I will reply in the context that the Government is not supporting the Bill's passage. I think the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has spoken to the Senator about that already. I am a conduit for information to the Senator; I am not the line Minister. There has been engagement between the Senator and the Department and I think the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, was speaking to her beforehand, but Government will not be supporting the passage of the Bill through the House.

The amendments are not being opposed but the Government's position, I am informed, is we are not supporting the passage of the Bill through the House.

The Bill, yes.

I am standing in for the Minister, as the Senator knows-----

The Government are not opposing amendments but we are not supporting the passage of the Bill. It has been clear. My contribution to Senator Higgins is where I stand. I have articulated many views that we share here. My information is that the Government is not supporting the Bill's passage through the House.

I will be very brief, because I know Senator Higgins wants to come back in. There is much that unites us rather than divides in what we have heard. I understand and appreciate the contributions of Senators Higgins and Clonan regarding this amendment. It is important we understand that the Government and its agencies act and engage in terms of the external carriers. That is why we are not opposing this amendment. I know we are not going to support the Bill, but I certainly think, in the context of what Senator Clona…

It is clear that amendment No. 7 interacts with amendment No. 1, as it pertains to authorised persons, and amendment No. 3, as it pertains to Article 8 of the order. It is clear that Article 8 of the order was drafted from the perspective of an aircraft being on the ground as opposed to being in flight. As such, and in the context of the comments on amendment No. 3 regarding what we have been speaking about, it would appear to broaden the existing powers in the order to provide for the instruction to land. If I am …

I thank Senator Scahill for raising this matter. To be fair to the Senator, he has been a proponent of the safe routes to school scheme for some time. This is my third or fourth time here to discuss with him the issue of safe routes to school. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. There is merit in the suggestions the Senator made. I affirm the Government's strong commitment to active travel. A total of €360 million per annum has been earmarked for the development of walking and cycling…

I do.

Seventeen schools in Roscommon. The Senator mentioned Frenchpark. We should remember the late Senator John Connor today who was a great local authorities national politician. I look forward to working with Senator Scahill to advance the safe routes to school scheme in Roscommon. Seventeen are selected, six have the works completed. I accept the point the Senator makes and I will work with him to deliver on them.

I thank the Senator for raising this important Commencement matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I will make clear to the House that neither I, as Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for rural transport, nor the Minister, is responsible or involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport services. The decision by Bus Éireann to withdraw some Expressway routes from 24 May this year is a commercial decision taken by the company. While the…

We have not privatised everything. The Senator should not say that, to be fair.

I reiterate that the Government is firmly committed to ensuring that people in Carlow, Kilkenny and elsewhere across Ireland, including those living in rural and regional communities, will have access to reliable, accessible and sustainable public transport options. I refer the Senator to Rural Link and the changes announced last week concerning hackney licences. Connectivity is fundamental to supporting economic activity, social inclusion, access to education, healthcare and people's overall quality of life. I ful…

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this very important matter and again for being a very strong champion and voice for the people of Newbridge. She is quite right in terms of the growth, the schools, the access and the egress. I apologise that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, cannot take this Commencement matter. The Senator referenced the refusal by An Coimisiúin Pleanála in respect of the Great Connell strategic housing development. The Senator's contribution and question is in relation to that second bridge, wh…

I will answer the last question first. I do not know. I hope that the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála will not postpone the process too much. Engagement with Kildare County Council is ongoing. It is important that we have that interconnectedness that the Senator spoke about. Our Department is fully committed to the protection and renewal of our road network. I hope that this project - I will make the case that the Senator made this afternoon - remains an absolute priority for the Government. The Senator spoke abo…

I will be back later.

I will be back.

Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom mo fhíorbhuíochas a ghabháil do gach Ball agus gach Seanadóir a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht seo. Gan amhras, tá sé soiléir do gach duine go bhfuil daoine faoi bhrú. Tá an Rialtas ag éisteacht. Tá muid ag caint, go mór mór leis an ngnáthdhuine, agus ag obair ar son gach duine. The debate tonight has ended with Senator Flaherty's contribution and began with the Minister of State, Deputy Collins. The important point is that we need to reflect on where we have come from, taking on …

Gan amhras, tá na daoine go léir faoi bhrú, ach tá an Rialtas ag éisteacht. Táimid ag caint go mórmhór leis an gnáthdhuine, agus ag obair ar son gach duine. This debate is nothing but a charade. If the Members opposite wanted to have questions, they would not have put forward a motion of no confidence and would have had question time.

The reality is that people want us to govern. People are under pressure. That is why the Government has intervened twice. I have been a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas for 19 years and I will make a comment to Members of both Houses. Our language and words matter. Deputy Cairns spoke about leadership but leadership is not about sticking your finger in the air and wondering what way the wind is blowing. It is about acting on behalf of the people.