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with four others, is being denied a fair trial by another European state. I believe the Minister has a letter from a senior counsel. The letter refers to the fact that no audio recording of what is happening is permitted or provided by the court, there … time. There are limitations in terms of the communication of the defendants with their lawyers. At the very least, will the Government send legal observers to the trial tomorrow and on 22 July? The State needs to be represented there to observe what is happening to an Irish

outlined in correspondence to each member of the Business Committee legal advice that my office had received from the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers. In that correspondence, I further sought submissions from those who did not agree with the advice I had outlined. I was explicit in that … seems that there is significant ambiguity in the wording of Standing Order 170(1) and (4). I will seek the advice of senior counsel on this matter before coming to an impartial final decision. Therefore, in accordance with my solemn declaration that I will apply the rules

abuse in residential institutions, with important measures put in place including the establishment and funding of the HSE's national counselling service providing counselling and support to adults who experienced childhood abuse. Over €1 billion in redress payments have been paid by the State to individual survivors … were boarded out and have questions about their origins and early life experiences. The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides a clear legal basis for access to birth and early life information and records. This allows those who were adopted, boarded out, the subject of an illegal

that. I would like to see somebody put forward the argument that this is an appropriate disclosure. What is appropriate about disclosing counselling notes? These are the victim's notes and the trial is about the perpetrator being on trial, not about the victim being on trial … with letting it go to Committee Stage, where it can be amended, and trusting the House to fix it, along with the parliamentary legal team, the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers? What is to stop us from doing that? This is an excuse to bat this back

section 57. Just for that reason; it is already there. I cannot accept amendment No. 149 following discussion with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. "In the care of" is used 11 times in the Bill already. Seclusion and restraint are some of the most serious infringements … person involved in the use of a restraint or seclusion, these provisions were subject to extended, comprehensive consultation between Department officials and legal advisers, as well as with the HSE and the Mental Health Commission. The view was taken that a significant additional number of provisions

wrong that parents must contact their local TDs on this matter. It is even more wrong that parents are compelled to take legal action to ensure that a child's right to an education is met. As we know, 22,000-plus children are waiting for an assessment … Limit programme, which operates in Corpus Christi Primary School in Moyross, in my constituency of Limerick City. It is a programme that embeds counselling, therapy and family support services within the school environment, thus allowing pupils and parents to access help that would otherwise be difficult for them

Significant progress was achieved through the 2020 action plan for insurance reform. Key measures delivered included the introduction of the personal injuries guidelines, legal reforms to rebalance the duty of care and the establishment of the office to promote competition in the insurance market. Those actions helped … effectively positioned and promoted as a leading jurisdiction for speciality insurance business. My Department is also working closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to the Government to progress the right-to-be-forgotten legislation to ensure fair access for cancer survivors to financial services, specifically mortgage protection

comes to sentencing terrorist offences. This provides a benchmark for co-operation and information exchange between national authorities and prevents the existence of legal loopholes that may be exploited by terrorists. Notwithstanding this, the nature of terrorism continues to evolve. In 2017, in response to the growing threat … terrorist fighters in and out of the country. Travelling to Ireland and travelling from Ireland for the purposes of committing, aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of terrorism is criminalised. The act of organising or facilitating travel for the purposes of terrorism will also be an offence

institute zero tolerance for gender-based and domestic violence, and the Minister referred earlier to other changes he is bringing forward on counselling notes. While that is welcome, all of these laws are ineffective if the first line of defence, the gardaí, are not implementing them adequately. That … killed or injured by partners or women are entrapped in their homes, subjected to coercive control or manipulated by former partners through the legal process. That is why we must have zero tolerance because the consequences are so appalling for women and children. Yesterday, the Minister launched

trouble. He is former head of the civil juries division of the High Court. He, along with senior counsels - I think junior counsels were also present on the day - made a presentation in the audiovisual room and set out the facts for us. The Minister knows that Science … High Court defamation proceedings, the means by which this objective is to be achieved is through the total abolition of an ancient legal right [as Deputy Gannon outlined, dating back to the Magna Carta] I do not know many judges would take the time to come

good work it does, which last year saw the centre providing counselling services to 230 clients in the community, with almost 3,000 counselling sessions recorded in 2024. I understand that, in recent years, the centre has received funding from a number of public bodies, including Tusla … recent weeks between the HSE and the Loreto Centre Crumlin to explore the current issues facing the service. The HSE reports that the legal status of the service is in flux, as the service and building are currently being transferred from the ownership of the Loreto Sisters

care more about the defence strategy than we do about someone's right to seek help and privacy. It says that counselling records are not evidence, they are sacred. I know some will raise concern about the issue of a fair trial but let us be honest. What … with survivors to protect their right to heal in peace and finally say we will not turn their pain into someone else's legal strategy

