I now propose that the petitions considered by the committee at this and previous meetings are published and that replies from Departments and other bodies are also published.

We will now consider those petitions. There are four. The first is to allow Irish people abroad their voting rights and it was submitted by Ms Gráinne McLoughlin. I recommend that the correspondence from the petitioner be forwarded to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and that we schedule a hearing with that Department because the petitioner has already been before the committee. A hearing would give us a chance to hear from the Department. It is a complex area. We need to hear the view of the Department and we will have a chance to interrogate it. Do members have any views?

I agree with what the Chair said. What is being sought has been achieved in other countries. I have raised it before and have been told it is a matter of logistics. I do not believe it is. It has been done in New Zealand, Australia and other countries. I would like to bring in whoever is responsible for making up the rules and ask why we cannot give the constitutional right to vote in a presidential election or referendum to Irish citizens abroad. I totally agree with the Cathaoirleach and look forward to the hearing.

Absolutely. Is the course of action outlined agreed to? Agreed.

The second petition, submitted by Atheist Ireland, is to give practical application to the right not to attend religious instruction in school. We have received correspondence from the petitioner, directed at the Department of Education and Youth. The proposal is that the correspondence from the petitioner be forwarded to the Department of Education and Youth for comment within 14 days and that, on the basis of the response, we consider whether a full hearing might be appropriate. Do members have any views?

I agree absolutely.

Is it agreed? Agreed.

The third petition is for justice for those abused in the homes run by the State. It was submitted by Mr. Corwyn Bertrand-Fuchs. There has been a substantial amount of correspondence. Correspondence was forwarded to what was the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and it responded that it would be more appropriate if it were handled by what is now the Department of Education and Youth. It is proposed that we refer this petition to the Department of Education and Youth and, on receipt of its response, consider the next step. Do members have any views?

I agree with that.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

The fourth petition is entitled “Flawed Legislation relating to Pensions and Social Security”. I do not wish to prejudice any response that might come. A recent High Court case might have implications for this petition, so I propose that we do the relevant housekeeping, namely, publish the response from the Department and send it to the petitioner, if agreed, and send the media report on the recent court case, which we have thanks to Deputy Buckley, to the Department of Social Protection and seek its advice on its implications. Is that course of action agreed to?

Could I just make one comment because this is news compared with when we got the response? I was worried that the assistant secretary had said that since the 36-month period specified in section 81L was considered to be justified, sufficient and reasonable, there were no plans to amend the section in the manner sought by the petitioner. The Cathaoirleach mentioned the High Court case decision. The court stated the refusal to provide a spouse's pension to a man who lived with his late partner for 25 years was unconstitutional. I just wanted to put that on the record.

I thank the Deputy for that because it is important.

I am looking forward to the response.

As I am myself. I am very interested in hearing it. We will consider the response and then decide our next steps. Is that agreed? Agreed.

That concludes our consideration of public petitions this morning.

I invite members of the public to submit petitions via our online portal, which is available at petitions.oireachtas.ie. A petition may be addressed to the Houses of the Oireachtas on a matter of general public concern or interest or an issue of public policy. Do members have any issues they wish to raise under any other business?

No, a Chathaoirligh.

As there is no other business, I adjourn the committee until 27 January 2026 at 6 p.m., when we will meet in private and public session.