I appreciate that the Cathaoirleach has selected this important Commencement matter. I raised it last week on the Order of Business and the Cathaoirleach rightly pointed out that I should do so as part of a Commencement debate. Recently, during a constituency clinic in Newbridge, I met Olive Cross, who heads up a group called Therapists For Change. This is a group of 900 psychotherapists who have come together to work towards improving the mental health service in Ireland and to professionalise the service they are…

I thank the Minister of State for responding to my Commencement matter. I appreciate that she has outlined the progress made in terms of what the registration board must examine. However, I am concerned that no timeline was mentioned in the response she was given by the Department of Health. The reality is that while we await proper and appropriate accreditation, there is nothing to stop me, her or anybody else with no qualification or training from opening a counselling service tomorrow morning. That is a danger t…

I could not believe more in the third Commencement matter. I raised it in the House last week and I am fully supportive of this. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is very welcome.

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I listened to "Morning Ireland" this morning and, in the midst all of the talk about the budget and what was going to happen, I was appalled by one of the stories I heard. We have been listening to similar stories over the past while regarding recent reports of violence at local GAA matches. Four specific instances were mentioned this morning. These ranged from the one that we knew about in Roscommon to incidents over the weekend in Wexford, Mayo and Kerry.…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber on this important day. I welcome my friends from Newbridge in the Visitors Gallery. As we know, a budget is more than just a series of numbers on a page; it is an embodiment of all our values. Budget 2023 is a very clear commitment to the Government's values and those of my party, Fianna Fáil, on whose behalf I am speaking. Those values concern an Ireland for all and equal opportunities. This budget is certainly very fair and progressive and it responds to our current …

I also add my voice in welcoming our distinguished visitors form Malta. I have had the opportunity to visit Malta on the area of inclusion in sport, the Special Olympics and the Paralympics. I know the Maltese have a very strong and proud tradition of excellent inclusion in their country. I also add my congratulations to Judge Síofra O'Leary. She is not only the first Irish person to hold the post but also the very first woman to hold the position of president. We are all incredibly proud of her. She is a very stro…

In Newbridge.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: - having regard to the enactment and subsequent commencement of the Institutional Burials Act 2022, - noting that a draft order to be made by the Government, prepared in accordance with section 7(1) of the Institutional Burials Act 2022, has been duly laid before Seanad Éireann on 26th August, 2022, together with a Statement of Reasons for establishing an Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam, approves the draft Institutional Burials Act 2022 (Director of Authorised Interv…

I thank the Minister for being here. I thank the Minister most sincerely for all of the work that he has done in relation to this matter. As the Minister has said the situation uncovered in Tuam is absolutely horrifying. It has shocked people right across the world. The Minister is right when he says that it is a stain on our national conscience. In the past the Minister has said that he would address this situation as urgently and as quickly as possible. Now that the necessary legislation is in place it is good th…

The Minister is very welcome. We had a long debate on school transport this morning at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. We certainly appreciate the Minister giving of her time to debate this very important issue, which is relevant and important to so many families, students and communities right across the country. It is important that we welcome both the motion and the opportunity to talk about the issues and challenges that exist. It …

The Minister has two minutes to respond.

I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this matter, which is important in the Newbridge and Kildare area. I have used time here over the past two years and, prior to that, as a Member in the Dáil to raise the urgent issue of school accommodation for secondary school students in Kildare South and, in particular, in Newbridge and Kildare. I appreciate the opportunity to return to this matter again. Some progress has been made in the provision of accommodation in that a site at the Magee Barracks in Kild…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I appreciate that she will raise the matter directly with the Minister, Deputy Foley. I have raised it directly with her myself, and with staff in her office. Nevertheless, I am still hugely concerned. I understand that the long-term vision for the provision of additional school places is the relocation of Curragh Community College, where the principal, Nessa Doyle, is second to none, but she cannot magic places out of nowhere for next year. As it currently stands, sh…

As this is my first time to rise since the recess it would be remiss of me not to mention the biggest issue we face, not just as a country but globally, which is the cost of living. We acknowledge that the Government has very successfully led the country through Covid and that we have emerged in a stronger and more economically viable position than we thought we would have. A lot of this was down to the prudent management of our finances and, of course, the leadership of the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin. We nee…

As this is the last Order of Business before the recess, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group I extend our deep gratitude and thanks to all of the officials, to everybody in the Clerk's office and everybody who makes our workings go very smoothly, in particular when we have late nights and early mornings. I thank them for that, and I hope they all have a nice recess. I appreciate that work will continue for them. The weather is beautiful and it is lovely to see people out enjoying themselves. It is particularly sad t…

As I had an opportunity to speak on this Bill on Second Stage, I will be very brief. As the Minister of State knows and has been fighting for, the amount of resources and funding going into special education is absolutely unprecedented. While the funding is there, it is the outcomes that are important in terms of the young people and, of course, their families. Life is very difficult for a family when their child receives a diagnosis of an intellectual disability, no matter what type of disability it is. It can be …

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter. It is a most important issue in south Kildare and, indeed, right around the country. I thank the Minister of State for attending today's debate. I have been contacted frequently by people in south Kildare who are entitled to dental services under the terms of the medical card scheme, but who cannot avail of the services due to a lack of provision in the area. I understand the people in south Kildare are not on their own. It is happening right across the country. …

I thank the Minister of State for her response and for her assurance that the HSE has stated that local services on the ground will assist in this regard. I will be contacting my local HSE office this afternoon and I will return with to the House with its response on this. I acknowledge that the Department has pledged a root and branch review of the dental treatment services and to align the scheme with the national oral health policy. This must be expedited and we need to get a timeline and to see a new approach t…

I thank the Senator. The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. He has four minutes to respond.

I thank the Minister of State. For what it is worth, I completely agree with Senator Carrigy. Every single school should have a home school liaison teacher assigned. It is one of the best schemes that has ever been brought into Irish education at both primary and post-primary level. It really benefits the whole school community.