Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. by the putting of one question by the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down and accepted by Government; Nos. 2 and 3, motions regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) (Revocation) Scheme 2025 and the Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Revocation) Scheme 2025, to be taken at 1.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, the motions shall be discussed together, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed five minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed five minutes, all other Senators not to exceed three minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than five minutes to reply to the debate; No. 4, Mental Health Bill 2024 – Committee Stage (resumed), to be taken at 4 p.m. and to adjourn at 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 5, Local Government (Support for Elected Members) Bill 2024 – Second Stage, to be taken at 6.30 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours; and No. 6, Social Welfare and Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System (Amendment) Bill 2025 – Second Stage, to be taken at 8.30 p.m. and to conclude at 10.30 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 eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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No. 4 is from 4 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Is that correct?

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and community of Paddy Cooney. He was an esteemed public representative who served the people well.

Today is international Human Rights Day. We have to think of all those all over the world who are denied their basic human rights. The theme for this year is "Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials", emphasising dignity, equality and freedom as values that shape daily life. We have to honour the vision set forth in 1948 with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and we have to think of all those all over the world who do not have their human rights respected, but have them denied, particularly the people of Ukraine, Gaza, the West Bank and Sudan.

I will raise the issue of supports for youth theatre. Thirty-three years ago in Kildare, we were very fortunate that Peter Hussey set up Crooked House, which is a Kildare youth theatre. For 33 years, it has been providing Kildare, and the region well beyond it, with very high-quality drama-based workshops that help support the holistic development of the person. It works not just with young people but with those with disabilities, older people, local schools, women's sheds, etc. It has been relying on a small amount of money from our local council, and from Erasmus funds because it carries out a number of European workshops, but its outgoings are considerable. It is supporting a team of 15 as well as volunteers. Now, after 33 years, it finds itself in a very difficult situation financially and faces the possibility of having to close. We need to ensure that youth theatres such as these are kept viable and get funding. I would like a debate on that in the House with the Minister for arts and culture.

I will raise an issue in relation to drug use. There was a programme for Government commitment to a whole-of-government health-led approach to drug use. The last national drugs strategy was drafted in 2016, nearly ten years ago. Work is under way on a new strategy, which we need to see, but I raise the particular issue of intimidation of families. Over the weekend, we saw the horrific situation in Edenderry, where four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his grand-aunt, Mary Holt, were murdered, while his grandmother, Pauline, is very ill. I spoke to Councillor Claire Murray about this and the shock and devastation in Edenderry has taken over everything. This is not the first time we have heard of innocent family members being targeted. We know that drug cartels are intimidating families into paying debts. They are using threats, violence and coercion. The Garda has set up the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, project to help and encourage families to report intimidation. We need to support families to do that.In the next drugs strategy, we need to see this referred to. I understand the draft of the new strategy is going to produced soon. I would like to see a debate in this House, particularly on the area of intimidation of families.

Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
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Over the last several weeks, I have had the pleasure of hosting two transition year students, Kate and Saoirse, as interns in my office. During their time at Leinster House, they have been learning about the purpose and functions of the Houses of the Oireachtas including the differences between the Dáil and Seanad Éireann and the role of the Government. They have provided administrative assistance in my office and learned about the workings of a political office and the different workflows in political life such as helping constituents, raising issues in the Seanad, debating legislation and so much more.

An issue I have raised in recent months and one that Kate and Saoirse have brought up as relevant in their lives is the choice of wearing tracksuits in school. In Kate and Saoirse's experience, they find wearing a uniform to be uncomfortable and they would prefer the choice to wear their tracksuits. This is a widespread feeling among many pupils who feel that uniforms restrict their ability to stay active. From their experiences in school, there can be punishments given to students for wearing a school tracksuit on days they are supposed to wear their uniforms, with students often given detention. The feeder primary school down the road, though, allows their students to have the option of wearing a tracksuit or uniform every day because their student council campaigned to make this change for student comfort and to encourage more physical activity. We should be trying to encourage movement as much as possible in a school environment, and not just limiting this time to PE time. Uniforms are often uncomfortable for many students and inherently limit their ability and their willingness to move. Would you cycle to school in a skirt? Would you go for a kick-about at lunchtime in your slacks and your hard shoes? I accept that schools feel strongly about uniforms and wish to uphold their identity but this can still be achieved through a standard issue, school-specific tracksuit.

Having heard feedback from parents and students, traditional uniforms are not always practical and are very uncomfortable for many students. This is particularly the case for neurodivergent pupils. Parents will be all too familiar with the complaints of scratchy jumpers, which not only places a child in discomfort and limits their ability to move but fundamentally limits their ability to learn. Kate and Saoirse and the thousands of other students who call for greater choice in their school attire are not calling for uniforms to be abolished. They are not calling for school identities to be diminished or taken away. They are simply asking for a choice to be comfortable in the clothes they wear to school. The benefits are not just in comfort but also in their ability to learn more effectively and move more freely.

