I apologise. He deserves credit for the role he has played with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland in educating us and for showing us how we should actively listen to the concerns of visually impaired members of the public who use our footpaths. Despite what Senator Horkan said about scaremongering, some people are genuinely concerned about e-scooters on paths. I thank the Minister for his work and engagement. I wish him well and I look forward to Committee and Report Stages to further discuss the Bill. …

I think it will be. The Minister is safe enough with us.

Or even a Monday to Friday train.

It makes no sense not to have it.

In fairness, the Minister does.

Next Tuesday.

I concur with the request of Senator Casey for a debate, not just on the 9% VAT rate but on hospitality and tourism. It is interesting that, post Covid, there has been an interest in and pent-up demand for tourism globally, which has flatlined in the middle of this year. I raised the issue of the 9% VAT rate before the budget. It is important that, as we enter a critical period for hospitality, we have that debate. I ask that the Ministers with responsibility for finance, public expenditure, tourism and enterprise,…

I will begin by welcoming the support shown by the Oireachtas for the Irish Cancer Society and breast cancer awareness month. I support its Care for Your Pair campaign, which applies, as the Deputy Leader said, to men and women. It is important that we support that campaign. I commend all of those involved with BreastCheck and the Irish Cancer Society on the major work they do. I commend those in BreastCheck on the extraordinary work that has been carried out on behalf of the women of Ireland. I support Senator Cha…

Hear, hear.

I welcome the Minister to the House. I commend him on his stewardship of his Department and on the publication of the commission report. I acknowledge the roles of the former Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, and former Government Chief Whip in the House, Gabrielle McFadden, who is a strong champion of the Defence Forces. Our collective pride in the Defence Forces, as articulated by many of us today and by the contents of the commission, must now be turned into action. The significant changes and challenges coming t…

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this very important debate. I thank the Independent Senators for putting the motion to the House. I welcome the young people who are in the Gallery. I thank them for being here, not just to listen to the debate on the motion before us but perhaps to engage with many of us after. This is an important motion. As somebody who has been involved in education all of my life as a teacher and as a GAA activist, at 55 years of age I think I am still young. I still think I am relatively …

We are near full employment. We have quality educational establishments. People do emigrate. I did my leaving certificate in 1984. Many of my friends left these shores to go to Boston or Melbourne to work. Many did not come back. Many of my friends left Cork as gay men and women because they could not be gay in my country. Some of them never came home. We live in a much better Ireland today.

There are challenges and issues but we can address them with a collective mindset governed by the need to do better. We must always remember that this is a land of opportunity. We are on the periphery of Europe and yet at its heart. Our housing system needs to be addressed. The quality of engagement in many parts of our communities needs to be looked at. I want to praise my colleague, Senator Mary Seery Kearney, for the work she is doing in her area. The issue of mental health, which was raised by Senator McGahon, …

That is correct. That is the point I am making. We have many challenges but there are also many positives. I ask the young people in the Gallery to please engage with us. Do not take us for old fogeys who are out of touch and not living in reality. We live in reality. We have nieces and nephews. Many of us in this House have sons and daughters who understand the challenges of going to college or, as someone mentioned earlier, being in a box room for the past two years and using Zoom, being unable to socialise and g…

I am glad that Kerry gave Kildare the Sam Maguire for the day on Sunday. We will probably be looking for it in Cork also. Today is budget day and it is a very important one. I commend both Ministers, Deputies Michael McGrath and Donohoe, for their cost-of-living budget which will rightly put a focus on people because people matter. The budget today is about ensuring that people receive taxpayers’ money and that we have a balance struck between helping people, families and businesses, along with ensuring that our co…

That councillor would be well suited to this House.

I just want to put on record my thanks to Mr. Ó Conghaile for his work at the IAA. His departure was a surprise and the fact that he is potentially moving to Wizz Air poses different questions. The issues of concern to me are not really related to Senator Craughwell's point. Mr. Dalton Philips has stepped down as the chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, and we now have a new interim appointee. I wish her well in her position. She is a former financial controller and is a very competent and capable …

We are having a process. It will go through the procedure.

It is very transparent.

We have had correspondence from the retired members of the IAA Retired Persons Association. In fairness to them, they have asked us to speak to the section given their concerns. The Minister of State might provide some clarity for them because, in fairness to her, she deserves to have her piece heard because we have heard one side from the retired members. I know that the Leas-Chathaoirleach has said that the amendment is out or order because it is a charge on the Exchequer. However, the retired members refer back …