Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I call the Leader to outline the Order of Business.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Planning and Development Bill 2023 - Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 5.45 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government; and No. 2, Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 7 p.m. and to adjourn at 9 p.m., if not previously concluded.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the students from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan. They are very welcome to the Seanad. I call Senator O’Loughlin.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. On behalf of the people of Kildare, can I say how pleased we are to have had €8.3 million in sports grants awarded to the county late last night? It is really important news. Our sports centres and volunteers are the lifeblood of our community. On behalf of those who may have been disappointed at being invalidated for reasons that could be rectified, I ask for a speedy appeals process for those that are deserving of those grants.

I also raise the remediation scheme for apartments that were built during the Celtic tiger times. We have been waiting for a remediation scheme for quite some time. I note and welcome that details of the scheme were brought to the Cabinet very recently for approval. It is expected that legislation will give force to the scheme later this year, hopefully within the next few weeks and months. I have a concern regarding what is proposed in that houses with defects are excluded from the scheme. Many of us remember a situation that happened in Newbridge, in the constituency in which I live, in 2015. At the time, six houses in Millfield Manor went ablaze and burned to the ground. There were people living in them. Thankfully, this happened during the day and nobody was injured or hurt. However, the owners have been left in limbo completely in respect of this scheme. I have been calling for it ever since then and was very disappointed when I saw that redress was going to be designed solely for apartments and duplexes and not for houses. There is no clear logic to this. Many houses that are highly deficient in fire safety measures are not included. I call for them to be included and for the legislation be amended.

I also raise the issue of the upcoming Hallowe'en season. Now is the time to talk about it, not the week of Hallowe'en, as now is the time when people travel over the Border to buy fireworks which are clearly illegal in the Republic. This causes many problems for older people, for example, for people who live with autism and for animals. I was recently contacted by a constituent whose dog had a stroke last year and who has had to pay resulting medical bills of €4,500. Now is the time to plead with people to please not buy fireworks and bangers. They are illegal. I ask that this be policed appropriately.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I call Senator Lombard.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge what is on the Order of Business this morning. It is really important that we have a debate this afternoon about gambling. That is necessary legislation and I look forward to contributing to it. Every time you go out to the pub, you meet people who talk about the addictions they have. It is wonderful that we are making good progress with this legislation.

I also wish to acknowledge the amount of money given out in sports capital grants. It is quite a significant sum of money. A total of €5 million was given to west Cork last week. The people of Cork South-West benefited from Belgooly to Castletownbere.

One of the clubs in Cork South-West that I particularly want to highlight is Bandon Athletic Club. It received a considerable allocation of more than €404,000. This is a thriving athletics club and community which takes in not alone Bandon, but the entire hinterland around it. It is great to think that Bandon got the recognition it deserves with such an allocation. With investments of that kind, athletics can move forward and take up its rightful place as one of the most popular sports in Ireland. In many ways, athletics has not been looked on as it should have been. It is the biggest sport there, with people of all ages and genders involved. It is a very important sport. It is great that athletics received such money and I wish to acknowledge that. I wish Bandon Athletic Club the best of luck. It is one of the most thriving sports clubs that we have in west Cork.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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On our return to the House, I wish to raise Israel’s escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.I highlight to the House that in the past 36 hours, Israel has launched three separate waves of airstrikes across south Lebanon, deep into the Beqaa Valley, and striking targets in Beirut, in Dahieh province, which is a suburb. In that period, Israel has slaughtered more than 500 people. As of this morning, I think it is in excess of 600 civilians, including 100 women and more than 50 children. This is the femicide and the infanticide that was wrought upon Gaza, writ large again in Lebanon.

Let me be very clear, with the pager attack, when we get past the technological aspects and its perceived ingenuity, it was simply improvised explosive devices dispersed across a large part of the population and detonated simultaneously. That falls within the definition of a terrorist attack. Netanyahu has signalled very clearly, that in his impending assault on Lebanon, he has abandoned the rules-based order and the laws of armed conflict. He is telling the Lebanese that what he did in Gaza he will do in Lebanon, throughout their country. In the last 36 hours, that figure of 600 people killed matches exactly - to use the appalling calculus of Netanyahu and those who enable him - the casualty rate of Gaza, which has led to the deaths of more than 40,000 people. What a figure. Imagine, 40,000 people butchered.

In discussions with a previous Israeli ambassador, she said to me that the Israelis never retaliated against Germany for what the Nazis did and in fact Israel built up relations with the German Government. This was the first country Israel established formal relations with but Israelis are able to distinguish between Germans and the Nazis. However, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant and others in his cabinet, who describe Palestinians as "human animals", refuse to distinguish between Palestinians, Gazans and Hamas and they refuse now to distinguish between ordinary Lebanese civilians and Hezbollah. There will be an invasion, mark my words, between now and 7 October, the anniversary of the despicable, genocidal attack by Hamas on Israel. In the middle of that we have hundreds of Irish troops. I ask the House to think of the men and women who are serving in south Lebanon. They are now de facto human shields in the villages and towns that are being targeted in this indiscriminate manner by Israel. I also think of their families at the moment. It is a particularly worrying time for them.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Well said.

