Victor Boyhan
Agricultural Panel · Independent · Ireland
“It also mentions the agrifood sector and the importance of diversification in agriculture, the maritime sector, coastal communities and fishing communities in terms of rural policy.”
“I know from my engagement with both the Department and the Minister that over 900 submissions to the consultation process were received. No Member or parliamentarian will have had the opportunity to consider the anonymised version of these consultations, which contain many good suggestions in favour of the regulations and many concerns in…”
“I welcome the Minister and the official to the Seanad. This is particularly important Private Members' business. I thank Senators Collins and Tully for setting out the background and the rationale behind their Private Members' motion. I acknowledge the Minister's exceptional commitment to rural Ireland and his Ministry.”
“I am conscious of the Minister's public consultation, and I acknowledge it and thank them for it, in relation to the Our Rural Future work programme in 2025. In fairness to him, he did not stop at that. I received a further update when I requested it from his office very recently.”
“This will come about through that process. It is for the Minister to decide. Maybe he will do so tomorrow when the regulations are dealt with. However, when Senators are in this Chamber discussing these regulations tomorrow, they will have no sight of any constituent who made a submission. That is my first item.”
“I am pleased to see Senator Byrne in the Leader’s chair. I wish him well in that job. I also wish him well in his new position as Government Whip. There are three items I wish to discuss today. First is the exempt development regulations, which are being covered extensively in the media.”
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“I will finish on this point. It is a very sad day for the people who advocated and worked hard for the retention of Seanad Éireann, because they believed it had a function. If what is proposed happens, it will be a sad day for Seanad Éireann. That is something on which we must all reflect.”
“There is time to debate these issues. It is something that has exercised people on all sides who are of different beliefs and have different priorities and different points of principle, but I do think it is important in a parliamentary democracy. This is the Upper House. It is a Chamber in which things are perfected. One of our principal functions here is to add to and assist with legislation. I do not think this sends a very strong, clear message of support for parliamentary democracy. I will leave it at that. We will have another opportunity to talk through it.”
“They all got a link and they all got the correspondence anyway. It states: Complaints to my office show how children seeking asylum are already among the most vulnerable in Ireland and if the Bill passes in its current form, it risks further undermining their rights. It is important to stress my concerns about the new system are not an endorsement of the way we currently treat children seeking asylum here. I have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the inadequate care and protection afforded to these children. The Leader has a proposal that will amount to a guillotine on the Bill if we do not conclude all of our business today. I just want to put on record my disappointment about that. Of course, we will have an opportunity to tease matters out later on, but this does not bode well for a Government that has a huge majority in both Houses.”
“This morning, many Senators will have received a letter from the Ombudsman for Children's Office in relation to the International Protection Bill 2026. It states: Dear Senator, As I’m sure you are aware the International Protection Bill 2026 is due to go to Report and Final Stages in the Seanad at 1pm this afternoon. If this legislation passes in its current form, we are concerned that children seeking asylum in Ireland could be more vulnerable than ever before to breaches of their rights. The letter then refers to an article in The Irish Examiner . I had a read of that, and I thought what it said was harrowing. I have great admiration for the Ombudsman for Children's Office and how it advocates. I just want to quote two lines from the article in The Irish Examiner . All Members can read it.”
“I thank the Minister of State. Before I call the next Commencement matter, I welcome the pupils and teachers of Whitechurch National School, and their rector, whom I happen to know. It is great to see them here; I did not know they were coming here today. They are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond. They are all very welcome here. To explain, this is the part of the Seanad for Commencement matters, when Senators table questions on issues of concern to them. They are raised and the Senators set out their stall in four minutes, a Minister responds in four minutes and then there is a minute on either side for supplementaries. It is an important part. It happens every day in the Seanad and it is called Commencement matters. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for coming to the house. I call Minister Cosgrove.”
