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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Order of Business

Summary

The Cathaoirleach welcomed visitors to the Gallery and Senator Kyne set out the scheduled business. Senator Murphy O'Mahony offered condolences on Donal Carey and began a request for a debate on disability and bluetongue; the opening pleasantries and business remain part of the Order of Business.

Mark Daly An Cathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

We have graduates from Tiglin, Brendan Hurson and Emmet McCarthy, here with us. I thank them for being here. I am sure Senator McCarthy will have some words for you.

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I will propose a motion at the end of the sitting in memory of the late Donal Carey. I sympathise with his children Leonora, Joe, who is a former Member of the Lower House, and Donal junior. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025 - referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 and to adjourn at 1.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 3, Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 – Committee Stage (resumed), to be taken at 2.30 p.m. and to adjourn at 5.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 54, motion 2, Private Members' business in the name of the Sinn Féin Senators, motion regarding Irish unity, to be taken at 5.30 p.m. with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

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On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I express our sympathy to the family of the late Donal Carey on his passing. I never had the privilege to meet Donal but everything I have heard about him shows he epitomised all that was very good in politics. He was a Member of both Houses and went on to be a Minister of State. He obviously had great taste because he often holidayed in the most beautiful constituency in Ireland, Cork South-West. On behalf of my party, I extend our sympathy to Leonora, Donal, and our former colleague Joe, who is a friend to many in both Houses. God rest Donal's soul.

I would like to officially congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, on her recent appointment as Minister of State for disabilities. I would like to ask her to come to the House to lay out exactly what her plans are. I look forward to working with her and progressing the whole field of disabilities. I have congratulated her personally but would like to do so publicly today. It is very important that there is a plan going ahead and that we in this House are aware of what it is.

In the small time I have left, I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon, to come in to discuss the whole issue of bluetongue. There are a couple of cases in Northern Ireland. Thankfully, it is not spread from person to person or animal to animal. It is insect spread and, thankfully, there are no fears about human life. However, if it came south, it would have huge consequences for our agricultural industry. I would like to invite the Minister to the House so that we might know exactly what the plans are to ensure this does not spread and to give more information about the whole thing.

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