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
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I seek leave from the House to introduce a Bill entitled the Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2024, which proposes to amend the Domestic Violence Act 2018 in relation to the offence of coercive control, by extending the meaning assigned in section 39 of the Act to the term "relevant person" in order to broaden the definition of "relevant person". The current range of relationships covered by section 39(4) has been described by Dr. Fergus Ryan as "quite narrow" and is confined to relationships that can be described as "conjugal" or "romantic" in origin. It was reported in 2019 that 15% of domestic violence order applications are brought by parents against adult children. It is reasonable to conclude that other family relationships may give rise to domestic violence or coercive control issues. The purpose of the amendment is to permit those victims of coercive control, within the family setting, to seek the protection of the courts. I thank my fellow Senators for co-sponsoring the Bill.

I am seeking leave to have No. 7 taken before No. 1. At the appropriate time, I will formally propose that be done. It is my fifth Bill in this area. The Minister has been responsive but there is much more that could and should be done.

Senator Clonan has eloquently described the barbaric outrage which is happening in the Middle East. It is an absolute disgrace. It cannot and should not be tolerated - the horrific, ongoing outrage by the Israel Defence Forces in the Middle East. We have all done our part but more must be done. The Green Party was instrumental in securing a further €20 million to support UNRWA. The party canvassed hard and campaigned for Ireland's intervention in the International Court of Justice challenge by South Africa and the long overdue recognition of the State of Palestine. We were one of the first parties in Europe, in the heat of that barbaric slaughter of innocent Israelis, to say that there were underlying causes behind the attack, much as we unreservedly condemned the work of Hamas on that day, which was also atrocious. The next step has to be the enactment of the occupied territories Bill. It should be enacted.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Well said.

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
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It has to be enacted and the Government is slow and stalling that. There is no reason to stall the legislation. This is a murderous regime, directed by a bloodthirsty leader, who clearly places no value on life. Israel is a rogue state purporting to be a democratic one. It has long since abandoned the rule of law. It is a blatant hypocrisy to treat Israel any differently from North Korea or Russia. I request a debate on the occupied territories Bill. I want to know the reasons we are not progressing that faster. There is no legal reason we should have any truck, support or economic involvement with illegal settlements.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Mark Wall (Labour)
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I support Senator Clonan's and Senator Martin's contributions. I received a number of phone calls yesterday from very worried families of our brave Defence Forces members. We have to ask Senator Clonan to assure them that they are in our thoughts and prayers. We need to ensure that their safety is paramount at this time. Those brave people serving overseas are foremost in our thoughts today because their families are very concerned about them.

I want to raise the issue of an article this morning by Emma O'Kelly, the RTÉ education correspondent, on Irish Sign Language, ISL. Two deaf students have applied to the Department of Education to make Irish Sign Language available as a leaving certificate examination subject. Sixth year students, Ellie Wood and Shane Hamilton, say it is very unfair and discriminatory that students can sit examinations in a wide range of EU languages but they cannot sit their exams in their first language, which is ISL. They go on to say that it feels like they are lesser than other people. They also said that they learned ISL before they learned English. They are seeking that ISL become part of the leaving certificate curriculum. We should have a debate and truly support this call by the pupils of the Cabra school. I support this because next weekend in my home town of Athy, we will have an ISL festival, as we have had for the last number of years. We are very proud to have an ISL group in the town, which does tremendous work. The group is converting Athy into an ISL-friendly town. It has at least 60 people participating every week in using and learning ISL. I wish Maggie, Linda, Breda and Mary all the best with their festival this weekend. I support the call for ISL to become a leaving certificate subject.

I also seek an urgent debate on school transport. Every year, I bring up the lack of tickets, transport and availability. I am dealing with a number of families in the Cut Bush area and in Kildare town, Monasterevin and Rathangan who have failed to get bus tickets. They have written to the Minister for Education. They are simply not getting any answers. I have tabled questions and the Minister has come back to say that it is simply not available. We were promised a reboot of the school transport system.

I will quote one parent who has come back to me because of the lack of correspondence. She states:

I have heard no news from the Minister. I received a refund email from Bus Éireann back in July that there is no bus route from my area and therefore, I would receive a refund in ten days.

Yesterday, she had still not received the refund. There is something seriously wrong with the school transport system in this country and it needs urgent attention for those families who are struggling to get their children to school. We need an urgent debate with the Minister for Education.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I agree with the previous speaker. There is no legal, moral or justifiable reason for failing to enact the occupied territories Bill. It is a basic first step of compliance with international law. I am very proud to be a co-sponsor of the Bill, which was introduced by my CEG colleague, Senator Frances Black. The delays are damning. The arms embargo Bill is another Bill that should be enacted. It was brought forward last spring by the CEG group and we were assured by Government that we had nothing to worry about and that there was nothing to see in the context of arms passing through Ireland because the Government chose not to inspect or check if there is anything to see. Others have checked and now we know there are arms. We discussed the appalling death we have seen in Lebanon and Gaza. We cannot know but there is every chance that the weapons that killed those women, children and all those people, may have passed through Ireland with silent complicity and the turning of a blind eye. There has been a failure to use the existing powers to start inspecting aeroplanes and an intentional blocking of the arms embargo Bill in the same way the Government has blocked the occupied territories Bill for six years.

