I welcome Deputy Ardagh, a former Member of this House. She is accompanied by Ms Regina Burke, Mr. Ronan O'Sullivan, Mr. Jimmy Lawless, Ms Jennifer Davitt and Mr. Killian O'Sullivan. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House this evening. They are in very capable hands. I call Senator Andrews.

I welcome the announcement from the Department of housing and the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, about the pyrite resolution scheme. During the previous Seanad, back in 2019-20, I was happy to get County Limerick included in the pyrite resolution scheme, and 16 houses in County Limerick have benefited from the scheme. They had pyrite in their buildings and had their house half taken apart and put back together again. It was most welcome for the residents at the time. I know the Pyrite Resolution Board has rec…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Burke. He has ten minutes to make his opening remarks.

I welcome Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher and his family members to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. I am sure they are future politicians in the making. I hope they enjoy their visit.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I am sharing time with Senator Nelson Murray.

I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies Canney and Buttimer, for coming to discuss this all-important issue. I pay a compliment to my colleagues, Senators Seán Kyne and Mark Duffy, and everybody else who was involved in putting together this motion in the name of the Fine Gael Senators. I noted that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, highlighted scramblers and talked about seeing e-scooters for sale in a shop in Limerick alongside children's goods and prams. It is certainly not the first time I have seen that, …

Dáil Éireann passed the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 on 11 February 2026, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann agreed on 11 February 2026 to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024.

The Cathaoirleach received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to make a statement on respite services in County Monaghan, in particular that Rainbow Lodge Children's Respite Centre, Urbalkirk, remains in operation until the new respite facility is constructed at Drumbear, County Monaghan. Senator Malcolm Noonan - The need for the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environmen…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, for coming in.

Today we celebrate the Act of Independence of Lithuania, signed on 16 February 1918, which restored Lithuania's statehood after more than a century of foreign rule. Lithuania also marks its restoration of independence of 11 March, commemorating its 1990 decision to break away from the Soviet Union, a sovereignty that Ireland never stopped recognising. On that note, I welcome the ambassador and the deputy head of mission, who are accompanied by Deputy Dempsey, the convenor of the Ireland-Lithuania parliamentary frie…

Before I call on an Seanadóir Rabbitte, I welcome pupils from Lucan Educate Together National School. They are very welcome here along with their múinteoirí. As customary here in the Seanad, they will have no homework for the rest of the day. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

I now call on the Deputy Leader to respond.

The Leader must not be interrupted.

I welcome Patricia Doherty, Nina Greene and Jodi Greene who are accompanied by Councillor Anna Grainger. They are all guests of Senator Brady.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this all-important issue. I welcome the fact that back in October 2025 the solar PV for the medically vulnerable scheme was extended to all homeowners registered under the life-support category of the priority services register with the energy supplier. There seem to be a lot of inconsistencies and uncertainty about the scheme. There is no one-stop shop for people to make inquiries. I have been working with Councillor Vicki Casserly and Councillor Rob…

I thank the Minister of State. As he has said himself in his response on behalf of the Minister, it is up to the company to contact the applicant. In some cases some people have actually had no contact. They cannot contact them because they have to wait to be contacted. They are also being told it is not clear whether they qualify. Clarity needs to be established. An educational programme needs to be put in place for the providers because they need to be clear with their message. It also needs to be made quite clea…