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need to deal with this. Counselling notes should not be used. It is as simple as that. As legislators, we need to ensure we deal with the issue in a manner that meets constitutional, legal and technical requirements. I am definitely not going to go through … that there would be limitations on the information provided in that narrative. That is the format by which we should deal with counselling notes. As a consequence, victims would not be retraumatised and counsellors would be protected. That is what I am trying to achieve. That is what

related inquests outside of the State. Family members and survivors and their legal representatives will be allowed to attend as regards the evidence given before a High Court judge, and the Bill will allow for counsel to the inquiry to ask questions to clarify evidence given

that in this Bill there are issues dealing with sexual offences, prisons, community service and other areas in respect of the civil legal system and evidence system. If I was to wait for a broad general Bill, whether it be a Bill on prisons or a Bill … want to mislead people. The Oireachtas cannot ban counselling notes without putting in place a real risk that a subsequent trial involving a complainant and a survivor or victim before the courts would be undermined because a successful legal challenge would be brought against it. Another issue raised

Forces and departmental officials; by allowing family members, survivors and their legal representatives to be present during evidence taken before the High Court judge; and by allowing the chairperson of the Omagh bombing inquiry or their counsel to ask clarifying questions directly, thereby maximising the evidential value … extra powers of compulsion and who wanted a parallel inquiry here. I understand where those perspectives come from. This Bill does what is legally possible under our Constitution while still ensuring that substantial assistance - real, meaningful assistance - can be provided to the inquiry as it unfolds. The Government

hearing. That is not good enough. The mere fact that their counselling notes could be accessed is enough to deter people from seeking counselling and going to court and enough to cause real fear, particularly where there is a relationship with coercive control, intimate partner violence or child … assailing them with a gauntlet of misogyny. Our legal system is highly patriarchal and rooted in the idea of male entitlement to women's bodies. It reinforces that with the likes of the idea of counselling notes being used. The Minister could make a name for himself

have to choose between the privacy of whatever record of their counselling sessions has been kept and the pursuit of justice. As I understand it, a judge will examine the records, the victim will always have legal representation and the court will decide what, if anything, should

comprehensive assessments of need. Since then, there have been 932 legal cases taken by parents of children who did not receive assessments of need under the 2005 Disability Act. The State has paid solicitors and counsel over €7.2 million to defend it against these families and to defend

many women from seeking that same justice and left others avoiding counselling altogether. Survivors and their advocates had some hope the Government was prepared to make meaningful changes, that those survivors of sexual violence in our legal system would be treated fairly. Survivors navigate a justice system, speaking

known that a counsellor has electronic records of counselling notes. An order is received by a service provider in Ireland that provides online storage facilities. Is the Minister of State willing to stand over legal protection for survivors of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence that is less

further amendments to the legislation to further restrict the disclosure of counselling records. In this context, the presumption of non-disclosure was introduced in relation to these records. A presumption of non-disclosure ensures the legal status of these records is that they are not to be released

Court criminal legal aid without proper engagement or consultation with the practitioners involved. The Minister is asking criminal law solicitors to run entire cases for the same amount that he would have charged for one hour of his own time as a commercial law senior counsel. The Minister … whereby the other side in a case can test the evidence being relied on. Solicitors are resigning en masse across the country from legal aid panels. It is awful to see. Will the Tánaiste intervene? Is Fine Gael happy to see criminal prosecutions being put at risk? Will

Omagh inquiry". Delivering on our commitment to assist an inquiry established by another sovereign state is not without its challenges. There are legal complexities that must be navigated to ensure constituency with the laws of Ireland and the Government's duty to safeguard the essential interests … approximately 20,000 pages of material have been provided by the Irish State to the Omagh bombing inquiry. I welcome the acknowledgement by counsel to the inquiry at its hearing last Thursday of the "considerable efforts that have been made" by Irish authorities and the "effective progress" that

recommends that this review should examine the Legal Aid Board's ability to recruit and retain in-house solicitors and sufficient external expertise and look at the salaries of current and future in-house solicitors, private practitioner fees and counsel fees. Has the review been initiated

