Seanad Éireann · 2025-06-26
4 contributions · 4 speakers · 183 words
I do apologise most profusely to Senator Ní Chuilinn. If a Senator goes to the trouble of tabling a Commencement matter, there should be an answer here for them. On behalf of the one-, two- and three-year-old children in Dublin 12 who have never had a developmental check, I do hope that, when the Department does take the Commencement matter, the response is considered.
In all my time in Seanad Éireann, I have never come across a case where a Commencement matter did not arrive. Whenever Senator Ní Chuilinn wants it next week, we expect that it will be the first item on the agenda and that the Minister will arrive with the answer to it. We will write to the Department and we will outline that the Seanad expects that, when the four Commencement matters are sent over, the Departments reply back to the Seanad.
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All 4 contributions, start to finish, in the order they were made.
Gabhaim leithscéal leis an Seanadóir Ní Chuilinn; níl freagra againn. I do apologise most profusely to Senator Ní Chuilinn. We do not have a response to her question from the Department. I just want to say on the Senator's behalf that it is unacceptable. If a Senator goes to the trouble of tabling a Commencement matter, there should be an answer here for them. I apologise again. I will ask that the Cathaoirleach prioritises her question.
Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhach. I understand agus níl an locht ort ná ar an Aire Stáit atá anseo inniu. I do want to say I am disappointed. I have raised this issue twice in the Seanad. It has been submitted a couple of times as a Commencement matter. It was finally chosen today. On behalf of the one-, two- and three-year-old children in Dublin 12 who have never had a developmental check, I do hope that, when the Department does take the Commencement matter, the response is considered.
I apologise as well on behalf of the Department. I do not know what happened. I was chosen today to do Front Bench cover, but it is unacceptable that the Senator cannot do her job to raise an issue with the Government. I apologise on behalf of the Government. I hope she gets priority number one at the next Commencement Matters session.
Before we suspend, I thank Senator Noonan for chairing. In all my time in Seanad Éireann, I have never come across a case where a Commencement matter did not arrive. This is the first time in nearly two decades that this has happened. Whenever Senator Ní Chuilinn wants it next week, we expect that it will be the first item on the agenda and that the Minister will arrive with the answer to it. We will write to the Department and we will outline that the Seanad expects that, when the four Commencement matters are sent over, the Departments reply back to the Seanad. The fact that the reply never showed up at all I have never seen happen in two decades. I would say this is the first time anyone in the Seanad has ever heard of a response not arriving. I find it extraordinary that a Department did not follow the process and procedure. We will have that answer for the Senator from the Minister next week.