The nearest defibrillator is around the corner, just in case you do need it. We were expecting Senator Fitzpatrick but I do not think she is going to be here. I welcome some very important visitors to the Gallery. They have certainly come a long way. We have visitors from Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the USA. I welcome Michael Cosgrove, Patricia Cosgrove, Susan Ritterbeck and Robert Ritterbeck. They are all very welcome to this very important House in the seat of Irish democracy. It is great to see you here. I know y…

I thank the Minister of State for a very informative overview, and commend him on the passion and enthusiasm he has brought to the role. If anyone was to be asked what Ministry they would like, it was like Santa and Christmas for him when he got this brief. There are few Ministers in the House as passionate about their portfolio as him. He has certainly hit the ground running. He brings immense knowledge to this area, to the betterment of Ireland as a nation and rural Ireland as a whole. It would be remiss of me no…

Apart from ourselves.

When Senator Casey was doing his declaration of interest, I thought he was going to tell us he owned the whole national park.

I thank Senator Brady. I do not think we have any other speakers so I ask the ask the Minister of State to conclude and respond. I know there were an awful number of issues raised. My apologies, Senator Boyle would like to speak. We have kept the best until last.

I thank Senator Boyle. I give my apologies again and ask the Minister of State at the second time of asking to respond. He has had more time to think about it now.

Yes. If the Minister of State gives us national parks, we will give him all the time he wants.

I thank the Minister of State for a very informative and passionate discussion. Sula mbogfaidh muid ar aghaidh, is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh na cuairteoirí san Áiléar Poiblí. I welcome our visitors to the Gallery. These are guests of the Ceann Comhairle and they are members of the Antiques Ireland group. If they are looking to buy a bit of stuff, they have come too late. The FitzGeralds sold off most of the stuff in 1815. We unfortunately cannot sell them anything today, as much as some of us might like.

They are about 200 years too late, but if things ever go bad, we might be able to. I hope they enjoy their day. It is a wonderful, historic building with a lot of history. I am sure they, more than anyone else, will appreciate the history of the building.

Before I call Senator Craughwell, I take the opportunity to note that several groups visited the House during the deliberations on this matter. We had groups hosted by Senators Sarah O’Reilly, Imelda Goldsboro and Sharon Keogan. Senator Keogan's guests were Councillor Grainne Maguire, Shane Cleary and Samantha Boden.

If no one else wishes to comment, I will put the question.

I did speak to the Bill last night, but I thank Senator Conway for working in the spirit of the Bill, and particularly at a time when we face such a crisis in housing. A number of speakers last night drew attention to the issue of regional and technical colleges and their inability to access funding. There were positive soundings last night that there would be a move in relation to that. It is a significant concern for people across the Chamber. The Minister of State’s colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sul…

I commend the Minister of State on a very detailed overview of what we have this evening. The significance of the Bill speaks to the enormity of the challenge we have in housing at present. It remains the foremost challenge for us as a country and as a society. It also speaks volumes in terms of the Government's commitment to addressing the issue. I commend the Minister, Ministers of State, staff and officials in the Department on the efficiency and speed at which they have moved on this critical legislation. The H…

I also thought it was in order that the Cathaoirleach give €50 to anyone whose birthday it is.

It is deeply disappointing that the previous speaker sought to demean the Taoiseach’s unblemished record on leadership. It is taken as read by every European leader that Ireland has led the way in terms of voicing concerns and fears in the context of what has been happening in Gaza. As a small nation in Europe, Ireland forced Europe to stand up. Ireland was the first voice to raise concerns in Europe and we brought many European nations with us. That was in large part due to the Taoiseach's efforts and the people k…

I thank the Minister of State for facilitating the additional time to hear the very important issues from Longford. I know that is why the time was extended. Obviously, at the risk of giving a history lesson, we could blame Henry Ford for the state of our rail service. That is probably why we have no one from Cork in the Chamber to take responsibility because they claim him as a Cork man. Certainly, we had a much better rail service 150 years ago. Obviously, the advent of the car and car transport and the fact that…

I was listening to "Morning Ireland" this morning. I think I should write to the director general of RTÉ and ask that, when EPA spokespersons are on, a health warning be given to the farming community. It was the EPA's latest dispatch on its water quality report for 2019 to 2024. If you were to listen to the radio, you would think that farmers are doing absolutely nothing in terms of water quality. Yet, from digging into the detail of the figure, particularly in relation to nitrate levels, they have reduced signifi…

Sinn Féin has the next slot, which Senators Collins and Nicole Ryan will share. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank Senator Kennelly for a wonderful account of tourism in County Kerry. We will go to Senator Conway now and see if he can extol the virtues of tourism in Clare.