Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome all Senators back after the Christmas period. I also welcome the Leader, Senator Kyne, and ask him to outline the Order of Business.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Mental Health Bill 2024 - Committee Stage (resumed) to be taken at 5:30 p.m. and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8 p.m.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I wish to express sympathies to the people of Spain on the most horrific rail crash that occurred there on Sunday last. I believe 41 people have been confirmed dead, but the number of fatalities continues to rise. Almost 150 people were injured, 12 of whom are in critical care. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been bereaved and with all of the volunteers, safety workers and aid workers who assisted at the scene.

I congratulate the Newbridge Tidy Towns Association on winning its ninth green flag in a row for the Liffey Linear Park. I take the opportunity to thank the wonderful volunteers we have in the Newbridge Tidy Towns Association and in Tidy Towns association right around the country. These people are unsung heroes who do wonderful work in trying to ensure that we live in positive environments filled with colour.

Newbridge Silverware has been in existence since 1934. It has provided employment for many people over the years. At present, there are just 11 workers employed by Newbridge Silverware on the manufacturing side. Sadly, the company announced earlier that it is going to cease manufacturing work. The 11 people who are impacted will obviously receive redundancy packages. This is the end of an era. Newbridge Silverware has a much broader remit now, and I am really glad about that. There is a wonderful visitor showcase there and there is also the equally wonderful Museum of Style Icons. It is a thriving place. I wish Newbridge Silverware continued success and thank William Doyle, his family and the staff for their many decades of service.

Just prior to Christmas, HIQA announced that it would carry out a consultation process regarding the respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, vaccine. That process will close at 5 p.m. The reason I am bringing this matter to the Leader's attention is that I do not think the consultation process should have happened of the busy Christmas period. The process involves a really important survey. I urge everybody to complete it. This is about trying to protect our older and more vulnerable people. We need to ensure that there is a pathway to immunisation through vaccination. We need to a vaccine for older people. Currently, we have vaccines in respect of Covid and the flu, but I believe we need to have it for RSV because there are so many older people who are in hospital with RSV infections. If we had the RSV vaccine, it would free up our whole health network. I encourage everybody to complete that survey before 5 p.m.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I wish to send my condolences to the McCahill family in Ardara on the sad loss of Stephen. Many of us had known Stephen for years.He was Mr. Donegal in 2000 and Donegal Person of the Year 2016. He will be a sad loss to the whole community in the county.

I want to talk about Keelogs National school in Inver, County Donegal, which is located beside the N56 - the main road to both Donegal town and Killybegs. A great deal of heavy traffic uses that road, which is also part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The speed of some of the vehicles along the section of road adjacent to the school is, to be honest, frightening. Parents and staff are very concerned that there is a risk of a serious accident at morning drop-off and evening pick-up times at the junction where people turn off the N56 to enter the school. There was a near miss there after Christmas, which got people really concerned. I ask that Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, be requested to carry out a traffic survey at that junction at both drop-off and pick-up times. A serious accident is going to occur there before something is done. We really need TII to step up and carry out a survey during the period 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and at 3 p.m. Our children should be safe going to and coming home from school. In fact, all road users should be safe. Perhaps a sign or something of that nature could be put up at the junction, but TII really needs to take an in-depth look at it at the times to which I refer.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I want to mention something that has impacted the homeless community in the past week. I know it is wearing on me, and it should be wearing on us all. I refer to the reality of homelessness on the streets and the passing of Natasha Smith last Friday. Since Christmas, we have lost three clients of the Lighthouse homeless café. Those numbers are bad but what makes it worse is that too easily those involved can become statistics and then you forget to think about who is behind the numbers. On Pearse Street on Thursday night, we had a ceilí with live music. Natasha Smith was there dancing and enjoying our community atmosphere and then on Friday morning one of our managers was asked to perform CPR on her. Unfortunately, efforts to save her were not successful. She was a beautiful lady and a mother of two. Our condolences go to Natasha's mother, who is very much alive and who is mourning her daughter.

The loss of another person on the streets of Dublin should matter to this House. When we talk about homelessness, we need to make sure we do not focus on the nearly 17,000 people who are homeless as numbers. Behind every number is a face and name. In this case, it was a mother of two. Natasha's death is a clear reminder that despite the efforts that are being made - and efforts are being made - the system is failing people with complex needs. It is ten years since I spoke in these Houses and stated that we needed to make sure we had supported housing for those with complex needs such as those relating to addiction, trauma and abuse. When services such as Focus, Simon and even Tiglin at the Lighthouse meet the people and build up a trust over time, services can be provided because we have built up the core friendship or trust that is required. It is essential that services in this area are funded.

My experience of 20 years of helping out in respect of homelessness has shown that it is not always about a having a roof over your head. Between 150 and 200 people will sleep rough this evening. It is vital that these individuals are taken into account when we are dealing with housing policy. There cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. When the weather turns and the temperature goes down, people try to survive by living in tents. They feel that by going into hostels, they lose both control and their independence. That should tell us something important, namely, that there is a gap which needs to be filled. I reiterate - and I want the Minister to hear this - that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. We need to provide supportive, trauma-informed models of housing in order to ensure that needs relating to mental health, abuse and trauma will be met. We owe it to Natasha Smith, her children, her mother and the other two people who have lost their lives since Christmas to do this. We need to do better in this area. I call on the Minister for housing to address the matter.