We also should not have any deniability in some of the provisions being guillotined today in respect of the Planning and Development Bill. A brave individual former TD who was a Fine Gael backbencher, Tony McLoughlin, brought forward legislation to ban fracking. Everyone spoke about how terrible and awful fracking is, which t is. However, the same parties will now push through legislation to facilitate fracking around the world, with Ireland acting as a hub for liquefied natural gas. This is a priority development, which will bypass local authorities and go straight to the commission. This is not just about the storage or importation by the way; it will include the liquefying and all the filthy processes that not just damage our limited space in terms of climate emissions, but also the local environments in which these actions take place. That is in the Bill that is being guillotined. The sections dealing with that in that Bill are intentionally not being debated.

Alongside this, and possibly even worse, many provisions in the Bill completely trample on the Aarhus Convention. When we say that, it sounds like it is an EU convention and it will be clear. This convention concerns the public and the public's right to participate. It is about the public's right to justice. I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business to state that the discussion on that Planning and Development Bill should be adjourned-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Sorry, the Senator is making a proposal?

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business that the Planning and Development Bill be adjourned to allow proper debate on these issues rather than be concluded.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Thank you.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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Again, I would say this is disrespect to the public.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Senator's time is up.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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When Members stand up and complain about local issues and the things they do not like, such as badly built apartments and electric pylons, they are trampling on the rights of the public to have a say on all these issues if this Bill is guillotined.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Senator Higgins is way over time.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I do not know if Senator Higgins has someone planned to second that proposal, but I am happy to do so. I also want to speak about Palestine in the context of the question that kept being repeated to me throughout this summer, which is, "How can the world allow this to continue to happen?" The truthful answer is that it is allowed to continue because politicians from across the globe refuse to speak truth to power.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Unfortunately, we had a prime example of that yesterday when the Taoiseach was in New York attending a meeting of the United Nations. When asked about his views on the US supply of arms to Israel, he said that he would not interfere in another country's foreign policy and, "I wouldn't appreciate another country telling us our foreign policy or telling us how to proceed."

That is absolute nonsense. He is at the United Nations. That is the forum where people are supposed to say to other countries that we disagree with this policy and we think you should do this instead. All of us in this room know that the genocide that continues to unfold day after day is only possible because of the US supply of arms. Billions of arms are supplied each year and it continues on. We have a Taoiseach who had a prime opportunity to call that out yesterday and instead he ducked it. He ducked the issue. That is simply not good enough; frankly, it is shameful.

I would hope that almost everyone in this Chamber is at one now. I am encouraged by Senator Martin's comments that we should pass the occupied territories Bill. The Leader has made several good statements in the past regarding this issue. Why do we not as a Seanad make a joint and united call on the Government to pass the occupied territories Bill without further delay?

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
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Hear, hear.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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We can do this. We can do it in a week or two weeks and get it done. We can send a signal to the world. There are no legal impediments. Indeed, the Belgian Government has already passed its version of the occupied territories Bill. It is the least we can do. Otherwise, we will be guilty, alongside all of the other politicians across the world, of not taking concrete actions because words are simply not enough.

One other issue that has been alluded to by Senator Higgins is we must confront what is happening in Shannon Airport. There have been 11 direct military flights from Shannon to Israel. There were 85 flights to the Middle East between October and July alone, supplying support to Israel for its genocide. We have to call this out. I have been consistent throughout my eight years in the Seanad in calling for an end to US military use of Shannon. I have not been alone. Senator Martin Conway has supported the call as well as Senator Alice-Mary Higgins and others on this side. ONce cannot condemn genocide and then turn a blind eye to actions involving our Government to support that genocide. Let us work collectively as one and support the occupied territories Bill. I specifically call on the Leader, in her response, to make that call today and stand up for justice in the world.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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As I have said before, my heart goes out to the families of our troops in Lebanon who are very worried. I hope they will carry out their duties and make it home safely.

I stand today to discuss the assisted decision-making Act. The intention of this Act is for people to set up enduring powers of attorney or other plans for their lives when they have somewhat diminished or loss of capacity. Before the new system came in, 1,250 enduring powers of attorney were registered. With the new system, which is only one year old, only ten enduring powers of attorney have been activated. I do not know if anyone here has an enduring power of attorney and has used the new system, but it is really cumbersome. A PPS number, email address, public services card and the PPS numbers of the proposed attorneys are all required. A lot of information needs to be gathered. For somebody who might be vulnerable or may not be tech savvy, it is really difficult. I am calling for first, that libraries open up access for people to show them how to navigate their way around the new assisted decision-making service and, second, for a solicitors' access point like we have in Revenue under the tax advisor identity number, TAIN, unit.

