I will speak today about a very positive day that we had in Limerick on Monday. The Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, visited Limerick. Senator Craughwell will be interested to know that Limerick College of Further Education made an announcement on the purchase of three buildings for a digital and media hub. That is most fitting, given their expansion by working with the likes of Troy Studios. Limerick is now b…

The other visits we had were to Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, TUS, and the apprenticeship programme for the Coonagh campus. There is the expansion of the apprenticeship programme, where 800 places will be offered to apprentices from next year, once the building is complete. Monday was a very welcome day. We also had a visit to the University of Limerick. It was a very productive day for education and for training. That is important to note. The more positive days and the more collaborat…

I wish to acknowledge the fact that University Hospital Limerick, UHL, and the University of Limerick, UL, are very much involved in clinical trials. On 19 May, they celebrated Clinical Trials Day. Clinical trials are so important from a research perspective, especially for very sick children. I want to acknowledge the work of all involved. It is really important to say, "Thank you", to the people who are working in this area and to wish them all the best for the future.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, for coming to the House today to discuss the all-important matter of the shortage of pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians. I have been contacted by a number of pharmacists who are very concerned about the skills shortage in the sector. I have communicated with the Minister of State's Department in regard to it. A pharmacy owner in Limerick, who has a number of pharmacies, simply cannot get pharmacists. The person concerned is afraid that the pharmacy will have to…

I thank the Minister of State very much. I was of the understanding the IPU had been in consultation, but obviously it has not. I will go back to the pharmaceutical union and inform it of the process. I appreciate this will be opening shortly because, certainly, it is not just affecting my area; it is affecting areas throughout the country. Their union was actually calling for pharmacists to be added to the critical skills list. While I know a couple of hundred people are qualified every year in the role of pharmac…

I welcome two good news stories for Limerick and the mid-west. One relates to the €10 million investment by Ryanair in hangar 5 at the airport, where 200 high-end jobs are to be created. This investment relates to servicing Ryanair's aircraft. By 2026, the airline will have many more aircraft in the air so there will be a significant increase in the number of jobs created, these being based at Shannon. The other good news story relates to yesterday's announcement by the Minister, Deputy Foley, of a €19 million scho…

I rise to raise two matters. First, I thank Senator Horkan for his honourable mention of the mid-west and his visit there yesterday with the transport committee. I had a meeting yesterday with Limerick Chamber of Commerce. The rate of unemployment in Limerick is better than it was prior to Covid. The latest report published indicates that the rate is running at just over 4%. It is very good news for the mid-west that there is so little unemployment in the area. That is down to the collaboration between the council,…

The Cork vintners were there as well.

I thank the Minister for bringing forward the amendment. On Friday last, I was at president’s night in a rugby club and the president of the club brought up the fact that the club would have gone under only for the fact of these supports that were put in place, and he also spoke about the fact the Minister was going to bring forward this amendment on the 9% rate. It is an opportune time to compliment not only the Minister but his officials and the Department for the support that was put in place for the hospitality…

Now.

Now.

I rise today, International Nurses Day, to pay tribute to nurses on the wonderful work they do, many of them in very tough circumstances. I often raise many of the issues that are going on at University Hospital Limerick and how the staff are working in horrific circumstances, but I pay tribute to them because they work every hour when they are at work, and they give it their all to make sure that the patients and everybody within the hospital have a very safe experience. They are so committed to their jobs. I pay …

I will raise the issue of the review that has been agreed to by the Minister for Education with regard to the use of schools for lifelong learning, other courses and so on. Schools predominantly finish by 5 p.m. The buildings then stand empty. There are buildings that have been the subject of investment from the Department and the Government over many years. I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, has committed to carrying out a review. Where I am from in Limerick, the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival is coming up on…

It is 50 years since Ireland gained European membership. I will refer to a couple of lines from two speeches. In this very Chamber on 14 July 1966, the late Dr. Garret FitzGerald, then a Senator, said: If the Government fail to pursue this aim as thoroughly and as efficiently as we think is desirable, we will be pressing them from behind … It will do no harm to our position in Brussels and in this country if it is seen that this House is concerned about this matter. That was in 1966 before 21 March 1972 when the th…

Thank you very much, a Chathaoirligh, for selecting this all-important Commencement debate. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, very much for coming here today to represent the Minister for Finance. I have been working with a number of individuals who have applied for a primary medical certificate. This is a very important certificate for people, especially if they have an accident or they are impeded from driving properly and they want to get an automatic car, for example. I have a lady in her 80s who h…

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. I am delighted to hear that the assessment board, the adjudicating committee, will soon be in place. I understand that it is not the Minister's responsibility; it is the adjudication board's. The big problem was that no board was in place and it has taken so long. I understand that a process needs to be followed to fill these positions, but people have been waiting since last November. We are now in the month of May and there is still no decision. I am glad t…

I wish to raise the report published yesterday on women and ovarian cancer. The report found that many women are presenting very late in the day in terms of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Somewhere between 300 and 400 people are coming forward very late. It is quite frightening to read of such high numbers and the fact that the prognosis for these people is unclear. If people are feeling unwell or have any symptoms, they should come forward regardless of the circumstances. I am known around here for raising t…

I raise two issues, both of which the Leader has heard me raise in the past. One is University Hospital Limerick. There were 111 people on trolleys there yesterday. This day last week, there were 125 people on trolleys. It is unbelievable. Nothing has happened and things are not improving. Huge money has been thrown at the hospital and things are now at a critical stage. Many of the elective surgeries that were due to happen in the hospital today and tomorrow have been cancelled. The situation will be revisited on …

I thank the Minister of State for coming here to discuss this very important topic. I raise the cost of renewing driver licences for people with disabilities. When I renew my licence, as a person without a disability, it costs €55 for ten years. Those with a disability must renew their licence every three years at a cost of €35 each time. That means that over the ten-year period they have to pay out three fees of €35 and must also get a medical certificate from their doctor. That can cost between €50 and €60 per vi…

I know the Minister of State is here to read out what was given to him but I must say that is very disappointing. It is the cost of the licence and the cost involved in getting it. I understand the cost to the doctor is not covered by the Department of Transport but the fact that a person having to get three licences over the nine-year period is a matter covered by the Department of Transport and is something that should be addressed by the Minister. I would like the Minister of State to take that back to the Minis…