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise a matter of urgent public importance concerning the deeply distressing situation facing tens of thousands of family carers across the State who are receiving retrospective tax bills from Revenue. In some cases, these bills date back years.These are not high earners or tax avoiders. These are ordinary people, many elderly, many women and many caring full-time for a spouse, child, parent or loved one with a disability or a serious illness. These are people who stepped up when the State could not and who saved this country billions of euro through unpaid care, yet today they are being chased for thousands of euro in backdated tax. We are talking about carers who may be in their 70s or 80s receiving letters demanding payments of €5,000 to €6,000 or more. This is money they simply do not have and these are people who relied on these payments to survive, not knowing they had accumulated tax liability. These are carers who did not hide their income. They did not break the law; they followed the guidance they were given and trusted in the system. Now, because of the data sharing between the Department of Social Protection and Revenue, carers are being retrospectively penalised without warning, without adequate communication and without any compassion at all.

What makes this even more galling is the double standard. When Ministers in these Houses were overpaid, when allowances are miscalculated and expenses are wrongly claimed, nobody is chased years later and nobody is hit with interest, penalties or threatening letters, but when it comes to ordinary people who dedicated their lives to caring for people, suddenly they feel the full force of the State. It is one rule for those at the top and another rule for those who carried the burden of care on their backs.

Family carers are the backbone of our health and social care system and we all know that. Without them, our hospitals would collapse, our nursing homes would be overwhelmed and our disability services would simply grind to a halt. Instead of being thanked, they are now being hounded. The situation is causing huge distress, fear and anxiety for people. I have already been contacted by numerous carers who are terrified they might lose their homes or their savings or be forced into debt because of these retrospective demands. This is not the mark of a caring state whatsoever.

I ask for a debate on this issue with the Ministers for Finance and Social Protection, Deputies Harris and Calleary, as a matter of urgency. We need to have an immediate pause on all these retrospective bills. We need to review the Revenue's practice and we need to be serious when we are examining carers' payments and whether they should be tax exempt in recognition of the vital services they provide. Family carers deserve dignity, respect and fairness. They give their time, energy, health and lives to care for others. The least the State could do is not punish them for it.

Laura Harmon (Labour)
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This morning, I wish to speak about the young scientist awards. It was my first time attending the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition this year and it was incredible to see the level of talent and projects from across the country. I congratulate the overall winner, but I also want to specifically mention several awardees from Cork city: Cian Manning and Jonathan Varughese from Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh, Conall Conroy and Mícheál O Cróinín MacMathúna from Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh, Holly Forde and Saoirse O'Connor Buckley from Coláiste Muire Réalt na Mara in Crosshaven, and Hannah Collins and Lily Stapleton, whom I met, from Presentation Secondary School in Ballyphehane. I extend my thanks and congratulations to all those whom I met on the day.

I also raise an issue we have all been talking about in recent weeks, that is, artificial intelligence and Grok AI. I call for a debate in this House and for the Minister of State with responsibility for artificial intelligence, Deputy Smyth, to participate in that debate. It is very worrying that the platform X has declined an invitation to address the Oireachtas media committee on this issue. I believe the Taoiseach should intervene here and the platform should be held to account. These companies have huge power and influence and we need to ensure they are fully compliant with our laws. The issue of child abuse and sexual abuse imagery cannot be tolerated in any form and needs to be absolutely clamped down upon. Members of the public also deserve to have answers from X on this.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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This morning, I raise an issue I raised before the Christmas break and that is the closure of the The Complex multidisciplinary arts centre in Dublin city. It has now closed its doors.The artists have had to vacate the building. It is a huge loss for Dublin city. It has stripped the city of a vital creative space for community and cultural expression. It pains me to say this but this was not an inevitable outcome; it was completely avoidable. For a long time, way before the end of last year, I had been engaging with Government Departments and the city council on this issue. It is a huge loss to the city. The city is booming. We have cranes, homes being built and all sorts of developments taking place but, at the same time, the city has lost a vital creative space. I would like the Leader to arrange a debate in the House with the Minister for the Department of arts and culture. The Department’s failure to intervene to stop The Complex from closing was a missed opportunity and a worrying indication of its commitment to grassroots, independent artistic activity in the city. I implore the Leader to arrange a debate early in our schedule in the Seanad to address the issue of the closure of The Complex and, more important, how we can reopen it and have a dedicated space for independent, grassroots artists and creative activity in the city. Dublin city needs The Complex. We should not have lost it. We need it restored as soon as possible.

PJ Murphy (Fine Gael)
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I raise the issue of dereliction in our rural towns, particularly the rural town of Portumna in my area and the continued shameful state of the town’s only hotel, the Shannon Oaks Hotel. Despite years of calls to reopen the Shannon Oaks Hotel by local activists, such as local councillor, Jimmy McClearn, and many others, the investors who own this derelict property have made a decision to leave it in a shameful state of dereliction and disrepair. It is very unsightly on the edge of the town, which is now left without a hotel. As a State, we must have the means of forcing the hand of property owners and owners of derelict properties to either bring properties they own back into use or sell them. I call for a debate in the House on the topic of dereliction in our rural towns as soon as possible.

Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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I rise to speak about mental health, Traveller mental health and health in general. Under the previous Government, Travellers were promised stand-alone budget services for Traveller mental health. Unfortunately, none of that has carried through for our community in the past six years. One in 11 deaths is caused by suicide. An all-Ireland health study was carried out over 12 years ago within the Traveller community. That health study needs to be updated. Pavee Point is looking for resources and funding to be able to do that. It has called for a meeting with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, more than two times. I have written to the Minister looking for a meeting about Traveller-specific health services and I have not received a reply.