“The important thing now is that there are no inordinate delays, that the people involved are kept informed at the various stages of the process, and while we might have a scoping report and recommendations we must get ready for the next phase and the next phase. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House, for setting it out really comprehensively and for giving us an overview of the issues involved. Let us keep ourselves informed and updated, which may be to the relevant sectoral committee that has an interest. It is important now that we get on with the work. The Government made a commitment and it has delivered, or shall we say it has commenced the work. That is very positive news and I want to thank the Minister of State for coming to the House tonight to share that with us.”
“It is only fair, right and proper that we have a sort of due process but it is important that the work commences. The Minister of State has confirmed here today, which I think is great, that she is coming here not to tell us that something might happen or might start but that it has started. This is really positive news. I ask the Minister of State to convey my thanks to the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who is ultimately the lead Minister in this Department. I know from speaking to the Minister of her absolute commitment to get justice but we have to tread carefully, we have to be very careful and we have to go through the processes. As my colleague has said, they are complex issues, they are sensitive issues and they are still very raw for many people although they happened quite some time ago.”
“Not too many of us are politicians and I do not particularly want to be a politician with a big "P" but I do want to be an advocate with a big "A". That is where we bring power and we give voice to people outside. Remy Farrell SC and Lorcan Staines SC are very eminent, able and capable people. They will facilitate and they are doing a scoping report. The thing we have to watch, and hopefully as time progresses and they complete this first phase of their work, is that maybe we would come back, or someone from the Minister of State's Department will come back, to at least keep us informed. What people do not want is for this thing to get stalled. Yes, it has to be right. Yes, due process has to be taken. Yes, all sides have to be heard and of course we have to afford that to everyone.”
“I want to acknowledge particularly the significance of the "Prime Time" and "RTÉ Investigates" current affairs programmes that carried out extensive public scrutiny of the issues that we are talking about here tonight. That is the great thing about public broadcasting and the public service broadcasting. They do the State a great service because they shine a light in very dark places where for years people have successfully navigated and snaked around corridors to avoid being exposed. Brave and courageous people were not going to be kept down. We see this so much in the work of advocates, and particularly political advocates. Each and every one of us know those people and I suppose that is what motivates most of us.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and I thank her for a comprehensive report on what is a motion in regard to Data Protection Act 2018 regulations of 2026 for two scoping exercises. It is a highly sensitive area. We talk many times about the lived experience but it takes courage, guts and bravery to pour out your vulnerability regarding the many injustices perpetrated against you. It is important to say that many people were banging on a lot of doors for a long time and were given the cold shoulder. I do not want to get into the personalities here because it is not helpful. We now know a lot more information about it.”
“He detailed a great number of issues and concerns about the deplorable conditions of the prison. I will not relay all of them now because I look forward to a substantive debate in the House on this report. I again call on the Leader for a debate in the House with the Minister for Justice. The report was debated at great length on RTÉ in its current affairs programmes and was covered by the media. The inspector said on the first day of his 2025 follow-up inspection, following a damning early report, there were 986 people in custody in Mountjoy, the prison was operating at 122% capacity and there were 90 men sleeping on mattresses on the floors. By December 2025, Mountjoy Prison was attempting to house 1,089 men, with 145 people consigned to mattresses on the floor. It is a disgrace. It is about human dignity and rights.”
“I would like to raise the issue of the follow-up inspection report to an earlier report by the Inspector of Prisons on Mountjoy Prison. I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the amazing work done by the chief inspector of our Prison Service, Mark Kelly. I have twice requested that the report be discussed by the House because of its importance. Certain reports are required in legislation to be laid before the Houses. This report was laid before the Oireachtas on 4 February 2026. Within days of that I might have first asked for a debate. The report should be read by every Member of the House. It is a summary report. The inspector began unannounced inspections of the prison, which are carried out every three years. He does not have the resources or time to visit every prison.”
“They are all committed. There is no reason it should not happen. It makes sense and is in line with Government policy. Higher densities, tighter-knit communities and less, shall we say, private open space as opposed to public open space, necessitate good strong cultural and educational play, sports and recreation facilities and, of course, the cultural aspect is very important in this particular project. I wish it well. I thank the Minister of State for his detailed and informative response. I will share it with the elected members of the council this afternoon.”
