I request that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, come to the House to debate the standing of a driving test centre for Drogheda in County Louth. We had a temporary driving test centre between 2021 and 2023, which had the longest waiting list in the country. A total of 14 different locations were checked by the RSA when looking for a suitable location to relocate the centre. It did not find anything and we lost the driving test centre. At the time, the centre had a waiting list of 2,200 people. The…

I am requesting a debate with the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, on the need for a commission of investigation for victims and survivors of Michael Shine. As of today, there are 363 known victims and survivors of Michael Shine, the former surgeon and convicted sexual offender who abused young boys, teenagers and young men over a 30-year period in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. I met last week with some of the victims and survivors and they say they have had piecemeal justice. They have lived thro…

I think we all agree that we are living in very turbulent, worrying and anxious times. It has never been more important to have somebody on the end of a phone to help us with our mental health and to listen. I speak today in favour of the organisation Save Our Sons and Daughters, SOSAD, a suicide prevention helpline. Unfortunately, yesterday it had to cut its messaging service which costs €4,000 per month but has saved countless lives. SOSAD has 187 volunteers and was started in my home town of Drogheda almost 20 y…

We will proceed with statements on the diaspora. I call the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Richmond.

I thank the Minister of State. I believe Seanadóir Joe O'Reilly is sharing time with Seanadóir Mike Kennelly.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I note that Senator Tom Clonan is not present in the Chamber. Is Senator Conway taking his-----

Thank you, Senator. I look forward to you extending an invitation to Bruce Springsteen to come and visit us here in the Seanad.

I wish the Senator safe travels next week.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister for coming in today and affording us this really valuable opportunity to discuss women's health. I am loath to quote Tammy Wynette in the House but I do agree that "Sometimes it's hard to be a woman", especially in the context of women's health. I will not sing that. I applaud the fact that the Minister mentioned some of the fantastic initiatives that have happened over the years around period poverty, menopause in particular and free contraception. I have spoken at length in the Seanad about m…

I raise a serious situation at Our Lady of Lourdes emergency department in Drogheda, County Louth, which reached breaking point over the weekend, as outlined by a report by my former colleague, John Kierans on the front page of the Drogheda Independent this week. Paramedics are being left up to five or six hours with people they are bringing to Our Lady of Lourdes emergency department. It is a huge waste of resources, unfortunately, because if somebody calls an ambulance, they cannot leave. Over the weekend – it we…

I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for attending today to answer the very serious concerns we all have regarding the public transport system throughout the country. I welcome that the Minister touched on one of my first queries, which is the delay on adding my home town of Drogheda to the Dublin commuter rail pay zone. For years Drogheda and east Meath commuters have been hit with much higher rates than those closer to the capital. It is often double the fare for what is just a few minutes down the trac…

I would like to request from the Leader a debate on, and an exploration from the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, of, a second railway station for Drogheda, County Louth. Drogheda is Ireland's largest town and is currently being serviced by one train station on the south side of the town which is under severe pressure as it stands. There is not enough parking to service the commuters. If you are not there by 6.45 a.m., there is not a hope of any parking. The idea of a north-side train station was in …

I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State for coming here today and affording us a valuable opportunity to raise what is a very serious issue. There cannot be anybody here in this Chamber who is not appalled by the level of street crime and knife violence that has been happening right across the country. It is not just in our cities, but it is in our towns and in our villages. Only a couple of days ago there was another stabbing incident in Kerry. What we have to look at is the importance …

I am aware I stand here today as a woman who can count many blessings. Not only at 55 years of age have I been able to embark on this great new chapter in my life, but as a menopausal woman, I can also avail of hormone replacement therapy, or HRT as it is more commonly known, which can greatly alleviate many symptoms of menopause. Now I look around here and these hallowed walls may have started to quake at the mere mention of menopause in years gone by, but I have mentioned it twice and they are still standing. It …

Gabhaim míle maith ag an gCathaoirleach. I thank you very much indeed and I congratulate you on your appointment. It is very well deserved. The Cathaoirleach has a remarkable track record and he was a tremendous support to me throughout my general election campaign. I look forward to his advice and help throughout my new venture here. I congratulate all Senators here, no matter what their route was to get here. As a former journalist, I have a new-found respect for what Senators do and I wish in a way that I had be…