I understand that everyone has the right to go into a hospital if they are sick. Everyone has the right to go into a mental health service if they need support. I will tell the House the God’s honest truth on behalf of members of the Traveller community. I stand here as a public representative and I know what it is like to be looked down on when you go into accident and emergency departments and your word is not taken. Many Traveller women have been diagnosed with cancer and are dead and buried within two weeks. That does not happen often in the settled community but happens on a regular basis in our community.I want wraparound supports for our community. It is not about looking for special treatment; it is about basic treatment that we need.

There have been false promises. You can only kick a dog so many times until it bites you. In this new term, that is my aim. I have been nice for the past six years. I have tried my best to work with Ministers who have done little or nothing for our community. We are not second class citizens in this country; we are third class citizens. Too often, we are looked down on when it comes to health, in particular mental health. The reply from the Leader may be to suggest a Commencement matter. Commencement matters are another talking shop. We get no information and Ministers never come back with appropriate answers. We are always left wondering. I ask for a debate in the House we can all get involved in on health and Traveller mental health.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I draw urgent attention to the worsening catastrophe and crackdown in Iran. Following mass demonstrations since late December, the regime's response has been one of breathtaking brutality. Credible monitoring reports estimate that over 25,000 protesters have been killed, with tens of thousands arrested across the country. Some reports suggest more than 20,000 people may have been detained, many held incommunicado under a sweeping digital blackout. These protests are driven by a people pushed to desperation by decades of authoritarian corruption and mismanagement. Tehran, a city of more than 10 million people, is suffering severe water shortages and electricity blackouts, with experts warning of an impending water day zero. The country's president has cautioned that the capital may even face evacuation.

Meanwhile, testimonies describe the torture, rape and degrading treatment carried out systemically to terrorise civilian protesters, while Iran's judiciary declared it is just getting started in punishing so-called rioters. We cannot ignore the scale of public executions, nor the central role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps whose actions have resulted in renewed calls across Europe for its designation as a terrorist organisation, a push we must support. When the House condemned the treatment of Iranian women in October 2022, we were rightly vocal in our obligation to stand for human dignity, yet today I observe a troubling tendency among certain sections of the left more concerned with condemning the political right in the West than supporting the human rights of the Iranian people. I want to ask the left whether Iranians bleed differently from Palestinians. I ask that we place this matter on the agenda for urgent debate.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I want to recognise greatness on the Order of Business and acknowledge several outstanding achievements by individuals and communities from my county, Kerry. These achievements reflect the very best of our young people, athletes and sporting tradition. I want to congratulate 15-year-old Aoibheann Daly, whose remarkable success at the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition brought immense pride to her school, family and Kerry as a whole. Her work on a brain cancer diagnosis tool demonstrates the talent, curiosity and ambition that defines the next generation and she stands as a wonderful role model for young people across the county. I also want to pay tribute to last year's winner – we had two in a row in that category – the three sisters Laoise, Saoirse and Ciara Murphy, from Presentation Secondary School in Tralee.

I also want to recognise Killarney actress, Jessie Buckley, who continues to shine on the world stage, most recently with her success at the Golden Globes, where she won best performance by a female actor in a motion picture. Her achievements highlight the extraordinary artistic talent Kerry has long produced and her dedication to her craft is something we can all admire. She is one of ours and I wish her all the best in the upcoming Academy Awards for her role in "Hamnet".

I want to pay special tribute to our wonderful GAA football teams across Kerry. The recent victories of Ballymacelligott GAA, An Ghaeltacht GAA and Dingle GAA have brought immense pride to every corner of the county.Ballymacelligott's all-Ireland junior championship triumph reflects a club that has been steadily building and investing in its underage structures and nurturing a spirit of togetherness. An Ghaeltacht becoming all-Ireland intermediate champions and the success of Dingle Peninsula teams are a testament not only to the sporting excellence but the strength of our Gaeltacht communities. Last Sunday, Dingle - Daingean Uí Chúis - became the all-Ireland senior club champions. That victory marked three in a row, and the club's achievement showcases the resilience and pride of west Kerry. These three small parishes have taken on the country and won all-Ireland championships for Kerry. These teams represent far more than silverware. I congratulate them on unifying and bringing Kerry football back to where it should have been, with all the new rules.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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We all have to move down there.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I pay tribute to them.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Is it easy to move there?

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I raise an issue related to the childcare sector and early years educators, specifically jury duty. As the Leader knows, primary and post-primary teachers are exempt from jury duty. However, early years educators are not. As we all know, crèches are fairly tight as regards staff. When a staff member in a crèche setting is called for jury duty, the crèche does not have the luxury of having a panel or substitutes. As a result, it is more than likely that a room will have to be shut down and all the parents will have to be notified that their kids cannot go to the crèche that day because the staff member will not be available. While I know juries play a vital role in the justice system, I ask the Leader to contact the relevant Minister requesting that consideration be given to adding early years educators to the exemption list. This is to ensure that when there are calls for juries, rooms in childcare settings would not be closed down to facilitate jury duty. We should show early years educators the same respect that is shown to primary and post-primary teachers receive in this area. These facilities do not have panels or the substitutes to backfill.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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Last weekend, I attended the launch of the Lahardane community futures action plan. I have been a long-time time advocate for community empowerment. I highlight the community futures initiative and the positive impact it has on communities across the country. At the launch of the Lahardane community futures initiative, the committee, led by Caoimhín Rowland, engaged over 400 households. It identified a range of issues and ways to improve the community for the betterment of the next generation. The 400 households involved identified issues such as dereliction in Lahardane and the need for a playground and improved infrastructure in the village.