“I thank the Minister of State. In essence, it is obvious to all that this funding needs to come forward. In summary, the strong rationale for this investment has been validated in the community, cultural and civic action plan for Dundrum by the provision, as the Minister of State said already in his response, of €4 million from earlier URDF funding. Basically, there has been a substantial amount of money put into this project and this concept. We need to get it from the concept up. We could not surely turn our backs on that sort of investment and move away. I am confident that the TDs and Ministers in that constituency, of all parties are none, are fully behind it. All the local authority members are behind it. I want to acknowledge, of course, Mr. Frank Curran, chief executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.”
“I stress that it has the overall support of the TDs representing that constituency, including the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond, who has been particularly vocal and to the fore, as have the Independent councillors and all councillors there. I would particularly like to acknowledge the work of Independent councillor Anne Colgan, who has been instrumental at the very heart of the Imagine Dundrum concept. It is clear to say that all parties and none, be it on the council and in the Oireachtas, are working very closely and collaboratively to bring about this investment. There is a need and a rationale for this investment. It needs to be put together and driven. Therefore, the case I am really making is for an indication of support but also the engagement with the necessary Dáil stakeholders in relation to the local authority.”
“Much will be led by the Land Development Agency and we know, of course, it has entire control of the former Central Mental Hospital site with a master plan for a very significant amount of development, which is in line with Government policy and therefore, you would imagine, would have the full support and backing of the Government. Where we have higher densities, we have got to look imaginatively and fund public or civic realm and civic space, which is really important. The present Carnegie library, which is the middle of the town, is restricted in terms of space, structure, accessibility and capability for providing the resource necessary for this particular area.”
“There is a case for capital funding to be made available for building this major piece of social infrastructure for Dundrum in south County Dublin in the upcoming round of the funding that is due to come about, with the closing in May as I have already said. Dundrum is densely populated and at the heart of a large and fast growing population with a very significant number of new homes with houses and apartments to a very high density. The demand is really there for good quality, public realm, civic, cultural and heritage space and the potential that brings. Significant housing developments have been going on there.”
“I am asking for an update on the issue of when it is expected that the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, for Dundrum will be approved. More importantly, the bit I really want to find out more about is if the Minister of State will indicate the level of engagement with the executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. I am aware, of course, that the towns and cities regeneration investment fund has now replaced the URDF so things are moving. There is currently an application process. I understand 1 May is roughly when that is going to close. Dundrum, as I said, is the second major town centre in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. It has a particularly pressing need for a civic centre incorporating a new, modern library.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. I thank him for coming to the House to deal with this Commencement matter, which relates to Dundrum town centre, rather than the commercial shopping centre that many people know Dundrum for. I am talking about the fabric, the community and the existing town that is Dundrum. For those who do not know, Dundrum is the second major town centre within the local authority administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown so it is a major town centre zoning, and sometimes people forget about that. Dún Laoghaire is divided, of course, by a motorway, and these are two very significant town centres but the pace of change and, certainly, community and civic space and facilities is at a far slower rate on that side of the county and, yet, they are very big ratepayers.”
“I move amendment No. 1: That the Seanad do now adjourn until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026. We are a friendly parliament. We have all committed to the women's caucus and to having a family-friendly parliament. On Wednesday we met here in the middle of the day and it worked very well. People have homes to go to. We do not all live in rural Ireland. People live in the urban spaces here and they have commitments. All I propose is a simple measure that we meet at 1 p.m. as opposed to 2.30 p.m. We are well paid and we have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of legislation to get through and I think it is a reasonable measure. It is ultimately a matter for the House but we cannot continue to talk about a family-friendly parliament and at the same time object to coming to work an hour earlier.”
