I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Burke.

Before I call on the Leader to announce the business of the day, it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery Ambassador Telemachou from Cyprus . We are celebrating the national day of Cyprus. As Cathaoirleach, on my behalf and on behalf of Members, I take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Cyprus and its Government on their independence day. A national holiday is observed every year on this day by the people of the Republic of Cyprus. Ambassador Telemachou has been in Ire…

I join Senator O'Loughlin in paying tribute to former Councillor Micheál "Spike" Nolan, who, as she said, was absolutely a gentleman. He was a wonderful person who served his area with distinction, as did his late father. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for drawing attention to Councillor Nolan's passing this morning. Our sympathies go to his wife, Deirdre, his children, Rebecca, Tadhg and Jack, and his mum, Ursula. Our deepest sympathies to the family of Andrew Brady also.

Glaoim arís ar an Treoraí. I call the Leader, Senator Lisa Chambers, to reply to the Order of Business.

I welcome John McCullagh, the former Irish ambassador to Türkiye, who is in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery with guests from Türkiye. They are very welcome. Céad míle fáilte. Enjoy your visit to Leinster House.

I thank the Minister of State and the Members.

I welcome Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the House. No. 2 is statements on budget 2025, Department of Finance. The Minister of State and group spokespersons have ten minutes and all other speakers have five minutes.

I thank Senator Craughwell.

Dáil Éireann passed the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 on 25 September 2024, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann passed the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024 on 25 September 2024, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Martin Conway - the need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the review of cardiac services; and his plans to develop a new cardiovascular strategy, to include an early detection population-based screening programme and the nationwide roll-out of the HIQA recommendations on transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Senator Róisín Garvey - the need for the Minister for Health to make a statemen…

Glaoim anois chun an Ord Gnó a léamh ag an Leas-Cheannaire, sé sin the Order of Business.

Sorry, Senator Boyhan. Just to clarify, and not to have an argument, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, as the Senator knows, does not have a capital budget, so has no jurisdiction to spend money. The Ceann Comhairle has made it quite clear. To be fair of all members of the commission who operate on behalf of the Members of the Oireachtas, they were not involved in the spending and the allocation of funding, and there should be no inference that they were.

I know. Just to clarify-----

We are not defending it.

There is much wisdom in the Senator's conversation with Councillor Peter Doyle. They are dead right.

Well said.

We join the Senator in congratulating and thanking all the SNAs in our schools, who do Trojan work. We send our sincere appreciation to them. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.

Míle buíochas. Anois, glaoim ar Leas-Cheannaire an tSeanaid chun freagra a thabhairt ar an Ord Gnó.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the House. The time allocated to him is not to exceed ten minutes and group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes. Time may be shared. All other Senators are not to exceed five minutes and the Minister of State will be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate.

The Minister of State's time is up.