At present, solicitors cannot log in as an individual because of GDPR issues. Many solicitors are not touching it and this can be seen in the numbers being activated. It is such important legislation that someone has enduring power of attorney in place when they lose capacity. They cannot move, nursing home bills cannot be paid and a person's life stops. It is very worrying for families. I would just like to see that examined without delay.

Another issue that colleagues previously in the Seanad have called for, and something on which I co-sponsored legislation, is a wills registry. I would like to see that moved forward. I believe it is before the Dáil.

More than €50 million worth of probate is sitting in the probate office. There are huge delays because they have very few staff. This is obviously an administrative issue but it is really important.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise an issue I have raised numerous times before in this Chamber, which is the N24 road. I noticed that the Taoiseach has spoken about a Ministry for infrastructure. This is the key infrastructure for the south-east region. It has been in the plan for a number of years but it has not received funding this year to get it to planning stage. My colleague, Councillor Pat Dunphy in Kilkenny, was speaking at the Piltown municipal district meeting about how critical this is for the area and region. As a Government, we have spent €5 million on this project so far to get it to planning stage.It has been shelved temporarily, but if that continues, all of the money spent on contractors will be wasted because the project will have to go back to the start. It just needs an extra €2 million to get to planning stage. At some point in the future, a decision will be made by the next Government on whether funding will be provided for construction. People are in a buffer zone, in that they cannot get planning permission for buildings and are waiting on a decision to have the road completed. I am suggesting that we do what we did for the first four years of this Government and get this route, which is of strategic importance for the area, to the planning stage. A decision on construction can be made after that.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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I am opposed to the Order of Business as proposed by the Leader. To guillotine the Planning and Development Bill in the manner proposed is a crass insult to the House. The Bill costs a layperson €71 to purchase. It was brought through Dáil Éireann and into this House, we were given two days to consider, I believe, 664 amendments to it, and Committee Stage was guillotined at 1.17 p.m. on 17 July in order to clear the deck for this term. The Government has now presented a raft of large amendments that will never be discussed in the House. It is a shame on the Government-supporting Senators that this is happening. It is a shame on the Leader that she has agreed to this. She is being told that all of these amendments will be made without consideration. There has been no explanation of the amendments and no explanatory memorandum or anything else. The Bill, which is of great importance to how Ireland develops, will be the subject of a large political lie, that is, it went through both Houses of the Oireachtas, was considered in this House and this House examined more than 700 amendments on Report Stage, half of which were Government amendments with no explanation ever tendered for any of them. That is a disgrace.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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I do not know why Opposition Senators should even bother attending the debate. We have reached the point where their views are being rubbished. This House is the ultimate rubber stamp. This is being done by the Leader. No notice was given to the leaders and Whips that this guillotine would happen. There has been no consultation of any kind whatsoever. The first that I, as Whip of our Independent Group, found out about it was at 10 a.m.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator, but his time is well up.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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I am sorry, but------

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I know, but-----

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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I am going to be a little bit disorderly. The Cathaoirleach knows that I respect the Chair-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I do.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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-----but the time has come for this House to stand up for itself-----

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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-----and the Constitution and to say “No” to all of this.

I will end with this threat. The House depends on co-operation to run. The Leader has forfeited co-operation today. She will have votes on everything and no co-operation if she goes ahead with this.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Senator has made his points well.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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I ask the Leader to reconsider the barbarous abuse of parliamentary procedure in which she is engaging. It is all very well to discuss other issues today, and they are important-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is well over his allocated time.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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-----but this House is being treated disgracefully.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I ask Senator McDowell to resume his seat.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Last Monday, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and I met small businesses in Limerick. We met many family and niche businesses dealing in arts and crafts and produce. They spoke about how they were planning for Christmas and what they would do. This is an opportune time for the Government to provide funding for Christmas markets in many towns and villages around Ireland and to encourage tourists, whose numbers have increased, to visit those markets. The Department should consider incentivising and supporting these small businesses, as many of them are feeling the pinch. We all encourage people to shop local in our own localities. Were the Government to give support towards the running of Christmas or pop-up markets, it would be most welcome in many towns, villages and cities.

Frances Black (Independent)
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I second the amendment proposed by my colleague.

I commend the Kerry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign on what it did yesterday. I was blown away. Kerry IPSC started a walk last Saturday week – it was called “Walk the Petition” – to enact the occupied territories Bill. It got 18,000 signatures by Saturday and a further 22,000 by yesterday evening. That number is probably up to 41,000 now. Kerry IPSC will continue the petition until the Bill is passed. I have to give those involved great credit for what they have done. They did it all by themselves.

