It is lovely to see the Acting Leader. I wish to raise two issues. In Limerick, the Coonagh to Knockalisheen road is due to be opened before the summer. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, said recently that it is "unsustainable" and "uneconomic" for phase 2 of the project to proceed. We will now end up with half a road going to half the section. The part that is needed for the expansion of the University of Limerick and the National Technology Park was voted for by both Limerick and Clare councils. It i…

I thank the Minister of State for coming here to discuss this very important issue. The last time that I raised this question was in 2019 and at that stage, seven children in the mid-west were awaiting permanent long-stay beds. I am working with a family who have a daughter aged 11 who is non-verbal and bedridden, and they have carers who come to the house. The family cares for their daughter in the best way possible but, unfortunately, as the girl gets older it is getting more difficult to provide care. The parent…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for her commitment and response. I am not sure if the child is one of the two children. I am glad to hear that it is down to two because it was seven originally, the last time I tabled this question. This child I am referring to is certainly in need of a critical care bed. The family has been told that is what they have been put forward for. Certainly, it has gone on so long at this stage that I believe that, as the Minister of State said, the family needs reassurance…

That is correct. I propose to share time with Senator Kyne.

I thank the Minister for coming here this afternoon to discuss this important issue. It comes to all of our offices. I thank Siobhan Byrne and all her staff for the efficient service most of the time. The odd time, one comes across an issue that might cause a delay. The longest time we waited in our office was approximately five months, but it was a very complicated situation. Sometimes, there are issues when one of the parents is not Irish and the passport service has to ensure everything is in order. However, whe…

For a while, it was Dublin only. That is great. I will hand over to Senator Kyne.

I rise to raise two issues, the first of which relates to the leaving certificate. I had called for a hybrid leaving certificate. I have been contacted by many students, not just from Limerick, but from across the country. I am really disappointed with the proposal brought forward by the Minister, Deputy Foley. Last Monday, I was in a DEIS school where not only every student sitting the leaving certificate but every teacher in the school as well believes the right thing to happen is to have a balanced leaving certi…

I welcome the Tánaiste to the House this afternoon and thank him for coming to discuss this important issue. I compliment both Senator Doherty, who brought the Bill forward when she was Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and other colleagues who have done a lot of work on this Bill. I know that the Tánaiste, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is very committed to improving the lives of workers. I welcome the fact that this legislation is before us here today. I have been talking a…

I welcome yesterday's announcement by the Taoiseach that there is going to be an investigation and priority given to University Hospital Limerick, and that the Taoiseach is going to engage with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank the Leader and Deputy Leader for making contact with the Taoiseach and for their work on this. A report was commissioned by the HSE on drug and alcohol abuse in the context of babies being born. The figures for 2020 were up significantly. We need to carry out an assessment to lo…

I thank the Minister for appearing before the House to speak on this important issue. I express my sympathies to the family of the late Ashling Murphy. I met her family and her partner at a candlelit vigil in Mary Immaculate College on Monday evening last, which I attended along with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It was a very moving tribute and an opportunity to meet her family and friends who were in attendance. The previous time I had seen such an outpouring of …

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important issue. In 2018, I voted for the legislation - Senator Ned O'Sullivan was here at the time - covering gift vouchers and expiry dates. People were delighted because some people were losing out on the value of vouchers on the basis that they were only valid for one year and there was no means of extending the validity period. Sometimes companies did not honour vouchers. An example would be where someone named Mary had her second name writt…

I thank the Minister of State. I welcome that the Department will consider the issue of reducing balance fees. These companies are regulated by the Central Bank. I understand that they cannot defy what is set in European law, but many people are not aware that the value of their vouchers is being reduced as the information in this regard is in tiny print at the bottom of the voucher. One would need a magnifying glass to read it. Many people are not aware that this has happened until such time as they present their …

Yesterday, Senators in the mid-west raised their concerns regarding University Hospital Limerick. There are over 100 people on trolleys in the hospital today and the figure is increasing. The CEO and her team have said they are looking at ways of trying to reduce the numbers. Some of the beds cannot be used at the moment because they are being used for isolation for people who still have Covid-19. I note the Leader was to write to the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, yesterday to support the three Sena…

I thank the Minister of State for attending to discuss this all-important issue. Covid taught us the importance of working from home and how important broadband is in that regard. Many of us have discussed the lack of availability in rural Ireland but it also affects parts of urban Ireland where the connectivity is very poor. There are streets where there is a very strong connection but there are houses in between where there is a lack of connection. I know of two areas of Limerick like this, and I was recently tal…

I wish to support Senator Conway's call for an independent review into University Hospital Limerick. I raise the matter every second week and have done so for the last year. The problem is ongoing and it is not good enough. Yesterday was international day of education. The Minister, Deputy Harris, was in Limerick yesterday. I had the pleasure of visiting some schools with him. He spoke about CAO offers and the choices to be made. We had good engagement with the students in St. Mary's secondary school and Coláiste M…

The Minister is welcome. I thank him for coming in to discuss this important topic. I believe the agricultural sector wants to make changes and ensure it can perform in the most environmentally friendly ways. We must remember that the changes we are expecting are big. For the sector to make these appropriate changes, the targets must be realistic and supports must be offered. I know the Minister and the Department have been offering many supports. I acknowledge, as my colleagues have, the engagement that the Minist…

Like other Members, I join with colleagues in expressing my sympathies to the family of the late Ashling Murphy, but also to her peers and former lecturers at Mary Immaculate College. I know from speaking to some of them that it has been an awful few days for them. It was lovely that everybody paid tribute and gave their thoughts in a very positive way. I wish to raise the issue of a hybrid leaving certificate. I know the Leader tabled a Commencement matter with the Minister, Deputy Foley, on this issue earlier tod…

I am delighted to have the Minister and Deputy Kehoe here. Having served previously on the education committee, it is an area close to my own heart. I am still involved in a school in Limerick. I read the report and found it very interesting. It took an amount of work on the part of the committee so I compliment all who were involved in putting this report together. Two or three things stood out for me. The first related to special needs assistants, SNAs, and the support around them. The report also suggested SNAs,…

We spoke yesterday about some of the issues I am going to raise. I support the K class. I spoke about it when we discussed maternity and paternity leave for councillors and politicians. When I was first elected as a councillor, I was self-employed so I was paying PRSI through my work. I remember my accountant saying to me "sure you're paying PRSI, why are you not entitled to anything for it?" He could not work it out. While it has been sorted out to an extent, it needs to be sorted out fully once and for all. Mater…

I will start by wishing everyone here, all our colleagues in this House and in the other House, the Acting Leader, the Cathaoirleach and his office, Mr. Martin Groves and his office and all of the staff from the ushers to the people working in the various different sections throughout the building, a very happy and safe Christmas. The main issue I wish to raise today is a mistake made during the week whereby pharmacists received an email from the HSE stating they could start giving out vaccines boosters to people f…