tribunal also potentially means senior counsel questioning parents. We have to be careful about the meaning of these different things in both directions and how we protect children who have their own independent rights under the Constitution and how their legal rights are protected. There is no desire

have very little time so I will quickly mention two issues about our legal system. We put people through the most obscene legal misogyny. The first thing I will mention is the DPP because this is an issue that needs more attention. We all know of the case … counselling notes being used in any way. This has not received the publicity it deserves, but it has come out and said that as a society, as a professional organisation, it calls for "an immediate end to the practice of accessing therapy notes in legal cases involving rape

will also demonstrate our commitment to fostering responsible, human-centric Al innovation, both domestically and across Europe. There is also a firm legal deadline. Enforcement of prohibited Al practices posing unacceptable risks, as set out in Article 5 of the Al Act, takes effect as of 2 August … with the parallel development of the EU's digital omnibus proposal, has required extraordinary efforts from my officials, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General. To them I am most grateful. As I have noted, and as Deputies will no doubt

Office of Parliamentary Counsel for review. In addition, the plan mandates faster release of NCID data and deeper sectoral analysis to further strengthen transparency and accountability in the sector. We will also strengthen the Injuries Resolution Board. We plan to move at pace on legal reform and cost

explore every legal and constitutional mechanism to ensure that institutions are held to account and contribute meaningfully to any redress scheme. Just as important is how we support survivors today. I commend the Government on ensuring clear information is available on how survivors can access counselling, report abuse

counsel to the inquiry to make submissions or representations to the nominated judge concerning the scope, relevance and permissible extent of questioning under sections 9 and 10. It appears to extend to the questions that might be put by the nominated judge, core participants or their legal representatives

counselling notes should not be part of a criminal trial. I accept fully the logic of the point about the chilling effect of the possibility of notes being used. I agree with the Deputy on that point. I accept her challenge in terms of understanding the legal advice

justice is bringing forward legislation in which he will go as he possibly can to place real conditions on the use of counselling notes. On Deputy Lawless' question, the Government has huge pressures. I gave the figures earlier. We are making a lot of progress in terms … more rigorous, timely and efficient response to those seeking asylum. Nonetheless, people come into the country to seek asylum. They are legally entitled to seek asylum and our job is to process applications as quickly as we can. If people are entitled to asylum, they

agreed that a public inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services should be established. Mr. Farrell, who is a highly respected senior counsel with extensive experience in sensitive and complex matters, will now lead a structured programme of engagement designed to ensure the voices of families, patients … advocacy groups with enormous experience of these issues are central to the process. While Mr. Farrell is known for his expertise in complex legal matters, what is most needed here is his proven ability to approach sensitive issues with great humanity and great respect. I hope everybody will

obligation upon service providers to preserve or produce electronic evidence at the request of a judicial authority of another member state, imposing a legal obligation upon them to do so. The directive requires that member states ensure service providers offering services in the EU designate an addressee … offence in this jurisdiction. Unfortunately, and notwithstanding the significant efforts made by my officials and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the transposition deadline for the e-evidence directive of 18 February 2026 could not be met. Transposition of the directive via this Bill is, therefore, imperative

credibility to David French and others who have campaigned for it. It has been a long time coming but we need much more legal change in the area of gender-based violence. While I welcome this Bill and also welcome the fact that other Bills such as Jennie … misogyny in the court system. It is something that has come up, and I know that the Minister is dealing with the counselling notes issue, and we had a debate only the other day on this. Survivors and therapists were hugely upset and disappointed after that committee meeting

introduce amendments to the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Committee Stage which will ensure that the Bill delivers, in a practical and legally robust manner, the policy objective of providing protections for cancer survivors in accessing mortgage protection insurance cover for their principal private residence. A cancer … programme for Government commitment to legislate in this area. Following detailed analysis and extensive engagement with stakeholders, including the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the Central Bank, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, Insurance Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Society of Medical Oncologists and the Society