The Minister is very welcome; it is good to see him here for this debate. I welcome that he is bringing the Affordable Housing Bill 2021 before the House. As someone who served on a local authority for 17 years and saw houses being built, and not being built and being built again, I am happy to say that in Limerick we are currently building local authority housing. Only in the past two years, 89 units were opened at the top of my own road by the previous Minister, Eoghan Murphy. We look forward to when the current …

I wish to raise two issues. When I called last week for the Minister for Health to come into the House to discuss the vaccination programme, I raised the case of two vulnerable people who had not been vaccinated. I am ashamed to say that a week later they still have not been vaccinated nor have they received a phone call, even though the respective Departments have given many promises that they will be in touch with them. As we open up society, and now that many people have got accustomed to online shopping, we nee…

I thank the Acting Chairperson for the kind welcome. I compliment my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, for tabling this motion. While I have been out of politics for the past 12 months, I have met many of my neighbours and spoken with people who have been involved in the caring profession. I pay tribute to the many people who have cared for elderly relatives and even for younger people during this pandemic. Many people may not have had to care for older relatives or more vulnerable people in the past and have gone …

I will start by offering my condolences to Senator Mullen on the recent passing of his father. I wish to discuss the vaccine roll-out programme. While it has been positive in many instances, I have been contacted by two families, one of whom includes a lady in her mid-80s who is bedridden but has still not received her vaccination. In the case of the other family, the mother is in her early 60s, is auto-immune suppressed and has chronic respiratory disease. Her consultant has contacted the vaccine roll-out programm…

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I am delighted she is here. I also welcome the Bill and her personal interest in education. Having been removed from politics for the past year but having still heard from people who had issues with the leaving certificate last year, I am delighted that a review is being carried out and the Minister is bringing forward legislation to put everything in place for the benefit of students. I pay tribute to teachers and students, not only last year's students but also those who are…

I welcome the Tánaiste to the House. I am delighted to be here and thank him for his kind welcome. I also thank all Members for welcoming me back warmly. It is a great honour and privilege to be here. I thank the Members of the other House for being so welcoming and supportive over the past number of months. I look forward to working with all Oireachtas Members. It is a most opportune time to have this debate in respect of the business sector and Covid-19. Even before my election to the House, I spoke to many busin…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind welcome. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Horkan, and it was a pleasure for us both to be elected the other day. I thank everybody for their very kind welcome back today. I look forward to working with the many Senators who have never met me or engaged with me but heard from me via phone, Zoom or whatever. It is a great honour and privilege to be re-elected to Seanad Éireann. I enjoyed my four-year term from 2016 to 2020 and look forward to serving here. Many of the Senato…