I thank colleagues for their contributions and time. I always find debates in the Seanad really valuable, useful, thought-provoking, challenging and important, so I thank Senators as always for their time. I will try to address the various issues raised as best I can and I apologise if I miss some of them. Senators asked about progress on the Delta wave. We are dealing with two different but related matters, that is, a Delta wave, which we have a plan in place to deal with, and the new variant, for which various ac…

We have six minutes each.

Can the Acting Chairman confirm that I have six minutes?

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for being here. It is crucial that we talk about peat, transition and climate change, but who is talking about people? Who is talking about people and about jobs? We are talking about peat. I live in Ballinasloe. Less than 10 km from Shannonbridge, there are seasonal workers who have lost their jobs. I know people who have lost their jobs. Roscommon has been hugely impacted by the loss of the Lanesborough facility. We are in the midst of a just transition or, at least, …

According to the EU: The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) is a key tool to ensure that the transition towards a climate-neutral economy happens in a fair way [a fair way not for some but for everyone in this country] leaving no one behind. It provides targeted support to help mobilise around €55 billion over the period 2021-2027 in the most affected regions. Frans Timmermans has stated, "We must show solidarity with the most affected regions in Europe, such as coal mining regions and others, to make sure the Green D…

I want to ask the Minister about hospitals, particularly in regional areas. Portiuncula University Hospital is in the HSE's capital plan. We have a 50-bed unit there that I hope will move on to the second stage of procurement and that construction will start in January or February of the coming year. We have Roscommon University Hospital where there are many good things happening, such as the expansion of the rehabilitation unit that will be based in Roscommon. Ballinasloe has waited for 25 years for a primary scho…

It is very fitting that Senator Boyhan is in the Chair given the work he has done on this issue. I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to the House to speak on the mother and baby homes. I also welcome his decision to visit Tuam to meet survivors. He and his team have engaged in in-depth consultation processes with many of the survivors and groups advocating on their behalf. This is a shameful part of our history which has left a tragic legacy. As public representatives, it is we who must stand before people, an…

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, to the Seanad. I thank him for taking this Commencement matter, which is about DEIS, that is, delivering equality of opportunity in schools. Schools have not been assessed for years for DEIS and, as such, schools cannot get DEIS status. This has been going on since 2015. A small number of schools were added in 2017 but no schools have since been added to the DEIS programme. This is a huge issue. A Department of Education report states that schools in higher leve…

I understand the Minister, Deputy Foley, is not present but as the Minister of State is the representative of the Government today, I must tell him I do not see the timeline in the response. Is there a timeline for when we are going to see the identification model being completed? When is that? Is it going to be as a result of the census? Is that the reason it has been held back? These schools and these children are at concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. The last amount allocated funding under this pro…

Today is UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Figures show worldwide one in three women has been abused in her lifetime. At times of crisis levels of violence and abuse rise. We have seen this throughout Covid-19 and during the pandemic. Earlier, the Minister for Justice announced funding of €445,000 for 18 domestic abuse services in towns throughout Ireland. This funding has a special focus on ensuring services are rolled out in regional areas outside of our city centres and urban ar…

I have three points. First, I welcome the announcement yesterday of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and that of today that antigen testing will be extended to schools from Monday, 29 November. It is also very hopeful to see that there will be extra substitute teachers which is a very significant issue on the supply panels. I thank the higher education institutions, HEIs, that are engaging with us in order to release students to be able to support schools. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has noted that there will be more th…

Today we show yet again how the Seanad makes a difference. On behalf of the Fine Gael group, the Leader of the House, Senator Doherty, together with Senator Robbie Gallagher, presented the cross-party Horticultural Peat (Temporary Measures) Bill 2021 today. The Bill shows how we can deal with the practical impact of the lack of peat for the horticultural industry, and that industry only. Currently, peat is being imported, which does not make sense. The Bill shows how to deal with those practical impacts. It is a te…

Do any other Senators wish to speak?

Amendment No. 22 in the names of Senators Warfield, Boylan, Gavan, Ó Donnghaile, Higgins and Black has been ruled out of order as it would involve a potential charge on the Revenue.

Unfortunately, I do not think we can take a point of order on this.

If the Senator wishes, he can bring that up with the Seanad Office. Unfortunately, the amendment is considered out of order.

Amendment No. 23 in the names of Senators Higgins, Ruane and Black has been ruled out of order as it would involve a potential charge on the Revenue.

Amendment No. 24 is in the name of Senators Higgins, Ruane and Black. It arises out of committee proceedings.

Do any other Senators wish to speak to the amendment? How stands the amendment?