I was proud to speak in favour of Senator Ged Nash's apology & exoneration bill in the Seanad yesterday and support the efforts to make amends for the historic wrongs carried out by the Irish state against the LGBT community. A video of my speech can
I was delighted to see my amendment to the Government's Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 pass with majority support in the Seanad. I'd like to thank Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour, Green Party and independent senators for their support. As a result of my amendment, the legislation
I'm delighted to publish my first office newsletter. It provides updates from my election in April until the start of the Seanad's new term in the autumn. It can be viewed here.
I was delighted to see three of my amendments with independent colleagues to the Government's Planning, Development & Residential Tenancies Bill pass in the Seanad this week, which seeks to give a statutory footing to the Government's Action Plan for Housing. As a result, protections in
The government's housing bill is currently before the Seanad. While I welcome the robust and timely response of the government to the housing crisis, I and a number of other senators have submitted amendments to improve protections and certainty for Irish citizens in the housing
The Government's Heritage Bill is currently before the Seanad and rather than strengthening and supporting Ireland's rich cultural heritage, I believe many of its provisions will actively damage Irish culture and the environment. I and a number of other senators have submitted amendments to the
In June, the Government tabled a motion to create the Citizen’s Assembly, which will deliberate on a number of political issues – including the future of the Eighth Amendment. I believe that the timeline of the process for a decision on the amendment’s future is
As a former addiction programme developer in west Dublin, I have a significant experience of and interest in drug policy and progressive drug policy reform. I support the decriminalisation of drugs and the treatment of addiction as a public health issue, rather that one of
In May 2016, I made a submission to the Strategy for Education and Skills 2016-18 which related to teacher training, third level education funding, the approach to mental health within secondary schools and access to higher education.