“I move amendment No. 24: In page 25, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “Report on treatment of refugees and asylum seekers 7. (1) Within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall produce a report on the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. (2) The report shall analyse the effects of this Act and include details as to whether immigrants are receiving appropriate legal counselling and are being treated humanly in detention in line with national law, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the UN Charter. (3) The report shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.”. This amendment is self-explanatory. The Minister no doubt has a response. The amendment relates to the laying of a report on the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say.”
“We must commit to their safeguarding and I understand that is the gist of it, but the major concerns expressed to me via emails and letters are from people who are spelling out concerns about vulnerable people and minors. We are a republic and we have a special place for children and the family in our Constitution. We have to be consistent. Regardless of how and when they came, where children and minors find themselves within our State, it is paramount that we protect them at every opportunity. I ask the Minister of State to clarify his understanding of the EU reception conditions directive. It has reasonable objectives and ones that all of us would seek to do but clarity is needed. This is a very complex Bill. Sometimes the key is clarity about what we are attempting to do and our understanding of what is being proposed for us.”
“Is that his understanding? Can he confirm that? Is he happy with that? In some ways it is positive and it is fair. Of course we must have consistency across the European Union and we must tackle this in many ways but when the Minister announced the legislation, he spoke about how he wanted consistency, fairness and a robust scheme. I do not altogether like the word "robust" in this context but we have to be compassionate. We have to be caring. It has to be human rights-based. Everything we do has to be human rights-based. Where children - unaccompanied minors - find themselves in our State, no matter what way they came in, we must have a human and humanitarian response.”
“Again, we will not have an opportunity to give voice to some of the amendments they asked us to pursue, or even to any of the topics or issues, because if this Bill is guillotined as the Government proposes, we will not reach all the sections. Consequently, we will not even be able to comment at this stage in the process. Access to education for minors must be provided as soon as possible but not later than two months from the application being lodged. I note that is the date of the application being lodged rather than it being approved. Then I come to special needs. Specific attention and supports are provided for applicants with special reception needs. Those are varied and wide so I will not go through the whole list. That is my understanding of the EU reception conditions directive, but what does the Minister of State say?”
“Member states must ensure an adequate standard of living, including housing, food, clothing and daily expense allowances. There are of course conditions attached to that allowance and I think the Minister has covered that before. A second aspect is that there be faster access to the labour market. Applicants will have the right to work within six months, which was previously nine months, of their application being registered. A third aspect is protection of minors. This is an especially important issue and one I want to focus on. I acknowledge the enormous work of the Ombudsman for Children, the human rights bodies and the many advocacy groups that engaged in this process.”
“That is an important point because there is misinformation and disinformation in the debate and, to be fair to those on all sides, it is important we be clear about what we mean by terms like the EU reception conditions directive. I understand this directive mandates faster access to the labour market within six months and harmonises reception standards to ensure dignified, consistent care while applicants are being processed. I would expect nothing less from the European member states, including Ireland. I will mention some of the key directives because I want to ask the Minister of State to confirm whether this is his understanding of what I am led to believe is tied up with the EU reception conditions directive. The key aspects of this directive include standardised living conditions.”
“16 from my colleague, Senator Keogan, provides for a definition of "national reception capacity" as the number of applicants who can be accommodated within State-provided reception facilities in a manner consistent with the standards of - this is the issue I wish to speak to the Minister of State about - the reception conditions directive. I understand that directive was updated in 2024 and has the reference number 1346 for that year. It sets out minimum standards for the treatment of asylum seekers across the member states, including Ireland, regarding access to housing, food, healthcare and education for minors.”
“The coalition Government has decided collectively to guillotine very important legislation and this prevents the democratically elected parliamentarians in this House from fully exercising their function and from calling on the Minister to account for the amendments. A very substantial number of these amendments are the Minister's. We will not be able to discuss them. The Minister will not have time to set them out, which is disappointing too. I accept the Minister of State is part of a team and he is here and I want to be respectful, but I just wanted to make that point because it is important we articulate that concern. Amendment No.”