There is a reason I am reading this speech word for word; Kate and Saoirse wrote it for the Seanad. They are in the Gallery today and I welcome them, Saoirse O'Callaghan and Kate Fairbrother. They have done Trojan work over the last ten weeks. They have been with me every Wednesday doing all the work I have described. Jamie and Garrett in the office upstairs have been helping them very diligently. I thank the girls and congratulate them for the work they have done. I hope they would consider a career in politics and legislation because they are fantastic role models for their peers.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome Saoirse and Katie and congratulate them on their first speech, delivered by Senator Ní Chuilinn. Maybe they will be delivering their own speeches here in the future.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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Last week the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration delivered a report on the Government's proposed legislation to ratify the European migration pact. The committee recommended that the Government, on Ireland's behalf, should opt out of most of the provisions of the pact, the reason being that they did not believe it was credible that Ireland could actually deliver on its obligations under the pact, particularly to open detention centres and deal with all applications within three months. This is completely unreal. When the pact was rushed through this House with the aid of a guillotine last year, those of us who opposed it said it was a fundamentally dishonest and impractical way of dealing with asylum seeking in Europe.

Yesterday, the British and Danish Governments went to Strasbourg in the hope of persuading the European council on human rights and ECHR authorities in Strasbourg to reopen the whole question of asylum seeking and the application of the Geneva Conventions, which are at the moment being used to mask a massive international racket. It is an economic racket, a criminal racket and a legal racket. Every single person who comes to Ireland claiming asylum, almost without exception, travels through a safe country. Well over 90% of those who get here - probably close on 100% of them - travel through safe countries. Ireland is a destination of choice for asylum seekers for other reasons and it is purely economic migration that lies at the bottom of it. Family reunification further complicates it.

Since adopting the charter of fundamental rights, the EU has guaranteed asylum to people who are not EU citizens in respect of seeking asylum in Europe. That was a fundamental mistake but it handed competence to the Court of Justice of the European Union to supervise the imposition of asylum law right across the Union. We are spending €1.3 billion every year housing asylum seekers, the vast majority of whom are not entitled to asylum. This racket has to end. If it is not ended, it will damage and corrode the very foundations of the European Union. This is why I say to the Leader that we need a debate in this House. I am not parroting Donald Trump's views. I have been saying this for a long time. If Europe does not face up to the fundamental error it made in respect of asylum, and the fundamental uselessness of its migration pact, the solidarity of Europe and its continued existence as a democratic partnership of member states is very severely threatened. I ask for a debate in this House on the future of Irish and European policy in respect of persons claiming asylum in this State.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday I attended a protest outside the gates of Leinster House by disabled people and their advocates and carers. They were there to highlight the desperate situation they are facing due to the lack of support in budget 2026 on the cost of disability. They have been advocating for a cost-of-disability payment for years. It was promised before the last election. They really feel the issue of disability was used during the election to get votes based on false promises of a cost-of-disability payment being introduced. They are facing a situation now of either eating or heating. One man spoke about how he has to consider if he can afford to put on the second bar of his heater in the evening. They talked about the embarrassment of having to go to a food bank.

The Government commissioned a report on the cost of disability which was carried out by Indecon in 2021. It found that the cost to a family with a disabled member was anything from €8,000 to €12,000 a year. They reckon that has increased now to approximately €15,000 in some cases, or more, depending on the complexity of the disability. That report is sitting gathering dust. Nothing has happened to it. It is not the first report on disability that is left gathering dust. What is the point of commissioning these reports, costing thousands or maybe more, when they are not actioned at all? Not only is there no cost-of-disability payment; there are no energy credits, no additional payment for disabled people or carers as was paid out last year. Disabled people want a definite payment. They do not want to be going from budget to budget wondering if they are going to get anything this year to address the cost of living. They welcome any sort of payment at this stage and they really need an emergency payment before the end of the year as they face into the winter. I am asking that this is brought to the attention of the Minister for children and disability, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, without delay. The Leader might say there was a huge investment in services for disabled people in budget 2026 but not all disabled people avail of services. While it is welcome and needed, it is not enough. We need to see a cost-of-disability payment so that people are not living in poverty. That is what they are being forced to do at the moment. They are saying it is not equal treatment.They are being treated as second-class citizens.

Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the news today that the national cancer registry of Ireland has confirmed that there was no consistent rise in late-stage cancers following the pandemic and that survival rates for 2020 and 2021 remained broadly in line with previous years. I know it will monitor this as the years pass. This is reassuring news and reflects the huge efforts made across our health services during what was a challenging time. However, we know that cancer diagnoses dropped sharply in early 2020 as Covid-19 disrupted GP visits, hospital appointments and screening services. During that period, a huge emphasis was placed on encouraging people to visit their doctor if something did not feel right. I really worried that people would be too afraid to attend their GP and I worried about the consequences of this. I spoke publicly, including in an interview with the Irish Independent, to encourage people to visit their GP if they felt unwell during this time.

