It is my sad duty to join with the Cathaoirleach and Acting Leader in expressing words of sympathy and condolence on the passing of former Teachta Dála, Senator and councillor, Dick Dowling. Dick was a secondary teacher in De La Salle school in Waterford. He was a mathematician of excellence and an extraordinarily intelligent man. He had a huge reputation for his mathematical skills and abilities, and as a teacher. He was a lovely human being. He was gregarious, pleasant and engaging to meet, in conversation and in…

I welcome the wonderful people from Limerick. In a few moments they will be able to hear their illustrious Senator Maria Byrne speaking. They should wait for that as loyal Limerick people. I welcome the Minister. I acknowledge his proactivity in all these areas, how close to the farming community he is and how committed to all this. In a moment of great intergovernmental solidarity, Senator Lombard conceded the Minister is not responsible for the bad weather and I am prepared to go with the Senator on that. That is…

I warmly congratulate my neighbour, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on her reappointment as Minister for Justice. She is my neighbour from across the fields, as they say. It is good to see her in that role in which she has been making huge waves. I formally support the adoption of the regulation enhancing police co-operation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of human trafficking. I had the privilege and honour of meeting the health and social care education and human trafficking group recentl…

It is obvious that the Acting Chair has a personal interest from his very informed comments as well. I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome his proactivity in this area and the fact he is very committed to it. His professional background as a doctor can only suggest that not only are the fatalities a horror for families but some people are left with life-long injuries that are a horror, life-changing in a detrimental way and detrimentally changing for whole families. It is a serious matter. My colleague we…

I join the Cathaoirleach in his welcome to my good friends and neighbours from St. Anne's, which does us all proud as an education institution in our community. I echo the words of the Tánaiste to the pupils from St. Anne's that we hope and pray for, and it is our business to try to achieve, a situation where they will grow up in a different world from the one that exists at the moment in terms of international conflict. That is our prayer and our hope, but it must also be what we work towards. I endorse the motion…

I will begin on a very pleasant note by following my constituency colleague, Senator Gallagher, in wishing Dr. Rory O'Hanlon a very happy 90th birthday and continued good health and enjoyment of life. He is one of the finest people we have ever had in political life and I have valued his friendship and wisdom down the years when we met at many public events. I also put on record my welcome to three guests of mine. Fr. Patsy Carolan is an Oblate father leading the Oblates in Inchicore and does extraordinary communit…

I will speak first, as the previous two speakers did, of my personal connection to and my personal relationship with the late John Bruton. In Meath, he was a neighbour of Cavan, and I knew him as a neighbour. I knew him on a social level. I was in the Seanad while he was deputy leader of the party. He visited my home in Bailieborough on a social basis. In fact, he was a guest at our wedding. He was a lovely individual on a personal level, and I want to speak to that first. He was extraordinarily good-humoured, witt…

I, too, rise to join in the words of sympathy to John Connor's family. I knew John very well down the years. I knew him on a number of levels. I knew him politically as an elected colleague. I also knew him through family in that my in-laws are all in Roscommon. They were all friends of his and I knew him in that fashion as well. I had the privilege with my wife of visiting just before Christmas and I spoke to him on the telephone at Christmas. He was very well and he was very enthusiastic about the future. He had …

I acknowledge the Tánaiste's proactive response to the Women of Honour. Indeed, as we welcomed An Tánaiste earlier, I welcome my colleague and Minister of State, Deputy Burke, to the House. It is important to state at the outset for context that the Defence Forces are of the highest calibre, they bring honour to our country and they provide an exceptional service to our country. Currently, members of our Defence Forces serve in Lebanon in very difficult conditions. Among them is the son of Senator Wilson, and I am …

I wish to join in the remarks about Tom Hickey. He is an absolute gentleman and at all times courteous, highly efficient and very gracious. Tom has a unique wit of his own, and a charm and warmth. I wish him, Lorraine and their family a lot of quality time together, and a great retirement. Knowing Tom, he will find a lot of interesting and good things to do in his retirement. I certainly wish him well with that. On the day that is in it, I wish the Cathaoirleach, colleagues in the House and our Deputy Leader a very…

I will not repeat any of the case just made.

No. I have just one comment.

I have one comment on what my colleague was just saying. It occurs to me that this issue needs to be examined in respect of the area of health and the cases of nurses as well. Specifically in this context, though, concerning young gardaí and Garda recruits, we should consider purpose-built accommodation. Historically, this existed for the members of An Garda Síochána. We should look at this possibility now in a Dublin context. I say this because my colleague is correct that there is an issue. This happens in many c…

Purpose-built accommodation is needed.

What about using derelict buildings and office-commercial spaces?

I was held up on other business, so I missed what was said earlier. However, I wish to be associated with the words of sympathy to the family of Tras Honan. I had the privilege of serving in the Seanad some time ago with Tras Honan. She was a very distinguished person. She was a person of great eminence, great quality in her own right and great integrity. She had a real presence and leadership capacity, which was very apparent. She was a trailblazer for women, practical feminism, if you like, and the advancement of…

I thank and congratulate Senator Michael McDowell for bringing forward this issue. It is his vigilance that has brought it to our attention, and it is typical of him that he would be concerned about such an issue. We are grateful to him for this. He has done an important service tonight. This cannot go under the radar. I happen to have the privilege of working alongside in this House Mary O'Connor, who comes from one of the most illustrious literary families in this country, as you would know, a Leas-Chathaoirligh,…

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

I join in congratulating the Minister and, as she said, her officials on bringing forward this legislation, successfully piloting it through the Houses of the Oireachtas, and on the fact she is totally proactive and able to announce today that the agency is being set up, formed and actioned. That is so important. I am all too painfully aware that sometimes things like this can remain on the shelf. That is not the Minister's style and not what should happen. I am delighted this will be followed up with action. Gende…

Now.