The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 – back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No 2, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Sligo County Council) Order 2024, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Section 11) Order 2024, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2, without debate; No. 4, motion regarding the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 – instruction to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 3, without debate; and No. 5, Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 – all Stages, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, only include those set down or accepted by the Government, with the time allocated to the opening remarks by the Minister in the debate on Second Stage not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and time may be shared, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate, with Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter.

I support the Order of Business, as outlined.

As we all know, at 2 p.m. there is going to be a protest outside Leinster House by the hospitality industry. This is an industry that provides important services and good jobs, in particular to younger people, for example students, which helps them through college. They are the essence of what makes the streets in communities, villages and towns survive and thrive. When we go out to engage in leisure activities or to meet somebody socially, it is nice to have the opportunity to be able to pop in someplace for lunch, a cup of coffee or whatever. If we look at the possibility of not having these industries, we would be far the poorer for that. I will be standing with those in the hospitality industry because they need more supports. While certain supports were provided in the budget, I honestly believe we must go further than that. We need to have a debate here in the House with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on how we can support the hospitality industry.

I also want to speak briefly about the Peter McVerry Trust. There is a lot in the headlines and on various programmes on the Peter McVerry Trust. We all acknowledge that Fr. Peter McVerry has done great work - noble and important work - to support those who need a roof over their head. We have heard about the concerns relating to poor governance. Given the significant public funding the trust gets and the fundraising for it that goes on around the country, it is important that the matter is highlighted.

I wish to talk about the model of care and the supports, or lack thereof, for the Peter McVerry house on Eyre Street in Newbridge, traditionally known as the Michael Garry House. It provides a home for people who did not have a roof over their heads. The local St. Vincent de Paul group ran the house. It is what is known as a "dry house", which means residents could not participate in taking alcohol or drugs. It is a model that worked very well. We must acknowledge that some or even many of those who require housing have addiction issues.

Unfortunately, at the moment, the Peter McVerry house in Newbridge is no longer a dry house and this is leading to antisocial behaviour and causing challenges and problems for businesses and residents. I have witnessed some of these antisocial incidents and they are on the severe end of the scale. The Peter McVerry house does not provide a rehabilitation process. When I compare it with places like Tiglin, run by Aubrey McCarthy in Kildare, or the Sister Consilio model, they provide a pathway to help support those with addictions. I believe this is what should also be followed in the Peter McVerry house in Eyre Street. Kildare County Council signed the contract and I have had conversations with it. I believe it should revert to a dry house model and there should be that rehabilitative element to help people get on a pathway to improve their own lives.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 17 be taken before No. 1. This concerns the Disability (Personalised Budgets) Bill 2024, which will revolutionise the situation for disabled citizens in the State who cannot get the services, supports, therapies and surgeries they need. It would take control away from the HSE and put it into the hands of disabled citizens and carers. I thank my colleagues in Seanad Éireann for signing the Bill, co-sponsoring it and supporting me. I got support from across the House from almost 30 of the 60 Senators, from all political parties, including my colleagues in Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Seanad Independent Group, the Civic Engagement Group, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. This legislation will bring us into the 21st century. We are 30 years behind the rest of the European Union and the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Bill is based on every bit of research and consultation that this Government and previous Governments have done with disabled persons' organisations right up to and including the disability action plan launched by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, before Christmas. I am delighted to introduce it. I understand Senator Lynn Ruane will second the amendment. The Bill is of huge significance to me as a parent and a carer, and I really appreciate that support from my Trinity College Dublin colleague.

I also want to raise the situation that confronts our troops in Lebanon. I have been writing in The Guardian and have been interviewed in the Financial Times and Der Spiegel. It is recognised internationally that our troops are in a very dangerous moment. They are not safe and are in harm’s way. Benjamin Netanyahu, with his words demanding that UNIFIL evacuate from south Lebanon, is using the same language he used to threaten Gazans and the Lebanese in the villages there with imminent death. This signals to me that it is not just a local, spontaneous decision by commanders on the ground to open fire on the UN but it is Netanyahu’s political and military strategy. We need to apply pressure. The United Nations 50-nation coalition in Lebanon cannot be forced out of that country at gunpoint by Benjamin Netanyahu. It speaks to the heart of the rules-based international order and the integrity and authority of the United Nations.

I ask that when our troops return in November, we have a civic reception for them. We welcome home our Paralympians, Olympians and soccer teams, and rightly so. We should do the same and recognise the service of these young men and women, some of whom are teenagers of 19 years of age. They are putting their lives on the line in the cause of peace to help save the lives of those Lebanese men, women and children who have not been able to evacuate or flee. Blessed are the peacekeepers. I hope we can have a civic reception for them. Perhaps we might invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to the House to discuss that.

I am delighted to second Senator Clonan's amendment to the Order of Business.

Briefly, before I propose my own amendment to the Order of Business, it is important to put on the record the importance of low-threshold accommodation when it comes to addiction. It is an extremely important entry point. Other references to addiction treatment are people looking for support for addiction, whereas when someone ends up in a wet house, he or she is there because it is a hostel and he or she is seeking housing. It is very important we support low-threshold accommodation for people who may need housing and who also may be street drinkers and need good access to a roof over their heads.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 16, the Parole (Special Advocates) Bill 2024, be taken before No. 1. The Bill contains a number of amendments to the Parole Act 2019, which provided for the establishment of the Parole Board and set out the procedures to be followed by the Parole Board and by parole applicants during the parole process. Under the 2019 Act, where the Parole Board deems it necessary, information gathered by the board in the parole process can be withheld from an applicant and their legal representation under special circumstances, which is a real block to the natural course of justice.

The special advocates Bill seeks to amend the 2019 Act to provide that, in circumstances where information is withheld from an applicant during the parole process, the applicant would be appointed a special advocate to represent their interests in the parole process. The Bill takes inspiration from an equivalent legislative provision in Northern Ireland which sees special advocates being appointed in certain cases by the Advocate General to appear before the parole commissioners. The Bill recognises there may be circumstances where information gathered by the Parole Board in reaching a determination ought not to be disclosed to an applicant or his or her legal representation. The amendments contained within the Bill reflect my belief that relevant applicants ought to be appointed an advocate to represent their interests when this occurs.

With regard to the appointment of a special advocate, the Bill sets out the circumstances where this ought to occur and the roles and responsibilities of an advocate, once appointed, in his or her representation of an applicant. The Bill additionally provides a definition of what constitutes exceptional circumstances. The Act does not clarify currently what special circumstances are, so it can be applied carte blanche without ever explaining what type of information or supposed evidence is being reported to the parole office and without the person ever having to appear before the court or ever having to be questioned by An Garda Síochána about the supposed evidence it has. This Bill seeks to rectify that to give fairer access to justice. The Bill provides that exceptional circumstances exist in the parole process where information shared is likely to pose a threat to the security of the State, is harmful to the public interest, is likely to facilitate criminal activities or pose a hindrance to law enforcement.

I formally propose the amendment.

Senator Ruane has proposed that No. 16 be taken before No. 1.

Yes.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome former Cathaoirleach, Liam Cosgrave, to the Gallery. He is most welcome here with his guests. I thank him for being here and I am sure he is glad not to be in the hot seat anymore.