The parish of Addergoole is very historic. Father Conroy guided in General Humbert in 1798. More recently, in 1912, 14 people left the parish to board the Titanic, of whom 11 sadly passed on that tragic night. It is an incredibly historic and vibrant community that has much to offer. I also highlight the volunteers involved, namely, Aoife Barrett, Kyle Hampson, Sue Baird, Gemma McDermott, Aidan Browne, Kathleen Browne, Martina Conlon, Virginia Dyra, Kitty Mangan, Shona McAndrew, Patricia McManamon and Shauna Ruttledge, all of whom have played an active role in getting to this plan. It is one thing to have a plan, however. It is now for Mayo County Council and the Department to work alongside this community to make sure its asks are delivered in order to show strong democracy and offer a listening ear to a community that is showing great leadership. I acknowledge the work of the whole Lahardane community. It has such history with its Titanic memorial park and the beautiful stained glass windows in St. Patrick's Church which depict the Titanic tragedy and other events. I congratulate the whole committee and encourage as much support as possible from this House and across the corridor in the Dáil Chamber to make sure we deliver for Lahardane and the Addergoole parish.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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Two matters are worthy of mention today, one educational and one cultural.During the Christmas holiday period, we lost John Quinn, who was a teacher, educationalist, producer at RTÉ, writer and filmmaker. John Quinn was a gentleman and was marvellous company. He was probably best known for what was not so much an autobiography as a chronicle of his childhood and growing up, Good Night Ballivor, I'll Sleep in Trim: A Childhood Memoir. A native of Ballivor, he was the son of the local sergeant and a proud Meath man. In fact, Seán Boylan, the famed football manager from County Meath, had John co-author his magnum opuson his work in the GAA. It would be remiss of us in the Seanad not to recall the life and work of this man, in both education and broadcasting. Of the wonderful programmes he made, probably the most famous was his Jacob's Award-winning programme on the life and times of Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl. John did not quite make it to fourscore years and ten, but he was not far off. It would be nice to record in the House today that his great contribution to Irish education will not be forgotten.

The second issue I raise is a small matter of culture and sporting prowess. Senator Kennelly mentioned the prowess of people in the Kingdom. It would be remiss of me as a representative from Waterford not to draw attention to the exploits of Ballygunner GAA last Sunday and to congratulate the team on its second all-Ireland hurling club title in four years. I also acknowledge the stout-hearted men from Loughrea GAA who made such a contest of the match, which was a great advertisement for the game. It takes two great teams to make a great final. Well done to Ballygunner and gura fada buan é a scéal sa todhchaí.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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There might be a few votes in Loughrea for Senator Conway.

Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for sport, Deputy O'Donovan, for coming to Crumlin last week. This is not just a "thank you" to him; it is also an acknowledgement that in 14 or 15 years living in Crumlin, I do not remember previously seeing a Minister for sports around those parts. I am very grateful he came out at my request last week. It is really important that the voices of sportspeople in Crumlin and Drimnagh are heard. As I mentioned previously in this Chamber, the biggest issue in regard to sport in the area concerns playing pitches and access to sporting facilities. It is something the local authority is targeting and working on but there also needs to be some focus on it from local enterprises and other groups. I am glad to be a voice for the issue in the area.

The Minister visited the Iveagh Grounds in Crumlin, which was bought by Trinity College from Diageo in 2017. It is a 17-acre site with a full-sized GAA pitch, access to a former hockey pitch that is to be regenerated, rugby, soccer, lawn bowls, athletics facilities and more. It is an enormous site but it is not really reaching its potential at the moment. Trinity College plans to redevelop it and I welcome the college's engagement with me over the past four or five months. I also welcome that one of the things the Minister said during his visit was that the local authority will have a role to play in this. That is really important because although this is privately owned land, it has served the community going way back to the Guinness workers in the 1920s. There is an emotional tie to this land and it is very important that the local authority understands it is an exciting project on which it can partner. The same goes for the Dublin county board in regard to the handball alley on the site, which is a protected structure.

This is an exciting project and something to celebrate for Crumlin. I thank the Minister for visiting. It is really important that Ministers are visible in these areas. Sport is a huge part of life in Crumlin. This is the first time I can remember a sports Minister going out there. I thank him very much for doing so.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise an anomaly to do with the age at which pupils in special education schools complete their education.Special schools are classified as primary schools. It is intended to provide an education to children and young people with special educational needs from the age of four years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. I was contacted by the parents of a young man who is 17. He was in a mainstream primary school but was then diagnosed with moderate to severe autism and it was deemed that he would be more appropriately educated in a special school. He went into that special school, but he was then informed at the beginning of his fourth year that he would have to leave the school at the end of this year because he turns 18 next summer. The family have appealed this decision but they have to wait until April for this appeal to be heard, which is quite late in the year, particularly for an autistic child, who does not know what is going to happen and who needs certainty and routine.

Most children start school at the age of five and most complete 14 years in school, with eight in primary school and six in secondary school if they do transition year, which most do. That leaves them approaching 19 years of age when they finish school. It is unfair that children in a special educational setting should have to leave at 18. I ask that we write to the Minister for education and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education to ask them to look into this. Instead of having to appeal the situation every year, if a child wants to remain until they are 19, for example, they should be able to do so.

I taught in a mainstream school. I can recall a student celebrating their 21st birthday while in school. It was a student who had gone through the mainstream system, but had additional needs and had repeated school years somewhere along the way. They were allowed to continue until they completed their education, even though they were at the age of 21. There is no age restriction in any other school, and I do not think it is fair to have it in a special school. I ask that we contact the Minister on this issue.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I lend my voice and support to those involved in the campaign in relation to dog attacks on sheep. As we know, the lambing season is just beginning and is a very busy time for farmers. Unfortunately, the incidence of attacks on livestock is on the increase. Last year, 2025, there was a 4% increase on the 2024 figure. There were some 287 attacks by dogs that involved almost 2,100 animals, and two thirds of those, some 1,600, were sheep. It is a very traumatic experience for the farmers involved, not just from a financial perspective, but more so from an emotional perspective. To come upon an attack on sheep, in particular lambs, is a very traumatic experience.

