I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking for the Minister for Transport, and I apologise that he is not here. It is an important matter. Having been a student in Maynooth, I have seen the growth of Kilcock, Sallins and Maynooth. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and achieving our decarbonisation goals. Achieving these goals has been set out in the programme for Government. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory…

On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I again thank him for his engagement and the Topical Issue submitted. In terms of current developments, the DART+ West and DART+ South West projects are moving to the next stage in light of recent planning decisions. An Bord Pleanála has given conditional approval for the DART+ West and full approval for the DART+ South West railway order applications. While it should be noted that the two judicial review applications to the railway order approval for DART+ West have been lo…

The breadth of the contributions by Members of the House today and yesterday speaks to the scale of the impact of Storm Éowyn. It was, as Deputy Gogarty said, a hurricane-type event, with winds of 180 km/h, which illustrates the severity. We can see the impact it is having on families and communities, throughout the west and north west in particular, and every one of us regrets its impact and the suffering and hardship it has caused to people. As Members will have noted, the work of the National Emergency Co-ordina…

Dáil Éireann has passed the Finance Bill 2024 on 5 November 2024, which is sent to Seanad Éireann for its recommendations. Dáil Éireann has passed on 5 November 2024 the Family Courts Bill 2022, considered by virtue of Article 22(2) of the Constitution as a Bill initiated in Dáil Éireann to be given to Seanad Éireann as desired. Dáil Éireann has passed the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024 on 5 November 2024, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil É…

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Tim Lombard - The need for the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the funding request from Cork County Council for the necessary upgrade to Pewterhole Cross near Kinsale, County Cork. Senator Sharon Keogan - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the commencement of sections 6 to 9, inclusive, of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014. Senator Timmy Dooley - …

I welcome our colleague and friend, the Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, to the House. I welcome the daughter of the Minister of State, Heidi, to the Chamber. She is here doing work experience. I hope you have a very enjoyable time with us. Thank you for being here. You can be very proud of your mum and the contribution she is making to Irish political life. Céad míle fáilte.

I welcome Andrew Kelly to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. He is here on work experience. He is a transition year student. He is a son of our friend and colleague, Richie Kelly, who works with us here in Leinster House. Andrew is very welcome. I hope he does not learn the work habits of his father and the tricks of us. Céad míle fáilte. I previously welcomed the daughter of the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, to the House, who is here on work experience too. I thank her for being here too.

I welcome representatives of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund, which is a national charity. Its mission is raising awareness of early detection and survival rates for oesophageal cancer. We are joined by Carmel Doyle, CEO, Dervilla Downey, Sharon Cooney and Anthony Doran. They are guests of our next speaker, Senator Martin. I also welcome the students from County Wicklow whom I had the pleasure of meeting earlier in the corridor. I think they are from Kilcoole national school. They are very welcome with their teachers. …

Go raibh maith agat. I welcome the second group of students from Kilcoole Primary School in County Wicklow. They are very welcome; céad míle fáilte. In keeping with a request earlier in regard to their colleagues and school friends, we are going to offer them two nights homework off as well to celebrate their return from mid-term and potentially our last week in the Seanad.

Steady, steady, steady. I know it is the dying embers of the week.

I call the father of the House, Senator Paddy Burke.

I next call Senators Davitt, Maria Byrne and Flynn, in that order.

Well said. I welcome Councillor Farrelly and his good wife.

I call an Seanadóir Keogan, whom I thank for her forbearance.

Before I call the Leader to reply to the Order of Business, I congratulate the President-elect of America and the Vice President-elect, Donald Trump and JD Vance, on their election. As Members know, Ireland is celebrating a centenary of diplomatic relations with the United States. We as parliamentarians will work with the new Administration and the new Congress to ensure the shared goals of Ireland and America are further developed. We wish the new Administration well. I may not be here tomorrow, so I thank the Mem…

I will stop the Senator for a second; my apologies. I welcome the guests of the Ceann Comhairle, Tommy Callaghan and Camillus Walsh. Céad míle fáilte.

I congratulate the Leader on her tenure. I welcome our friend and colleague Deputy Ring on, perhaps, his last visit to Seanad Éireann as a Member of the Oireachtas. He has served the people of Mayo with distinction. His guests are Evan Lynch Boyd and Eamon Lynch. They are very welcome. Céad míle fáilte roimh gach duine. Amendment No. 1 to the Order of Business in the name of Senator Vincent P. Martin is that No. 11 be taken before No. 1. This was seconded by Senator Dooley. The Leader has indicated she is prepared …

When it is it proposed to take Second Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Second Stage?