedicated to her father and his enactment, as Minister for Education in the early 1980s, of the abolition of corporal punishment. It was very poignant on the day to hear it was not a very popular suggestion when he brought it up. However, he did it because, as a politician, he knew it was the right thing to do. It was 15 or 20 years later that we realised the impact of the decision he made. I acknowledge that. I also acknowledge Councillor Micheál Frain and the committee of An Bealach, who are doing great rural regeneration work in Ballaghaderreen and came up with this idea.

While I speak of Ballaghaderreen, I also recognise the mediation that took place over recent weeks with regard to public realm works in the town. The business community stood up for the elder community and their customers and worked out with a mediator an acceptable compromise for public realm design. It is great to see that all parties came to the table, including Councillors Micheál Frain and Liam Callaghan. The mediation was successful and that will now be completed in Ballaghaderreen to enhance the centre of the town.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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The latest figures, as of early July, show 743 people have been killed and 4,891 injured while waiting to get fed in Gaza by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, GHF. That foundation, which was founded only last year, is an elusive enough entity. The headquarters were incorporated at an address in Delaware, just two weeks after President Trump took office. When the premises were visited by journalists to search them out, what they found there was a registration agency. The foundation did not physically or legally exist at the address. Despite all that, the US State Department is giving $30 million to the foundation as of today. The GHF is led by executive chairman and evangelical Johnnie Moore who said the following:

We do not want anybody to die. We are feeding people in the middle of a war. But it is a war of disinformation too, and all too often, the United Nations and other organisations are spreading a war of disinformation about our foundation.

Johnnie Moore, for those who do not know, is a protégé of the televangelist Jerry Falwell Snr., a major figure in the religious right of the 1970s. Falwell brought Moore into his Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, in the early 2000s, when he was just 20 years of age. Moore set about organising student convocations and ended up being the gatekeeper to all Republican politicians and anybody who wanted access to President Trump.

Moore espouses what he calls religious Zionism, which is at the basis of this movement. It adheres to the belief that the restoration of Israel-Palestine to the Jewish people must precede the second coming of the Messiah. The technical term they have for this is premillennial dispensationalism. To them, history is split into distinct eras, and they believe that much suffering will take place before the millennium.

I will have to cut this a little bit short. Not surprisingly, Johnnie Moore is very close to Trump and is co-chair of Trump’s advisory group. The relief work, if it was to be done by evangelicals, would easily have been done by established groups such as the World Action Foundation and Samaritan’s Purse. It is important that Members of the House are aware - and that it be in the record of the House - that this dubious type of organisation is being used. Many people are dying because of ill-trained security and Israeli forces who are taking them out, as they say, because they are simply looking to be fed.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome one piece of vital infrastructure in County Meath, although I am shocked another project just a couple of kilometres from County Louth will not be included in the national development plan. There is a widespread welcome for the green light given to the Slane bypass in County Meath. It is much-needed infrastructure that will save time and countless lives. I acknowledge the work done by one of my colleagues, Councillor Wayne Harding, to get it across the line.

There is genuine shock in Ardee, County Louth, that an eastern bypass of this busy town on the N2 is not included in the national development plan. Another one of my colleagues, Councillor John Sheridan, met with the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, in Ardee last week to discuss the inclusion of this local infrastructure project in a review of the national development plan. Public submissions were sought during June and the Minister acknowledged he was well aware of the traffic and infrastructure issues in Ardee, and assured him the matter would be taken into consideration. Ardee is a thriving town but the town centre is being choked by lorries and traffic. There is currently no way of bypassing the town. Unfortunately, this has a knock-on effect, with businesses being closed and students being delayed, as well as adding to vacancy and dereliction. This decision should be reviewed. I invite the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, to come to the House to debate why this vital of infrastructure for Ardee, County Louth, has not been included in the NDP.