All of this re-enforces the message that early diagnosis is key in the fight against cancer. For that reason, I will continue to highlight my concerns around delays in diagnostic scanning for younger women attending symptomatic breast clinics. On Friday, I attended a fundraising event for Breast Cancer Ireland. We heard powerful lived experiences from women with late-stage cancer. We learned about groundbreaking research and ongoing improvements in treatment. Once again, the message was clear: know your own normal, check yourself regularly and see your GP if something is not right. Early detection saves lives. While I welcome today's report and acknowledge the enormous work that was done during the pandemic, I suggest that we need to focus on present challenges, particularly delays in diagnostic scanning. Addressing these delays is essential if we are to ensure that every person, especially younger women, has the best possible chance of early detection, timely treatment and ultimately survival.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I welcome the former Senator, Gabrielle McFadden, to the Gallery. She is most welcome and I thank her for being here.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I rise to talk about the discussions on our coastal communities and the fishing sector that are starting in Brussels this evening. The next few days are crucial for our coastal communities. It really is decision time and the decisions made will affect them for years to come. Over the past few years, other countries have not adhered to policy, yet Ireland is holding the can. During the Brexit negotiations, 26% of our mackerel quota was transferred to the UK. Our coastal communities cannot lose anymore. I know our POs are out there as of now and our Minister is going out. I am asking our Minister to hold the line. Ireland has got so many bad deals on fishing that you would not believe it, to be honest. No deal is better for us than a bad deal. We have got enough bad deals down through the years. I am asking our Ministers and our team out there to hold the line. The next two days are crucial for our coastal communities, for the survival of employment and for everything that goes on in small towns like Killybegs, Castletownbere and Ros an Mhíl and all of our coastal communities. I am asking our Minister and our team to really dig in this time and try to get a deal for Ireland that we can live with and that will be sustainable moving forward. We cannot afford another bad deal.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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The Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle presided over bravery awards last Friday. I am deeply honoured to point out that my niece's husband, Eoin Clancy, was one of the recipients of an award. Among my family, Eoin now holds a similar and equal award to the one my father received in 1942. My father is also commemorated in Blackrock in Salthill for saving human life. My father got a Carnegie Hero Fund Award, while Eoin received his award from the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach. We are extremely proud of him.

I spoke yesterday about the issue of drones and security during President Zelenskyy's visit to Ireland. I was horrified to open my computer yesterday evening and find in The Journal that the people who provided security for Zelenskyy's visit to Ireland were the Portuguese, French and PSNI police forces. Is there anybody in the Oireachtas who gives a continental damn about the proud sovereign State we are supposed to be? I am not blaming the Government any more. This is an Oireachtas issue. We are sitting on our hands. These things are happening behind our backs. Why can we not be honest and come forward and talk about the security of the State? Danny McCoy issued a statement this morning. It is on the RTÉ website for anybody who wants to read it. He talks about the risk to our foreign direct investment, FDI, due to our negligence - I am talking about all of us in this House - in the area of security and defence for this country. We will lose the goose that is laying the golden egg. FDI will walk out of this country and we will find ourselves in here procrastinating about how it happened. It happened because we are sitting on our hands and saying nothing. The Opposition is saying nothing. It is the Opposition that holds the Government to account. Why are its members not speaking out? We are watching the decline of defence and security in this country. Wake up. The Portuguese, the French and the PSNI provided security for Zelenskyy's visit. We have a police force, an Army, an Air Corps and a Navy. They are all defunct. Let us wake up and start talking about security.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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Today in Australia, there is an outright ban on children under the age of 16 accessing certain apps on mobile phones and smartphone devices. They ran a campaign to protect their children and to ensure their mental health. Various forms of online abuse that children are subjected to on a daily basis are now treated equally in law.What the authorities in Australia have done is harvest the data and left it there. As young people turn 16, they will be able to access it again.

I am not in favour of outright bans on phones, but I am certainly in favour of protecting our children online. A number of years ago, we in these Houses passed a Bill to make 16 the digital age of consent. The digital age of consent means that a person ticks a box and says that they have told their parents. That is it. That is the digital age of consent. We now have an opportunity, with Coimisiún na Meán and the various online safety codes, to go further. We have age ID cards for children who are old enough to go in to pubs and purchase alcohol. We have a provisional driving licences for people who are learning to drive. We need IDs for children in order to ensure that their digital age of consent is established properly and validly online. It is incumbent on tech companies to put in place a mechanism such that we can age verify everybody online. We have all the tech companies here. There is an opportunity to work collaboratively will all of them. If they are not prepared to work with the Government, it is incumbent on the Government to take control.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I wish to highlight the benefit of the rural regeneration development fund, RRDF, and how it has impacted positively on so many communities, towns and villages across the country. I also wish to lend my support to the town and community of Ballinrobe. The people in the community there, supported by the local development company in south-west Mayo, have come together and shown incredible leadership to propose the regeneration of a historic building, namely the old Valkenburg building. The latter is a protected structure built in the 1820. It is proposed to redevelop it as an arts, civics and amenity space and a 300-seat town hall.

Ballinrobe is a very vibrant town. It has beautiful old, historic buildings. It has challenges with dereliction like all towns around the country, but this is a great opportunity to show the benefits of regeneration. This project could be a catalyst for the overall regeneration of Ballinrobe. The community received funding to the tune of €4.6 million, but, like those with all projects, the costs have increased. What I am calling for is that the Department and the Government to engage proactively and constructively with the Ballinrobe community and the arts, civics and amenity company that is leading the project.

The volunteers involved are showing leadership in their town. We need to support and encourage that. If there is an uplift required, let us engage and make it happen. These are once-in-a-generation projects that can be transformational for a whole town. This project could be transformational for the future of young people who live Ballinrobe. Those involved with the project have asked that the contribution be reduced from 20% to 10%. That is a reasonable ask, particularly when it is volunteers who are trying their best to improve the fortunes of their town.

