Senator, please.

Does Senator Ruane wish to come back in?

Dáíl Éireann agreed on 8 July 2026 to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025. Dáíl Éireann agreed on 8 July 2026 to the recommendations made by Seanad Éireann to the Finance Bill 2026 and has made amendments in consequence to the Bill. Dáil Éireann passed the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 on 8 July 2026, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann passed the Planning and Development (Amendme…

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 Social Protection to make a statement on the eligibility criteria for the living alone allowance. Senator Sarah O'Reilly - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the funding allocated to Cavan as part of the additional funding for roads damaged during Storm Chandra. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins - The need for the Minister for Fo…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection. I am grateful for the Minister's note to me to say he could not be here. I thank the Minister of State for taking his place. There is an anomaly in the eligibility criteria for the living alone allowance. Retired teachers do not receive their pension from the Department of Social Protection. They have the same cost-of-living expenses we all face but they do not qualify for the living alone allowance be…

Teachers nowadays will qualify for the State pension, as we heard in the Minister of State's response, but there is a small anomaly. A small cohort are affected by the issue I have raised. They still face the same rising costs. They made lower PRSI contributions in the past. However, they are living alone. They still have heating and grocery bills and other bills coming in the door. There should be a review of the system. Perhaps exceptional circumstances could be examined for this small cohort. They have the same …

Before I move to the Order of Business I welcome our guests in the Public Gallery, Senator Mary Daly, and Senator Michael Johnson and family, Deputy Malcolm Byrne and Seán Tierney, guests of the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and guests of Deputy Aidan Farrelly. They are all very welcome.

Before we move on, I wish to acknowledge Deputy Cahill and his guests in the Visitors Gallery and our colleague Senator McCarthy and his guests from Picker Pals TV Club and the Links Project. They are all very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today.

Amendments Nos. 13, 14, 16, 18 to 26, inclusive, 29 to 31, inclusive, 33, 46, 74, 75 and 89 to 91, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the people from Limerick who have arrived in the Chamber who are with Councillor Noreen Stokes. They have arrived at an opportune time and I pay tribute to Noreen. Her family, friends and supporters have helped her since she got elected and they are all very welcome. I want to raise two issues regarding regional balance and call for two debates. One is on the almost 3,000 people who are registered for apprenticeships with Limerick and Clare ETB. Apprenticeship is an area that is expanding very much and it…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, and her officials.

When is it proposed to take next Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take next Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before I call the Minister of State to respond, I welcome to the Gallery stakeholders from the Irish Cancer Society. I welcome Ms Lydia Whelan, Ms Cliona Doyle, Ms Emma Harte, Ms Suzanne Dowd, Mr. Darragh Moriarty, Ms Krista Costello, Ms Alexis Henning-Fitzgerald and Ms Nikki Gallagher, the CEO. I thank them for being here.

I welcome our visitors from Tubbercurry Family and Childcare Resource Centre, who are guests of Deputy Eamon Scanlon. I also welcome visitors from Nexus Research Group, who are guests of Deputy Roderic O'Gorman.

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit agus gabhaim buíochas léi.

When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.