On a much lighter note, I was delighted to see the progress being made at the Louth GAA stadium yesterday with the Minister of State, Deputy Charlie McConalogue. It is progressing beautifully. It is hoped we will have bottoms on seats in October 2026. Funding for the second phase is vital. I will be keeping the pressure on to make sure that happens. We will welcome as many fans as we can in the coming years.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the opportunity we have to make statements on transport this week. I wish to highlight road safety. Sadly, 19 fatalities occurred on Mayo roads last year, which is an astounding figure and a sad and damning statistic. I highlight an issue of safety on the N17 roadway travelling from Charlestown towards Knock Airport. The reason I raise it is that it is the responsibility of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. We need it highlighted in the Seanad to put pressure on for a community that is living in fear. It is the exit onto the Hagfield road and serves St. Attracta’s nursing home as well as a local garage and dog kennels. This is an example of TII inaction on a road for which it has responsibility. The road needs to be addressed and made safe. It is a treacherous junction. Along this stretch of the N17 and the N5, there have been many fatalities and accidents. We have motorists and commuters living in fear. I welcome the opportunity I will have to raise the issue later this week with the Minister for Transport because we need to do everything we can to listen to communities and improve road safety.

Before I finish, two weeks ago I raised an issue related to forestry and, in particular, a situation in Ballycastle in north Mayo, where a community is animatedly against proposals by Coillte to plant a forest right next to a GAA ground and a number of residences. The planning for the proposal was approved but we do not have sight of exactly who is the decision-making body. We need answers for the community. I ask the Minister to engage with and meet the Ballycastle community so that a resolution can be found and mediation takes place.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to address an issue related to the provision of public swimming pools in County Limerick. On the N69, Askeaton swimming pool, which has been closed since 2023, is scheduled to reopen, thankfully, this autumn under the management of Swim Ireland. Other than that, the county has been without a swimming pool for the past two years due to this issue. On the N21, where there is a large population centre of almost 8,000 residents, west Limerick sports complex is run by a not-for-profit enterprise which is looking to begin a partnership with public bodies to develop its facility.The voluntary committee is running at a profit, which is no mean feat. This surely calls for serious discussions with all levels of the Government to progress its development plans. In the east of the county there is no public or community partnership provision for swimming pools. Swimming pools are an important part of active healthy citizenship. It is a sport that can save lives as well as an important skill for schoolchildren and adult beginners. Swimming pools are an integral part of occupational therapy and for those needing relief from pain or maintaining and rebuilding strength, but time and again we are told that swimming pools are costly and do not make a profit. Libraries do not make a profit, schools do not make a profit and neither do Garda stations or greenways. All of these services are vital to our communities and to society. Swimming pools are the same. Even though they do not make a profit sometimes, they are vital to our communities. County Limerick needs public and publicly supported community swimming pools along the N69, the N21 and the N20 routes as part of investment in our communities and in our future.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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Irish foster carers play a vital role throughout our country in terms of caring for children and the most vulnerable. There are 3,600 foster carers in the country. Unfortunately, this is a reduction from 4,800 five years ago and there are a number of reasons for this. These 3,600 foster carers look after and protect 5,800 children in care. That is approximately 87% of children who need foster care. The other 13% are in institutions.

The Irish Foster Care Association has launched its pre-budget submission and the new CEO, Corrinne Hasson, who took up the role a number of months ago, has a number of very important plans to increase the number of carers and promote foster care as a very worthwhile service to the State. What we need to do as a Government and as politicians is recognise the contribution that foster carers play. The association's pre-budget submission on fostering for a better future contains a number of requests, one of which is on pensions. Essentially, it is about taking the years of caring for foster children into account when calculating the foster carer's State pension. Family carers will receive this, so foster carers should be included. There is almost an element of foster carers not lobbying or asking for things. There is a paranoia that if they start asking for things, they will be viewed as though they are only doing it to be able to get some money. This is so far from the truth, but because of it, they are very slow to ask to be compensated.

We see the figures and there is a reduction in the number of people becoming foster carers. The work they do saves the State an awful lot of money and gives these vulnerable children the protection they need. I ask the Leader to raise this issue so that foster carers can be treated equally to other carers throughout the country, and that their submission be taken seriously with regard to the budget in October.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I welcome to the Gallery guests of Deputy O'Donoghue from County Limerick. I welcome Tom and Catherine Lyons and Vicky, Alex, Daniel and Lily, who are from Ardagh. I believe we also have Deputy Fitzmaurice's wife in the Gallery and she is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. She is hiding in the corner.

Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
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Correspondence from the European Commission on securing the nitrates derogation for Ireland will have serious ramifications for the wider rural economy and the agricultural sector generally in terms of demonstrating compliance with the habitats directive. While granting derogations to individual farmers, it is on a subcatchment basis. The requirements for maintaining the nitrates derogation will likely lead to stocking rate reductions for some farmers. This will require them to reduce livestock numbers, increase land area or find alternative solutions for slurry management. It could significantly impact farm profitability and competitiveness, particularly for dairy farmers. It may also affect sectors such as beef, sheep and tillage. The changes aim to improve water quality and meet the requirements of the directive but farmers may need to adapt practices and potentially invest in new technologies and infrastructure.

I welcome the most recent EPA report, which shows there has been a reduction in nitrates but phosphates remain persistently high, particularly in my part of the country in the south east. I ask the Minister for agriculture to ensure his and other responsible bodies, namely, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the NPWS, are fully optimised to deal with the new requirements to protect farm incomes and our wider rural environment. Farmers may need to increase the amount of land they farm to maintain livestock numbers. It will be a significant challenge. The nitrates directive and the nitrates action programme are there to protect our water bodies.

We have to turn this tide. We need to retain the derogation. We have seen the potential economic cost of it. In my view, and I have said it here previously, the only game in town is the water action plan and full and swift implementation of the measures contained therein. I attended a farm walk a number of weeks ago in County Laois where farmers from all over the region were learning about the farming for water EIP. This is a €60 million European innovation partnership. It will really be beneficial in terms of farmers participating in it. The resources of the Departments of agriculture and housing will be required to get a grip on what is a seismic shift in the European Commission's approach to this. I have asked a number of times about where the climate and nature fund is. What has happened to it? It was supposed to be put in place to support farmers to implement measures on their farms as part of it. I would welcome statements and an appearance by the relevant Ministers on this matter in the autumn.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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Last week, I received an email about student accommodation from a third level student who was from County Cavan and studying in Dublin. In the email, he stated he had a savings fund that was supposed to cover his housing for the four years he would be studying. He had entered into a year-long rental contract at €1,000 a month. The place was in shambles with broken furniture, and he felt he had very few rights and supports. He then had to move to digs where he had no renter's rights or access to a kitchen and had to commute from Lucan to Dublin city centre. He also could not stay at weekends or leave his things there. The next accommodation was worse. It was more expensive and had hidden fees that he had no knowledge of when he moved in. He had to move back home to County Cavan and now commutes to Dublin. It is a two-hour journey there and a two-hour journey back. This means he misses out on social life and mandatory trips, and his attendance has been heavily impacted.

I have just come from the audiovisual room where the students union at the Technological University of the Shannon presented a report, called "No Room for Learning: Accommodation and Cost of Living Report". Its findings reflect what this student in Cavan says and what students throughout the country state. It makes for stark reading. The majority of those living with their parents are doing so because they have no choice. They are commuting long distances. Those who find somewhere to rent pay extortionate rents and often share rooms with strangers. They are working up to 30 hours a week to support themselves, which is impacting their studies. Almost half of those who took part in the study were not in receipt of any support such as SUSI.

Students are very concerned about accommodation and the cost-of-living measures. They are concerned about the proposed increase to the student contribution by the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to €3,000 from this autumn. Last week, we witnessed what I see as a false argument between two parties in government together, each blaming the other Minister for the situation. I ask that the Ministers come together and sort out this issue. Do not raise the fees. It will have a detrimental effect on our third level student population. The dropout rate is very concerning and this is only going to make it worse.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Today is the first opportunity I have had to stand in solidarity with the Bosnia-Herzegovina Association of Ireland to commemorate the genocide at Srebrenica, the 30th anniversary of which passed on 29 June.

In making that statement, I want to recognise what has become for me the normalisation of the war in Ukraine. Ukraine has slipped down the agenda and is not seen as the genocide that Gaza is, yet there is a significant level of destruction of public buildings in Ukraine. The difference is that in Ukraine the destruction is distributed over a wide geographic area, whereas in Gaza it is concentrated in a central area. In the wars going on in this world at the moment, genocide is being accepted by everybody.