I acknowledge Councillor Michael Burke, a former colleague of mine on Mayo County Council, and the chairman, Michael Sweeney, who are leading the team of volunteers. We need to be constructive and proactive and support a community that has taken great initiative like this.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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Rinne an Seanadóir O’Loughlin tagairt don Lá Idirnáisúnta Cearta Daonna inniu. I want to amplify that a little in the context of the situation that pertains in South Sudan, where, since independence in 2011, there have been two civil wars and one border conflict. South Sudan is led - I use that word advisedly - by the corrupt and brutal dictatorship of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is a Catholic. Some 60% of the people of South Sudan are Christian. South Sudan has immense oil reserves, hence the international interest in the country. It was one of the richest countries in the region on gaining independence. It is now almost ranked as the poorest. Three quarters of the 12 million people in South Sudan rely on humanitarian aid. In the Transparency International Corruption Index, South Sudan came in at 180 out of 180. The medical expenses of the 650-strong national parliament were more than triple the health ministry's entire budget. More has been spent on the President's medical unit than on the combined national education and healthcare budgets. President Mayardit has ordered the UN mission in South Sudan to cut its operations by 70%, with odious outcomes for the safety and survival of the people. In the 14 years since independence, South Sudan has never engaged with anything as troubling as an election. Elections have always been promised, but an excuse has always been formulated to postpone holding them. The so-called peace deal reached in 2018 was supposed to end the strife but has not delivered. The vice president, who is a member of the Nuer, the other tribal unit in South Sudan, is under house arrest and has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity.

We know of all the terrible situations that exist in the world, but this is one that is going under the radar. I wonder if the Minister for foreign affairs could brief the House on the situation in South Sudan and what the United Nations and our Government are doing to respond to the tragedy that happening there.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I want to ask the Leader to help save The Complex. The Complex is a unique multidisciplinary arts centre. It is right in the heart of the north-west inner city. It is located on Arran Street East. It is in what is designated in the Dublin city development plan as a strategic development regeneration area. It is a unique cultural hub. It combines artist’s studios, performance space for both large-scale and smaller scale, more intimate performances. Very unique artistic and creative activity takes place there.

The Complex started operating in 2008 or 2009. Vanessa Fielding is the director and there is a very strong board there. They set out with an objective of taking vacant, unoccupied and underutilised warehouse spaces and animating them with unique creativity. Will the Leader ask the Minister for arts and culture to meet with the board of The Complex and to act as a champion to save the facility? The property is in private ownership. The owner intends to sell it.

The board of The Complex has put together a proposal that it will be able to fulfil. It has the support of the Arts Council and Dublin City Council. This Government is committed to the regeneration and revitalisation of the inner city. It is also committed to supporting artists and the arts in our capital. The Minister for arts and his Department are in a position to put together a funding proposal that will save the unique creative hub right in the heart of the city that is The Complex. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to meet urgently with the board of the facility.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome the students from Clarin College in Athenry, County Galway. I thank them for coming. As is our policy, there is no homework for the rest of the week for any school visiting the Seanad.

PJ Murphy (Fine Gael)
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For the third time this year, I rise to bring attention to the continued closure of Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. For those who are not familiar with Dunguaire, it is a tower house located by the roadside on the edge of Kinvara Bay, which is on the Wild Atlantic Way. It is the most photographed castle in Ireland. For the past three tourist seasons, Dunguaire Castle has remained closed. This has had knock-on consequences for the local tourism sector and businesses.

Until now, Dunguaire Castle was under the ownership of the semi-State company, the Shannon Group. When the Shannon Group set about exiting its involvement in the tourism infrastructure sector, St. John's Castle and Bunratty Castle were handed over to the relevant local authorities in Limerick and Clare. However, ownership of Dungaire Castle has not yet been handed over to Galway County Council,. As a result, it has remained closed to the public. Galway County Council has made a request to the Department of tourism for funding to bring the castle and its surrounding areas up to standard before it takes ownership.That has not yet happened. I am here again today to call on the Minister for tourism to, as a matter of urgency and before the end of this year, facilitate a meeting with Fáilte Ireland, local elected representatives and Oireachtas Members from the area to discuss the provision of funding required by Galway County Council to take this important piece of historic and tourism infrastructure under the local authority's charge. I recognise my colleague Councillor Paul Killilea, the councillor in the area, for all the work he has done on this issue.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I acknowledge Cara and Mark Darmody and the amazing advocacy work they do. It is inspiring for everybody here.

Some 3,500 new homes are being built at the Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend, which is expected to house around 8,000 new residents. The first apartments are due to be occupied early next year and prospective tenants are finally being given the opportunity to view the new apartments. The vast majority of people, however, are completely priced out of this site. A one-bedroom apartment costs upwards of €2,500 per month to rent, or €625 per week. It is absolutely insane. Even with the generous salaries given to Members of this House, which are well above the average in Ireland, we would not be making enough money to rent or buy an apartment on this site. You would nearly need two Senators living together just to afford a one-bedroom apartment. How does that make sense at all? How is it not a glaring sign that the housing system is completely broken? This is one of the most well known building developments in the State and it is only available for the wealthiest of the wealthy, as is the case with almost all of the recent housing developments in Dublin.

The only hope someone with a low or moderate salary, or even a salary above the national average, has to find a home there is to avail of social and affordable housing schemes, which are completely inadequate to meet the huge demand from Pearse Street, Ringsend or Irishtown. Our housing system is completely broken and it is built around serving the wants of the rich with the needs of the less well-off just an afterthought. It is welcome that this site is expected to include hundreds of social and affordable homes after a long fight by the local community and representatives but the fact that thousands of other homes on the site will be completely inaccessible for 90% of the population is an alarming sign of the state of housing in this country. I ask the Minister to come in and debate affordability in housing.

Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the decision of the European nitrates committee yesterday to pass the extension of the nitrates derogation for our agriculture sector. I ask the Leader to organise a debate in the new year on the nitrates derogation, specifically in respect of water quality. I asked for two Ministers to come here before and I do not want to make a habit of it. I will let the Leader make the call but I think it is important that it would be the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who would take that debate specifically on water quality and the role of local authorities and Irish Water when it comes to improving our water quality. The stick is used continuously to beat and blame the farmer. There is additional conditionality with the extension to our nitrates derogation. That conditionality and those actions will be met and embraced by the farming community and implemented. If it was farming alone, I can guarantee the Minister our water quality would be far better, greater and higher than it is.

We all know the problems with Irish Water and local authorities so we need an action plan from that side of the house to improve our water quality or again, the farmers will be left on a cliff edge in three years with the potential of not knowing whether their livelihoods are going to be maintained or whether this derogation will be extended again in three years if water quality is not where it should be. It will not, ultimately, be their fault if it is not. We need to have that debate and if the Leader can bring in the two Ministers, so be it. If not, the important side, from our side of the conversation, has to be with the Minister for housing and local government in regard to what actions local governments and Irish Water are going to take to ensure farmers are not hung out to dry again in three years.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome Councillor Gayle Ralph and friends from the Law Society of Ireland to Seanad Éireann. They are most welcome today.

Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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I would like to put on record my respects for the wonderful Mr. Paddy Dunne, a long-time member of Fine Gael since the 1940s, who passed away aged 98. He was from Carnaross. I wish to pass on my sympathies to his family.

I am going to stick with Carnaross and congratulate the Carnaross Drama Group, which recently raised over €17,000 for Tabor House, a very special place in Navan, County Meath. It is an addiction treatment centre. The entire proceeds from the show went to Tabor House. It is a residential secondary addiction treatment centre that runs a four-month programme emphasising group therapy, one-to-one counselling, personal responsibility, peer support, retraining and work skills and participation in a 12-step programme. It was set up by the wonderful Sister Catherine Lillis many years ago. It opened its doors in 2005 and a lovely man called Pat Mullaney continues a lot of the work there today along with Sister Catherine. I do not think any family has not been touched by something in regards to addiction so having addiction services is very important. I also congratulate Tabor House, which is going to celebrate its 21st birthday.

I wanted to comment on how important addiction services are and, to congratulate Tabor House on all it has done and is about to do in the future. It is about to commence a secondary treatment centre called Misneach, which will be for women. That will start in the third quarter of 2026, so congratulations to it.

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to talk about the most incredible 15-year-old, Ms Cara Darmody, who is here with us today in the Gallery with her dad. She is doing the job that this Government still refuses to do. Yesterday, Cara Darmody and her dad Mark, while Storm Bram battered this country with dangerous winds and weather warnings, spent the night outside the gates of Leinster House, beginning her 50-hour sleep-out to once again expose the ongoing scandal with assessments of need delays. She is only 15 years old but she is carrying a fight that should rest on the shoulders of this Government. There are 18,000 children waiting for an assessment of need. That is expected to rise to 25,000 by the end of this year and this State is breaking its own disability law in 93% of cases, failing to complete assessments within the six-month legal limit. Cara said yesterday: "While Storm Bram is blowing I will really suffer out here... [but] it is a symbol of the pain and suffering that families go through when services... and therapies aren't given... in a timely manner." She is so right. Families should not have to rely on a child, a schoolgirl, to shame a Government into obeying its own laws. Cara has already succeeded in securing a €20 million donation to Cara's fund. She negotiated a national recruitment campaign with the HSE but as she has said, "The Government has given me a car, but has forgotten to give me the keys" and without therapists, "the car doesn't drive". The truth is that without urgent therapist recruitment nationally and internationally, children will remain stuck, unsupported and failed.

If a 15-year-old girl can show this level of courage, surely this Government can show some urgency. I request an immediate debate in the House on the assessment of need crisis, the staffing collapse within the children's disability network teams and the emergency action that must now be taken to recruit therapists and uphold the law. Children cannot wait any longer, parents cannot carry on this burden and no child should ever have to sleep outside Leinster House to force a Government into action.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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The 1974 Dublin-Monaghan bombings resulted in the biggest loss of life in a single day of the Troubles. Some 34 people lost their lives on that fateful day and over 300 were injured. The Ulster Volunteer Force was responsible for that.For over half a century, going into the 51st year now, the families of those victims are still searching for the truth. That journey has taken them on many roads with many disappointments. Yesterday, many of them headed to Belfast to hear the progress report on Operation Denton as part of the Kenova report, which was a group that was looking into the activities of the UVF and the alleged collusion between the security forces and that organisation. While no evidence of collusion was found, it is widely accepted that it was widespread at that time. Unfortunately, the report will not be published in full until the new year, so the families will spend another Christmas searching for that truth. It is hard to put into words to the Members here today to try to gauge the effect that has on the town of Monaghan, on this city and, indeed, on the families who are still looking for answers. My thoughts are with them this Christmas as they spend another year searching for the truth. To Margaret Urwin and the Justice for the Forgotten group and, indeed, all those families who have been on this journey for so long and who have conducted their business in such a dignified manner, I salute them, and I pray that 2026 will bring them the answers they are seeking.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I welcome Deputy Michael Murphy to the Gallery along with his guests Eliza de la Cruz and Mila Grasmil. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I would like to be associated to the vote of sympathy for the late Paddy Cooney. I express my condolences to his sons, Mark, who was a councillor for a number of years, Edward and Michael, his daughter Catherine and the extended Cooney family. He served in this Chamber with distinction. He was also a former Minister and MEP. May he rest in peace.

