I wish to lend my support to the businesses that are being affected by the pandemic, in particular those in the hospitality industry. As late as this morning, I heard that a small boutique hotel within my own area in Limerick has been hit by a number of cancellations. The owners had employed staff to facilitate what was expected to be a busy weekend. It is people's personal choice to cancel, but because they are cancelling businesses are being affected. The employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, is being reduced tod…

I thank the Minister for attending to discuss this important issue. I compliment the Government on the job it has been doing to date. Little did we think in February 2020 that we would be in the same situation in December 2021. I compliment those behind the roll-out of the vaccine programme. The vaccination centre in Limerick moved to a location just up the road from my house. Its work there started today. I was talking to somebody who works in the centre earlier and was told it has had a brisk day. This is good to…

I thank the Minister of State for attending to have this all-important debate. I know how committed he is to this area and the work he has been doing. Alarm bells rang through my head when I read a newspaper report on Limerick and the wider Munster area and how there had been a 4% drop in business start-ups. I will preface my comments by saying that local enterprise offices, LEOs, are doing fantastic work. They are running a number of training days, encouraging people to get involved and trying to instil confidence…

The uncertainty due to Covid is affecting businesses. I agree that we have had significant expansion of multinationals and that employers are trying to keep experienced employees in their employment. I would like to get the message out about all the support that is available. I accept the times are uncertain, but I encourage people to have faith in themselves and to get out there. There are many capable people that have come through the LEOs and participated in the many start-up courses. I draw the Minister of Stat…

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising the fact that it is disability week. ParkMagic, along with the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland, launched its app this morning and Limerick City and County Council is the first local authority to avail of it. A number of service users have used the app and they stated that when they come into town they have to plan their journey because sometimes when they get to the disabled parking space there is a car in it. It is a message to all to make sure not to park in a disabl…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to this debate. The national development plan is important to all of us. I regret what the plan states about the N20 and M20. When Project Ireland 2040 was launched by the previous Government in 2018, it referred to the M20. In this plan, it refers to the N20 and M20. I cannot reiterate enough how important this road link is. I recently met someone who had to go by ambulance from Limerick to Cork and it was not a pleasant experience. The road needs to be built. I welcome tha…

I second the suggestion made by Senator Buttimer that the commission should take the lead and put together a proposal for the secretarial assistants. I lend my support to all of my colleagues who raised that issue. I welcome the fact that today is the International Day For The Elimination Of Violence against Women. I also welcome that there will be 16 days of activism to highlight the matter. I welcome the funding that was announced this morning of €445,000 for the many organisations that support women who have gon…

I often give out about what is happening at University Hospital Limerick but there was a very good occasion yesterday, which was the retirement of Bonnie the therapy dog. She has worked with the paediatric unit in the Children's Ark over many years and brought great joy to the children. She has been involved in calming the children and playing with them. This is a programme that should be rolled out across many hospitals. Therapy dogs bring great benefit to children, especially at a time of need when they are in ho…

I thank the Minister of State for coming here to listen to the debate on this very important issue. I compliment all the people who have sent us emails highlighting their experiences and what their children are going through. We are all here as legislators but, at the end of the day, children and their futures are really important to all of us. Scoliosis and other orthopaedic problems can have an awful impact on children as they grow up. In 2013 or 2014, a number of people I know personally were impacted by scolios…

I compliment the more than 400 salons in Limerick that have signed up to the partnership between the National Women's Council and the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation. It is very important. European research has shown that one in four women has been abused. I compliment the salons that have voluntarily decided to get involved in the campaign. Many women confide in their hairdressers when they are having their hair done. The salons will be provided with resources and with a support pack containing recommendati…

The Taoiseach is very welcome. I pay tribute to him and the Government for their handling of a very difficult situation over recent months. It is certainly something that has affected people all over the world. On the Covid vaccine booster roll-out, I welcome the fact that the over-50s group and the most vulnerable in society will receive their boosters soon. I have been thinking about how if one looks at the same advert or message ten times, eventually, it is as though it is not there. We need to find a different …

I rise today to follow up the conversation we had yesterday on University Hospital Limerick. I know it has been raised in the House a couple of times already today. I know it has been suggested there are a lack of resources and investment from the Government, particularly the Fine Gael Government, but I remind Senators on the other side of the House that more than 110 beds have been provided in the past 12 months at University Hospital Limerick. This is not about resources and there is something wrong at University…

I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him for being here to discuss this important issue. I compliment him and his team for their extensive work over a lengthy time in terms of the negotiations and discussions on Brexit. The Minister is correct that Northern Ireland did not seek or vote for Brexit. That is very clear. The protocol was the only option post years of discussions and negotiations. Lord Frost has submitted proposals to change the Northern Ireland protocol. We must trust that businesses are bei…

I wish to raise two issues. I welcome the report that was launched today by the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding a directly elected mayor for Limerick. I pay tribute to the committee for its work on the report and to the witnesses who presented to the committee. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill lasted for quite a while. I also pay tribute to the councillors who made an input and to the implementation committee that was set up in Limerick two years ago by the then Minister of S…

I wish to be associated with the condolences extended to our colleague, Senator Currie, her mother, Annita, and the extended Currie family on the passing of Austin. I had the pleasure of working with him when he ran in the presidential campaign back in the 1980s. I knew him to be a thorough gentleman. He brought so much to the office of the Minister of State but also in terms of his work as a Deputy, and his work on the North in the past. I am thinking of all of his family at this sad time. I welcome the motion tha…

The Minister is very welcome. Unfortunately, like the previous speaker, I had good Irish in the past but my ability to speak it has diminished due to a lack of use. There is a lesson in that for all of us. I compliment the Oireachtas on providing Irish language classes. I attended them in the past; I did not sign up to them for this term but I will in the future. I compliment the Minister of State on bringing forward this important Bill. I have been involved in a Gaelcholáiste for the past 17 years and I am its cur…

The Minister of State is very welcome. A great deal has been said but, personally, in the first instance, I pay tribute to the Minister of State and thank her so much for her own personal interest in the whole area of disabilities. I know she visited St. Gabriel’s School and centre in Limerick recently. I was present and have been involved with that school for more than 25 years. I know, from her initial visit up to her most recent visit, of the Minister of State's keen personal interest in this school and how much…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I rise today to thank the Leader for her intervention when I raised the issue of children under the age of 18 being discriminated against when playing competitive basketball. I welcome this morning's announcement by the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Chambers, that the Government has made an amendment whereby children will be allowed to play in competition and not just in training. This is very welcome news. I had been contacted by a number of basketball org…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thank the Minister of State for coming here today to discuss this all-important topic. I welcome, first of all, the increase in funding to do with Garda recruitment and Garda numbers in budget 2022 and acknowledge the work that the Minister of State and the Department have been doing in this regard. Listening to local radio and reading local newspapers, there has been an increase in minor crime, such as break-ins. In my area, there were five cars broken into recently. There were s…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. There is an issue with regard to safety cameras in that, I am told, residents associations do not have access to funding for them. Perhaps that could be looked at by the Minister. When cameras and extra lighting are provided in areas, it helps people to feel safe and also it helps the gardaí in their role. I pay tribute to An Garda Síochána which is doing a great job under difficult circumstances. The reduction in Garda numbers in certain areas is leadin…