I thank Senator Seery Kearney and the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy. It is a great achievement, and it shows the power of our committees as well. It came together in such a short time, sitting from February onwards to publishing report in June-July to now having more than 30 recommendations and the majority of those getting implemented. Senators were involved in the committee and it has been a great achievement for men and women and families across the country. Well done. That demonstrates the power of…

I thank all of the Seanad 100 team for the event yesterday. It was wonderful to celebrate the fact that more than 800 Senators have served in Seanad Éireann of which nearly 120 were women. I very much appreciate the new portraits that have been added to the House to celebrate the women who have served here in Seanad Éireann. I wish to pay tribute to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Heather Humphreys, for the funding for community centres that was received last week. A lot of groups in counti…

The Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan is literally about how we connect our towns all across Ireland. I ran a campaign on this last year to encourage submissions to the Department of Transport around the plan. One of the options being considered related to a route from Castlerea, through Mountbellew, to Ballinasloe, and I am delighted to welcome that route. We encouraged submissions from people living in all those areas because it was crucial we connected our hospitals, universities and university campuses. Th…

I pay tribute to Senator Terry Brennan's family. Everyone has come here to pay their respects. I am a new Senator and I wish to acknowledge Senator Mullen, who spoke about Senator Michael Mullins, who is from the area of Ballinasloe, which is my town. Like anyone who is a public representative, when you love your area and fight for your area, when you are a good public representative, it shows. It is very clear from the speeches that have been made that the Brennan family must be so proud. As a family we sometimes …

I welcome the Minister. I acknowledge the work that has been done by the Department of Social Protection over the past 12 months. The budget focuses on and supports people who are struggling with the cost of living. It is a budget for people who are struggling and those who are vulnerable. I acknowledge the supports for people over 70 and the changes to the living alone allowance. It is important that the fuel allowance is in place. The allowance gives people an additional €33 per week, or they can take two lump-su…

I welcome this motion on childcare from Senators Sherlock and Wall. I welcome the Minister of State who is here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. What has been raised here is important. The people in the Gallery work and are managers in the early years sector. I am based in a more rural area. Senator Wall referred to this and the challenges that we can face. Senator Sherlock mentioned city centre areas, such as the north part of the city of Dublin. There is a huge population and high demand for these serv…

I welcome Councillor Barry Sweeny from Ballyshannon, which is a great part of the country. I join my colleagues in celebrating the democracy that started from very small beginnings to become the democracy we have today. We have had enough of your past now give us our future. Those were very keen words when spoken but there is still much more to achieve. I will also speak to the funding the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has announced, which totals more than €21 million. Along with my colleagues here from the w…

I thank the Minister for being here today, and particularly for mentioning the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park. It is an amazing facility. Over €3 million in funding has been granted to the museum and the Minister was there at the opening of it. I like the joined-up thinking between Departments. Strokestown has also benefited from Town Centre First investment and the €200 million investment in the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue road project, which will bring more visitors to the region and will also tak…

The National Screening Advisory Committee has been mentioned already. It is positive to hear of the proposals, particularly on reducing the age for breast screening to 45, reducing the age for colorectal screening and the idea of the home test for cervical smears. Those are all positive proposals and I would support their being considered by the advisory committee. We have heard supports for radio announced this morning, particularly for regional independent radio stations. All of us in rural areas know how importa…

They are only proposals at this stage

I join with Senator Eugene Murphy and concur with his comments. I was surprised at the comments made by Senator Boyhan. I am open to any other engagement. I have not received any detail on this matter from the IFA.

One of the proudest things about being a person living in Ireland is our generosity of spirit. That generosity extends to the welcome so many families who have come here from Ukraine have received in towns and villages across the country. Ballinasloe College of Further Education has people coming to it from Athlone to study English. The college authorities have spoken about how the students are absolutely incredible. These young people include teachers, doctors and nurses from Ukraine who are trying to improve the …

I acknowledge it is complex legislation, and I acknowledge also Senator Black's review of it. It is important that the advanced healthcare directive is the guiding legislation around healthcare treatments. The enduring power of attorney can then be used for the other elements. This Act is an Act for everyone. We sometimes look at this and think it may only be for people who have capacity challenges. However, it will affect every part of people's lives as they get older and it could apply to people with dementia and…

May I ask a brief question at this point?

It is on the Decision Support Service. Does the grouping in question have a board that is linked to the service? When a Minister is reviewing the legislation every five years and bringing together all of the knowledge in the Department, will that review include representative organisations through the Decision Support Service? Will the Minister elaborate on whether representative groups will be involved? I understand the timing of every five years.

In government, Fine Gael is the party that has brought this country through the Covid crisis and the lockdown to 2.5 million people back at work and the highest ever population in Ireland at 5 million. It is the party people rely on and trust in every town and village in this country. We do not talk the talk that suits when we are in Dublin and a different talk when we are in Belfast-----

-----and there is a totally different ball game. How does Sinn Féin stand over its councillors when they vote against housing? How does that work? This is a cost-of-living Bill because this Government, and all parties in it, realise the challenges that face people, families, communities and businesses. At each and every step, the Department of Social Protection and its Minister, Deputy Humphreys, have delivered packages that target every member of the community. We look at people aged over 70 and the challenges aro…

I welcome the Ukrainian ambassador, who is here representing her country which is fighting for democracy. This weekend, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will visit Athlone. He will probably travel there by train. He will see the fantastic newly painted bus station, which is very integrated, being located beside the train station in the town. Athlone will have soon have electric buses. There are many bus services from the town, such as a bus service to Dundalk for students. However, there is no service…

The coach operator does not accept the travel pass.

I welcome our guests. I will join in the calls for the Minister for Transport to attend the House. Many important reasons for this have already been mentioned, but another is the Connecting Ireland plan. Further punitive measures are being placed on motorists through the toll charges, but where are the bus services we need to ensure that people are able to get from A to B for work, college or hospital appointments? Bus services are crucial. I would look forward to the Minister appearing before us, given that the Co…