I have checked with the staff and I am afraid I have received no such email about substitutions. I know that this is a matter to be discussed by the Business Committee this week on foot of a letter from Deputy Stanton. If he wishes to take this question, I will allow it.

As the saying goes, this is like déjà vu happening all over again. This is more or less the same question that was put by Deputy Connolly earlier. I note on the Order Paper that Deputies Cairns and Ó Cuív have a similar question. I ask the Minister for the progress that has been made to date on developing an island strategy, and the anticipated date for its completion and publication.

I thank the Minister for that update. For her information, the Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands paid a visit to Bere Island and the message that came out strongly was that there are great opportunities for people on the island. The remote working has a chance to be transformative and the quality of life there is second to none. The resilience and adaptability of islanders in general was acknowledged. Common themes across the islands are coming across. The provision of …

I share the Minister's view that the hospitality on Bere Ireland was fantastic and we were made very welcome. However, I want to share one personal story. As the Minister knows, I have young children at home myself. I was talking to a young parent there and I asked about that spectre where, at 3 o'clock in the morning, somebody wakes up with a high fever. For me, that is a run into Caredoc. We bundle them into the back of the car and in we go to Caredoc. I was asking this parent what she does in her situation and s…

It is a full 129 years since the Industrial and Provident Societies Bill was enacted and it remains the main legislation governing co-operative societies in Ireland. We have a proud history of co-operatives in Ireland. They play an integral role in the form of housing co-operatives, food producer co-operatives, group water schemes or locally-owned co-operative shops. On the energy side, community-owned renewable energy co-operatives helped insulate from the fluctuations in energy prices internationally and provide …

I call Deputy Cian O'Callaghan next. I understand he has agreed to share time with Deputy Connolly.

This Monday, commuters, public transport users and schoolkids in Dunmore East, Passage East and Portlaw heard the news that the operator they have relied upon for bus services for generations was withdrawing from the sector. The managing director, Brian Lynch, reached out to local Oireachtas Members and media outlets to let us know that Suirway Bus and Coach Services will be ceasing to operate its public transport services after 31 October and that it has informed the NTA that it will not be renewing its route lice…

I thank the Minister of State for her response, but I could nearly short-circuit the NTA process of assessing whether this impending situation will give rise to any loss of connectivity in the area. It will, because no other operator provides services from Dunmore East and Portlaw into Waterford city centre. I received word previously that this matter is a high priority for the NTA, but I would like a timeline in this regard. The clock is ticking. Six weeks remain in which to decide that a PSO route must be put in …

I thank the Taoiseach for his comprehensive update on what was discussed at the European Council. None of us is surprised that the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the resulting outcomes dominated much of the meeting. It is striking to hear the language used and reiterated by the Taoiseach in describing some of the Russian actions as war crimes. That is not a term to be used lightly but it is an assessment with which I fully agree. It is good that international organisations are being tasked with getting to the bo…

I heard an informed and nuanced contribution from Deputy Conway-Walsh. I do not always hear that nuance or honesty in some communications. As Deputy Gannon said, of course we must do everything we can to insulate people from rising energy costs. However, it is disingenuous to say that across Europe, it would be possible to do this in a way that does not translate in some way to difficulties. The supply of gas to the Nord Stream pipeline was reduced to 40% and it is now in maintenance mode, which means there is zero…

We are also seeing the weaponisation of food.

We are seeing that in particular in the Horn of Africa. Deputy Boyd Barrett's glib commentary in the face of what is unfolding in the Horn of Africa is misplaced. We are seeing human misery unfolding at an unprecedented level. I am being told by people who are experts in the area, including representatives of Oxfam and Dóchas, that this is dwarfing the unthinkable situation that occurred in 2011. We said we would not allow that to happen ever again, yet 11 years later the situation is worse. We know that is also th…

Seanad Éireann has passed the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022, without amendment.

Amendments Nos. 1 and 82 are related and may be discussed together.

I ask Deputies to get back to the debate in hand.

I see from media reports yesterday that the Commission on Taxation and Welfare has completed its work and submitted its report, which presumably sits on the Minister's desk at the minute. Again from media reports, I see that it has identified the upcoming hole in the finances that will be caused by decreasing motor tax revenues in the future. It also apparently includes a consideration of site valuation tax. What is the likely timeframe for that report being made more widely available to the public? Will the recomm…

I apologise to Deputy Richmond. I stepped out of sequence. The Deputy has nine minutes.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 6 July 2022

I have raised the issue of school transport with the Minister on previous occasions. What are the plans to expand the eligibility criteria for school transport to respond to the demonstrated need, as a response to the need for climate action and as a way to mitigate increases in the cost of living?

I acknowledge the flexibility that has been increasingly built into the school transport system. This is less about expanding school transport and more about intensifying it. Can the Minister get to the bottom of the occupancy rate of school buses? Are they operating half full, three quarters full, or are they full to capacity? I have raised specific locations around Waterford and Tramore where a school bus passes by the door of people who want to get to school. They do not fall outside the eligibility criteria, bu…