I wish to acknowledge the passing of Vicky Phelan and I will propose a minute's silence at the end of the Order of Business, with the agreement of Members. The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the private nursing home sector, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and their time…

I welcome our visitors to the Gallery and the Seanad. Senator O'Loughlin started off the Order of Business. She had just come from the Samaritans briefing in Buswells Hotel, as did Senators Buttimer and Dooley. All three Senators spoke of the important work that the organisation does and have requested a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on mental health and the work of the Samaritans, which the Leader's office will request at the earliest opportunity. Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about COPD day, w…

At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Everyone in the Gallery is very welcome to the Chamber. The Order of Business is No.1, statements on the Safe to Create programme of supports for artists and arts workers in Ireland, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time can be shared and the Minister is to be given no less than…

I thank all the Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator Cummins welcomed the significant announcement of the approval by Cabinet today of €170 million for public infrastructural elements on the North Quay in Waterford city. I have taken the Order of Business on a number of occasions and he has raised the matter numerous times and kept it alive in the House. He commended all the members of the Cabinet and I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who is a local Deputy in the city, will also …

Senator Boyhan spoke acknowledging and welcoming the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Harris, for additional funding specifically targeted at apprenticeships for members of the Travelling community. I concur with the Senator's remarks. He also requested a debate acknowledging the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, conference happening today in County Monaghan and also asked for a debate on local authority funding. That request was supported by Senator Buttimer. That debate request has gone in. Senator…

That is huge money. That is not acceptable. A nominal fee is fine to ensure that people are not putting frivolous submissions in but that is too expensive. It should not be that level of money. We will request that debate at the earliest opportunity. I am not sure if we can invite the NTA in as such; it might be the Minister. There may be other mechanisms through the Seanad in terms of public consultation that we might be able to work with to engage with the NTA directly. Senator Ahearn spoke about rent relief meas…

It might be worth a Commencement matter specifically on the question of when that would be open for applications. I do not have a date on that. I know the Minister for Finance, working with the Cabinet, is working hard to get that over the line and sorted. It might be worth a Commencement matter because I am sure it is imminent and it is probably just the administration and getting the logistics sorted.

I agree with the Order of Business as just outlined. I will start off with a very positive story. A young woman from Westport, Shannon Sweeney, won a bronze medal at the European Elite Boxing Championships last week. A homecoming event was held in Mayo on Sunday. I congratulate her and her very proud coach, Mr. Martin Brennan. I know that a lot of work over many years, not just by Shannon but by the team around her and the boxing club in Westport, went into getting her into a position where she had an opportunity t…

I propose to suspend the sitting.

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and I thank her for her update on school transpor, which is welcome at a time when families are dealing with a cost-of-living crisis for the cost of school transport to be waived for many families across the country. Many thousands of families have benefited. It was a really good news story that may not have received the feedback that it deserved because a lot of focus was placed on the smaller problem of the small numbers of students who were not accommodated immediately, whic…

The time has come for us to get away from categorising tickets as concessionary and being eligible for them or not. We must move to a space where any child who wants to get a bus to school should be allowed to do so. We want to get people out of their cars. It does not make sense to have parents in a situation where they must drive their children to school. In an environment and society where for many families, if not the majority, both parents work getting children to school is a huge stress on many families. That…

I wish to make a point of order. I did not reference any individual Senator and I was not talking about Senator Dolan.

With respect, I would appreciate if the Senator did not target me personally for making my own comments, which I am perfectly entitled to do within my speaking slot. I never mentioned the Senator.

I am one of them.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the draft resolution made under section 60(6) of the Data Protection Act 2018, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022 - Second Stage, to be taken at 5.15 p.m. and to adjourn at 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed six minutes, all othe…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and all Members who contributed to the Order of Business today. Senator Crowe kicked off this afternoon's proceedings by requesting a debate on antisocial behaviour, particularly in Eyre Square, and by highlighting the apparently different treatment between the capital and other urban areas. I agree with his remarks in that regard. A debate has been scheduled with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on public order and safe streets for Wednesday, 23 November. I note that Senator Fitzpatric…

I think they have created an expectation. If they are ever in a position to deliver, I hope they can-----

-----deliver in as quick a manner as the Senator has suggested is possible. We may agree to disagree on that front.

There should not really be a back-and-forth, with respect, but the Senator is speaking as though nothing has happened.