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 do not need to remind everyone that there are 234 amendments on this legislation so we have a lot of work to do. I and a number of members of the Opposition did meet this morning and considered putting down an amendment to the Order of Business but we were pragmatic and we are pragmatists. We believe that it would unfortunately tap into our time in the Seanad today, given it is a limited amount of time. I hope the Deputy Leader will take that in the spirit that it was meant. We were not going to hold up the House. We were not going to cut into the time of the House because we want to get directly to the important amendments that affect people's mental health in this country. I want to assure the Leader that there will be co-operation from those who I have spoken to on this side of the House.”
“For those listening in here, as opposed to those who are in this Chamber, what we are doing today now is considering the Order of Business. That is our function here under our Standing Orders and under the regulations and precedents that govern the conduct of Seanad Éireann. Today we have one proposal under the Order of Business and that is submitted by the Leader's office, which is No. 1, the Mental Health Bill 2024, Report and Final Stages. So people outside who are tuning in, this proposal is that this Bill will be taken at 11.45 a.m. and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion at 3.45 p.m. by the putting of one motion from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by Government. That is the only Order of Business today and that is all I am going to speak on.”
“That has to be our most important focus. I want to thank Sinn Féin and all those who have contributed tonight. They were all very positive. I thank the Minister for her time.”
“While we advocate for increased services and supports for youth services and capital funding, we must never lose sight of what is most important, namely, vulnerable communities and vulnerable people, vulnerable young people who have fallen out of education or who were brought up in State care and other institutions of this State who then, at the age of 15 and 16, may have found themselves homeless in our cities and our towns. They have to be our most important focus because, as the Jesuits used to say, give me the child until he is seven and I will show you the man. I believe in that. It is so important that we tap in early to all young people but particularly those who are on the margins, who are vulnerable and who have never been supported to realise their full potential. Everyone is important, but we have limited resources.”
“When I opened the cover of the presentation, it reminded me about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Young people have the right to say what they think about anything that affects them. What they say must be listened to carefully. When decisions that affect young people are made by official bodies, they must listen to what the young people want and feel. I will finish on this point, because I am a realist. All services, like youth services and additional services, cost money and we have to prioritise those most in need. The strongest case has to be made.”
“I would urge anyone who has not been out to Greystones to see the work of Senator McCarthy with youth cafés and support to go and do so. Senator Scahill facilitated a very important meeting, which was a gathering today in the AV room. It was interesting. A document was circulated with it and the Senator has indicated he can make one available to the Minister. I acknowledge the very positive contribution of work, both from him and the Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg. It was very significant. The research and report was sponsored by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I acknowledge that is important. I also acknowledge Youth Work Ireland Midlands and Roscommon County Council. It was a very moving day. I want to thank the Senator for the presentation.”
“Retaining staff and managing their workload is difficult, and we urgently need additional funding to hire at least one more team member to handle the increasing demands and ensure current staff are not overworked. It is an important point that I know the Minister will understand. Another survey response in the report relates to capital investment, which states, "Two satellite projects operate from portacabins and require upgrading and modernisation. Our main building has issues with pyrite and we will have to relocate at some point to enable repairs to be carried out". The Minister might consider this NYCI Pre Budget Submission 2027: Securing Foundations. We have a long way to go but I just wanted to say that. My colleague, Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy, talked about youth cafés. They are really important.”
“I draw the Minister's attention to a document from the National Youth Council of Ireland, which is the Pre Budget Submission 2027: Securing Foundations. I will make three points and I will read them onto the record right here. I am sure the Minister has a copy or we can supply a copy. One of the principal questions is why we need to support youth work. It states, "Youth work services play an essential role in improving outcomes for young people by providing safe spaces, support and new opportunities." Another key point that I took out of this document, which I think is worth bringing into this debate here tonight, is a 2026 survey response from an NYCI member organisation: Our biggest financial challenges are staffing-related.”
