I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, to theHouse. I also welcome this opportunity to discuss the establishment of an independent electoral commission which, as Senator Boyle stated, forms part of the programme for Government. The Green Party was active in negotiating its place in the programme for [...]

I welcome the proposed publication of the referendum Bill on the Lisbon Treaty tomorrow. It is anticipated that the legislation will come before the House for adoption in the next two weeks. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to address the House while the debate on the Bill is taking [...]

I wish to share my time with Senator Mary White. 

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, to the House and thank him for his statement on fair trade. I also welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate during Fair-trade fortnight. I acknowledge the long record of support by Irish Aid of the Fair-trade [...]

I echo Senator Alex White’s call for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the Chamber to discuss the reports in the newspapers today that certain senior members of the Refugee Appeals Authority have taken a divergent position from the chairman of the tribunal. It is a serious issuethat requires clarification. [...]