A movement to pass the Bill is starting among the Irish people and the Government needs to see what is happening. It is in a bubble and does not really understand what the Irish people are doing. People want the Bill passed. They want action. Condemnation is not enough in light of what is happening in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. People are being killed in the West Bank, their homes and lands are being taken from them and schools are being terrorised by settlers. It is an absolute disgrace. Ireland needs to take action. It is our obligation to do so. I know I am going on about this and that I went on about it yesterday, but I want to give great credit to Kerry IPSC.

I will quickly discuss this morning’s briefing by the drugs task force in the audiovisual room. I would like a debate on why the task force has not received an increase in funding for the past 12 years. In fact, it has suffered a decrease. I would like the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Burke, to tell the Seanad what is happening.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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My colleague, Senator Higgins, referred to the movement of weapons through Irish airspace. When asked about policing our airspace in a recent RTÉ radio interview, the Tánaiste replied that it would not be feasible in the Irish context. Will the Leader bring the Tánaiste to this Chamber to explain why he, as Minister for Defence, does not believe it is feasible for a sovereign state like Ireland to patrol and police its own airspace? It is outrageous that a Minister for Defence would say that.

I agree with everything that my colleague, Senator Clonan, has said. What is happening in Lebanon and Gaza is barbarism. Senator Black has been pushing the occupied territories Bill for a number of years. Looking at what is happening to women and children in Gaza, my heart goes out to her over the pain she must feel, having tried time and again to get the Government to pass the Bill. The only way the butcher Netanyahu will ever come to heel is if he is brought to heel economically. He does not seem to give a continental damn about public opinion anywhere else in the world. The barbarism in Gaza is unacceptable.

I was attacked at the weekend because of my membership of the Israeli friendship group, as were a number of my colleagues. Being a member of an interparliamentary friendship group does not mean we are cheerleaders for the other parliament. It means that we can have frank discussions with our opposite numbers. I will not resign from the Ireland-Israel interparliamentary friendship group. The group can fire me if it wants, but it is about having access to colleagues in another parliament. Netanyahu and his henchmen are war criminals.

Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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This morning, I met representatives from the Irish Foster Care Association and learned of some of the inequalities that foster parents and children experience. If a foster child is coming to someone's home, a lot of the time, the child comes with just the schoolbag on his or her back without any start-up grant for a bed or a few little toys to make the child feel at home. The child or parent is not entitled to a little start-up grant for that child. A parent who is fostering a child is also not entitled to the back-to-school allowance. I call on the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and the political parties before the budget next week to invest in our children in foster care and the parents.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I call Senator Keogan and thank her for her patience.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I formally second the proposal on Senator Martin's Bill. I call on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to debate the redress of homeowners affected by the defective concrete blocks crisis. I commend Councillors Farren, Beard, Devine and McGee who ran successfully for the 100% Redress Party in the local elections in June.

Mica and freeze thaw were blamed for the problems causing the properties to crumble, but this was based on a desktop study with no scientific evidence. The science is now proving undeniably that the cause is due to an internal sulfate attack caused by pyrite and pyrrhotite in the aggregate of the concrete. Interim reports have been submitted by world renowned scientists and the final report to the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, will be finalised in the coming weeks. The review by the NSAI is due to be completed in this quarter.

Properties are currently being remediated with the wrong options as the only solution based on the scientific evidence is to fully demolish the property. Foundations are showing early signs of deterioration due to the same issue as the blocks. Unfortunately, foundations are currently not included in the scheme and are therefore costing homeowners who are replacing them.

The review of IS 465 is a crucial moment to ensure the scheme is fit for purpose and based on the most up-to-date scientific findings. A comprehensive review will help to ensure that all homeowners who need support can receive it and that the remediation offer is durable, effective and reflective of the true damage caused by the defective concrete blocks.

While the scheme aids, it falls short of offering the full redress needed by homeowners. Many continue to face substantial financial shortfalls, particularly those whose remediation options have been downgraded by the Housing Agency. The process of project managing their own rebuilds, securing temporary accommodation and recovering additional costs has placed an enormous strain on affected families. This continues to highlight the inadequacies of the current scheme in terms of delivering fully 100% redress. The affected homes are deteriorating rapidly, and the cracks are widening. This is in turn causing mould due to moisture getting into the home. Rodents are entering homes through the cracks. Some people living in the homes built with defective blocks are experiencing respiratory conditions they never experienced before. Sadly, many properties are excluded from the scheme including holiday homes, commercial buildings, part-built properties, children's play date centres, GAA clubs, community centres and a few more. We must ensure that the scheme delivers the 100% redress the homeowners desperately need and deserve. Can the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, come to the Seanad to give a statement on progress and the issues facing the delivery of this scheme?

John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the fact that today 49 cost-rental units will be advertised in Mountneil in Waterford city. These are being delivered by a local developer in partnership with Tuath Housing Association and Waterford City and County Council. These 49 A-rated three-bedroom and two-bedroom homes are being delivered at rents ranging from €1,000 to €1,200 depending on the size of the property. This is a really welcome boost for the rental supply market. It is the second cost-rental scheme that is being delivered in Waterford, with others in the pipeline.