“I thank Senators Lynn Ruane and Alice-Mary Higgins, who unfortunately cannot be here. They are involved in other parliamentary business tonight. They will have my full support. I am very happy to put on the record my seconding of those three amendments. I will say a few other things. I will not rehash what has already been said, but I acknowledge the very important and significant contributions by Kathryn Walsh and Grace McManus. Many will know Grace McManus who was a former Sinn Féin councillor in Bray, County Wicklow, and a worker and committed member within Sinn Féin. She is very committed, as is Kathryn Walsh. They sent some documentation. It is very important. I also acknowledge Senator Scahill; I will touch on him in a moment if time permits.”
“We are committing here tonight to the establishment of a €75 million young people's spaces, facilities and services fund, and to collaborate with other Departments, Government agencies and the local authorities to ensure that young people have places and spaces to engage with youth work. That is marvellous. It is a commitment that everyone has spoken in favour of. I just hope that somehow the Minister will be able to secure that funding in the next budget or over a period of budgets. That is what the Seanad, across parties, is asking the Minister to do here today and Senators have indicated their full support for it. We are also committed to moving to core youth work funding on a multi-annual basis. I commend that. I fully support the three amendments and have indicated that I will second them.”
“I thank the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and her officials for coming here today. I acknowledge and thank Sinn Féin. This is a very timely use of Private Members' business and I thank Sinn Féin for it. It gives us an opportunity. Those who know me know that I tend to cut to the chase. At the end of the day, there is a lot of pious stuff in Private Members' motions but the real thing is "What are we asking?". What are we calling on the Government to do? This motion is calling on the Government to commit. Clearly people have spoken in favour of it, which is fantastic.”
“For too long in the past, people have had grave reservations and a feeling that criminals have gone unhindered. They are not going unhindered. We do not necessarily know the level of policing that is going on, but we can take confidence from what the Minister has been saying since he became Minister for justice. He is on the case. He does not have to be publicly on the case, when he is privately on a day-to-day basis. He is working collaboratively with people and I acknowledge that. The Minister will have my full support on this Bill.”
“No one person has to be charged with all the responsibility. It must be cushioned and spread across our community, our community leaders and our stakeholders. I am particularly impressed by the community safety fund, which opened on 13 April. We need to know more about the projects involved in it because we have to continue to sell the message that some of the funds from these activities will go into the community safety fund. I understand there is over €4 million currently in the fund. That is particularly good. Yes, we have a bit of work ongoing to tell people that they can apply for these funds and the criteria required. When people see the benefits of this fund in their own communities, they will get a sense of justice and a sense of support that the system is not all one way.”
“People hurt when it affects their pocket. After all, these are proceeds of crime. Let us be very clear what we are talking about and what we are dealing with. I welcome the Minister's commitment to the community safety partnerships. They have been difficult to bed down. Some local authorities have had problems with them but since the Minister took on this portfolio, a lot of the things that were in abeyance for a long time have been ironed out. Some really able and capable people, many of them local authority members, signed up to the policing partnerships. Yes, they are evolving and I wish them well across the 31 local authorities in their important work. It is not only about elected people, it is also about leading stakeholders and people who are respected in their communities, in partnership.”
“However, we can take some confidence from the fact that agents of An Garda Síochána are working covertly and overtly on behalf of the security of this State, in liaison with Government and the appropriate contacts that are there. This is an assurance that we have. Throughout the State, An Garda Síochána has served us well. They are brave men and women who are highly articulate and highly trained, particularly in the intake of gardái in the last 20 to 25 years. There are equal opportunities in the force. It is a diverse force. It represents the people who live in our communities ethnically and culturally and all the diversity that goes with that. This enriches what policing should be all about. Core to this Bill is the fact that it is at the very heart of community safety and policing. It brings people to account.”
“So am I and I intend staying for a hell of a long time. I thank the Minister for his ongoing engagement. I know it has been a difficult few days for the Government and for the Minister, who takes his responsibility seriously. I also thank the Minister's officials. I can say unequivocally that the Minister will have my full support for this Bill. I will not spend too long on this. It is the right thing to do. I want to acknowledge a few people before I say a few words about the Bill. I thank the Garda Commissioner and all of his staff. I particularly want to thank CAB for the amazing work it has done. It has been very difficult. We do not see or understand half of what is going on.”
