Let us be clear. We are not looking for a waiver in a situation like this. We want to know who owns the land. The Minister of State clarified that the OPW deals with real property that devolves to the State. Therefore, I feel this is in the hands of the OPW. In this instance, the company is not restored so the property has not revert to the company. The Minister of State made the point that in the area of dissolved-company property, the common areas of housing developments are of little value. This is a tiny strip.…

I wish to raise three issues. One relates to a bus link for Rathangan. I spoke two weeks ago about public transport in respect of the need to extend the short-hop zone and create a medium-hop zone. Most certainly, rural transport deserves to have its place too. There are a number of issues I want to raise, from a lack of connectivity to absolutely deplorable reliability. I have been working closely, or trying to work closely, with the National Transport Authority on a number of problem routes in my area, south Kild…

I move: That leave be given to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Education Act 1988 (as amended) to make provision for the implementation of relationship and sexuality education in primary and post-primary schools without any influence of religious ethos on relationship and sexuality education, and to provide for related matters.

Next Tuesday.

I support the Order of Business and I would like to second the minute's silence for Vicky Phelan. I am conscious that the women's caucus will be meeting at that time so I may not be back in the Chamber. The caucus will also have a vote on this. It is an appropriate thing to do and I thank the Deputy Leader for suggesting it. I have just come from Buswells Hotel where many of us had the opportunity to meet members of the Samaritans from around the country. Charlie Bird was there and, my gosh, what an incredible man …

I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for joining us. It was great to see her this morning at the launch of the Samaritans report. I acknowledge the tremendous work the Samaritans do throughout the country. Both the Minister of State and Charlie Bird were inspirational. I know it is an area the Minister of State is passionate about and cares about. Within a few hours, we are discussing two elements of her area in regard to mental health and older people. We …

I call Senator Maria Byrne, who is sharing her time with Senator Aisling Dolan.

I thank the Minister of State for being here to listen to our comments. I welcome the plan. It is very significant to have a proposed investment of €1.3 billion in the Irish forestry sector. As we know, it is the largest ever investment by any Irish Government in tree planting. I wish to acknowledge that it is part of the national forestry programme. It is absolutely essential in helping us to reach the objectives of the strategy, which is designed to provide an overarching framework that identifies the actions nee…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for selecting this matter and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, for making himself available to take it. As education spokesperson for Fianna Fáil, I am very proud of my party's history in the education sphere over the years, including this current period in office. It has certainly been a transformative period despite the many challenges of Covid. We pushed for the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. We reformed…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I certainly welcome the capital funding and the expansion that has been put in place. It concerns me when I hear that the top level data for the end of October shows that there are 4,937 apprentices waiting more than six months for their off-the-job training. This is a huge issue. Planning is essential for everybody. Young people who have taken on apprenticeships need to be able to plan accommodation for whichever college they will attend for their off-the-job trainin…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. I extend a warm welcome to our guests in Visitors Gallery. We hope you find this session informative. It is always wonderful to see people coming in and having the opportunity to watch the engagement in the Seanad.

I welcome our guests in the Public Gallery. I am not sure which school they are from but we will find out and mention it on the record. They are very welcome. We are pleased to have them here to see the engagement in the Seanad. The Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, is welcome back to the Chamber.

It is always an honour to share the Chamber with Senator Norris. I want to start by supporting the Order of Business as outlined. I also welcome the more than €400 million funding announced for the new Athy food drinks and skills innovation hub, which will located in the old model school in Athy. It will be a start-of-the-art hub in which to base food and innovation collaborations. The hub will house food production units for food entrepreneurs, and provide culinary and hospitality programmes. The initiative will p…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961 to make provision for the management and use of the Curragh whereby the Minister may grant a licence to persons for continuous occupation of any part of the Curragh for a specified period of time, and to provide for related matters.

Can I speak on the First Stage?

That is okay.

It is but my understanding was that I had five minutes to introduce the Bill.

I welcome the students from Tullamore. I am from Rathangan which is just down the Kildare-Offaly border. They are very welcome. I keep up to date with events around Tullamore also. I have just come from a really interesting exhibition in the visitor centre in the Phoenix Park. It is a national exhibition with a Kildare slant called "As Life Goes On". It is a collaboration between the local history group in Newbridge and a collective of nine artists called SULT Artists. The work they have produced interprets the cha…

Senator Kyne is next. He wishes to speak for five minutes and give the remaining three minutes to Senator Emer Currie. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I will take the opportunity to welcome our guests to the Seanad this afternoon. We hope they find this interesting. I now move on to Senator Black, who has eight minutes.