The Order of Business is No. 1, Private Members' business, Protection of Private Residencies (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021 - Order for Committee Stage and Committee Stage, to be taken at 11.45 a.m.

I welcome Pat and Mabyn to the House.

I offer my condolences to the family of Derek Martin, who was tragically killed in a crash on the M50 on Friday. As we heard, his sister has reached out to the people who stayed with him during his last moments. Derek is remembered by his wife and two children. He was a valued member of the Irish Prison Service, serving as an officer in Wheatfield Prison. This tragedy brought Dublin city to an absolute standstill, with people left stranded in their cars for up to six hours. It shows the inadequacy of the roads infrastructure in the city. Derek's tragic death, unfortunately, highlighted this situation. We need to look at building a second loop road and upgrading the city roads. As a result of this awful accident, the whole city was paralysed on Friday. For a modern city, that is not right and appropriate.

The second issue I raise concerns a group, with which I have not met, called the Irish Physical Activity Alliance, IPAA. An issue it has raised might sound trivial but is, in fact, quite serious. The lobby group wants members of gyms and participants in gym classes to be able to claim back their costs through their tax. Especially for women, as we get older, bone health is really important. Lifting weights and doing physical activities can help. People do not really understand the importance of bone health and weight-bearing exercise. I congratulate the group on its work. I support its proposal for inclusion of gym membership costs under the MED1 form for claiming tax relief on health expenses. This would be aimed at anyone who has paid for a gym class or gym membership or who has a family member who has done so.

I welcome the news that Revolut is now offering a savings account with 3.5% interest. This puts it up to all the banks. People depositing money are not getting a return from the regular banks. Revolut coming into the market is a real disrupter. It is very welcome. Members of the public need to know they can earn proper interest on savings, rather than just paying interest on their mortgage. It is great that Revolut is pushing the banks to be a little more competitive.

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh agus a chomh-Sheanadóirí. Ba mhaith liom cead a fháil uaibh an Bille um Fhoréigean Baile (Leasú) (Uimh. 2), 2024 a chur i láthair inniu. Tugann an leasú reachtaíochta seo cosaint agus níos mó príobháideachas dóibh siúd atá ag fulaingt de bharr barraíocht smachta a bheith ag duine éigin orthu.

I seek to amend the Order of Business to take No. 7 before No. 1, whereby I would be permitted, with the leave of the House, to introduce my Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024. The Bill proposes to extend to victims of coercive control the same protection, when attending court, as already afforded to those attending court for a breach of a safety, barring or protection order under the principal Act, the Domestic Violence Act 2018, which I propose to amend. It would place restrictions on those present in court and, in so doing, provide a level of anonymity for victims who are undergoing the severe pressure, and often trauma, of being a complainant in cases of defence of coercive control, and impose some prohibition on the publication of proceedings.

I am seeking the leave of the House to introduce the Bill this morning. I thank my fellow Senators, a number of whom have co-sponsored the Bill.

At the appropriate time, at the end of the Order of Business, I will move that my fellow Senators consider allowing me to introduce my Bill.