Some work has been done in this regard but, unfortunately, it appears that much more needs to be done. It was somewhat disappointing that the Department of agriculture figures show that of the dogs that entered local authority pounds last year, only 56% were tagged. That is quite a depressing statistic, given that legislation was introduced in 2016 to ensure all dogs would be microchipped. Unfortunately, it appears that much needs to be done in this regard.

Many people have been involved in campaigns, including the farmers’ organisations. I pay particular credit to a County Monaghan family, Niamh Monahan and her father, Eamonn, from Inniskeen. They suffered an attack on their pedigree herd in 2025, which was a very traumatic experience for them. They are involved in the campaign and, for the information of Members, they are in the audiovisual room today, where Niamh is giving a presentation on what she feels has to be done. That presentation has been organised by our colleague, Senator Paul Daly. I would encourage as many as possible to attend.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Before I move to the next speaker, I welcome the Farmer’s Haggart group. They are guests of the Ceann Comhairle. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today. I call Senator Craughwell.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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The Leas-Chathaoirleach, the Leader and all colleagues will know that every day of the week, members of our Defence Forces undertake duties on behalf of the State. Their job, of course, is to protect property and human life. I know that the Leader, in particular, will have an interest.On 15 August 2024, while driving into Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Renmore, County Galway, Fr. Paul Murphy was viciously attacked by an assailant. That attack demonstrated two things. First and foremost, it demonstrated that Fr. Murphy is an extremely resilient man who dealt with his injuries with great honour. More importantly, our Defence Forces have now recognised four of their members who are to be awarded with the Distinguished Service Medal, DSM. I am delighted to say that the first female in the history of the Defence Forces to be awarded a DSM for action while on duty is Private Ciara Shanahan, who was the first person on the scene following Fr. Murphy's attack. Ciara was on duty at the gate of Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa when the priest was attacked. Unarmed, she approached the assailant and saved Fr. Murphy's life. That was followed by the swift action of Corporal Daniel Padden, guard commander at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, and Private Dylan Geraghty. Much must be appreciated about the work of these people that night. Three people could be dead, particularly as the soldiers on duty were entitled to use lethal force. They did not do so. They used their discretion and saved the priest's life. They are now being properly rewarded.

I also recognise the Chief of Staff and his senior generals. This is probably one of the quickest reviews of a situation of bravery and valour in the Defence Forces. Three members of my former battalion, an Chéad Chathlán Coisithe, will be awarded the DSM. The incident to which I refer happened on 15 August, and they will be awarded medals on 12 February. It took from 1999 to 2025 for Billy Kedian as an Chéad Chath to be awarded his DSM. Fair play to the Defence Forces. My compliments to the Chief of Staff and the general staff for getting this done so quickly.

Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)
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I wish to speak about the Mercosur deal which, as the House will be aware, was signed last Saturday. I commend our Government on making the right decision two weeks ago when Ireland voted no on the deal. It is a bad deal for our farmers as we are very much aware but what is more important, and has not been raised enough, is the bad deal it is for health. We saw the investigation prior to Christmas by the Irish Farmers' Journal and the Irish Farmers Association that involved people going undercover in Brazil to look at access to the antimicrobials, antibiotics and growth hormones many Brazilian animals are being fed. The latter goes against the EU's One Health strategy and its policy on microbial resistance and is going to put resistance to microbes in this country in danger going forward. These are very dangerous products to be putting into our system and the food chain.

Thousands of farmers are protesting in Strasbourg against the deal. While it has been signed, the deal has yet to be delivered. While we will not have the vote in the European Parliament for a number of months - I encourage all MEPs to vote against the deal - there will be a vote in Strasbourg tomorrow on whether to refer the deal to the Court of Justice of the European Union to see if it is compliant with European policy. Again, I encourage all our MEPs to vote against this tomorrow. It is a bad deal for farmers and for health. There are over 206,000 tonnes of Mercosur beef coming into the EU yearly already, and consumer awareness in this regard is not where it should be. I call on the Ministers for Health and agriculture to address this matter. I want the Minister for Health to address the implications the introduction of these beef products will have for our health system and for antimicrobial resistance. I want the Minister for agriculture to look at how we raise consumer awareness of this issue.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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I join my colleague Senator Joe Conway in paying tribute to the late John Quinn and extend my condolences to John's family. The documentary "Ballyfin - A Boarding School Memory" was very well received more than 30 years ago. John will be missed by a friend of mine, namely Helen Murphy of Port Road in Killarney, who corresponded with him regularly.

I also take the opportunity to recall Mary White, a former Senator who has departed this life.Mary served in the Seanad and myself and Senator Martin Conway had the pleasure of serving alongside her. I am sure we will be paying tribute to her in due course but I want to extend my condolences to her husband, Padraic, her daughter, Cliona, and her friends and family.

The so-called nudification controversy about generative online chatbots, nonconsenual deepfakes and sexualised images, including those of children, deserves an immediate response from us as legislators. Down the road we will have an EU AI Act although it will not be fully effective until the autumn. That may help but what can we do now? I propose two things, the first of which is an emergency solution banning AI online chatbots from producing nude images. It is a partial solution. It is not comprehensive but it would curb overt explicit output by enforcing stricter safeguards like prompt filters or output scanners that would detect and block nudity. Of course there will be problems and it may prevent some innovation. Enforcement, of course, will rely on AI self-policing but we can talk ourselves out of any solution if we wish. The question is how serious we are about this. An immediate, short-term solution will sharpen the wits of big tech and make them come up, more quickly, with better solutions. They created the problem and they must solve it if they want AI chatbots to survive.