Yesterday, it was sickening to watch Donald Trump warmly welcome a war criminal into the White House, and wine him and dine him and look after him. There is nothing between Putin and Netanyahu. The two of them are committing war crimes daily. Due to the horrific scenes we get from Gaza, Ukraine has dropped off the agenda and what is happening there has become normalised. I ask colleagues to look to Ukraine. It does not matter where people are being murdered. They are being murdered and we should speak out and speak against what is happening and those who would commit such horrendous crimes. I cannot imagine what it must be like to go to bed at night in Kyiv, not knowing if a rocket is going to come through the window of your accommodation block. That was the cry the Israelis had about the Palestinians, that they were firing rockets indiscriminately, and then they went and flattened the place. The same is happening in Ukraine and we need to put that back on the map.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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We learned in recent days that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, has recommended that we rerun the referendum on Article 41.2 of the Constitution that relates to women in the home. In our Constitution, the State recognises that woman, by her life within the home, gives the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved and the State pledges to endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be forced by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home. When the Irish people were asked remove that from the Constitution, they gave a resounding "No". They did not do so because they thought women should be chained the sink at home. They did so because they value the work done by mothers and fathers in the home. Indeed, our courts have held that the clause relates to fathers' duties in the home. What does it say about the arrogance and disconnection of self-appointed, or almost self-appointed, supposed human rights experts that their response to a decision by the Irish people about their Constitution is to say that they made the wrong decision and we should see how it could be run again? What would it say about our Government if it were to give any respect to that kind of proposal?

This is the kind of elitist arrogance that brings the UN into disrepute, quite frankly, and which advances the cause of populists. What our Government should be doing is seeking to interrogate what the Irish people meant when they rejected that change and voted to affirm the clause that recognises the special contribution of mothers in the home. What type of policies should we now advance to vindicate the rights of mothers and fathers in the home and help people who want to get off the treadmill of having to bring up kids at home and work outside the home? People are being seen as tools of the economy rather than the economy serving family life. Let us be done with the arrogance of that UN committee and let our Government focus on what the people decided last year and see what policies should be brought forward to respect that decision.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator O'Loughlin congratulated the Blaney family on 100 years of continuous service to the local authority in Donegal. I congratulate our colleague, Senator Niall Blaney, and hope the family had a good celebration and recognition of their work and service over the past 100 years. Senator O'Loughlin also raised the issue of Cuan and the important work done by refuges in outreach and accompanying people to court. She asked for a debate on the matter. I will try to arrange that. She also announced the LAMA awards for next February. There is plenty of time for groups and local authorities to prepare in that regard.

Senator P. J. Murphy referred to the blue badge parking scheme and called for changes to the onerous yearly or biennial renewal of those badges. He asked that the issue be raised with the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland and I will certainly do that. Perhaps he might get colleagues on the disability committee to raise the matter as an agenda item when they engage in those matters.

Senator Victor Boyhan welcomed the announcement by Government of an investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools. I understand the terms of reference will be brought before the Houses next week and we will arrange a debate on those matters. I am sure he will raise the need to include emotional and physical abuse as well as sexual abuse in that investigation. He also spoke about his concerns about the changes to the size of apartments in order to reduce costs. I suspect if the size of each apartment in a larger development is reduced, developers would perhaps be able to increase the number of apartments. That may be where the cost savings are coming from, but he has raised concerns and it is hoped we will have an opportunity to discuss the matter. We are taking Second Stage of a housing Bill on Thursday. The Senator also welcomed the lobbying of Members of this House and organisations such as the AILG and LAMA on the changes to be announced today by the Minister, Deputy Browne, on security matters.

Senator Andrews discussed the motion of no confidence in Commission President von der Leyen. That is a matter for MEPs. He linked the ongoing issues there to her views on militarisation of Europe. Following Senator Craughwell's comments on the war in Ukraine, recommendations to increase defence spending are partly linked to that war and the concerns regarding the Baltic countries' defence and security. There is general consensus that in this country we should increase military spending, a point I put to the Senator's colleague, Senator Boylan, at the defence committee last week. We should increase defence spending and look after the welfare of soldiers and the equipment they use. Other countries are more closely geographically located to the threat of Russia and those are the countries that wish to increase spending.

Senator Stephenson, like Senator Andrews yesterday and Senator O'Loughlin on another occasion, referred to visas for children from Gaza. I understand the Government anticipates that 30 children will arrive. The first of those children arrived in May. I will again raise the matter with the Department of justice to see what the delays are.

