I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, to the Chamber.

Before calling Senator Paul Daly, I welcome the students from Coláiste Pobail Osraí in Kilkenny. I understand the school's Dáil na nÓg group is with us today. They are joined by their principal and teacher, Ms Cathnia Ó Muircheartaigh and Ms Aisling de Faoite, respectively. We hope they enjoy and get a lot from the debate. I also welcome members of the sheep sector, some of whom I know to see and converse with.

I commend the proposers of this practical and pragmatic Bill which is worthy of debate and support. I will come back to the last comment made by the seconder of the Bill, Senator McDowell, my esteemed colleague, which we spoke about on the Order of Business this morning, namely, volunteerism and how important it is to our society, communities, school life and those who are involved in the heart of society. We have to be concerned at the wane of volunteerism, and the fear of litigation is one of those areas that is …

Absolutely. I am conscious the Attorney General said there may be some technical issues around the drafting of the Bill that may need further consideration, but I know from what my esteemed colleagues have said that they would be happy to have that considered. There is no more for me to say and there is no point in me going through the Bill as the proposer has done that eloquently. I wish the Bill well in its progress.

At 9.30 a.m. tomorrow.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this topic. I thank the Minister of State for being here, although I note from what he said earlier that he would rather not be here delivering responses from other Ministers. I can only assume, therefore, that he will always be here to answer those questions relating to his own Department. As many Members of this House and of the Dáil will be aware, I am very proud of being from County Kildare. The defence community is hugely important to Kildare and supporting the Defence Fo…

I recognise the important strides the Minister of State talked about regarding the built infrastructure of the Defence Forces and some of the areas he has mentioned. Significantly, the €55 million to improve built infrastructure is incredibly important. The infrastructure will include the new cadet school, new engineering stores, the garaging facilities and, next year, the Army Ranger Wing headquarters and the military college auditorium suite. However, I want to focus on what the Minister of State said about circu…

Today is an important milestone. From today, individuals who receive care as patients in public hospitals will be exempt from paying any fee. It is important that we note that. As leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe, other Members and I work quite closely with a number of senior Department of Foreign Affairs officials and the Irish ambassadors to Europe. I speak for all of us when I say how shocked I was this morning to hear of the assault on Irish diplomat, Aidan O’Hara, the European Union’s am…

On behalf of both current and former Fianna Fáil Members, I would like to be associated with the eloquent good wishes the Cathaoirleach paid to Noel. I wish him and his family health and happiness as they enter the next phase of their lives. I echo the Cathaoirleach's comments regarding Noel's kindness, generosity, understanding and support for all of us. Yesterday evening, I noticed on social media feeds news of a very disturbing horrible and tragic incident in my county of Kildare, where a horse that was attached…

I wish to raise a number of issues. Yesterday I spoke about the Women of Honour report as we heard about it in the media. Today we have a little more information in regard to that report. Once again I thank the Women of Honour and indeed the Men of Honour who have come forward in regard to stark revelations in the report. Once again I note the substantial work that Senator Clonan and Katie Hannon have done on this issue. It is good that the Government has decided to publish the report at this time. It is also impor…

I support the motion and commend the work of the proposers. I also commend the work of Senator Lynn Ruane who has been working on this issue for a long time. I most particularly commend Mr. Mick Finnegan who is present and whom I got to know through a mutual friend, Mr. Aubrey McCarthy. Mr. Finnegan's courage in the face of all this for many years has to be commended. To be a survivor of abuse, when in many ways you are drawn to the depths of your soul, and be able to keep fighting, keep challenging the system and …

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. It will give me great pleasure, on my behalf and on behalf of Senator Ardagh, to move that leave be given to introduce the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2023, "a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment of a body, to be known in the Irish language as An Coiste Comhairleach um Chóireáil Atáirgthe Dhaonna Chuidithe or in the English language as the Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Advisory Committee, to advise on criteria for eli…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an an Act to provide for the establishment of a body, to be known in the Irish language as An Coiste Comhairleach um Chóireáil Atáirgthe Dhaonna Chuidithe or in the English language as the Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Advisory Committee, to advise on criteria for eligibility for financial assistance with assisted human reproduction treatment and to provide for related matters.

Next Tuesday.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for making herself available to take it. As many Members of both Houses will know - the Minister of State has often heard me speak about this matter during my time in the Lower House - public transport is a key issue and key priority for me and the people of south Kildare. Newbridge is very much in the commuter belt, with many thousands of people commuting from there, and the area around it, every day. I regularly speak …

I acknowledge the developments we have seen. It is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made. I met the NTA which mentioned the review it was undertaking at the time and indicated there would be a new strategy for national fares. That is good and important news, as is the expansion of the Local Link network. I particularly welcome route 888 which will serve Monasterevin, Rathangan and Kildare. We need a link from Allenwood to Lullymore into Rathangan. That is very important. I accept that the strateg…

I thank the Senator. It is an important issue. Before I call on the Minister of State to respond, I welcome the students from Hollypark school in Foxrock. I am delighted to have them here on International Women's Day. I hope they will learn a lot.

The Minister of State will have the final few words.

I thank the Minister of State for those strong and positive words.

Happy International Women's Day to our guests, to all our female Members and to all the women who work here in the Houses of the Oireachtas and in communities, doing terrific work to encourage and support others, championing us and making a difference in their own workplaces, communities and families. It is important to acknowledge the announcement this morning that the referendum on care, the family and gender equality will happen this November. It is an important announcement, and I thank all who were involved in…