The second, almost immediately applicable, solution is mandatory watermarking of AI outputs whereby providers of generative AI systems automatically embed an identifiable watermark into every piece of content that AI creates. In short, if something is created, it should be capable of being traced back to its creator. I do not know the degree to which the EU AI Act will mandate this but it is a necessary requirement on all AI graphic output and is implementable. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. This remedy, like many others, is prone to manipulation by big brother and therefore free speech advocates must help to ensure that any legislation controlling its use is appropriately tempered. Finally, I would say in the spirit of Carthago delenda est that sooner or later if we are going to get to grips with the problem facing our society, pornography must be brought online. We must not stop saying that just because it seems like a long-term goal.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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First, I want to extend my sincere condolences to Padraic White, his daughter and family and pay tribute to Mary White. What a wonderful Senator she was. I am sure we will have an opportunity to pay tribute to her at some later point but I would just like to say now that Mary White was a great friend, a great personal mentor, a true republican and an entrepreneur. I look forward to having the opportunity to pay tribute to her to a greater extent in this House.

Yesterday I was in Galway where President Connolly officially launched the Simon Communities of Ireland Older Adult Homelessness in Ireland report. It was well publicised on television, radio and on other media. The report was a collaborative effort bringing together local and international client perspectives to provide insights and explore practical solutions. The President highlighted some of the key recommendations in the report. I pay tribute to the CEO of Galway Simon, Ms Carol Baumann. That organisation has been involved in developing accommodation units there itself. The report draws attention to the issue of elderly homelessness in the context of rents, the cost of property, social isolation and the limits on HAP. All of these are challenges and this cohort of people needs our support, focus and attention. I also thank Ms Ber Grogan and wish her well as the new executive director of Simon Communities, which does amazing work. I will be asking the Oireachtas housing committee to give this report further consideration. I also want to thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, who gave a very impressive presentation and overview of Government policy on older adult homelessness in Ireland.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
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In the last few weeks I have met a remarkable group of people, originally from various African countries, who have made their new home in Sligo. They are anxious to contribute to their new home in whatever way possible and have asked me to draw attention to a letter on behalf of the Abolish Direct Provision Ireland group, addressed to all elected representatives. This letter calls for the endorsement of the group's Amnesty 2.0 campaign. It states as follows:

For over twenty-six years, the Direct Provision system has subjected thousands of individuals and families to conditions unworthy of a State committed to human rights. Many of our members [of Abolish Direct Provision Ireland] have spent prolonged periods five, ten, or in some cases more than fifteen years living under a system characterised by restriction, isolation, discrimination, and systemic dehumanisation. These experiences include social exclusion, reputational harm, emotional distress, and repeated incidents of verbal and physical abuse. Such conditions have no place in a modern and compassionate Republic.

Despite these challenges, the people within Direct Provision have demonstrated exceptional resilience, commitment, and civic responsibility. Our members are workers, learners, community volunteers, and parents contributing daily to Irish society. Their work ethic, strong integration, and outstanding references from employers, educators, and community leaders directly counter harmful stereotypes and show a community ready and fully equipped to continue contributing to Ireland’s social and economic life.

Our request is reasonable, constructive, and in the national interest. We are not seeking new financial supports or additional public resources. We are simply seeking the right to remain lawfully in Ireland the country where our members have studied, worked, paid taxes, raised children, integrated into communities, and built meaningful lives. In return, Ireland gains stability within essential sectors experiencing labour shortages, strengthens its social fabric, and moves closer to ending an outdated and costly [direct provision] system.

[...]

In this context, we respectfully request your endorsement of the Amnesty 2.0 campaign, calling on the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, to grant permission to remain to the 1,500 [that is all it is] ADPI members still living in Direct Provision and emergency accommodation.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Blarney Street primary school from Cork. They are guests of Deputy John Paul O'Shea. I hope you enjoy your visit. It is customary that there is no homework for the rest of the day. I call Senator Martin Conway.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I would also like to welcome the school and second the Leas-Chathaoirleach's proposal of no homework. I am sure Deputy O'Shea would agree - for the week. I join Senators Mullen and Boyhan and others in paying a heartfelt tribute to the late former Senator Mary White. I had the privilege of serving with her in my first term in the Oireachtas. Not alone was she an outstanding Senator and a great contributor on issues to do with enterprise, she was also a trailblazer in business, having set up Lir Chocolates and run it very successfully. She was affectionally known by many as "Mary chocolate". She was a wonderful woman and I would like to pay my respects to her husband, Padraic, and her daughter.