The flu season is upon us. It is mentioned on the radio every day of the week. In University Hospital Limerick, there are quite a few people within the hospital at the moment with symptoms of flu. I encourage people to go out and get the flu vaccine because I was listening to the radio the other day and heard there were over 600 people at that stage in hospitals in Ireland with the flu. It is really important that we encourage people to get their children vaccinated - the vaccine is free up to 17 years of age - because we all have maybe grandparents or aunts and uncles who are coming to our homes over Christmas. The last thing we want is that somebody would pick up the flu because it can have a serious effect, especially for people with underlying health conditions.

Last but not least, I acknowledge Councillor Gayle Ralph and her friends in the Gallery today.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I have three issues. I share Senator Fitzpatrick’s concerns about The Complex. Indeed, I had a number of calls, one of which was from the director, Vanessa Fielding, who wished me to refer to the issue here. Her key message was that it is not the Minister for arts or heritage they want to speak to but the Minister for Finance. I want to pass that on. That was not suggested earlier, but that is actually who they want to speak to and see in relation to The Complex arts space in Dublin. I will leave that as a request to be conveyed, if relevant, but it is important that I ask that for Vanessa Fielding because I know she is listening this morning.

Second, I concur with Senator Daly in his comments and suggestions on the nitrates directive. It is important that we have a greater understanding of what has been agreed. Suggestions are in the ether and in the air already this morning that there may be litigation against this agreement. We, as parliamentarians in these Houses, need to fully understand what is being signed up to, what has actually been agreed and what the specific terms are in relation to the special nitrates directive for Ireland. I would like to know more about it. I think everyone else in this House would like to know more about it. We need to be equipped to fully understand it. I concur with the comments from Senator Daly on the matter.

Finally, I congratulate the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, and Irish Farmers' Journal, which did a very extensive piece of work and collaboration in relation to Mercosur. A number of colleagues here were with representatives from those organisations yesterday, as I was, at the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food. However, there are serious issues of no evidence of practise of effective controls of medicines used in farm animals, no national traceability system for cattle in Brazil, and no credible means to certify beef coming from there into the European market. We know there has been a recall of Brazilian beef right across Europe and in the UK and Northern Ireland. It is a challenge. It is a threat to Irish sustainable agriculture and the meat industry. We should have a debate on it. I will leave the Leader with this, however. The key ask I took away from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food yesterday was what the Irish Government is doing. We need clarity and certainty as to the Irish Government's decision to support the IFA and other farm organisation and the beef sector in relation to Mercosur.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the nitrates derogation extension to our farmers and farming community. I sincerely thank the Minister, Deputy Heydon, for the work he has done to deliver this for the farming community. As Senator Daly and the previous speaker just said, we do need to call the Minister in to debate the future votes for this. Three years' time is not enough to start to accept this derogation. Really, as the only country in the EU to have this, we should be honoured. I commend the work that has been done.

On a separate personal note as we lead up to the festive Christmas season, I wish to convey a sad story. An elderly person living on his own went to mass in Listowel last Saturday evening. He had picked up his two pensions on the Thursday afternoon. Obviously, he was being targeted. While he was attending mass on Saturday, the window of his vehicle was smashed and broken into and his money was stolen. Everyone has communities, and everyone knows everyone when they live where they are living in rural Ireland. I am calling today for everybody to get involved to make our communities safe. If they see anything, there is a See Something, Say Something text alert system in Kerry. I do not know if it has been rolled out across the rest of the country. We have volumes of people living on their own coming up to the Christmas period again this year. I want them to be assured that people like their neighbours, friends and communities are looking out for them and that, if they see something, they report these guys to the Garda which will, it is hoped, catch the culprits. I ask everyone to send the message out to their own communities to get involved to make people safe and confident in their own homes.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I, too, want to support what Senator Gallagher said earlier. I want to speak about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974. The Kenova report confirms what families in Monaghan have known for over 50 years, which is that the British state played a central and shameful role in the murder of Irish citizens, North and South. My thoughts are with the families of the 34 people who lost their lives and with the many more who still carry the trauma of that horrific day -over 300 of them. The Dublin-Monaghan bombings were a horrific atrocity and yet the truth of what happened has been buried, obstructed and denied for decades. Kenova lays bare corruption, criminality and cover-ups at the highest levels of the British state. It exposes how British intelligence agencies and sections of the RUC repeatedly concealed evidence, protected murderers and ensured that justice could never run its course. Operation Denton confirms that loyalist gangs involved in the bombings were supplied with intelligence, supported by members of the British security forces and allowed to operate freely across the Border. This was not rogue behaviour. It was systematic, strategic and resourced by arms of the British state.

