Senator Doherty laid the foundations.

Now.

Now.

On behalf of my colleagues, I commend the Minister on the way he has handled this and made something really happen. This was not just an announcement. People said to me when it was initially announced that it would not happen. It has happened. I have met people in my clinics who say they cannot afford to go into hospital for three or four days, they do not have a medical card and so on and they do not have the €800. A lot of people do not want to ask a family member. This is really important. As it kicks in and peo…

I support Senator Kyne on the matter of school meals. I raised a Commencement matter before the House, and as I think other Senators did, and the results of this need to be dealt with as quickly as possible. As Senator Kyne has rightly said, people who provide the service are opting out. I was talking to some people providing that service. It is incredible. The reality is that they are not covered. I know people in some of our own towns who are providing the service from their local supermarket or whatever, and are…

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I must say you are looking well after your trip. I hope you enjoyed the weekend. I am one who very much believes that we get great mileage out of St. Patrick's Day across the world. I know some people have a different view, but we really get huge publicity across the world, and I think our Ministers and various leaders, including the Cathaoirleach, sell Ireland well across the world. If one takes the overall benefit from that in terms of tourism, business and so on, it is not a…

Before we commence, I remind Members that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. On Report Stage each non-Government amendment must be seconded. The Minister of State has informed me that he may be called for votes in the Dáil. In that case we will need to suspend. Amendment No. 1 is in the name of Senators Boyhan, Clonan, Craughwell and Ruane.

The Senator has made his case very strongly. I call the Minister of State to respond.

I thank the Acting Chairperson for his courtesy and the Minister of State for coming in to take this Commencement matter. It is the first occasion I have asked him to take one since his appointment to this position. Even though I have congratulated the Minister of State personally on his appointment, I want to state publicly this morning that I am very happy that he is in this position now. I know how committed and dedicated he is to jobs, job creation and rural development, in particular. I am speaking this mornin…

We invite the Minister to our county. He is in a neighbouring county. I know we have to meet at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday in a big clash, and then another big clash a couple of weeks later. We meet regularly. I know he is regularly in our county. I welcome that he is going to meet with the CEOs on job creation, including Shane Tiernan, the acting CEO in Roscommon. It is very important that we engage the local authorities. The Industrial Development Authority, IDA, Ireland is engaged with the local authorities so that…

I support the calls for a debate on the cost of energy for both businesses and the domestic sector. Previous speakers have made the case well for such a debate. I have been approached by a number of people, including owners of small businesses such as supermarkets, who are really struggling with energy prices, despite the Government support. Domestic users would not be coming to us about their situation unless it was absolutely urgent. Some of them are struggling, even, as I say, with the Government support, to pay…

I am delighted to welcome the Minister.

I thank the Minister very much for that. I call Senator Cassells first now to speak, who is stepping in for Senator Davitt, who unfortunately cannot be here. The Senator has eight minutes.

We cannot say it enough, but I also join Senators Fitzpatrick, Ó Donnghaile and Ardagh in utterly condemning the attack on Detective Chief Inspector Caldwell. He was off duty, with the community, with mixed and maybe no religions, and doing his best for young people. For his son and other young people to witness that is shocking. Maybe we could decide across the House to write a letter. I am sure the Cathaoirleach and the Leader could organise it. We could write a letter to Mr. Caldwell's family and to the PSNI exp…

Maybe we should-----

I welcome the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I knew he would be delighted to come in to deal with this topic. I call the Minister.

Before we move on, I welcome the students and teachers of Rockford Manor School. I understand this is transition year group 1, together with their teachers Kathy Behan and Aoife Doherty. We are discussing the rail network and we have the Minister, Deputy Ryan, here. I am conscious many young people have an interest in the rail network and the improvements taking place. On behalf of the Senators, the Minister and the staff, I hope the students have a wonderful day in Leinster House and thank them for visiting us. I …

I would never pre-empt what the Minister, the Government or Iarnród Éireann would do. I think that the Senator’s cup of tea will be back on the trains before too long but we will leave that to the Minister.

I also support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I welcome the package announced by the Government yesterday. It is in excess of €1 billion and comes to approximately €1.3 billion. It is fairly well targeted. In these situations, it is not possible to look after everybody in the way we might like. I think from talking with the public that people are quite satisfied with this. We are in the lucky situation that we have an extra bit of money, mainly because of corporate taxes, which enables us to do th…

I am very glad we are having this debate. I want to welcome the Minister of State. I can say from the bottom of my heart that he has a huge interest in our heritage, history and archaeological finds. We have a very proud record in County Roscommon of a lot of heritage and buildings. I am sure the Minister of State is well aware of Rathcroghan which is one of the best sites in Europe but virtually unknown. It could probably become a UNESCO site. We are very proud of that. In the village of Tulsk, close to Rathcrogha…