Committee Stage amendment had been drafted. The drafting is ongoing in the Attorney General's office and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I am not opposing this legislation. In fairness to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, I know that neither he nor I cares which legislative instrument gives effect … policy and that is why I will not be opposing it. However, while the intention of the Bill has obvious merit, there are legal, policy and operational issues with this Bill as drafted, which I will outline shortly. As I said, I am working on the scheme

cannot accept this amendment. This also applies to amendment No. 21. The amendment to substitute section 9 would fundamentally alter the bespoke legal mechanism being provided for in the Bill, which is designed to enable the taking of oral evidence in a manner that protects the essential interests … would risk prolonging the process. Amendment No. 21 seeks to replace section 10. It would see the chairman of the inquiry, or counsel to the inquiry on his behalf, having a similar role to that proposed for the nominated judge under section 9. While the chairman

Last week in the House, I raised with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, the urgent need to extend legal aid to whistleblowers who step forward not for personal gain, but to protect the public interest. In that exchange, the Minister expressed his willingness to meet me and the whistleblowers … Gorman, were also briefed. The office of the then Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, was so concerned that it offered the whistleblower free counselling after receiving a detailed account of what occurred. The retaliations from Tusla continued and the attacks deepened. The information we have obtained shows there

very much welcome this Bill, which is highly necessary. It provides a legal mechanism for testimony before a High Court judge with regard to the inquiry. At the initiation of the inquiry, the families were given time to speak about what happened and the aftermath in relation … very welcome. That the inquiry will be able to ask questions to clarify evidence is also welcome. I have some concerns. The lead counsel said on 19 March 2026 that the new phase of hearings will take place six months later than scheduled. That is a concern. Chapter

referendum itself. It allows individuals to consider their decision carefully and avoid feeling rushed or pressured. It was intended to act as a legal safeguard demonstrating the serious and irreversible nature of the decision. From an operational perspective, the waiting period provides a structured and predictable pathway … assist her in making that decision, should she wish to avail of them. The HSE-funded My Options service offers non-directive counselling and information for people experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. My Options is staffed by professionally trained counsellors who are experienced in providing support to women experiencing

home. They may have mortgages, caring responsibilities and an active family life. They need a timely diagnosis, clear information, income and employment supports, counselling, therapies and practical advice. The national dementia strategy was published in 2014. It was important, but 12 years later too many services remain fragmented … been developed. A statutory home care scheme would not solve all of the problems but it would set out a legal right for people to have access to home care. Whether it is people with dementia or older people more generally, keeping people in the home

would deal with that issue. I read section 19A earlier. On paper, it looks like it covers all the important issues. It states counselling notes shall not be disclosed unless it is necessary for a fair trail. Unfortunately, section 19A is not operating the way the Oireachtas intended … seen the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 signed into law last year, which expands a victim's right to legal representation in circumstances. Deputy Coppinger referred to the character reference issue. At present, the law is that if someone is going to give

present in the High Court to hear any evidence at first hand. The Government is satisfied that this bespoke approach is legally robust and will maximise the evidential opportunities available to the inquiry. The Bill is focused on the terrible atrocity that was the Omagh bombing but there … Ireland and our authorities. I refer Deputy Kelly to the published transcript of the inquiry's hearing of last Thursday, 19 March, where counsel to the inquiry felt the need to correct inaccurate media reporting on this matter. He said: can we be clear, anyone who has based

critical infrastructure and housing projects by providing clarity and certainty for the decision-making process and thereby avoiding the potential for additional legal challenges. It also includes a number of other amendments to streamline certain application processes for critical infrastructure projects, including those by or on behalf … Bill. Following a comprehensive internal review of the legislation that took place in early 2026, and engagement with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government, OPC, on the drafting of corresponding provisions, a number of amendments are proposed to clarify the competent authorities and related screening

first country to recognise same-sex marriage through popular vote in 2015 and enacting the Gender Recognition Act that same year, which allowed legal gender change through self-determination. Clearly, our work is not done. In just the past few months, we have strengthened hate crime legislation. Since … centred standard of care. I have met many young trans people in the last five years. They are looking for respect, compassion, appropriate counselling and supports such as endocrinology, psychology, social workers and, if appropriate because not everybody will need it, psychology. That is the multidisciplinary team that

wanted to leave outside of the agreement of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union issues in the area of justice, legal affairs and police co-operation because we wanted to do our own thing. The reason we included Articles 3 and 4 is that … specific timeline but it is not a very lengthy amending statutory instrument. The Minister is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Attorney General's office, which will draft the necessary statutory instrument. Certainly, I would like to see that done very promptly

they are selected, depending on how long the trial takes, they may spend a lot of time out of the courtroom during legal argument. Although I am aware that efforts were made through the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act to avoid that and provide for hearings in advance … fair and lawful manner before the court and jury to allow the jury to make a decision. The job of prosecution counsel is to get that case to the jury and to allow the jury to make its decision in the appropriate way, rather than to achieve

lock these people up too. Is that not glorification of terrorist activity? This is outrageous. The lowering to the floor of the legal bar for provocation of terrorist-linked activity must be resolutely opposed. The Government was forced to drop its draconian hate speech legislation; it must … biological and nuclear weapons, we find training "in techniques, methods, skills or technical knowledge" that enables someone else to "commit, or aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of, a terrorist activity". Showing people in your local anti-water charges campaign how to pour cement into a water