Operation Denton's claim that no high-level documentation exists cannot absolve responsibilities. Families know such records were never going to be written, let alone preserved. The continual refusal of British agencies to release files or co-operate fully is a disgrace and it casts doubt on any claim of good faith.Monaghan families deserve the truth. They deserve a fully independent victim-centred process not more obstruction and definitely not more reports designed to protect the British State.

I congratulate Cara Darmody on staying out last night. She is a fantastic protestor and activist for people with additional needs.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome Dundalk Grammar School to the Gallery.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I will raise something that I mentioned when I was first elected at the start of the year, the An Saol Foundation in Ballymun. It was led by Reinhard Schäler, who the Leader will remember being in the House. This cause has been championed tirelessly by Councillor Gayle Ralph, who is with us in the Gallery today. It does amazing and life-changing work. It is for people with acquired brain injuries and their families, allowing them to find dignity, hope and support through the service.

The foundation has planned for quite some time to build Teach An Saol on the Ballymun site that has already been secured by Dublin City Council. It is exactly what has been missing in the sphere of acquired brain injury. According to the State's own evidence, a HSE review in 2003, this model works and we need to implement and support it properly. It should be expanded. That is the Ballymun idea. An Saol assembled an international team of architects and engineers to design a comprehensive national centre. It was meant to have a day centre, a respite centre, therapies and, crucially, life and living spaces where people could live, rehabilitate and thrive. Despite all this, here we are a year and a bit later and we are only progressing phase 1, the day service, which is moving from Santry to Ballymun, rather than moving on the commitment behind phase 2, the residential and respite elements that make the whole pathway work. They are not extras. They are absolutely essential. Right now, consultants in trauma hospitals across the country are saying that expensive beds are being taken up by people who do not need them because there is nowhere else to send them. We are also sending young people to nursing homes. The State itself has said that must end.

Teach An Saol is shovel-ready. It is an evidence-based solution and the State has said it is going to back it. We need a clear and defined pathway and timeline for this to proceed. I refer not only to phase 1 but also to phase 2, which includes the residential and respite services. We need to ensure there is full support for the national roll-out of such a model, which delivers dignity, independence and rehabilitation. Teach An Saol shows this is possible. The Government must now put its money where its mouth is and honour its commitment.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions. We started with Senator O'Loughlin who raised the issue of international Human Rights Day with particular reference to Ukraine, Gaza, the West Bank and Sudan. Senator Joe Conway made reference to South Sudan and the issues there. He called for a debate on the matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, was in a number of weeks ago and I asked him to make reference to South Sudan. Unfortunately, there was a small turnout for that debate but I will raise that matter with the Minister for foreign affairs. Senator O'Loughlin also raised the issue of youth theatre and Crooked House. I ask her to submit a Commencement debate on that matter because it is quite a specific issue. The Senator also raised the need for a new strategy on drug use and spoke about the intimidation of families and the tragic loss of life in the arson attack in Edenderry. She called for a debate, which I will try to arrange with the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan.

Senator Ní Chuilinn congratulated Kate and Saoirse, who have been interning with her for a period of time and who have raised issues regarding the need to continue to wear school uniforms in their local school. They have suggested there should be the choice not to wear uniforms and to wear school-specific tracksuits and more comfortable clothing instead. The Senator might table a Commencement debate with the Minister for education on that matter to see whether she can gain traction.

Senator McDowell raised the issue of the European migration pact and the need for a debate on asylum policy. Fine Gael put down a Private Members' motion on the whole area of migration a number of weeks ago. The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, came in to deal with the matter. We had a good two-hour debate but I will request that the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, come in to talk about the migration pact and the issues raised at the joint committee yesterday.

Senator Tully called for emergency payments for those on disability allowance and the need for cost-of-living payments. I will request a debate with the Minister on that. The Minister for Social Protection will be in to deal with a social protection Bill later this evening. Perhaps there will be an opportunity for the Senator to raise the matter at that time.

Senator Stephenson called for a debate on gender-based violence and talked about intimate partner abuse and related issues. I will request a debate with the Minister on that matter.

Senator Costello talked about the importance of early cancer diagnosis and of diagnostic scanning. She also spoke about cancer survival rates. It is a very important issue that we have discussed in this House a number of times but I will ask the Minister to come in at a later date to talk about the very important issue of cancer.

Senator Boyle raised the issue of the fisheries talks the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, will be attending in Brussels. It will be an important number of days for the sector. There have been a lot of challenges in relation to proposals based on scientific evidence, particularly with regard to mackerel stocks. I wish Deputy Dooley well in that whole area. It is a very important issue for the sector. As the Senator has said, it has had a number of bad deals. I wish the Minister of State well on that.

Senator Craughwell commended Eoin Clancy, his niece's husband, on a bravery award. He also called for a debate on the use of drones and the security of our State. I will request that debate again.

Senator Rabbitte acknowledged the outright ban on those under 16 using social media apps on their smartphones in Australia. I suspect this is generating debate not only in this House, but in parliaments across the world. People will be examining how this works in Australia. As I understand it, a number of under-16-year-olds in Australia are challenging the ban in the courts. In this country, the Minister is looking at a digital wallet, which would be linked to the PPSN through the Department of Social Protection. This would be used to verify people's age. That would operate across all apps. It would not apply to individual social media providers but to the whole sector. That would obviously require changes to legislation. The Minister is engaging with the committee on that.

