Four years.

I thank all the Deputies who spoke today and contributed to the debate. I will respond to as many of the points raised as I can in the time available to me. Some of the points made were very interesting and thought-provoking but they may have strayed outside the parameters of the Finance Bill, so I may not be in a position to respond to them. I will, however, note them for future reference. I will take a number of contributions together and go through them, starting with the income tax package. Deputies Doherty, Na…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce this Bill for the House’s consideration. One of its main objectives is to provide for the establishment of a marine accident investigation unit, MAIU, within the Department of Transport. It provides for a transition from the current structure, in which the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB, is the designated investigative body, to the establishment of a full-time permanent marine accident investigation unit analogous to the Air Acc…

I thank Members for their interest in the Bill and for giving their time today and at committee previously. Before I start into the substance of that, I wish to be associated with the good wishes afforded to Deputy Joe Carey by Deputy Mattie McGrath. Deputy Carey chaired the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications for the past number of years. I am sure all of us in this House wish him well in his retirement and his time beyond politics. I know he has had his health struggles so I wish him well a…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Transport and Communications pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

That is the way it works.

What about the Six-Day War?

I welcome the unprecedented €3.9 billion investment in transport infrastructure in the budget. Since 2020, when the Government entered office, it has increased by €1 billion in the Department alone. It has gone from just under €3 billion to just under €4 billion. This is an increase of €1 billion since the Government came office. Looking at public transport infrastructure in the first instance, which is my primary interest or first love as we are discussing transport, because I use it myself on a regular basis, as …

I will take that for the Department of Transport. I am aware of those issues on the northern commuter line. The Kildare line is affected as well. A number of the greater Dublin area routes are affected. The core issue is the Enterprise line to Belfast which has gone from two-hourly to hourly. That is a service improvement but it has a knock-on effect. Signalling into Connolly needs to be improved as well. I am engaged with other representatives and am meeting Irish Rail on that issue next week. I met them in August…

Not school buses.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members. I thank Senator Byrne for her question. It is a privilege to be here in the Seanad addressing colleagues. It is my first time to do so as a Minister of State but I have been here as Cathaoirleach of the justice committee. I know the great form the Seanad has and it is a privilege to address it today. Senator Byrne's question is extremely important and I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. I thank her for raising the issue of State-funded HRT provision for …

That is okay. There are two James so it is an easy one to get wrong.

Again, I thank Senator Byrne for raising this very important issue. I understand exactly the point she is making and will relay it to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. As Senator Byrne has acknowledged, the Minister, his Department and the Government share her passion for and commitment to providing all women in Ireland with a healthcare system that is appropriate to their needs and that is agile and responsive to these issues. Women's health was identified in the programme for Government as a key priority and in fair…

I thank Senator Clonan for raising this really important issue. I am answering on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Rabbitte. I note the Senator's remarks. I am here to answer on the Minister of State's behalf and will do my best to address the issues that he has raised. At the outset, I want to acknowledge Senator Clonan's ongoing advocacy for the disability sector. He is a very fine advocate and I respect his commitment to the sector. The Government takes these matters, …

I thank the Acting Chairperson. I am advised that it is a complex and sensitive matter involving an ongoing trust in care process. The HSE's trust in care policy is about upholding the dignity and welfare of patients, clients and service users, and the procedure for managing allegations of abuse against staff members. In referring to the provision of a HSE trust in care report to the family, any trust in care investigative process involves the rights of all the individuals involved and those rights must be fully pr…

There's always tomorrow.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for her Commencement matter. On the first topic she raised, on the fair fares issue, I acknowledge on record the Senator's ongoing advocacy on behalf of the commuters of Kildare South, County Kildare and the wider area. I am very engaged on this issue in working with the Senator and other colleagues. I will not say that I am hoping to have news on this very soon but I am certainly open to scheduling a meeting with the relevant stakeholders, including with the Senator, as soon as next week…

I assure the Senator this process is moving forward. I am certainly moving might and main to tackle that issue because I am very aware of it as well. On the Commencement matter, I tender to the House the apologies of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence. He is at the United Nations in New York, as colleagues will be aware. The Security Council meets this morning and the Tánaiste is engaged in that business. It is important business abroad, but he did ask me to give his apologies to Senator O'Lo…

I thank the Senator. It strikes me that may be an opportunity. I am aware of the Bill she introduced and there may be an opportunity to incorporate into that the amendments needed to progress this matter. Perhaps she will take that up with the Tánaiste's office to discuss scheduling. As we know, the Tánaiste is the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands pursuant to the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. He is fully committed to a modern and sustainable regulatory model to manage that historically important domain. I…

I thank the Senator for the Commencement matter. I pay tribute to his ongoing advocacy for his area. I have often heard him speak about his home county and home area and he is committed to working with all stakeholders there on this issue, as well as many others. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. Laragh National School is the school we are focusing on. I credit the work of the board of management and the others the Senator mentioned who have really made efforts here. I d…