It really goes to show that this tenure-type model that is delivering additional supply for middle-income earners, that is, those who are above the threshold for social housing and those outside of Dublin who earn below €59,000 net income after tax, is a really pivotal and important intervention by the Government in the rental space. It is a really good day. They will be advertised online on the Tuath Housing Association website. I encourage anybody in Waterford and the surrounding areas who is in that bracket to get online and express their interest. A lottery system for that will be held in due course. It is a really important intervention that I wish to put on the record of the House.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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First, I agree with my colleagues on the proposed guillotining of the Planning and Development Bill. We will deal with that later.

I wrote to the Leader, and I thank her and her office for agreeing to follow up on the suggestion of a debate and statements regarding the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders that was undertaken and published by Mary O'Toole SC. This is a horrific story, and it is true. It needs to be discussed. There has been very little discussion in this House about it, which has surprised me. I looked through this report today. The scoping inquiry has been told about 2,395 allegations of historical abuse investigating 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools in this State. We have to be frank and have a discussion. I commend Dermot Farrell, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, who spoke about taking ownership. He is taking ownership. In a very good article at the weekend, he wrote about taking ownership of and addressing this issue and giving proper redress. I do not want to have to spend time today recounting the issues on redress. We left people short with regard to redress. We voted on it in this House and there will come a time when we will be called to account. I am tired of listening to people with tears and emotion telling sad stories. The reality is that we left people short - families, women and children. I spent this summer visiting farmed-out children in Ballinasloe. They told heartbreaking stories of how they have been refused any support. We have to accept that we have short-changed people. I acknowledge the Leader is working on it and I thank her and everyone in her office. I know she has already been in touch with the Minister. Let us have a frank, open discussion and statements with the Minister as early as possible regarding this specific report.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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I thank all Members who contributed today.

Senator O'Loughlin welcomed the record sports capital announcement for Kildare and nationwide. I concur with the Senator's remarks. Senator Lombard also raised the same point. It was a good day for sports clubs, communities and grassroots clubs across the country to get that much needed injection of funding. The Senator also raised the apartment remediation scheme. I understand the constraints there with houses not being included. Perhaps a Commencement matter to the Minister on that might yield more information. I also take on board the Senator's comments regarding Hallowe'en and illegal fireworks that might be coming across the Border. We must bear that in mind as we approach that festive point.

Senator Lombard welcomed the return of the Gambling Regulation Bill this evening when we will start Committee Stage. He made the point about coming across people who were struggling with addiction and the impact that has, which is a point very well made.

Senator Clonan spoke eloquently and passionately about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and what Israel is doing. It is of huge concern. We are all deeply concerned for our troops on the ground who are serving in UNIFIL in Lebanon. The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence said the situation is under constant review and that the Department is in regular contact with families here who are, of course, very concerned about what is a deeply dangerous situation for them now on the ground. What Hezbollah is doing is appalling but equally, Israel's response is just off the scales. There is no justification for it. It puts further away the prospect of peace and a ceasefire in the region, which is equally disappointing to see. We had hoped we might see some resolution as we approach 7 October, which is an appalling date we will have to remember and has marked an escalation overall. Senator Martin introduced the domestic violence amendment Bill, which is on the Order Paper. I welcome the introduction of that Bill. He raised the matter of the occupied territories Bill, as have other Senators, and his position that there is no legal impediment to it. I urge the Senator to talk to his party leader, who is one of the three leaders in the Government. The Attorney General is providing advices to the Government, hopefully very soon. Advice is also being sought at an EU level.

Senator Wall also raised the issue of the Defence Forces serving in Lebanon and has taken calls from families in the area. It is of particular concern where he lives, as it is for Senator O'Loughlin. They are at the heart of the defence community in County Kildare. Senator Wall made an interesting proposal on Irish Sign Language. I had not thought about it in that way and probably should have. I commend the proposal coming forward from that group. It is a good idea.

I suggest a Commencement matter on the school transport issue. The Minister has been out very recently on that issue. She wants to do more. There is a struggle to get buses and bus drivers, as we know. Every effort is being made and funding has been provided. The Minister has announced that criteria for the school transport service will change for the next academic year. The distance people need to be from the school will be reduced to a lesser distance of 2 km and it is hoped down to 1 km. The aim and ambition of the Government is to get to a point where more children can access school transport, but we need the buses and the drivers. The Minister is very aware that there are pinch points throughout the country where there are particular difficulties. That is not a sufficient answer for the families the Senator is talking to who are awaiting school transport but every effort is being made to try to supply services throughout the country and get children to school on public transport.

