I thank the Minister of State for being here. This is an important and ambitious plan for Ireland and, more importantly, for the regions. In the context of what the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, is trying to achieve, with a modal shift in traffic from cars, then this plan is to be admired and supported. However, the M20, the Cork to Limerick motorway, is of gargantuan importance to the development of the region in the context of connectivity. I impress upon the Minister of State, the House and the Government…

I join with colleagues in support of the need for secretarial assistants to have their pay rate increased. Senator Gavan spoke about the meeting. Maybe the Cathaoirleach, as a member of the commission, might explain to the House why the commission has not supported or made a recommendation that secretarial assistants of the Seanad would be promoted to the position of parliamentary assistant? The role, as we all accept, has changed and evolved since it began in this House. We need a bit of honesty in this House as M…

We were told repeatedly by a multitude of people, from the Taoiseach, to the Tánaiste, to NPHET members. Does he think we live in comical Ali world, or what? That is part of our problem. The messaging is confusing people. I would appeal to the members of NPHET and members of Government to use their language carefully to bring people with them.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for picking this very important topic. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for being here and also wish him well. I commend his work on his brief so far. He has been very proactive and I commend him on the work he has done in terms of sexual health and sexual well-being. The sexual health strategy is so important. Next Wednesday, 1 December, is World AIDS Day and a day of visibility. However, I am wearing the red ribbon here today as a reminder to all of us that it is not just on…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The Fast-Track Cities initiative, which he mentioned, is an important part of what we are trying to achieve in our fight against HIV and AIDS. The interesting thing is that the funding has been approved, notwithstanding the remarks of the Minister of State. The key point I want to make is there is a need to have a resolution to the post being filled. As the Minister of State said, the service has been closed to new PrEP users since 4 October and will remain closed. I hop…

I support Senator Seery Kearney in her demand for the issue to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. I have repeatedly asked about this matter and I am tempted to table an amendment to the Order of Business that we would have a debate in this House on Covid. It is of such importance that we cannot just have commentary by media and sound bites. As Members of the Upper House, we need a substantive debate on what is happening in our country now. For example, in the hospitality sector, the employment wage subsidy schem…

I echo the accolades expressed to our colleague and friend, Christy Kelly, who is retiring after 40 years' service. He is a gentleman and a pleasure to work with. I thank him most sincerely for his tenure in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I support Senator McGreehan and commend the Leader and Senator Gallagher on the horticultural Bill. It is farcical that we are importing peat. I rise primarily to seek a debate on the future of sport, particularly boxing. There seems to be an all-out civil war in Irish amateur boxi…

I welcome my constituency colleague, the Taoiseach, to the House. I am certainly glad he is here. I will not give a list of different things. When I heard Senator Keogan's contribution, I said, “Mother of God, where am I going next?” The Senator should note the job of the Government is to lead. The Taoiseach has been very clear. I reiterate here today that vaccinations work. Our job as legislators is to bring people with us on the matter of public health. The Taoiseach has done that from the beginning. He urged us …

Hear, hear.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of Paul, Mark, Dara and Ciarán. They were brave citizens of our country who lost their lives in our service. They protected and saved lives. What a noble calling. Today at our committee, we heard that in this year alone, 121 lives have been saved by the Irish Coast Guard. Some 391 people were saved last year. In quarter 3 of this year, 1,089 incidents were responded to. The Coast Guard undertook 315 missions.…

Next Tuesday, 23 November 2021, at 12 noon.

I support Senator Ardagh’s call, on World Prematurity Day, for us to commend all who work in our hospitals and to support the parents – the women and their partners – who require considerable support. There is an urgent need for us to have an updated premature baby strategy. As Senator Ardagh said, medical science has evolved and babies as light as 500 g are now surviving and living to tell their story. That is to be commended. It is important that we have a genuine debate on living with Covid. I spoke yesterday in…

I welcome the Minister to the House for the sixth time in his tenure as Minister. This is an important issue. There are two points on which I want to begin. As a Government and collectively, we are trying to create a model of housing that is sustainable, affordable and available to everybody. Senator Warfield, whom I admire and respect, says the Government does not get it, but we do understand. There is a need for all of us to understand that this is not a political issue; it is an issue on which we are all working…

I rise to request a debate on health, to cover a myriad of pieces, especially the HSE winter plan and a debate on the managing of our healthcare system, to include bed capacity, community care and mental health. The Minister for Health has been speaking about the significant challenges, notwithstanding the changes announced today. An example is the winter flu vaccine and the role of our community pharmacies and our pharmacies. Yesterday I went into my local pharmacy, O'Connor's, on the Curraheen Road. I rang, got a…

What will the capacity be?

How many Members can come into the House on Thursday?

So not every Member of the House can be present in the Gallery or the Chamber for the address of the Taoiseach on Thursday.

Can 60 people be here, in all parts of the House?

Will people be standing at the back wall?

Is the Cathaoirleach allowing people to stand at the back of the Chamber?