“There are challenges in that regard, especially the number of hectares we can allow to be taken for solar panels. I do not want to particularly comment about this planning application because it is my intention to make a submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála. We need a constructive discussion about the challenges around solar panels, solar energy and how they fit in with sustainable agriculture and land use, which are important.”
“He took a huge interest. I will leave it at that. I wish him well in his long, distinguished career in politics that will go on further. The other issue I raise today relates to solar panels. Before I do so, I acknowledge that my family and I have owned and farmed a substantial amount of land at the point of Narraghmore, County Kildare, which links on to Ballindrum and Fontstown. The leader of Fianna Fáil in this Chamber knows the area well and will agree with me in this regard. We have a situation where we have a massive planning application for in excess of 100 ha of solar panels on what is prime agricultural land. This is in an area where there is a substantial amount – more than most countries – of broccoli growing. We have an issue with regard to sustainable agriculture.”
“I support the proposed Order of Business. I want to acknowledge the very significant role of the former Minister of State at the Department of agriculture, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. As someone who sits on and is elected from the agricultural panel and had a lot of direct dealings with the former Minister of State regarding forestry and the new forestry strategy, I have to say that he gave it his all. To be fair to him, I wish to acknowledge that. We worked well with our committee. He engaged with the agricultural committee well. He set out, for the first time as long as I am in these Houses, in direct engagement with people on the ground through his forestry work all over the country. I spoke to a number of civil servants last night about him and they said that the one thing about him was that he was on the case at 6 a.m. every morning.”
“GPs are telling me and elderly people in our communities are saying that they feel they are risk. Many people are telling me that they cannot get a GP. They are arriving at doors in Limerick, Cork, Monaghan, Donegal and Dublin. They are being told, "Sorry, you can go a list, but I am not really interested" or "Are you a private patient? I might fit you in, but I have no more room for public patients." We have a two-tier health system. GPs are not being given the support they need. I look forward to, hopefully, the strong recommendations that will come out of the Minister's review, which is mandated to report to the Minister. The Minister will consider it and has given the commitment to publish at some stage in the future, so I thank the Minister of State.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. Hopefully, the review will identify arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GPs. It is going on a long time. Clearly, Deputies will continue to ask parliamentary questions. We will continue to table Commencement matters. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister for her commitment to the review. I thank the Irish College of General Practitioners for following the local authority electoral areas to do its research and give such qualitative responsive research. That has helped me today to do my work here, which is to advocate for these communities. I would also like to give a word of caution. GP shortages are putting rural patients at risk. That is an important call. I am saying that here and now on the record of this House.”
“I am driven by solutions so I want to hear about the solutions from the Minister of State. In wrapping up, I will say that it is important that we look at the strategic review the Minister initiated over a year ago. It must be well advanced. How is that going to progress?”
“Older patients relying on their GPs are also suffering and being left out. There is a challenge in terms of community care. I will push on a few issues to demonstrate my understanding of the problem from having talked to GPs around the country over Easter to ascertain the difficulties. They tell me that the challenges include a retiring and ageing workforce, rising demand, recruitment and retention, the rural-urban imbalance, and the workload pressures on patients and those in the profession. With regard to the impact this is having on patients, some patients are arriving at surgeries and cannot get cover. Other challenges include the difficulties associated with registration, and rural discrepancies and disparities in different parts of the country. What I really want to hear about are the Government's proposals.”
“Commuter belt areas are clearly under enormous strain and pressure. Their population growth and new development are outpacing the number of new GPs coming on stream. As of today, there are 4,600 practising GPs in the country but this organisation's data estimates that there is a need for 6,000 GPs to provide coverage at this point in time. This shortfall stems from delays in developing primary care centres. It also has an impact on general practices, particularly in rural areas, where GP succession is a major challenge. It is not always a problem, but it is a challenge. Of course, people have relationships with their GPs. We tend to stay with our GP all our life. Someone told me that, if I was ever looking for a GP, I should make sure he or she is younger than myself so they can at least see me through to old age.”