“There is no reason well-paid Ministers and Ministers of State, well-paid Senators and, indeed, officials cannot use the parliamentary process to engage in teasing out legislation. That is our function and our job. When we try to justify and explain the importance of the Upper House, it is very difficult when effectively we have a party whip system. The Minister of State, clearly, is involved with that, it is the party structure and I accept that as I am a realist. However, it is disappointing. I always say to people that my audience is outside. It is in that little camera up on the wall. It is the people who tonight in their homes will listen to the Oireachtas reports. Let us therefore keep the communication simple.”
“I welcome the Minister of State. I will not reiterate what others have said but I wish to convey to him my disappointment. I am not going to elongate it as he has heard it before. It is something of a disappointment that this Stage of the proceedings is going to be guillotined. Parties and many other groups advocated for the retention of the Seanad but this makes a farce of this House. We are willing, we are ready and we are well-paid public servants who want to engage in a parliamentary process. We are, of course, the Upper House and we do not need anyone to explain that to us but we, as the Minister of State's former leader, Leo Varadkar, mentioned, are principally a revising Chamber. That is our function in the Constitution and we are effectively being denied the ability to exercise this. We could sit here until 10 p.m.”
“We have got to send a clear message to the public outside, who are paying us - this is their Parliament and House - that we are available, willing and ready to work for the people.”
“in line with a better and more efficient Parliament and one that facilitates the needs of all of us too. I have now been advised that this is not the appropriate place to table it. I take advice and I do heed other people's advice. I want to put the House on notice that it is my intention to propose this at 4 p.m., for those who will have the time or make the time to be here at 4 p.m. If we agree to the Order of Business today, that is what we will be agreeing to - that this business goes on until 4 p.m. I will table a formal proposal and put it to the House, when the Leader or Acting Leader is asked when we will meet again. I will propose 1.30 p.m. and not 2.30 p.m.”
“That is an important point to make. The Government's prerogative is that. It has the majority in the House and therefore, it is likely it is going to happen but it is not a nice thing to have on its record, particularly when we have so much time. All I can say is that I want to express my disappointment and frustration but that is the story. Ultimately, the Government side will decide on it. We will have the opportunity to highlight that in the media and outside of this House because that is incumbent on the Opposition. I will leave it at that. There is a notice on the Order of Business as well to say: "On conclusion of the business of the House, it shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m." It was my intention here today to make a proposal that we would not adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday of next week but that we would resume at 1.30 p.m.”
“I raise the proposal from the Government, through the Leader, contained in the Order of Business. We work in a parliamentary democracy and have plenty of time to do our business. We were off last week. We started the other day at 2.30 p.m. We have got to smarten up here - all of us, including those in the Opposition - in regard to how we use our time productively and creatively in a family-friendly Parliament. I have spoken to a number of people who cannot get home to their own families who live in the greater Dublin area. I also refer to facilitating people who live further afield and who have arrangements in place. We have got to work with everyone. We have got to make it a more family-friendly Parliament. Family comes in many guises and each and every one of us have commitments back in our homes to support people who support us.”
“I am not going to delay proceedings, other than to say I support the principle of the Bill. I believe there are technical issues I am not fully equipped to talk about. We need guidance from the Minister on the legal implications of bringing in mandatory sentencing through legislation. I have no doubt he will guide us through that when he addresses the Bill. Other than that, I am supportive of the Bill. It is significant legislation. There may be other strands that would have the same effect as what the Senator is trying to do, without adopting this Bill. Those are just some loose remarks. I am supportive of the Bill but there are potentially legal impediments to enacting this legislation as presented to us.”
“I do not know if that is within the scope of the Legislature, so I am interested to hear what the Minister has to say about that. Senator Murphy is very animated about this issue and very committed to it. He is a rural Senator and before that he was a rural councillor, meaning he understands this. This type of theft does not only happen in rural areas; it happens everywhere, including urban areas. I have seen too many sole traders who have come out in the morning to find their truck raided and all their machinery gone. It is all very well having skills and a pair of hands but without their expensive machinery, tradespeople are really set back. This is a difficultly for small sole traders in particular. We also see this in farming communities. There are a whole range of issues.”