I call for a debate on foreign affairs, specifically what is happening internationally. It is extremely serious. Ireland needs to show leadership. We have done so in the past and can now and into the future in terms of what is happening in Iran - I pay tribute in particular to the Minister for foreign affairs on her leadership on Iran - and what is happening in America. Just because we have a special relationship with the United States, it does not mean we should condone in any way what is happening and the behaviour towards Greenland and Denmark. As a country, we have influence in America. We now need to step up, do what is right and use our influence in America to push back against what is sadly becoming the soundings of dictatorship. It is totally wrong. It cannot happen and it should not happen. The language needs to be changed and there needs to be pushback. The whole world, where possible, needs to unite against what is happening and the provocative language being used in the United States at the moment.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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When is a peace plan not a peace plan? That is a question many people across the country are asking in relation to the Gaza peace plan, the deal that is being brokered and overseen by Trump but which leaves many of us very concerned. This peace plan does nothing to end any of the injustices and violence experienced by the Palestinian people. The Palestinians, who have suffered the most, are not involved in the plan. They do not even get one seat at the table. They have been sidelined while the occupying force of Israel is dictating who can and cannot be involved. This plan has been designed by the US and it is simply being imposed on the Palestinian people. The governance of Gaza is to be handed to this so-called board of peace made up of US political figures, former and current western leaders and figureheads of international finance.Even Putin apparently has been given a potential position on this board, despite his illegal invasion of and war in Ukraine. Trump has offered a way to buy permanent membership of the so-called "board of peace" by paying $1 billion in order that the richest countries in the world can get a seat at the table without any Palestinians being involved. This should be a great cause of concern for all of us. Trump has redefined the meaning of the word "peace". In his world, up is down, left is right, conflict is peace and might is right. We cannot allow this to continue. Peace will not work if it is imposed and if it does not include meaningful Palestinian engagement and participation. We cannot allow so-called peace agreements to be rammed through so egregiously, whether in Gaza or, indeed, in Ukraine.

This peace plan has come after this alleged ceasefire. I call it that because over 450 people have been killed and over 1,200 injured since October 2025. UNICEF tells us that while air strikes and gunfire have slowed, they have not ceased. International law is just an aspiration. We have no meaning of international law any more. We are not governed by any concepts of international law within the international community and this peace plan could be seen as more of an occupation of Gaza. We cannot allow this. We need to stand up for international law. We are not only legally obligated to do so but are morally obligated to do. We cannot accept plans like this that are simply not human rights compliant and do not adhere to any of the academia around peacebuilding and peacemaking.

It is completely beyond the realms of reality that we can be doing and inviting something like this. I would love the Minister to come in here for a debate because last week she said that this is a moment of hope but we cannot be remotely hopeful at this board of peace.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome all my colleagues and the staff and wish everybody a very happy new year.

Today, I want to bring up the issue of road safety and road traffic and how the two are mixed. I am particularly struck by so many tragedies that we have seen across 2025 and, indeed, at the start of 2026. In my own area of Wexford, I specifically want to highlight three key areas. Clohamon cross on the N80, not too far from Bunclody and Enniscorthy, is well known to local motorists as an area which, too regularly, sees serious car accidents. Regrettably, it is only a matter of time until there is another loss of life at that site. I want to highlight Kyle Cross on the N11. Located between Enniscorthy and Wexford town, it is an area that has seen far too many fatal accidents over the last number of years. Finally, I want to highlight the very significant issue of the crossing at Larkin's Cross, located on the N25 between Wexford town and New Ross. Only two weeks ago, there was, yet again, a very serious accident. It is truly a miracle that nobody was killed in a two-car collision that occurred on that site. We need to have the Minister for Transport in this Chamber to answer directly as to why Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, is taking so long to address the serious road traffic issues at those three sites in Wexford. I encourage the Leader to organise a debate in this Chamber with the Minister for Transport on road traffic generally and on road safety and what can be done to stop so many people losing their lives on our roads.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Before I call on the Leader, I, too, would like to be associated with the votes of sympathy to Padraic White on the passing of former Senator Mary White, and also to his brother, Michael White, who lives in Limerick and worked with Enterprise Ireland for many years. May she rest in peace.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions here this afternoon on the Order of Business.

Senator O'Loughlin expressed sympathies and condolences to the people of Spain on the tragic train crash and all the deceased, and to all their loved ones. The Senator also raised the volunteering spirit of Newbridge Tidy Towns. She also expressed disappointment over the redundancies in Newbridge Silverware but highlighted the fact that there is still the ongoing showcase and showrooms in relation to Newbridge Silverware as well.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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And other providers.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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There are lots of them.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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There are lots of them. This issue is not just being raised here; it is worldwide. The worldwide backlash on this is to be acknowledged. Hopefully, it will have the desired effect.

Senator Fitzpatrick called for a debate with the Minister for arts, Deputy O'Donovan, on the closure of The Complex in Dublin city. I will request that debate. The Senator may wish to put down a Commencement matter to get a more immediate response.

Senator Murphy raised dereliction in some rural, and indeed urban, areas. He particularly raised the Shannon Oaks Hotel in Portumna, which was subject to fire a long number of years ago and has been left in a sorry state. That is a great pity for the town of Portumna and its hinterland. People having functions, weddings, funerals, christenings and all of that would have receptions there so it is a huge economic loss to the town and hinterland. The Senator called for a debate on dereliction. I will request that.

Senator Flynn raised Traveller mental health. She called for Traveller-specific healthcare wraparound supports and for a debate on mental health.I will request that. I know the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community is ongoing and that she is a member. I will engage with members of the committee in relation to this matter, as well as requesting a debate. It is an area that crosses a number of Departments. Obviously, accommodation is under the aegis of the Departments of housing and Health, and I will request a debate with the Minister on that matter.

Senator Keogan quite rightly raised the issue of the protests in Iran and the torture, abuse and deaths, which cannot be ignored internationally. We have not seen this on our televisions over the past number of weeks because the footage has been blocked but we have heard the reports and we have seen some imagery that was sneaked out of Iran and Tehran of the issues and the massive protests on the streets. Human rights abuses in any part of the world are to be condemned and certainly the crackdown and what is going on in Iran is to be condemned. I hope there can be a peaceful transition if that is to the benefit of the Iranian people, which I believe it would be. I will request a debate with the Minister on that.

Senator Kennelly raised congratulations in relation to a number of, as he called them, Kerry greats: Aoibheann Daly, the Stripe young scientist of the year, Jessie Buckley on her success; and Ballymacelligott GAA and Dingle GAA on their victories. In the case of Dingle, I also send commiserations to St Brigid's of Roscommon on the result at the weekend.