Senator Duffy raised the URDF in relation to Ballinrobe. The local development company in the area is undertaking a regeneration project at the Valkenburg Hotel. That is to be an arts, civic and amenity space. I acknowledge the work of Councillor Michael Burke and Michael Sweeney in that regard. I wish them well in their application to the URDF.

As I mentioned, Senator Joe Conway raised the issue of South Sudan.

Senators Fitzpatrick and Boyhan raised the issue of The Complex, a cultural hub on Arran Street East. They called for a meeting with the Ministers for arts and Finance. I will request that debate and bring the matter to the attention of the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance and the Minister for arts, Deputy O'Donovan. In advance of that, the Senators might propose a debate on the issue of The Complex.

Senator P.J. Murphy again raised the issue of Dunguaire Castle and called for a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Burke. I will engage with him on that. He has been a strong advocate for the reopening of Dunguaire Castle. As the Senator has said, it is an iconic tourist attraction. It is a shame that it has been closed for three years. It needs money. Galway County Council has indicated it will not take it over if it will have to be liable for the structure. It must be brought up to standard before the council will take it over. I acknowledge the Senator's work and the work of the Minister. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Burke. I will try to get statements on tourism as well.

Senator Andrews raised the issue of the Irish Glass Bottle site. I am not exactly familiar with the make-up of the development on that site in terms of affordable, social, cost-rental and all of that but the Senator raises valid questions in relation to affordability. There are two issues here. One is the viability of building apartments. The Government has made changes to make building apartments more viable. I hope we will see a ramp-up of supply in that regard. We want to see more sites, particularly brownfield sites, brought on stream to increase the supply of social and affordable housing.

Senators Paul Daly, Boyhan and Kennelly raised the positive decision of the EU nitrates committee in relation to a nitrates derogation for this country for three years.That is a great relief to those farmers who benefit from the derogation. I acknowledge the work of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Commissioners. A lot of work has been done on this over a long period. I will call for a debate on this matter, in particular in relation to the conditions of farmers. I will also request a debate with the Minister for housing and local government on water quality. There are specific issues as part of the conditionality relating to the rivers Barrow, Nore and Blackwater. There must be a whole-of-government approach to those catchments to ensure that any evident sources of pollution are dealt with during the period of the derogation because future derogations will only be available where there is improvement in water quality.

Senator Nelson Murray acknowledged the passing of the political activist Paddy Dunne at the age of 98. Our sympathies go to his family. She also raised Tabor House in Navan and the Carnaross Drama Group. I wish them well.

Senator McCormack raised the question of assessments of need. I acknowledge the work of the Minister, Deputy Naughton, in her time as Minister of State with responsibility for disability; the Minister, Deputy Foley; and also now the new Minister of State, Deputy Higgins. Changes have been made to the assessment of need process to make it faster, more efficient and more focused on identifying a child's needs. They are introducing statutory guidelines to streamline and standardise the delivery of these assessments around the country to give children quicker access to appropriate assessments. As part of these changes and to support the system, the HSE will establish 11 expert teams, to be called in-reach teams, with 44 specialist staff in total. Each team will include psychologists, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist and an administrator. I will request a debate with the Minister on that. I welcome Cara Darmody and her family to the Chamber, and acknowledge her advocacy on these matters.

Senators Gallagher and Sarah O'Reilly raised the 1974 Monaghan and Dublin bombings, Operation Denton, the Kenova report and allegations of collusion between the UVF and security forces in Northern Ireland. The Kenova report looked into activities of the Glenanne Gang and allegations of collusion. The gang is said to have consisted of members of the loyalist parliamentary group, the UVF, and members of the RUC and the Ulster Defence Regiment. However, the final Kenova report found no concrete evidence of collusion and stated that the UVF possessed the necessary materials, knowledge and expertise to carry out the bombing without any support from the British security forces. It is accepted that there were individuals within the security forces who were involved in these atrocities. I look forward to the full report on this in the new year.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the importance of the flu vaccine and encouraged people, particularly those who are vulnerable or compromised by health issues, to get the vaccine. I certainly agree with that advice. The vaccine is available through local GPs by appointment. In some cases there are walk-in vaccination clinics. I advise people to contact their local GP on that.

Senator Boyhan raised what the Irish Government is doing with regard to Mercosur. It is not just a decision for the Irish Government, as we do not have a veto on this. There is a requirement that at least four member states would have to agree to the final Mercosur deal and that it would represent 25% of the population of the European Union. The Government has had a lot of engagement with like-minded countries, particularly France and Poland. Italy, which was supportive, may have pulled out. There is still engagement on that. The work done by the Irish Farmers' Journaland the IFA to highlight the inadequacies of traceability for South American beef is assisting in terms of greater scrutiny on this very important issue. I will request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on this matter.

Senator Kennelly also welcomed the work of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on the nitrates derogation. He also highlighted the case of a robbery in Listowel, where somebody had money stolen from their car. Thankfully, it was not taken from the person themselves and it was not a physical attack, but it could have been. That is the danger with these things. It is something we all have to be mindful of in relation to our loved ones as well.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly also raised the Kenova report.

Senator McCarthy acknowledged the work of Councillor Gayle Ralph and Teach an Saol in the Ballymun area. He spoke about the importance of advancing these plans. I suggest that he tables a Commencement debate on this matter to get a specific reply on this very important issue.