It is my privilege for the first time as a Deputy for the new Wicklow-Wexford constituency to speak here. I look forward to representing it. The constituency includes south Wicklow and north Wexford and I know the Tánaiste has a strong affinity with both areas. I look forward to working with him and the Government to deliver for our constituents and for the country generally. I raise the question around legislation concerning nicotine-inhaling devices or vapes. As the Tánaiste knows, the last Government banned the …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I am delighted to see the Minister of State appointed. This programme for Government is an ambitious document. If it is significantly implemented, it will positively transform the lives of people right across the country. The challenge for all of us is in delivery, and the message to the State agencies has to be that they must help in achieving the results we desire in terms of the ambitious targets we have set out. This programme addresses domestic issues, includi…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I have regularly raised questions in this House about the school transport scheme. While it was certainly welcome the Minister, Norma Foley, carried out the first review of the scheme, which was published in February of this year, the first review since the scheme was established in 1967, we still need to see some of the detail. I have raised this previously. We have seen over recent years an expansion in the number of school bus places available. There has been a significant incr…

I thank the Minister of State and appreciate that he is simply taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Department of Education, but I refer him to the answer I received regarding this issue six months ago. Except for two or three lines, this response is a cut-and-paste of that answer from the Department. Basically, in terms of the pilot, the only thing the Department has announced is that the north County Wexford scheme is now included. The other two pilot schemes are not really new bus services. They are …

We are fortunate that we live in a peaceful, safe and successful democracy. When we reflect on the many conflicts going on around the world - the horrors we are seeing in the Middle East, the tragedy that is Sudan and the fact that very shortly it will have been 1,000 days since Putin invaded Ukraine - it should be of serious concern that Russia and North Korea have entered into a mutual defence agreement and North Korean troops are taking part in the continuing invasion of Ukraine. It is critical, and I agree with…

How would such a group agree?

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I want to raise the question of support for community rescue boats, in particular Cahore Inshore Rescue Service. It is in a part of the world with which we are both quite familiar. It is a beautiful part of the world with a great deal of wonderful coastline. Cahore Inshore Rescue Service provides a vital service to the north Wexford community. It works very closely with the Coast Guard based out of Courtown. It is a volunteer service that was formed almost 30 years ago following a…

I appreciate the Minister of State’s response. I could also ask about the Courtown Coast Guard unit, but we are specifically talking about the issue with Cahore. I welcome the fact that we have standards for these rescue boats, but in order to be able to meet these standards, we have to ensure the boats are in good condition. There is fundraising for ongoing regular costs, but it is not feasible for a small group like this to be able to fundraise for the purchase of a boat. While I welcome the commitment of a revie…

I hope we will be here tomorrow to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Martin Groves and all of the Seanad team and to thank them for their work. It is appropriate that this House acknowledges the passing of David Davin-Power. He was an outstanding, informed, balanced and insightful journalist whose funeral is taking place this afternoon. It is appropriate to mark his passing. I welcome the news today confirming Mr. Michael McGrath as the next European Commissioner for Justice. He is handling a very importan…

Recently, I met representatives from St. Aidan's advocacy group in Gorey. St. Aidan's provides services for people with intellectual disabilities. The St. Aidan's advocacy group, known as STAAG, represents the clients and users of the services and advocates on their behalf. In the context of the forthcoming election it has called for all political parties to have regard to those with intellectual disabilities, not only in terms of policies to ensure there is support for organisations such as STAAG, which work with …

Curaim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I again wish to raise the issue of underinvestment in the Dublin to Rosslare rail line. I do so because of growing traffic volumes along the N11. Many car users in Wexford and Wicklow would quite happily transfer to the train if they knew they had a regular and reliable service. Unfortunately, that has not been the case for quite a long time. The Minister of State is quite fortunate to live in north Dublin, which is very well served by trains. Indeed, there are plans to expand the…

I thank the Minister of State. While I appreciate he is taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, in summary, there is no real progress, apart from the potential for additional services to Greystones and Wicklow. There is no promise of additional services for anyone south of Wicklow, but rather a promise of a "seamless" transition from trains. Those who will end up standing in the cold and wet at 7.45 a.m. at Wicklow station will not categorise this as seamless. It is clear the messag…

I echo Senator Cassells's comments about the immigrant investor programme. I know of one particular project that is held up and the decision of the then acting Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, to simply slam the gate shut on this programme was wrong. I raise the importance of local radio today and, in particular, as we approach a general election, we need to ensure we have trusted media sources at local level. This applies to our local newspapers, but also to local and community radio. Indeed, this month, South…

I sincerely thank the mayor for his contribution and welcome him to Ireland. I also thank the embassy team, led by our good friend H.E. Norio. The team has been doing extraordinary work building the strong friendship between Ireland and Japan. That can be measured in many ways. Japan is now Ireland’s fifth largest trading partner. We do €23 billion in trade every year. However, it is more than just about the money. It is about the personal friendships, the exchanges, the JET exchange programme and, as the mayor men…

I, too, welcome the students from Tipperary. I also welcome a Bill put forward by Senator Martin, the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, which was strongly supported by our colleague, Senator McGreehan, on honey bees. In light of events last week, I wonder whether we also need to introduce a honey pot Bill in this House.

No. I want to raise an issue which is covered by The Irish Times today, the challenge of rapidly growing areas and ensuring there is an adequate number of school places. I raised this issue in the House in a Commencement matter last week. There is a significant problem, particularly in what we might call the wider commuter belts around our cities, ensuring that we have an adequate number of primary and second level school places. I request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Foley, specifically on this issue. We hav…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I will speak specifically to this section. I refer to the case of the National College of Ireland, NCI, which Senator Clonan and I raised on Second Stage. This also applies to a number of other private colleges that are offering level 8 programmes. The challenge with this legislation is that as a result of its enactment, only the graduates of those institutions that are designated by the HEA will have a vote. That is certainly very welcome. The issue we raised was specifically with rega…

I ask the Minister to allow an intervention. He might raise this with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and ask that he supply to me and other Members of the House an update on that process, particularly as it is critical in the context of this legislation.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach is buying.

I thank the Minister. I welcome that. I wish Senator Clonan the best of luck in the 2029-2030 Seanad elections when TU Dublin and DCU will be included. I would also remind him that-----