“This confirmed for once and for all what had already been confirmed by the ICGP. Indeed, it was recently reported on RTÉ's news feeds. This new ICGP data shows that the areas of pressure where GPs are needed most include the north west, with Donegal, north Mayo and Leitrim at the top of the scale, and the north-east Border areas of Cavan, Monaghan and north Louth. My colleagues in the Seanad who are from these areas will have great interest in and knowledge of what is going on there. These areas of pressure also include the mid-east commuter belt, especially parts of Kildare, portions of Meath and the north Dublin areas of Finglas and Coolock, the south-east LEAs of Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford, and the mid-west regions of east Clare and east Limerick. The Minister of State will be very familiar with the last area I mentioned.”
“I want to hear when this review group will have completed its work because the various Deputies who continue to ask parliamentary questions on this matter are getting the same response. Surely time must be up, but I will deal with that in a minute. The latest study carried out by the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, analysed the distribution of GP practices across the country. The Minister of State will know I like figures, particularly those regarding local electoral areas, LEAs, which are represented by our city and county councillors. The study used the model of the LEAs of the city and county councillors for this research. The Minister of State will be familiar with it, or he should be. I am certainly happy to share a copy with him afterwards. The authors came up with an exercise based on this demographic mapping.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important Commencement matter and I thank the Minister of State for attending today. While I know he is not the Minister for Health, he does have a health portfolio and brief. I thank him for giving of his time in coming here. I know it is an exceptionally busy day in the Oireachtas. My Commencement matter deals with the escalating GP shortages, with rural communities being hit the hardest. I took a look at the parliamentary questions put down in the other House over the last 12 months. The responses were continuously about a review mechanism and a review group. I have no doubt the Minister of State will tell me about these in a few moments. I want to hear a bit more.”
“There is a major shortage, and there are major concerns in Galway County Council about the equalisation fund. I wish the meeting on Monday well and look forward to hearing shortly what the Tánaiste has to say on it.”
“I suggest we might have it in the context of Our Rural Future, the Government policy, and how in the broader context we can support rural communities. I want to acknowledge that the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance has agreed to meet the CEO of Galway County Council, Liam Conneally, on the equalisation fund and the chronic funding shortage at Galway County Council. I had a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, this morning. I understand that he, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, have a meeting in the county hall with Mr. Conneally to address the issues. The Tánaiste has come on board and committed to meeting the chief executive, the management team and, no doubt, councillors, who are also a critical part of it. It is a welcome move.”
“I will raise two issues. I want to ask for a debate soon on enhancing social cohesion among communities in rural Ireland. This is against a backdrop of the Irish language community, the island communities and the desire to get rural housing back on the map. I know there are long promises about that. Affordability has become a real issue. Yesterday, the press had stories on how the GAA was in trouble in Kerry and national schools were closing in the west and in rural communities in the midlands. Parishes are dying on their feet. These are all the things that bring cohesion to local communities, be they sports clubs like rugby or the GAA, which is a significant and cohesive group within rural communities, or something else. It is really important that we would have that debate.”
“Hopefully, this will not sit on a shelf gathering a load of dust. It certainly will not from this side of the House because we will keep asking questions about it. We will also collaborate with our colleagues in Dáil Éireann to pursue the issue. I now hand over to Senator Mullen.”
“I also commend and thank the Library and Research Service, which published a blog post about this proposal. It is worth reading. If anyone has not read it, they should do so. It sets out some of the background and the terms. We are realistic about what we are trying to achieve. We hoped to spark a national conversation; we have done that. I understand the Government is not opposing the motion. I acknowledge the fact that no other party here or anybody else has proposed any amendments to it. Clearly, they have considered that it is necessary or deemed necessary. I do not know what basis they operate on but they have not brought any alternative proposal to the House tonight. Therefore, I am more than confident the motion will go through. Where it goes from here is the big question.”
