I will be very brief. I thank the Minister of State and everybody for their participation. I took what Senators Doherty and Craughwell said very seriously. While we have concerns, we agree that the Bill is an awful lot better now than it was two and a half years ago. It is to be hoped that everything will run smoothly. The matters Senators Doherty and Craughwell tried to get across are very serious. I would not dismiss it or make little of it at all. It was very important we had that debate. I know the Minister of …

You are always very fair and of course your Roscommon connection makes sure you are always so.

Our health is our wealth. It is really fantastic to see the Minister of State back here in good form and I thank her for letting me know the good news two weeks ago. I am delighted for her because at the end of the day good health is what we all wish for. Many people get challenges with their health every day of the week. I am just going to endorse what Senator Dolan has said. I think she has given the story as it is. We met with those people. Cathy and the others met us with their SIPTU representative in Gullane's…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I remember a number of weeks after the announcement being contacted by some of those people in Ballinasloe, family members of the contract cleaners. I sought clarification. The clear answer I got at that time was that staff of any company the HSE contracted to do work on the hospitals were eligible. I think they will come under that. I hope, given what the Minister of State said, things will start to move and these people will get the payments.

I thank the Minister of State very much. I also thank Senator Kyne for bringing up this very appropriate matter during today's Commencement debate. We are all aware of what meningitis has done to families so suddenly in different parts of the country. We always like to see visitors in the Gallery, some of whom I know, such as Cormac, and some of whom I do not. They are all very welcome; céad míle fáilte. I hope they enjoy their afternoon. We are now taking Commencement matters, which is an opportunity for any Senat…

Go raibh maith agat. Anois, an Aire, fáilte go dtí an Teach inniu.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming.

I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies Fleming, Butler and Calleary, the Senators who tabled Commencement matters and the staff, including the ushers.

I will today deal with something that is very topical. Because of his Roscommon connections, the Deputy Leader will know what I am going to talk about, which is Lough Funshinagh and the serious flooding in south Roscommon. The callows area along the River Shannon has flooded for years and years. Part of Senator Kyne's county in south Galway also floods very badly. I posted a video on social media last week in which I travelled to Clonown in south Roscommon where literally thousands of acres of land are now flooded.…

I will keep it brief, but first-----

I congratulate Senator Martin. I had highlighted this issue more than a year and a half ago, having been alerted by beekeepers throughout the country who were very concerned. I appreciate what the Senator is doing here and I fully support it, as do our party members. We should never underestimate how important the bee is to our lives and, sadly, that is underestimated in life. Students in every school should be taught about it. Pollination is very important to the production of food. We will continue to support the…

I want to spend a brief period of time talking about young people being targeted by criminals laundering money. It is certainly very disturbing to read Conor Lally's article in today's edition of The Irish Times where we are told that 3,000 money mules have been used and €12 million from fraud deposited into those accounts. The sad thing about this is that many young people under financial pressure between the ages of 18 and 24 are becoming the victims of this. This is going to lead to all sorts of trouble for thes…

I agree and thank the Minister.

We support the Order of Business, naturally. I will begin by welcoming the announcement by the Central Bank that it will change its mortgage lending rules for the first time to relax the restrictions on how much money people can borrow in order to finance a house purchase. We must all be conscious of not burdening people with too much debt but we accept that we need to loosen up some more money for people who are desperately trying to buy houses at present. As the Leader knows, from January 2023 first-time buyers w…

I want to show Members picture from yesterday’s edition of The Irish Times and for everybody to understand what the people of Lough Funshinagh in County Roscommon are going through. It should be a national story. I thank Marese McDonagh and Ciara O’Loughlin for bringing us the article and the photograph yesterday. This used to be a turlough. Since 2016, it has not drained. I do not know why Senator Gavan is smiling. This is a serious issue. The result of what is happening is that the residence shown in the article …

I have no problem with that. I was just reacting to the article. There have been many meetings and conversations since 2016. A plan was drawn up by Roscommon County Council to drain or siphon off water from the turlough. Unfortunately, a challenge was taken by Mr. Tony Lowes from Cork on behalf of the Friends of the Irish Environment. The High Court order was granted, so now the site cannot be touched. One can see the rain falling today. I can only try to explain to the House how challenged and sad the people in th…

When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Is that agreed to? Agreed.

I thank the Seandóirí, an Aire Stáit, and the officials and everybody else for dealing with this promptly. It was very important to do so. Does the Minister of State wish to say anything in conclusion?

Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.