I also pass on my condolences to Senator Hoey and her family on their sad loss. A large number of people from the campaign to save St. Brigid's Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir are today travelling to Dáil Éireann. They are coming to deliver 11,000 signatures requesting the reopening of the hospital. I ask the Deputy Leader to make sure that the Minister for Health or the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will meet representatives from St. Brigid's today. They are going to be outside from about now until 4 p.m. They hav…

Other contributions have started with or contained a lighter note. I am from a similar county to that of the Cathaoirleach and I spend quite a bit of time at all-Ireland finals and semi-finals. This Bill is important for our constituents and people living in our counties. I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill in general. Most people have spoken about the challenges we have faced in terms of ticket touts over the past 20 or 30 years. Everyone has memories of walking to Croke Park through Jones' Road and seein…

I support amendment No. 1. I compliment the work of Senator Lombard and his engagement with the farming industry over the past number of weeks in trying to come up with a resolution between both sides. Something we know for sure is that the farming community want to work with the Department and with everyone to get the best result. The amendment put forward involves only two extra words but they are really important. When we talking about a carbon budget, it seeks to include the words "minus removals". The agricult…

I support Senator Cummins in what he has said on the decision of Mr. Justice Humphreys in the High Court this morning with regard to An Taisce and the development of the €140 million cheese plant. How many times does the same position have to come back before it is accepted? Certain individuals in An Taisce do not seem to accept the decision and I encourage them to speak to Glanbia outside the court on this. The decision this morning is welcome. Many rural families and people are dependent on farming, the farming i…

With regard to the viability of farmers-----

-----today's announcement has a huge impact on this viability and the judgment needs to be accepted. I thank the Acting Chair for his leniency.

I pick up on what Senator Carrigy said about the GAA matches. I welcome the announcement of more spectators being able to come to matches. Last week in my county of Tipperary there were only 200 at the Waterford-Clare game. It is a massive stadium and I urge that those changes come in this weekend for the match in Semple Stadium between Cork and Limerick. We can surely host more than 200 people in an outdoor setting that can accommodate over 40,000 people. Senator Pauline O'Reilly brought up maternity restrictions …

I wish to share time with Senators Currie and Joe O'Reilly, who are not in the Chamber yet.

It is a pleasure to be able to speak on this Bill. I commend Senator Pauline O'Reilly on the work that she and her party have put into the Bill. Senator Moynihan spoke earlier of the impact that smaller parties can have and sometimes the challenges that smaller parties in government have. This Bill is a real example of what a small party can do when in government. The lesson for certain parties is that when in government they can make real differences and changes. Along with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Develo…

Senator Joe O'Reilly was unable to come to the House, but he asked me to put on the record his support for the Bill and for the work the Green Party put into it.

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. It is always nice when bringing up a local issue that there is a Minister of State present who knows the area quite well and who knows the road I will be discussing. The N24, as most people would know, is the main road from Limerick to Waterford. It is the one road in the country connecting two cities which is in real need of upgrade. It has had a history of getting to a certain stage in design, development and consultation but not in delivery. Anyone who lives in the…

The Minister of State is correct that public consultation ended on 1 June. The second public consultation is starting this Friday on routes for the first section between Limerick and Cahir, which is hugely important. I welcome what the Minister of State said about public transport and rail routes. The route from Clonmel to Waterford is hugely significant and the Minister can play a key role in that project. I ask the Minister of State to get the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to reply to me on this matt…

We have apples in Tipperary. The apple farm run by Con Traas does fantastic work. It is a fantastic local business. It is only a mile away from my home. I would encourage anyone to go there to buy apples. He sells strawberries as well but he is famous for apples and cider. It is lovely cider.

I have lost some time now Cathaoirleach.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Mr. Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE, was on Today FM's "The Last Word" last week talking about maternity hospital restrictions. Mr. Reid said that 16 of the 19 hospitals with maternity wards are complying with restrictions. I understand that St. Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny, Wexford General Hospital and Tipperary University Hospital are the three hospitals that are not complying. Despite what the management at Tipperary University Hospital has been telling me, the Minister and everybody …

It is entertaining in some ways, but also staggering, the amount of time that Senator Keogan flip flops on issues. She moves from being for something to being against it and uses the kind of language that is wholly inappropriate. She spoke about "butchering jobs" as if the Government or the Minister of State set out to butcher jobs in the aviation industry. She is now saying that aviation should be up and running again but six weeks ago, on 1 May, the same Senator, in this Chamber, said the following: I find it sta…

It was 1 May.

It was said six weeks ago. Now Senator Keogan is blaming the Government for not opening up the aviation industry quickly enough.

It is just staggering. The aviation industry, more than any other sector, has been decimated by Covid. While we welcome the opening on 19 July and many people are hugely excited about travelling again and supporting the industry, it is going to take a long time for it to recover. It is not going to recover on 19 July and the Government must support the industry through the coming period. We have seen what has happened with regard to flights to and from Kerry and Donegal, as well as with the Aer Lingus base in Shann…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for bringing this very important issue to the floor. The Minister of State knows I have spoken to him numerous times about Irish Water and the challenges which areas have, including my county, Tipperary, with water supply and wastewater treatment, and the challenges that brings for everyone in terms of providing houses. We have so many challenges in building houses, but one could solve all of the problems that have been discussed here. Ther…