“We are conscious of the present constitutional requirement that Dáil Éireann should comprise at least one Member per every 30,000 of the State's population, as distinct from citizens. We are aware of the current population of the State, which is 5.458 million. We are also conscious of the likelihood that Dáil Éireann may have to be enlarged. We know the pressures on these Houses already. We know we are stuck for space. We know there are TDs and Senators in Agriculture House up the road having to navigate down the back lanes and streets to get in here for votes. The architecture, the physicality of the buildings and the services, will present a problem in the future, but that is nothing that cannot be overcome. As I said, I am supportive of this legislation.”
“We respect that this is a matter for Dáil Éireann and, ultimately, the Government. It is not a matter for the Upper House, and we ought to be clear about managing people's expectations. We have a platform here, this Chamber, and we have a voice and can articulate a view. That, at best, is all we can do here in relation to this matter. We call on the Government to initiate legislation to amend Article 16.2.2° to specify the number of Members of Dáil Éireann. That is a matter for the Government, not one for the Seanad. It is important we say clearly we are conscious of the provisions of Article 46.2 of the Constitution, which require that a Bill to amend the Constitution must be initiated in Dáil Éireann. That is what we are saying. Then it is clear.”
“It is significant that we now have an Electoral Commission. I would like to see it be more proactive in terms of engaging with issues like this. I would have like to see a public consultation on it. At best, as to what we attempted to do here tonight - and I think we have succeeded, certainly judging from the media inquiries I have received today, and no doubt we will see this right across our media tomorrow - I think we set out to spark a national conversation. We have certainly done that, both inside and outside the Houses, in the past 24 hours. There is a view that we have to have a cap at some point, but let us be clear what we are asking, because some commentary indicated something slightly different from what my understanding of this is. What are we asking?”
“I welcome the Minister of State and thank the Government for indicating its support for this amendment. There are no amendments to this motion, which is interesting. I heard a number of people around the corridors of Leinster House in recent days say that there was not a hope in hell and that it would not wash with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Senators did not put down any amendments. Not many of them have even spoken about the Bill to date. We still have a little time. I thank the Minister of State for coming. It is common sense. My colleague, Senator McDowell, talked about the Tánaiste being favourably disposed to considering the idea. Let us be fair to him. He is not here. He indicated he was open to it, but he also mentioned the issue of the Electoral Commission.”
“It was clearly our intention that the Minister would take responsibility and initiate through his officials and the resources available to him some sort of a report on and analysis of the impact of this legislation in which he has every confidence and, therefore, is surely confident will be right, appropriate and proper. I see him as the guardian of this legislation over the next 12 months. That is the intention and I put that to the House.”
“That is a debate for another day, but let us not be fooling ourselves that people who are detained, retained, find themselves incarcerated or for various reasons are ordered into some sort of controlled environment or situation not of their making or choice do not get some forms of abuse. That is the reality of it. History tells us that. We all know it. Therefore, that is another concern. On the European Convention on Human Rights, that is what we are all about. We are a republic. We have a proud tradition of vindicating the rights of people, or at least seeking to vindicate the rights of people, be they citizens or not.”
“That is a very simple, fair and reasonable request, I would have thought. The report would also analyse the effects. It is important that we analyse the effects of this legislation on the lives of everybody, but particularly children and vulnerable people. There is a vulnerability about most people in those circumstances. We would include in the Bill the provision that they would receive proper legal counselling - surely the Minister does not have a problem with that - and be treated humanely in detention. It is not always the case that people are treated humanely in detention, including in our prisons.”
“Along with Senator McCarthy, I was proposing that, within 12 months, the Minister with responsibility, who is leading this legislation and has brought in all these amendments on which we will possibly not even get to speak in the Upper House, would "produce a report". That is important, particularly in light of the constraints on us as parliamentarians in this House today as we consider the Government's legislation that the Minister is navigating through the Houses. Therefore, it was always our intention that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, or whoever the Minister is on the given day in 12 months' time, would initiate, or his office would initiate, a report on the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. I am not saying he would personally conduct it, but he initiates many things every day.”
