When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

The Cathaoirleach has received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Victor Boyhan - The need for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to make a statement on the status of the local community safety partnerships across the country and to confirm if each of the 31 local authority partnerships have been established. Senator Patricia Stephenson - The need for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the zero-tole…

Before we move to the Order of Business, I welcome the head of mission to Spain and the staff from the Spanish Embassy here to mark Spanish National Day. They are accompanied by Deputy Michael Cahill, who is the convenor of the Ireland-Spain Parliamentary Friendship Group. They are very welcome and I hope they have an enjoyable day on their national day. Ireland and Spain have enjoyed a centuries-long relationship that goes all the way back to the 16th century, with the signing of the Treaty of Dingle in 1529. This…

Before I call on Senator Andrews to speak, I welcome him back. It is good to see him here safe and sound. I look forward to his contribution.

The Minister, without interruption.

I will interrupt the Senator for one minute to acknowledge our visitors in the Gallery from the Ledley Hall Boys and Girls Club in east Belfast. They are visiting Leinster House today and meeting members of the Good Friday Agreement committee. I hope they enjoy their visit.

I apologise to Senator McDowell for interrupting him.

Would the Minister like to respond?

We have five minutes.

When is it proposed to sit again?

I rise today to welcome the budget yesterday. I have two or three things to say. First, €50 million is being provided for tillage farmers. This is a huge issue. I received my nomination for the agriculture panel from the Irish Grain and Feed Association. I know the significant impact that this €50 million will have for these farmers. There is also investment in apprenticeships. I believe that apprenticeships are having a positive impact. It is about encouraging people to apply for them. Some people previously did n…

I welcome the Minister of State and I also welcome the budget announced yesterday. There was €5.2 billion for housing and 25,000 new homes. The €130 million for the housing adaption grant and €140 million for retrofitting of social housing are really welcome. On the expansion of the living cities initiative, it is something we have had in Limerick for some years and it has been a really positive scheme. I would love to see more people avail of it. There was a lot of red tape around it in terms of things like fire e…

Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome to the Public Gallery: Marcos Perez Espinilla and Lourdes Fernandez Velasco, who are the guests of Alan Guidon; and Giacomo Amari and Noemi Quarenghi, who are the guests of Senator Martin Conway. They are all very welcome. I hope I got the pronunciation right. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. I call the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins.

I thank all Senators who contributed today.

I thank the Minister of State for coming today to discuss this all-important motion. I compliment Senator Craughwell and the Independent Senators, but also Senator Craughwell's daughter, Rebecca, whom I welcome, and the consultants and staff from the Dublin Dental University Hospital. It shows how concerned they are about it that there are so many people here today. On behalf of the Fine Gael, I thank the Minister of State for coming here. As the man says, "I know there is a lot done and a lot more to do." Certainl…

Tomorrow morning at 9.30.

I rise today, first, to welcome the budget that was announced at 1 o'clock, and the fact that the basic income for the arts scheme is to become a permanent fixture. Some 2,000 artists will be able to avail of this going forward. It is really positive because there are so many people right across that community in different walks of life who find it hard to make an income out of what they do, yet they are very talented. This is a positive. I acknowledge a Limerick woman, Paula O'Keeffe, who has been a carer for Cono…

As there are no other Senators indicating, I now call the Aire Stáit.

When is it proposed to sit again?