“I thank Senators Murphy, Duffy and Kennelly for proposing this Bill. It is very simple and only has two sections. We all know we want to tackle and be tough on crime, especially in rural communities, but we have to be practical as well. While I support the essence of this Bill, there are difficulties with it. I do not know what the Minister is going to say. I can guess what he might say but it would not be right for me to do that. What occurs to me is that there are technical legal difficulties with this Bill. We have the separation of powers with respect to the Judiciary. We previously had legislation on the administration of the powers of the Judiciary and there is a proposal here to introduce a mandatory sentencing regime.”
“Advocates for human rights have made great submissions. When we look at the detail, in which members of the Minister's party were involved in the Oireachtas committee and its recommendations, it raises the question about the Government's commitment to this process. I will finish on that point. We are coming here in a spirit of co-operation, but doing what we believe is right - standing on our feet, articulating what we see all around us and for the people who have spoken to us. The Minister will receive our contributions in a way that is meaningful and respectful too, but I would ask him not to use the power that is in his hands to guillotine very important legislation. We have loads of time. Let us get this right.”
“In this State, we have a moral obligation to protect children who could have come here through any guise, possibly unknown to themselves, and who have had no hand, act or part in their coming here. We have a moral obligation and that will be a central theme of my contribution to the Bill. I understand we need clarity. I understand we need consistency. I understand we need fairness. "Robustness" is not always a word I like to use, certainly not in this context, but it is important. We have many obligations. This is a big ask. It is a big shift that the Minister is proposing but we need to be satisfied that he can do it in a timely manner. There is not the same pressure, as Senator McDowell talked about earlier on, to deliver this. There are options - opt-out sections to all of this - and that is important. There are enough concerns.”
“My biggest concern is children. The Minister and Attorney General have said they are developing measures to be included in the Bill to give effect to proposals approved by the Government on 26 November 2025, namely that adults who are beneficiaries of international protection will not be entitled to seek family reunification for a period of three years following the granting of international protection. I have some concerns about that. We have obligations. We talk about the uniqueness of children. There cannot be any less favourable support or any conditionality attached to children inside or outside of the State once they are within the State, not necessarily legally.”
“At the same time, the press release went on to say that the Minister recognises that our current system for processing international protection applications could be more efficient, faster and less costly. It also stated that the International Protection Bill will reset our international protection system; streamline decisions and returns processes; introduce a new border procedure, with a three-month time limit for decisions, appeals and return orders in appropriate cases; and create a new body, the tribunal of asylum returns appeals, TARA, which I welcome. He said that the Bill will also establish a new chief inspector of asylum border procedures and an independent rights monitor, which I welcome. The press release went on to say that these reforms will continue to ensure the rights of the applicant under EU and Irish law.”
“It was very moving and I want to genuinely acknowledge and congratulate the Minister on his speech. Some weeks and months later, I heard other statements he made in the House and began to think there was a slight drift from those remarks. I may need further clarification. I will not rush to judgment, but what he said in Kerry is somewhat inconsistent with remarks he has made since then. In his press release announcing the Bill, the Minister said the Government fundamentally believes in the right to claim asylum and will always uphold our obligations on this important principle of international law for those who need our protection. That is fantastic.”
“I read the press release issued when the Minister announced that he had Government approval to proceed with the Bill. He said its stated objective was to provide a fair, efficient and robust asylum procedure that is consistent with asylum laws. I refer to a reception in Kerry attended by the Minister for new citizens and people coming into this country who had signed up to pledge allegiance to the State and were welcomed. The Minister spoke very eloquently on that occasion. I did not attend, but because I had heard so much about it I took the time to get the script from his Department. He spoke about the Constitution, and about the harp and what it symbolises. He had analogies about tradition, music and melody, and how proud people could be to be Irish citizens.”
