Before I call an Seanadóir McDowell, I welcome a former Member of this House, Fidelma Healy Eames. She is very welcome, as are her guests. I hope they enjoy their visit today.

I welcome guests of our Government Chief Whip, Senator Garret Ahearn. They are Liam Ahearn, Garret's dad and a former councillor and cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council; Marie Keating, the former principal of Grange National School; and former members of Grange National School board of management. They are all very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

I thank the Minister of State. I welcome Deputy Aird and his guest to the Gallery. I know the Minister of State welcomed them. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Healy-Rae, as ucht teacht isteach sa Teach inniu agus páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire, an Teachta McEntee, as ucht teacht isteach sa Teach inniu agus páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Dáil Éireann passed the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 on 5 November 2025, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann passed the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 5 November 2025, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

The Cathaoirleach has received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Maria Byrne - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on funding for administration of the tenant in situ scheme within local authorities. Senator Mark Duffy - The need for the Minister for Finance to make a statement on the expansion of the living city initiative to all towns with over 10,000 in population. Senator Mary Fitzpatrick - The need f…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, for coming to the House to discuss the tenant in situ scheme. I spoke to some councillors around the country who said that the issue they were finding in the local authorities was that the authorities did not receive extra funding, nor did they have the staff, to administer the scheme. The tenant in situ scheme plays an important role. I welcome the fact that the scheme has been extended and that, when it was stopped for a while, it was brought back. It has worked o…

I appreciate the Minister of State's response and that he will go back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, in relation to this. I received this feedback from a number of local authorities, not just one. They all had the same issue. While I understand the majority of the money needs to be spent on those purchases, as that is the key issue with regard to the scheme, perhaps the local authorities could look at this. Not all of them are under pressure in this regard, but some are. If there was a small pot available, they c…

Before I move on to the next speaker, I welcome the students from St. Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. I hope they have an enjoyable day. They are guests of Deputy Brendan Smith and Senator Wilson.

I welcome Stephen, Jennifer and Claire, who are staff of the south western drugs task force. They are guests of our colleague Senator McCarthy. I hope they enjoy their visit. I welcome the second lot of students from St. Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. They are guests of Deputy Brendan Smith and Senator Diarmuid Wilson. Enjoy your stay here today.

I welcome Anne and the extended family. I know Tracy worked with and looked after Billy so well down through the years. It is good see former Senator Ian Marshall again. I also welcome the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I had the pleasure of serving here with Billy from 2016 to 2020. We had an old family connection in that my father served in the Licensed Vintners Association with Billy. They were very good friends down through the years. When I first started here, at the same time as Billy, he said to me, "You …

I certainly have very fond memories of Billy. His first cousins were the Kellys from Ardrahan, Brian Kelly and his family, who now live in Limerick. I remember when Billy was appointed, they were all so proud of the fact that he was a Galway man living in America who was being appointed as the Senator for the diaspora. He did an amount of work with undocumented people and trying to get them recognised. It is really important we remember him for the Trojan work he did. I never took Billy up on his offer of a visit t…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the House. Before I call him to speak, I welcome Terry Sexton, Bill Houlihan, Patrick McCaul, Craig Capri and Martin McCormack to the Public Gallery. They are from the USA and are guests of our bar manager, Darren Brady. They are very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit.

Before I move to Senator Andrews, I acknowledge Councillor Ben Ward from Carlow is here in the Gallery. He is very welcome and I hope he enjoys his visit to Leinster House.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we commence, I remind Senators that they may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. Also, on Report Stage, each non-Government amendment must be seconded. We move to amendment No. 1 in the names of Senators Flynn, Black, Higgins and Ruane, which arises from Committee Stage proceedings.

It is on amendment No. 1.

Before I call the Minister of State to respond, I welcome the group from Conn Rangers to the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit today.