First, I would like to mention the shocking attacks on the aid flotilla to Gaza today, which is yet another disgraceful breach of international law.

This is a humanitarian fleet of over 500 civilian volunteers and it was subjected to co-ordinated attacks in European waters off Crete. Aid is so desperately needed for the starving people in Gaza and everything that can be done must be done to ensure the aid safely reaches its destination. Drones, explosives and chemical dispersals targeted unarmed vessels, damaging the ships and endangering lives. The crew on board The Spectre, including our colleague, Senator Andrews, said they believe they were struck four times by drones. I hope all personnel on board are safe, but the world is watching now. We must not turn a blind eye to the illegal attacks on these flotillas.

The second item I want to raise is to call for a debate in this House on the cost of living and energy prices in particular. As families are struggling having just got kids back to school and the costs that go with that, they are now facing a winter of even higher energy bills. I hear from people in my area in Laois how they are really struggling. It is not just families but also single-income households that are struggling to pay bills and missing out on meals because they run out of money halfway through the week. We heard that four separate energy companies are raising their prices despite the fact that Ireland already has the highest electricity prices in Europe. This Government needs to start holding these companies to account. I would like a debate in this House not just on energy prices but also on the general cost of living.

As I am sure all Senators know and as we heard from Senator McCormack, last night there was once again a breach of international law while the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful humanitarian mission sailing in international waters, was attacked by drones. These boats are a threat to absolutely no one. They carry baby formula, water and the most basic forms of aid. The people on board represent hope and huge amounts of courage. Our own colleague, Senator Andrews, is on board as well as 21 other Irish citizens. They find themselves under attack simply for standing up for the concepts of human dignity and human rights. For the Irish citizens and all of the global citizens on board, we must say enough is enough. We have always said Ireland has a proud history of defending those under siege, defending international law and championing human rights. Today, we have to live up to that truth and the expectation people have of us as representatives. I call on every Member of this House, in particular Senators in Government parties, to speak to their ministerial colleagues urgently and the Tánaiste and Minister for foreign affairs without delay to demand full accountability for this attack and insist on the safety of all of the Irish citizens on board. This is not about party politics; it is about our shared commitment to international law, the right of safe passage and the protection of civilians. If this attack on Irish citizens in international waters does not move us to act, then what will? Let us send a clear and united message from Seanad Éireann that Ireland will not tolerate attacks on our citizens or the targeting of humanitarian missions and will continue to stand up for justice, peace and human rights.

I also lend my support to what Senator Boyhan said regarding the women on hunger strike who have been camping outside Leinster House since Sunday night. They are women in their 60s and 70s who feel completely forgotten and isolated by the State. They have come into this Chamber and pleaded with us to stand up for their rights to healthcare, dignity and respect, having been systematically mistreated by the Irish State since the day they were born. It should not take women on hunger strike outside the Houses of the people for us to take action. I have written a letter to the Taoiseach asking that their demands be acknowledged and acted upon. I hope others will go out and meet them today as well.

I join my colleagues in relation to what happened to the Global Sumud. It is really concerning that there is not more uproar about the targeting of civilian boats in European waters off the coast of Crete. We are meant to be part of a European Union that is supposed to be underpinned by the principles not only of peace but also international law. It is not acceptable that we would allow and accept in international waters, especially in European waters, that drones can target and damage boats and drop chemicals on 500 civilians who have put their lives at risk to continue to draw attention to the atrocities in Gaza. As a country, we need be strong in the moment it is happening. There needs to be a statement from the Department of foreign affairs now, today, in relation to what is happening to the Global Sumud Flotilla not only because there are 22 Irish citizens on it but because it is wrong. On every level, we are bowing down to the violation of international law by Israel day after day.

I want to draw attention to the appalling comments by Deputy Troy that when it comes to housing, we should house those who have a job first. I could not believe in 2025 that we would have a parliamentarian who does not understand the idea of supporting the most vulnerable in our society, those with the least. Saying we should make sure they are housed last is so unintelligent, not even to understand an analysis of class and why people end up homeless or unemployed in the first place.

We come back to a new term with a new level of energy but to come in to Commencement matters on the first day of term and have no appropriate Minister to take a single one is not something we should not stand for as Senators. On the first day of term, I am asking myself why I would bother tabling any Commencement matter going forward if we did not even have one Minister with the appropriate brief come in today. That is not with any disrespect to the Minister of State who came in to take the Commencement matters but it completely undermines our role and dismisses us as a Chamber. An important function we have is that we can have a Minister in front of us who has a brief and can engage with us authentically on an issue in the moment. We should not start off a new term like this. I would like this House to take a stand on that and communicate that clearly to the respective Departments.

Hear, hear. Well said.

We will bring the issue the Senator raised to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight. It is an issue in the Dáil is as well where Members are having questions answered but not always by the line Minister. I call Senator Daly.