I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for staying with us for three Commencement matters. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Burke, is on his way in for the final matter.

The Senator has a minute to respond.

I thank the Senator. The Minister of State has the final word.

The House now stands suspended until 2 p.m.

I support the Order of Business, as outlined. As we all know, at 2 p.m. there is going to be a protest outside Leinster House by the hospitality industry. This is an industry that provides important services and good jobs, in particular to younger people, for example students, which helps them through college. They are the essence of what makes the streets in communities, villages and towns survive and thrive. When we go out to engage in leisure activities or to meet somebody socially, it is nice to have the opport…

I support the Order of Business. I very much welcome the Government's decision to ratify the optional protocol of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCPRD. This is a very significant step in the right direction to support those living with disability in Ireland. Through the UNCRPD, the Government has committed to full and equal rights for those with disabilities in Ireland. Under the optional protocol, this means that individuals and groups can lodge a complaint to the UN Com…

I appreciate that and I thank the Cathaoirleach.

I second the proposal.

I want to-----

The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. We have had many conversations both formal and informal with regard to the two main provisions in this Bill. Maternity leave is very important. It is a very precious time for babies and for their parents, mainly mums. In the past, we know that on average, approximately 60 women per year have cancer and have to undergo difficult and severe treatment during their maternity leave. Ensuring that maternity leave is extended to allow them to be able to have that precious time …

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the lovely words he said about our colleague and friend, Mary O'Rourke. She was a formidable lady, a wonderful person and was great craic. She had a strong conviction about politics and the need to do good within our own communities and within any role in parliament or at local authority level. Most of all she was a people's person. She had a great interest and insight into people and that was always very clear. The support she gave particularly female Fianna Fáil candidates was very s…

I rise to play tribute to a former colleague and friend and a member of the Cathaoirleach's party - Micheál "Spike" Nolan. He was a true Kildare person and a true Newbridge person. I soldiered with Micheál on Newbridge Town Council, and with his dad prior to that, and on Kildare County Council. Micheál served as mayor of Kildare twice and ran for the Seanad. Many people would know him from that campaign back in 2011. Micheál was a wonderful family man, a wonderful community man and a terrific Sarsfields supporter a…

We are very conscious of the difficult and escalating situation in Lebanon. The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence is in daily contact with those from Ireland who are serving there, and there is every possibility the areas of Lebanon in which Irish peacekeepers operate will be targeted by Israeli Defense Forces missiles. Many local people in my area, south Kildare, take part in such peacekeeping missions and we have a long and proud history of that service. I am told the morale of soldiers serving in UNIFIL is stron…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I think it is his first time here since he was elevated and he is very welcome. We look forward to working with him. If I had realised that he was coming into the Chamber today I would have put in a different Commencement matter regarding fair fares for commuters living 50 km outside Dublin, particularly those in Newbridge and Kildare.

I engaged with him quite a bit over the summer on the NTA's delay in implementing the fair fares and the new agreed structure that is now Government policy. I am quite hopeful that the Minister of State will soon have positive news for us and the commuters who have been dependent on this fare change. I look forward to that happening. Turning to the meat in the sandwich on the Curragh Plains issue, I appreciate that the Minister of State is extremely familiar with it being an adopted son of County Kildare and living…

I could say much more about this issue but I am very willing to listen to what the Minister of State has to say. I hope he has some positive news for us.

Great.

I thank the Minister of State for agreeing we would meet possibly as early as next week about the fair fares, which I appreciate. I thank him for his response on behalf of the Tánaiste. I am heartened by the response in that the Department officials are engaging with the Chief State Solicitor to identify legal avenues that can be pursued to address the illegal encampments in the short term. This is so badly needed. I appreciate also that he said a review of the Curragh by-laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act is time…

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. On behalf of the people of Kildare, can I say how pleased we are to have had €8.3 million in sports grants awarded to the county late last night? It is really important news. Our sports centres and volunteers are the lifeblood of our community. On behalf of those who may have been disappointed at being invalidated for reasons that could be rectified, I ask for a speedy appeals process for those that are deserving of those grants. I also raise the remediatio…

I welcome everybody back. I think this is going to be an interesting term, if not an exciting one as well. I extend my sincere sympathies to the family of Robert Deegan, who was killed in battle last Thursday in Ukraine. Robert lived in Athy but he spent his youth in Newbridge, living in The Oaks where he went to the local Patrician Secondary School. I knew Robert. He was involved in the campaign to get a skate park in Newbridge. This was a project I championed and I met many young people around the town regarding …