“It would come naturally to him anyway. I have no doubt about that and that is not in question here. It was the intention that the Minister would do it once within 12 months because there is a lot of uncertainty about how this legislation will be rolled out. There are concerns. We know the international situation. We may have many people seeking to come to our shores in the next few weeks and months, certainly in the next year. There are huge challenges to the world order at the moment. No doubt all of us here are conscious of that and the challenges it will present. That is another day's work but it is clearly in our minds.”
“I listened attentively to the Minister's response. I take from it that he does not, in principle, have a difficulty with the objective. He has clearly articulated and identified our objective, which is great, so we are not losing anything in translation there. The Minister will be aware that I asked for a report "Within 12 months". I did not say "every 12 months". Given the nature and the concerns about the International Protection Bill 2026, Senator McCarthy and I believe we should be cautious and that we should have some sort of accountability. The Minister stood up and asked if he was meant to be held responsible. Yes, the Minister is to be held responsible. There is the expectation that the Minister will be the advocate and the guardian of the importance of international law and the European Convention on Human Rights.”
“What I am seeking to do is include a provision whereby within 12 months of passing this legislation, we will review it and see if there are concerns about human rights and so on. That is what we all want at the end of the day. We must respect the rights of all people, and that is what I am trying to achieve with this amendment.”
“Okay. We will not speak about the guillotine that has been agreed. To revert to this amendment as well as the Minister's amendments, we will not have an opportunity to speak on many of the them. That presents a bit of a difficulty, but at least if we accept this amendment and the two parts to it, we would have a review in 12 months that would look at the concerns related to the passing of this legislation. Senator McDowell indicated Standing Orders, and the Minister will recall that we discussed this. That is also relevant. I do not think the amendment is unreasonable, but prudent and fair. The Minister is a more than prudent, reasonable and fair politician. I know this is very important legislation for him.”
“I very much value my opportunities in the Seanad to always seek to vindicate the rights of people, particularly children and vulnerable people. Whatever criticisms may be made of this legislation, it is important that we have a review. It is also important to note that there was a proposal agreed by the House today to guillotine this legislation if we do not conclude it before 6 p.m., so what does that tell us? It tells us there are a very substantial number of amendments the Minister himself has. I do not have a difficulty with many of them but the Minister has a lot of amendments today.”
“We have discussed this amendment. To my understanding, the Minister did not have a particular objection to any of it on the previous Stage. He did say it might not be necessary, but I would rather have the protection. I do not think it would do any harm to have this amendment included in the legislation. What this amendment seeks to do is to provide that: (a) Within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall produce a report on the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. (b) 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 humanely in detention in line with national law and the European Convention on Human Rights. This always had to be about the dignity of the person, the dignity of people and about human rights.”
“I move amendment No. 3: In page 19, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “(4) (a) Within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall produce a report on the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. (b) 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 humanely in detention in line with national law and the European Convention on Human Rights.”.”
“In summary, I thank the Minister because I believe he has listened and has considered, to some extent, some of the arguments made in relation to these most vulnerable children and vulnerable people, whom he references also. I thank him and assure him of my support for his amendments.”
“The ombudsman raises many issues but I want to quote two lines from the article in the Irish Examiner , which was written by the ombudsman himself: 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. Clearly, the ombudsman is not privy to the amendments the Minister has just tabled, or at least the rationale behind them, so that is important to say. The ombudsman goes on to say in the article: It’s important to stress my concerns about the new system are not an endorsement of the way we currently treat children seeking asylum here [in Ireland]. I have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the inadequate care and protection afforded to these children.”
“I welcome the Minister back to the House. I thank him and support all of these amendments. They are the Minister's amendments and clearly indicate that he listened. He said he would. He kept it concise. The amendments are primarily about children and vulnerable people, who were very much the principal concern of Senators on this side of the House who spoke and who are the ones who are extensively contributing to the whole debate. I want to acknowledge that. It is important. I will not go into great detail on it now because I will speak about it later, but we all received a letter from the Ombudsman for Children today expressing serious concerns about how asylum seeking children would bear the brunt of changes to the international protection legislation. It is covered in the Irish Examiner .”