Senator Collins raised the issue of jury duty and whether there can be exemptions for creche teachers and those who are involved in early years education. The loss of an early year educator to jury duty would perhaps mean that class would have to close or that room would have to close. It is an interesting suggestion. The Senator might put down a Commencement debate with the Minister for justice to see if that matter could be examined.

Senator Duffy raised the Lahardane community futures initiative and commended all those involved in the group, that is, the volunteers, and the plans they have in relation to identifying the issues, the positives and the weaknesses and what is needed in the community. He mentioned a playground and issues of tackling dereliction. Obviously, there are a number of schemes that would benefit the local community there, whether it be CLÁR, if it applies in relation to dereliction. There are possibilities there. I wish them well. The Senator is quite right to say the plan is there and it cannot be put on the shelf. It is important that Mayo County Council, the Department and Oireachtas Members put the plan into place, in conjunction with the local community.

Senators Joe Conway and Mullen raised the passing of broadcaster and author John Quinn. May he rest in peace. I acknowledge him as well.

Senator Conway also commended Ballygunner GAA, who are now all-Ireland club champions, and acknowledged the valiant efforts of Loughrea GAA. Commiserations to all the team and management there in Loughrea.

Senator Ní Chuilinn acknowledged and thanked the Minister for sport, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, for going to look at the Iveagh Grounds in Crumlin. It is a 17 acre site which has a lot of possibilities in relation to sport. The local authority obviously needs to have a role in that regard as well. She acknowledged and thanked the Minister and hopes to see progress in that area, given the importance of sport across all of our communities and the great successes, whether they be rural or urban. In some communities, it can be an extra incentive to encourage youngsters to stay on the right path. That has to be acknowledged.

Senator Tully raised the issue of special schools and students not being able to stay in those schools past their 18th year because of certain classifications. That is a very interesting issue and she suggested it should be changed to reflect what happens in mainstream schools at the moment. She might put down a Commencement debate to the Department of education and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, on that. It is something that should be looked at. I will contact the Minister about it.

Senator Gallagher raised the issue of the increase in the number of dog attacks on sheep. In advance of the lambing season, it is obviously an issue.He talked about the number of dogs in pounds that do not have microchips despite legislation. He talked about the traumatic impact of dog attacks, first on the sheep that are savaged, maimed and sometimes killed, and also on the farmers and their families, particularly youngsters within the family who see this or have to deal with it.

Senator Craughwell raised the attack in August 2024 on Fr. Paul Murphy in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore. Fr. Murphy has borne his injuries with great dignity and honour. He has commended the three soldiers who were there to save his life and who are to receive distinguished service medals, Ciara Shanahan, Daniel Padden and Dylan Geraghty. I look forward to that ceremony and I know the Minister is due to come down next month to honour those acts of bravery.

Senator Lynch welcomed that the Government opposed the Mercosur deal which is bad for farmers and bad for the health of consumers. She spoke about the protesting farmers in Brussels and said that the deal may be referred to the European Court of Justice. There will be a vote in the European Parliament on that. She called for a debate with the Minister for Health and Minister for agriculture. I will certainly raise it. There has been a lot of discussion on this. She has said it is bad for farmers. It certainly could be bad for beef farmers. I think there are also positives from the deal, but overall the Government made the decision that the impact on the beef sector and on our health was sufficient to vote against it.

Senators Mullen, Conway and others raised the passing of the former Member of this House, Mary White. I am sure the Cathaoirleach, when he is back, will lead tributes to his former party colleague. I did not serve with Mary White but I knew her from the time I was in the other House. She was always a lady and I offer my sympathies to Padraic and her family. May she rest in peace.

Senator Boyhan raised the Simon Communities report which was published yesterday by President Connolly and the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell. He called for a debate on this matter and said he would raise it at the housing committee. I will certainly request a general debate on housing and homelessness.

Senator Cosgrove raised the Amnesty 2.0 campaign, seeking rights to remain lawfully for people who have been caught for years in the direct provision system. She called for the Minister for justice to provide for that. I will certainly engage with the Minister on the matter. Obviously, I cannot do it on his behalf. I do not know what stage these cases are at, whether they are subject to appeals or have been approved and are stuck in limbo in direct provision. I will certainly request the Minister to look at that and I will pass on the Senator's thoughts on the matter, as outlined in her contribution.

Senator Martin Conway called for a debate on international affairs and highlighted the threats to Greenland, which is part of Denmark, a NATO country and a European Union member. There has been an amount of support, both from the Government here and across Europe, in relation to the sovereignty of Greenland, which can only be decided by the people of Greenland themselves but obviously under the protection of Denmark as well. I hope the threats will come to nought and that there pressure will be brought to bear within the United States and from members of the president's own Republican Party.

Senator Stephenson raised the Gaza peace plan and called for a debate with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on the matter. The peace plan was designed by the United States and there is concern that it usurps or undermines the United Nations in how it is constructed and also about those who may be on the board. I know the Government is looking at it. I will also request a debate with the Minister.

Senator Cathal Byrne called for a debate on road safety. He mentioned specific locations on the N80, N11 and N25 in Wexford, and called for a debate with the Minister for Transport. It is important that these areas identified through local authorities are pushed up the line and put on priority lists for improvement. I am not fully au faitwith the locations, the length of road and whether they are part of a bigger project down the line or whatever.Certainly, the Senator is right to raise them and I have no doubt that he will continue his advocacy, whether through a Commencement matter or in the debate on road safety we will have in the House in the coming weeks. I will request that.