On behalf of Senator Dolan and me, I thank the Cathaoirleach for adding this matter to the agenda at short notice. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is not available. He has been in contact with our offices and will be following up. Last Friday morning, a colleague of mine, Councillor Marty McDermott, rang me in deep shock. He asked me if I was aware that Roscommon town post office building is to be closed. I could not believe it. I started ma…

I acknowledge that the Ministers are going to become involved in this. That is crucially important. My Oireachtas colleagues and I are working on getting a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, and I believe that is going to happen. This is a listed building. I know the Minister of State has a great interest in heritage herself. I do not want it sold off. As a listed building, there will be limitations on what can be done with it. We all know that. If the building is not efficient, surely there …

I am not going to get involved in what Senator Keogan said, but I remind everybody that Ann Lovett still has very close family members alive and living in this country. I want to spend a few minutes paying tribute to the former Fine Gael TD, Senator and councillor, John Connor, from Roscommon. I understand tributes were paid yesterday, but I was not available at the time. John Connor was an excellent politician, a fantastic orator and a highly intelligent man. He represented his county and his region with dignity. …

I fully support what she said. I think it is very important that funding is not cut. I admire the Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, who very quickly decided not go with some other countries on this. The unfortunate situation that many of those Palestinians are in at the moment is breaking our hearts. If the funding were to be cut now, it would make that situation twice as bad. I support the Senator's comments.

I thank the Minister of State for attending this morning. I wish to say "Hello" to my next door neighbour colleague from home, just across the border in Galway, the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte. I appreciate how she really makes an effort to come when we ask her to deal with some of these issues and tries to solve them for us. It is appreciated by me and other people. I know she does not have a magic wand but, by golly, she tries, and that is appreciated. I wish to take her on a little journey. We will c…

I am only using the Christian name.

Yes, full permission. I have it written on my laptop if anyone wishes to see it.

That is fine. Now, where am I? My train of thought is gone. There are a large number of children with special needs in this school awaiting this service, which we all have to agree is unacceptable at this day and age. Dáithí will be six years old in March, in a few weeks. His parents say that watching him make an effort to talk to his parents, siblings and grandparents is soul-destroying. He gets upset, annoyed and anxious - I have witnessed this in other cases as well - when he is not able to express and tell them…

I thank the Minister of State for her detailed response. I note that 500 people have applied for vacancies in CDNTs and their applications are being processed. I hope there will be some results out of that. I realise the Minister of State has more than enough meetings to attend, but will she consider meeting Dáithí's parents with me at some stage? A short meeting would be fine. She has a very good grasp of their situation and similar situations but sitting down with the parents for 15 or 20 minutes for a chat would…

I thank the Minister of State.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I also pay tribute to former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile. He was always a nice guy. He made many good suggestions and statements in this House. He was certainly very friendly to all of us. I wish to send my good wishes to him. I wish to speak about the late Tom Hussey, a former councillor, Senator, TD, Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary. In 1977 and 1978, he was Parliamentary Secretary and, from 1978 to 1980, he was Minister of State in the Department of Ag…

I am happy to be here, Senator Norris. It is great to see you beaming in the Chamber. You look well, which is great. We were all so concerned about your health over a period and it is fantastic to see you looking so well. I am a latecomer to this House, but my word, you have been so friendly, helpful and caring. Your good friend and my good friend, former Cathaoirleach and Senator Brian Mullooly, constantly asks and talks about you, as did the former Cathaoirleach, now deceased, Seán Doherty. They spoke volumes abo…

I echo other Members' thanks to all of the staff, Martin and all his people. I also thank you a Chathaoirligh. Tom Hickey is a gentleman to the tips of his fingers and has always been very helpful to us all. I also thank all my colleagues here. The situation in Gaza is appalling. How much longer will we have to look at the blood-spattered bodies of women and children and innocent people? Some weeks ago, I asked why in such a powerful world nobody seems to be able to stop this. I cannot put it nearly as well as Sena…

I will not detain the House for long. I fully support the Government on this but we probably should have another look at the Labour Party amendment. There has been a complete sea change with regard to the families of politicians in urban and rural areas. When family members hear on television or radio that TDs and senators cannot get in or out of Leinster House because of a protest, they phone or text to ask whether we are okay. At this point, they are worried. I had a different view on this two or three years ago …

Amendments Nos. 20 to 22, inclusive, and No. 25 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank Senator Ruane. I call Senator Barry Ward.

Amendments Nos. 23, 24, 103, 104, 161 and 162 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Amendment No. 26 has been ruled out of order due to a potential charge on Revenue.

Amendments Nos. 27, 28, 33 and 34 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Amendments Nos. 29, 30, 155 and 156 are related and may be discussed together by agreement of the House. Is that agreed? Agreed.