Senator Higgins raised the matter of the occupied territories Bill, which I dealt with in my reply to Senator Martin. I take on board her comments on the planning Bill. She proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, which I am not in a position to accept. Senator McDowell proposed a similar amendment.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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He supported it.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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My apologies. I understand the frustration expressed by Members. It is a privilege to serve and to be Leader of the House. I would have liked to get this Bill sooner. We had engagements before the summer. We know the challenges in the Bills Office. It has taken the Government four years to get the Bill to this Stage. The risk of it not passing before the Government finishes its term would be a massive failing on its part. I am sure that it is not perfect in every aspect but, certainly where I am living, planning is a big issue in terms of blockages, delays and how long it takes. It is impeding the country's advancement. We are losing investment because of our planning system. We had to try to do something. I completely understand the frustrations, however. I would have liked to have gotten the Bill sooner.

Even when we finish the Bill this week, it will still be two weeks before it will get back to the Dáil because of its size. Bills Office staff are saying they are struggling to process it due to its size. I do not want to disregard the views of Members. This is a particularly challenging Bill. I know we would like more time and that Members have made their best efforts to be efficient in their speaking time to facilitate other Members coming in. We had more than 20 hours of debate on Committee Stage. We will have two days this week. We are having more debate time in the House per Member than they have had in the other House. I hear what Members are saying but I have a responsibility on the other side to try to get Government business through. As I said, it has been a priority for four years now to get this Bill passed through the Oireachtas to try to made some headway in dealing with what is a broken planning system. One of the key requests from citizens throughout the State is to do something about the planning system. I hope the Bill will go some way towards dealing with the concerns that have been raised with us. I am absolutely not discounting the frustrations that have been aired by Members on that legislation.

Senator Gavan raised a number of issues relating to Palestine and the occupied territories Bill. I dealt with that Bill in putting his position on the record. I concur with the remarks of Members overall on what is happening in Gaza and with the Palestinian people. Our Government, and the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, have consistently been very clear and strong in their language since this conflict escalated towards the end of last year. Even now, as they are in the UN meeting with world leaders, they have very clearly been advocates for the Palestinian people and for a ceasefire. As a small country and a member of the European Union, we have often been in the minority in our position on this. We have led from the front in recognising the State of Palestine and supporting humanitarian aid on the ground. Overall, to paint the Government as somehow not doing its part, or not being in the corner of the Palestinian people, is not a fair assessment of what it has done since this conflict escalated. Of course, we want to do more. As I said, that is being actively considered.

On the issue of Shannon Airport, the Tánaiste's remarks have been very clear. Airlines are not permitted to travel through without permission. An investigation is under way on whether that permission was sought. Airlines will not be permitted to travel through, if they are breaching our rules. That is being taken very seriously. We await the outcome of that investigation. It is being dealt with by the Department of Transport but there will be a response from the Government as a whole on that.

Senator Ardagh raised a number of issues regarding the assisted decision-making Act and that it is quite cumbersome to access something that was meant to be very positive for people. She also raised the matter of the wills registry legislation and delays in the probate office.

Senator Ahearn has once again raised the issue of the N24 road, and the mooting by the Taoiseach of a Ministry for infrastructure. I have my own views on that. It might be too much for big infrastructure projects to be in one Department or under one Minister but we need to speed up the delivery of infrastructure in any event.

I dealt with Senator McDowell's comments and what he said. I do not disagree with a lot of what he said, but I hope he will accept my bona fides when I say that I have absolute respect for the House and it is a privilege to serve here. I am trying to meet all sides and deal with requests from a number of different places. The Senator will understand what I am saying in that regard.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about small business, tourism and the Christmas markets in Limerick. It is a very important point. Tourism has had a difficult summer because of the weather for starters. The economic figures for tourism are down in most areas. There should be any little bit of an injection to support local and small businesses, especially in light of that. Even though the Government has done some work through the increased cost of business grant and trying to support business, one of the top issues the Minister for Finance is considering in the budget coming up on 1 October is how to support small and medium businesses in particular with the cost of business. There are still significant challenges and their cost base has gone up across the board, particularly in the hospitality sector.

Senator Black spoke about the drugs task force. I might suggest a Commencement matter on that. She again spoke about the occupied territories Bill, as others did.

Senator Craughwell spoke about the Tánaiste's comments on our airspace. We cannot defend our airspace because we do not have sufficient resources in the Air Corps. The Defence Forces are massively underfunded and under-resourced and have been for years. A lot of work is to be done there. At least now we have a Government commitment to increase defence spending to up our level of defence in the country. There has been a maturing of the conversation in the country in the past four years regarding where we are and what we need to do, not just domestically but at an EU level. The Tánaiste has been quite progressive in his approach to that and has not been afraid to take on challenging issues in the area of defence, put his views out there and get the conversation going.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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He needs to explain what he meant by-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Sorry, Senator.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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-----not feasible in the Irish context.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Senator had his opportunity. Let the Leader reply, please.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator is correct in that I am inferring what I think the Tánaiste means by that.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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We need him in here.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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We have a request in for the Tánaiste to come before the House on the issue of the Middle East. It is to be hoped we will get a date for that. It will give an opportunity to raise issues that are connected to the defence space. I am trying to get a date for the Tánaiste but the Senator will appreciate it is difficult with diaries given all that is going on and the budget coming up.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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There have never been fewer members of the Defence Forces in the history of independent Ireland than today.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator will know my views on that. We are massively underfunded.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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You and I are on the same wavelength but-----

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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We are on the same page, absolutely.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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It is a pity the leaders of the country are not.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Senator Craughwell had his opportunity.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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We have many years of underfunding and under-resourcing to catch up on. As well as wanting to do more than just get to a low base, we want to increase what we can do. We have a big gap to bridge. It will take time but the will is there to do that. Crucially, the support from our citizens is there to do that in terms of increasing defence spending by the State.

