I understand that.

I ask the Senator to address his remarks through the Chair. If other Members want to get in, I will accommodate that. We will let Senator Boyhan have his say, by all means. I will stay here all evening if every Member wants to come in. In response to Senator Boyhan, I know it is Committee Stage and that Members have every right to speak for as long as they want, so he can proceed.

I would like to point out to all Members that I will never stifle debate. It is very important that everybody has their say. I wish to be clear on that. We might not have got as much clarification as we got from the last two speakers and from the Minister of State if we did not allow the conversation to continue. I call Senator Boyhan.

The Senator is using a lot of words today and I have let him away with it. Nobody has suggested interfering with the debate. I ask him to address the Chair and continue.

She said-----

In all fairness, and I know what Senator Boyhan is up to, I can tell him clearly what she said. She said to get on with the debate. That is clearly different to stifling the debate.

I will let Senator McDowell in in a minute. Senator Boyhan may continue.

I hope that is not a threat from Senator Boyhan.

He is seeking clarification and I know what he is up to in getting it. Will he please continue? Others are offering.

I want to raise an issue that was highlighted on "Prime Time" this week. Indeed, it was highlighted in the Dáil by my colleague, Deputy Cahill, and others. I refer to the lack of service being given by Eir to many people in both urban and rural areas. While it is bad enough not to get one's Internet connection or whatever, there is a far more serious side to this. Many of our elderly population rely on their landline for the security link they have to their house. Many people in my part of the country, counties Ros…

Will the Leader send a Standing Order letter to the chief executive of Eir. Is that in order?

I think it is agreed.

It is fascinating to sit here and listen to every contribution. I am a former Deputy and new to the Seanad. I have to give credit to each of my colleagues. Senator Seery Kearney expressed some anxiety about how we move forward. Senator McDowell seems to be more open to getting things up and running. It is wonderful to hear everybody having a point of view and expressing it honestly. Some really good points have been made. I want to join other Senators in again praising all the front-line workers, our local authorit…

I appreciate this matter being taken this morning. The reason I tabled it is that I have had a long involvement in supporting people with mental health issues in my constituency and on a broader basis for a number of years. I also served on the prison committee of Cloverhill Prison for almost two years. Anybody who has been a member of a prison visiting committee will know the one job one has to sign on the dotted line is to represent the welfare of prisoners. It was a difficult experience but it teaches one a grea…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I accept that the setting up of that task force was very important to the three parties in government as part of the programme for Government. I am delighted to hear him say that the Ministers for Justice and Health have met. I do not want to be blaming the people in the Prison Service because they are not trained for this type of work. The task force is great. The Minister of State may not know the answer to this but when is it due to report back? If he does not have th…

First, I join Senator Dolan in saying what a great day yesterday was for our region and the towns in the midlands. It is a significant amount of money. I spoke to many people yesterday and, like Senator Dolan, I was delighted to be involved in seeking those projects from Ballinasloe to Ballyforan to Lanesborough and throughout parts of Roscommon and east Galway and the adjoining counties. It is a sign of a Government delivering what it promised it would do, which is important for people. We need it there. I support…

May I ask the Leader about the arts.

I thank the Leader.

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2020, copies of which were laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 13th November 2020.

I welcome the Minister and thank him for coming to the House to discuss an issue that can cause passion and on which there will be different views. As always in this House, there will be a respectful debate from every side and, hopefully, we will reach a consensus. Most people would agree that the horse and greyhound racing industries have a special place in Irish life and a fundamental position in Irish sport. They are crucial to our economy, intrinsic to our identity and are landmarks in our social and cultural h…