We use Google Analytics to see which pages are read and how the site is used, so we know what to improve. This only runs if you accept. See our privacy notice for details.

Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

European Court of Justice and referendum leaflet

Summary

A welcome to the ambassador and guests led into a correction from the Chair about the Court of Justice, after which Senator Craughwell condemned the referendum leaflet as confusing and said Government claims about family protections were misleading.

I, too, welcome the Estonian ambassador. I note for the record the amount of work she has done in supporting an initiative I launched approximately two years ago in the area of cybersecurity, including awareness and training. The assistance we have had from Tallinn has been second to none. I thank her very much for her efforts.

It is interesting that we have members of the European Court of Auditors in today. One of the things they might do is look at public procurement in Ireland. Any time we try to question it-----

Comment on this
Mark Daly An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

Senator, I could not allow you to have an incorrect statement on the record. Our guests are from the European Court of Justice.

Comment on this

Well, the Court of Justice will do fine too.

Comment on this
Mark Daly An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

They are not accountants.

Comment on this

They might look at it, too. We might bring it to them there. My apologies.

The information leaflet for the referendum arrived in my house yesterday. I am absolutely disgusted by it. It gives no clear indication of what is involved. Minister after Minister has gone out telling the people about what it is going to do for families, yet the legal advice is that it will cause more confusion than anything else. Indeed, one of our colleagues on the Government side pointed out on Virgin Media One that people in durable relationships will find themselves in the courts to get durable relationship recognised in order to execute various forms and so on. The issues of succession rights, pension rights and all these things have been brought up. I ask the Leader to please tell me what the word "strive" will mean for those who are involved in caring full time. How will the Government strive? It failed miserably to endeavour, which is the current wording in the Constitution. We are now told care is being placed into the family but the State will strive to support carers. What does "strive" mean? Where can I bring "strive" to the bank? How does "strive" help any carer in any way? If we were serious about this, we would have said the State shall support carers, but we did not use the word "shall". We repeatedly attempted to address this during the debate on the matter in this House. That debate was guillotined in order to allow the Government to run this sham referendum on 8 March, International Women's Day, as if it is going to do something for the women of Ireland. It has done sweet damn all for them and if it passes, which I believe it will not, it will do nothing for carers or those in durable relationships.

Comment on this