Senator Paul Daly raised the issue of farm safety week, which is outside of our traditional sitting period. I will include a debate on farm safety in the autumn. Others decide when farm safety week is. I do not know whether it is the best week. Perhaps it should be earlier in the year during calving season, the start of silage making season or whatever. The date has been chosen. I acknowledge it. I was in my mother's home on Sunday and saw an annual remembrance service on RTÉ for those who lost their lives or were injured on farms, including the reading out of all of the names of the deceased on an all-island basis. It was a touching broadcast. I understand it was the tenth anniversary broadcast and was given by the bishop of the Kildare area.

Senator Gareth Scahill spoke about the commemoration of the abolition of corporal punishment by former Minister John Boland. His daughter Grace Boland, now a Deputy, attended a commemoration in Roscommon, and I acknowledge that.As Senator Scahill rightly said, it was an unpopular decision at the time, perhaps not with the children but with others. However, it has been seen to be the right thing to do. John Boland was ahead of his time in that regard.

Senator Joe Conway spoke about religious Zionism and the relief work in Gaza. We had the defunding or abolition of USAID by the Trump Administration. I am not sure if it has gone through yet, technically. USAID raised critical concerns regarding the ability of key aid groups to protect Palestinians and to deliver food to them. This is a very serious issue. We see Palestinians being targeted as they queue for food. This is part of the unacceptable atrocities that are going on in that part of the world. Senator McDowell raised the matter yesterday. I will try to bring a motion on Gaza to the House before the recess on which we will seek to get cross-party agreement.

Senator Comyn raised the topic of the Slane bypass in County Meath, which we welcome. She is shocked that Ardee is not included in the national development plan. I am not sure if she is taking about the previous plan or the forthcoming one, because there is still an opportunity for it to be included in the next one. I am sure she and others will lobby for the inclusion of Ardee, or at least that the heading for the Department of Transport would allow for capital expenditure in Ardee, subject to planning permission and agreements in that regard. The Senator also welcomed the developments in regard to the Louth GAA stadium.

Senator Duffy raised road safety and road fatalities in Mayo. He mentioned the need for continued investment on the N17 and the N5. I ask him to engage with colleagues on the transport committee on the matter. From time to time we have statements on road safety, which we had earlier in the year. The Senator also raised forestry in Ballycastle, which he has done previously.

Senator Collins raised the need for continued investment in public swimming pools in Limerick, and I am sure elsewhere as well. She accepted that they cost money and they do not make a profit, but they are part of the investment programme of the State and local authorities. Senator Scahill is a big proponent of swimming and he is involved in the Ballaghadereen outdoor swimming pool. There will be statements on sport next week with the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, so the Senators may be able to raise the issue with him at that time.

Senator Ahearn spoke in support of the Irish Foster Care Association and the invaluable work foster carers do for foster children. He spoke about the need for greater recognition and the inclusion of foster carers as part of caring and the calculation of the State pension. I will raise that with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, as well.

Senator Noonan spoke about the nitrates derogation and the climate and nature fund. He requested statements on the issue. I will try to arrange that in the autumn. Ireland is now the only country applying for a nitrates derogation. An ongoing of body of work is needed in that regard, not just to protect water quality but also in regard to the habitats directive. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, and others will be doing a body of work. I am sure relevant committees will deal with it as well.

Senator Tully raised the issue of student accommodation. I do not disagree with anything she said about the need for better student accommodation and continued investment in universities. If there is more student accommodation on university campuses, that will free up accommodation elsewhere. There has been investment and agreement in regard to technological universities, which is part of the programme for Government, in that they will be allowed to borrow for student accommodation.

In terms of the ongoing discussion on student fees, there is a commitment in the programme for Government and budget negotiations will be taking place on them, among a range of other matters in the Department of further and higher education. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has confirmed that. The budget will be upon us soon enough once we come back.

Senator Craughwell raised the matter of the Srebrenica massacre on its 30-year anniversary. I understand we will have a moment's silence on the matter tomorrow. He also, rightly, expressed concern that the war in Ukraine has, to a degree, fallen off the radar. I understand his concerns in that regard. We will arrange statements or a discussion on Ukraine at a future date.

Senator Mullen spoke about the care referendums that took place last year. The Tánaiste said we will not be rerunning them, but the Senator is right about why exactly they failed. Perhaps there needs to be a body of work done on that. I want to be quite clear that there are no plans to rerun the referendums.