First of all, I would like to be associated with the comments condemning the online abuse that my colleague, Senator Flynn, has received. No one should be subjected to that and, unfortunately, women representatives are especially open to that. It just should not happen. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a community football group, namely, Drogheda Boys and Girls FC, that was really struggling after waiting four years for the most basic of changing facilities for their teams. There are 21 teams in all. It is a very…

Senators Nessa Cosgrove and Malcolm Noonan intend to share time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

My apologies, I did not realise that Senator Brady had not spoken.

Has the Senator spoken on this already?

I am afraid we have called on the last speaker.

We really have to call on the Minister to talk.

We take note of the Senator's comments.

I call on the Minister to respond.

Everyone may be experiencing what I will describe for very different reasons. Imagine lying awake at night, tossing and turning and unable to switch off. The room is too warm and suddenly too cold and night sweats come and go. Thoughts are racing, replaying the day just gone and worrying about the day ahead. All the while, one knows one really needs some sleep. For many women going through menopause, this is not the occasional bad night. Rather, it is night after night of broken and disrupted sleep. Life is difficu…

I thank the Minster of State for taking it so seriously. I note from the Minister of State's response that the issue has not really moved forward since it was raised in the Dáil last year. I must note that our President, Catherine Connolly, raised this issue. We need to see why it has not been approached by any of the marketing authorities. If there is such a demand for it then clearly it is falling between two stools here. We need to make sure we are bridging that gap to make it available. As I mentioned before, i…

We have just marked world Down's syndrome day this past Sunday. I always love to see those incredible children and families who are rocking the odd socks. It does raise awareness. I wish to raise an urgent issue regarding an apparent lack of appropriate special class provision for children with Down's syndrome across the country. New figures from the National Council for Special Education were sent to me by the Louth-Meath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland and they show what seems to be a stark imbalance. Of 88 new s…

We are all proudly wearing our daffodils today to remind everybody that it is Daffodil Day tomorrow, Friday, 20 March. One in every two of us will experience cancer and it will take €6 million to be raised tomorrow to help the Irish cancer services with their vital work. They did bring something very worrying to my attention, namely, the cost of car parking for those who are going through chemotherapy or attending oncology units in hospitals across the country. In my own closest hospital in Louth, Our Lady of Lourd…

As Fianna Fáil spokesperson in the Seanad for arts and culture, I will use my time to congratulate Ireland's very own slice of Kerry gold, Jessie Buckley, on her magnificent win. It is the crowning glory of what has been an incredible few weeks, becoming the first ever Irish woman to win the best actress Oscar. I do not want to sound like I am making an Oscar's speech myself but we have to mention Marina Cassidy and Tim Buckley, her very proud parents. She has made everybody right across this country, and particula…

As there are no other contributors, I call on the Minister to reply.

I welcome guests of Senator Cosgrove who has brought her dad and it is lovely to see Seán O'Callaghan. He is sliding in the door as we are concluding business. We have other guests also, including the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Cuirim fáilte roimh na haíonna. A few weeks ago, I wrote in The Journal about domestic abuse against men in Ireland and the urgent need to fund a fully staffed 24-hour helpline through Men's Aid. I did this very carefully knowing that it is a very sensitive space, and determined that raising the issue would not in any way take from the very real and disproportionate impact of domestic violence on women. What I did not fully anticipate was the response I would get. Since that article was published, I have been conta…

I thank the Minister of State for that response and the continued investment I can see in supports for victims of domestic and gender-based violence. These services are vital and must continue to be properly resourced. Gender-neutral services are admirable, but there is a service gap in the framework. Cuan is operating a seven-days-a-week helpline, although it is not for 24 hours a day. I seek that funding be made available for that and, in particular, Men's Aid. Quite often, a man will not contact a service that h…

Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Glaoim ar an Seanadóir Costello.