“The Minister for Children, Equality and Disability, Integration and Youth, Ireland and the Attorney General were the respondents. The Minister will know in that case that compensation was awarded to the two individuals anonymised in the findings of the judicial review publication for good reason. The State was found to have failed to meet certain obligations that we are bound to and have signed up to, and that is an important point. The Minister is now introducing legislation that will be very significant and seeks to put in place a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum in the long term, to ensure that Ireland's policy aligns with other EU countries, regardless of what we might think of them, and to replace the International Protection Act 2015.”
“The Minister believes in parliamentary democracy and is an amazing practitioner of it, as well as being a senior counsel, so he is well able to think and stand on his feet. I always commend him on that. I will make a few points. That amendments were ruled out of order is not a good start. I am conscious of the capacity in this legislation to deal with what the Minister is setting out to achieve. I do not agree with everything he is attempting to do and I will tease that out in a respectful manner, which is the appropriate way to do things in these Houses. I draw the Minister's attention to a judicial review in the High Court. He will be very familiar with this case. It is the High Court judicial review 2023/209 JR [2026] IEHC 90. It concerns a directive of the 2013/33 European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018.”
“This is a broader opportunity for Senators to comment briefly on the Bill. I welcome the Minister to the House. I thank the Oireachtas Library and Research Service for its comprehensive paper on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. It is disappointing to note how little of that was taken on board. We can talk about that as we go through the Bill. I do not know what advice the Minister got but there are elements peppered through the Bill that I intend to bring up on various Stages, if the Bill is not guillotined. I do not know if the Minister has made a decision on that. Has he set down in his diary that he intends to guillotine the Bill this week? He guillotined it in the Dáil, which was very disappointing. The Government has a huge majority and can effectively do anything.”
“We can talk about the Taoiseach in America, but I think it is unbelievable that despite Brexit and everything else we continue to have amazing commercial ties and connections in the UK, our closest neighbour. I have a sense that they are even stronger than they were two or three years ago. The potential for economic development between our two countries is critically important. We have a long history in terms of our diaspora going to the UK but I believe there is further room for growth. I went away feeling inspired about enterprise. I refer not only to the partnership with Tesco, but also to other potential food development. I thank our ambassador for the enormous work he is doing on the ground in London.”
“I would like at some point to have the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, in to talk about the Irish food sector and the potential, particularly in the UK. I would also like to single out and thank our excellent Irish ambassador, Martin Fraser. We met him during the trip. He is a wonderful ambassador. He is not going to be staying much longer with us. He is going to other fields in the same service. I thank him for an amazing job in assisting us and supporting the expansion of all things cultural and in enterprise, particularly in the UK market. I also acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. Many other Irish people gathered in Westminster for the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations there. We were so warmly welcomed and received.”
“We met ten suppliers who had been chosen to exhibit in a showcase in the UK: Golden Bake; Flahavan's; Ornua; Portumna Pastry; Killowen yoghurts and dairy produce; Keohane Seafoods; Coole Swan liqueur; Silver Pail ice cream; Folláin jams, with which we are familiar; and of course ABP Meats. All of those who attended the showcase were there to look at and test the food and to see how Tesco is promoting Irish produce. It is a proud day for Ireland that the market has been expanded with the help and assistance of Tesco. I give a shout-out to Tesco and to Bord Bia for opening the door for small enterprises that will now be selling their wares on shelves right across the United Kingdom. That is some achievement, and with it comes more investment, more upskilling and more money for their plants, etc. Rising the market brings many challenges.”
“I welcome the ambassador and Marie Barry, a great colleague and friend of mine in former years It is great to see her here. I did not recognise her. It is particularly great to see her and all our guests, including those from Dublin College Sallynoggin. Previous speakers have spoken about Saint Patrick's Day and what a great festival and great celebration of our culture, our heritage and indeed our enterprise it is. I and other colleagues were over at a showcase in Tesco Ireland for artisan food, meat and other products in the UK. Tesco Ireland was principally involved organising this in conjunction with Bord Bia. It was a very proud moment for those of us who attended.”