This morning, many Senators will have received a letter from the Ombudsman for Children's Office in relation to the International Protection Bill 2026. It states:

Dear Senator,

As I’m sure you are aware the International Protection Bill 2026 is due to go to Report and Final Stages in the Seanad at 1pm this afternoon.

If this legislation passes in its current form, we are concerned that children seeking asylum in Ireland could be more vulnerable than ever before to breaches of their rights.

The letter then refers to an article in The Irish Examiner. I had a read of that, and I thought what it said was harrowing. I have great admiration for the Ombudsman for Children's Office and how it advocates. I just want to quote two lines from the article in The Irish Examiner. All Members can read it. They all got a link and they all got the correspondence anyway. It states:

Complaints to my office show how children seeking asylum are already among the most vulnerable in Ireland and if the Bill passes in its current form, it risks further undermining their rights. It is important to stress my concerns about the new system are not an endorsement of the way we currently treat children seeking asylum here. I have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the inadequate care and protection afforded to these children.

The Leader has a proposal that will amount to a guillotine on the Bill if we do not conclude all of our business today. I just want to put on record my disappointment about that. Of course, we will have an opportunity to tease matters out later on, but this does not bode well for a Government that has a huge majority in both Houses. There is time to debate these issues. It is something that has exercised people on all sides who are of different beliefs and have different priorities and different points of principle, but I do think it is important in a parliamentary democracy. This is the Upper House. It is a Chamber in which things are perfected. One of our principal functions here is to add to and assist with legislation. I do not think this sends a very strong, clear message of support for parliamentary democracy. I will leave it at that. We will have another opportunity to talk through it.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir.

If that is the way it is going to continue, then this a very sad day for the Seanad and for the people-----

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir.

I will finish on this point. It is a very sad day for the people who advocated and worked hard for the retention of Seanad Éireann, because they believed it had a function. If what is proposed happens, it will be a sad day for Seanad Éireann. That is something on which we must all reflect.