The Israeli friendship group was dealt with adequately by Senator Craughwell. Diplomacy and keeping channels open are important. The Senator has made his views on the Middle East very well-known.

Senator Flynn spoke about the Irish Foster Care Association. The requests made by that association are very reasonable. Foster carers do such an important job. We do not have enough of them. We do not have enough foster places. There are more demands in certain parts of the country and fewer people doing it.A lot of work has been done by the Department of children to increase the number of people coming into that sector and to get more foster carers and families in place. It is difficult to get people to sign up. It is a huge responsibility and people never know what situation will land in through their door or what the child has been through. It is extremely important and anything we can do to make the job easier and to encourage people to do it, we should.

Senator Keogan spoke about the four councillors newly elected to Donegal County Council, who were elected for the 100% Redress party. The redress scheme has been an ongoing issue there. I can only speak about my own county of Mayo. It has worked very well in some circumstances and homes have been rebuilt to a high standard. While it is traumatic to have to knock down your home and go through that process, anyone I have spoken to who has been through it is really happy now that they have gotten it done and sorted. They have a brand new, A-rated home that has been substantially paid for by the State, if not fully paid for. It is a significant cost to the State as well. Through no fault of the State or the people affected, the regulations of the time were too lax and the proper checks were not carried out on the defective blocks that were used to build homes. We are just going to have to deal with that. From what I understand, the challenge in Donegal is that it is slow getting into the scheme, accessing it and getting advices. There is a particular constraint with the supply of construction sector workers to do the work. It is a big challenge in my own county getting tradespeople as well. They are hard to get and have a lot of work on. I commend the councillors on their work. They have been working with other parties in Donegal as well to try to get things moving for the affected homeowners.

Senator Cummins spoke about Waterford and the 44 new cost-rental units, the second such development in the county, which is great to see. We are turning the tide on housing. Cost rental did not exist four years ago; it does today. It is a fantastic addition to our housing supply and the choice available for people. There is a long way to go yet. We still need to increase the numbers but we are catching up on a period when there was not enough building. We are putting record financing into housing and starting to see the fruits of that labour.

Senator Victor Boyhan has requested a debate on the recent report from Mary O'Toole on the sex abuse scandal in schools. We are actively working to get time for that and get the Minister in. It is really important to have that debate in the House and give it its proper airing, and give Members an opportunity to have their say as well.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Senator Vincent P. Martin has moved amendment No. 1 to the Order of Business: "That No. 7 be taken before No. 1". It is being seconded by Senator Keogan. The Leader has indicated that she is prepared to accept this amendment. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins has moved amendment No. 2 to the Order of Business: "That the proceedings of Report and Final Stages of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 be adjourned at 5.45 p.m. today". Is that amendment being pressed? We are not having a debate.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I am entitled to speak briefly.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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You are not. You can move the amendment but we are not going to have a big debate now.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I am moving the amendment. To be clear, serving in these Houses is not a privilege, it is a responsibility. We are failing in that responsibility by failing to scrutinise this legislation. That is shameful. It is not just a disrespect to democracy or these Houses, or EU law, all of which is true, but, being very clear, the process being pushed through in this way, as well as the content of the Bill, are a disrespect not just to democracy but to the public.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Thank you, Senator, I have given you latitude.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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This is crucial. I am appealing to colleagues across the House to take a stand and support this amendment.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Senator Higgins, the Members of the House have responsibility to know the rules of the House too. I have given you latitude.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I am entitled to speak briefly.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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You are not, actually; at this juncture you are not. Check Standing Orders. You are not. I have given you latitude because I understand the importance of what you----

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I move the amendment.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Thank you. Are you pressing it?

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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Yes.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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Under Standing Order 62(3)(b) I request that the division be taken again other than by electronic means.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Deputy Noel Grealish and his guests from Galway to the Public Gallery.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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To explain to the ladies from New Ross, sometimes Members can be unruly in their carry-on. I am sure they have means in the New Ross Women's Shed of being able to look after unruly members. I welcome the ladies from New Ross. Tá céad míle fáilte rompu go Leinster House. I hope they have a very pleasant day here this afternoon.

We are in the middle of voting on agreeing the Order of Business. Is the Order of Business, as amended, agreed to?

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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No.