The Senator never needed notes before.

I will share time with Senator Doherty. I thank the Minister of State for being here, commend her on the statement she has made to the House and welcome that we have commenced a formal procurement process for a new Irish Coast Guard aviation service. The tender was amended earlier this year. The procurement process is, as the Minister of State said, commercially sensitive, and I will not stray into that. I understand that the Government is acutely aware of the significance and importance of this contract and this s…

I welcome the Minister to the House. It is refreshing that a senior Cabinet Minister would come to the House for a Private Members' debate and I thank her for that. It is a very positive indication of her concern, notwithstanding the magnificent change she made to the school transport scheme at the outset. I welcome the review and plead with her to expedite it. In fairness, she has said in a number of interviews and during a Commencement matter debate last week in this House that it is important that the review is …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House and thank her for taking this Commencement matter. The matter I raise is the issue of the monkeypox vaccine, the lack of supply of vaccines and of a programme of vaccination, and the disappointing lack of communication with the gay community. It is causing huge anxiety. I appreciate that this is not the Minister of State's area of responsibility but I thank her for being here today. The issue of the supply of vaccines is a challenge not just for Ireland b…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I appreciate what she said, but what we have heard is quite similar to what we got last August. Let us roll out the vaccine programme and look at the intradermal method of administration and how we can extend it more broadly. The Minister of State referred to the intention to vaccinate "those at high risk of infection before they are exposed to the virus". It is important that we administer the vaccine across the community. We know vaccines work. We have seen that wit…

Like many of my colleagues, I wish to discuss the importance of next week's budget in the context of the cost of living, which is one of the most critical challenges facing this generation. Families are struggling with the cost of living, including increased energy prices. Other Senators referred to the issue of small enterprises. I hope that, in next week's budget, money will be put into people's pockets so that they can make choices and we can reduce the cost of living in a costed and sustainable way. I wish to r…

On a point of order, will the Leas-Chathaoirleach explain that because I do not understand? What is the import of Senator Craughwell's suggestion?

In other words, we can proceed today.

That is not fair.

I want to make one comment to the Minister of State on the review mechanism. We often get amendments in the House from Senators Higgins or Ruane on a six-month review or to have a report back after six months. Is that being ruled out completely? I will speak on peer support only and I will not come back in again. The issue of health and well-being is important and despite what Senator Craughwell is saying, the Minister of State has moved gargantuanly from the beginning to now. Senator Doherty has highlighted the is…

I want to support the Minister because in fairness, in his letter to us in June, Mr. Jim Gavin of the IAA, made it very clear that "the IAA will conduct continuing oversight of the implementation of the regulation in accordance with the EU regulations." The letter went on to state that: "The proposed amendment mandates the IAA to conduct a review, not later than 12 months after the commencement of the Bill, on the effectiveness of the peer support programmes introduced by Irish airlines." Mr. Gavin is very clear in…

The Senator should stand up.

There is concern among air traffic controllers about the vesting date. We have seen the intervention of Mr. Kieran Mulvey, complete engagement with the mediation process and so on. Has that process concluded or how stands it? The vesting date is an important issue for staff members. They are of the view that having a vesting date without a resolution of the issues is putting the cart before the horse.

They are moving to the centre, in any event.

I endorse the comments made by Senators Carrigy and Martin in asking that the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Chambers, is invited in here for a debate on the future of Irish boxing. Notwithstanding the reasons pertaining to the decisions made at the EGM last weekend, those of us who love boxing and support the sport are concerned and worried about the future of boxing. I know through the good work done by Andrew Duncan and others that the sport was …

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

I join the Deputy Leader in asking the Leader to facilitate a debate on the Defence Forces. This is a very positive day for the Defence Forces. I commend my colleague and friend, the Minister for Foreign Affairs on his pioneering work regarding the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. As Senator Chambers rightly said, there is a proposal to increase spending from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion and to attract additional staff via a recruitment campaign, which will place Defence Forces on a steady and solid …

Well said.

I welcome the Minister to the House. I commend this piece of legislation. At a time when we are told that Government does not understand the cost of living crisis and is not in tune with the people, is it not extraordinary then that the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, brought a piece of legislation to improve access to healthcare into the House today? As Senator Conway rightly said, it eases the financial pressure and worry of parents. My learned colleague and friend across the Chamber stood up today and welcomed the Bi…