I rise today to highlight the fact that Explore Engineering will take place at Shannon Airport on Thursday, 7 March from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is a collaboration between industry, the ETB and the chambers of commerce. More than 60 different engineering companies will come forward to show exactlt what they do. It is about encouraging students, especially, who wish to study engineering and showing them the different types of jobs available and what exactly they would be doing. It will encourage people to study engineer…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Leader. I rise today to congratulate TUS, the Technological University of the Shannon, on its receipt of a QS 5 Star rating. It is the highest possible number of stars a university can receive. It will be among the top-rated universities of the world. It received five stars in all categories assessed. It is the first university in Ireland to receive five stars for arts and culture. I compliment Mike Fitzpatrick and his team. I also congratulate Vincent Cunnane and the team that leads T…

I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their dedication to this Bill. A lot of work has been put into it. There are exciting times ahead for Limerick as it becomes the first city in the country to have a directly elected mayor. As colleagues said, other cities and counties will be looking at what happens and how the position evolves in Limerick city and county. It is very appropriate that people there will go the polls on the same say as the local elections. Local government is alive and well in Limeri…

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

I want to raise the issue of BusConnects in Limerick and the Annacotty Business Park. Recently, I attended a meeting of heads of businesses based there and of representatives from Limerick Chamber. One thing that was made clear is that 3,000 people work in the business park but there is no bus service to it. There is another business park just down the road. The nearest bus stops at least 3 km or 4 km away from the business park. For people to get out there they must drive. There is no other option unless they cycl…

I constantly raise the issue of University Hospital Limerick, as the Leader is aware. I know the current CEO is on leave and I wish her the very best. Ms Sonya Cotter, the assistant national director of the HSE, has today taken over the running of the hospital and I wish her and the new team the very best of luck. Many changes had to be made at the helm in terms of the running of the hospital. I wish them every success. Monday was a great day in Limerick because 57 cost-rental homes were allocated by the Circle Vol…

I raise the plight of small businesses, especially SMEs. In the latter half of 2023, 280 small coffee shops and restaurants closed and this is most frightening. We are now in February of 2024 and there are still some businesses closing. It is down to the increased costs that are being put on these small business owners, the VAT increase from 9% to 13.5% for the gastropubs and restaurants, and the cost of their gas bills, rents and rates. There was a rates amnesty which is now ended. I spoke to a small business owne…

I thank the Minister of State for coming here today to outline the criteria regarding the living alone allowance. I have been contacted by many people in this regard. The house of the neighbours of one person became infested with rodents and the person allowed those neighbours – a man, his wife and a small baby – to stay in his house for free for a couple of months while the infested house was being sorted out. It was a rented house. The man ended up losing his living alone allowance even though he was not benefiti…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. As he said himself, this is something which affects many people in many constituencies, so I will speak to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, about it to see if it can be considered. I know it seems like the budget is a lifetime away but we are in February now and time flies by. Now is the time to start looking at the issue to see if a review can be carried out. I ask the Minister of State to take that request back. We have the case of…

I rise to express my frustration with what is happening at University Hospital Limerick. I have been very consistent for quite a while in looking for the Minister to come here to address it. Yesterday, I wrote to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and asked him to declare a state of emergency at University Hospital Limerick. I know that the Minister was interviewed yesterday and said it was not acceptable. While a great many among the hospital management had always said that it required resources - and there have been …

Amendments Nos. 8 to 13, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.

It is amendments Nos. 8 to 13, inclusive.

I thank the Minister of State. Before I go to Senator Gavan, I welcome to the Gallery the students and teachers from Glenstal Abbey in Limerick. It seems that Limerick is taking over the Chamber today. We are currently discussing a Bill to deliver a directly elected mayor for Limerick. They are very welcome as guests of Deputy Leddin.

Is Senator Gavan moving his amendments?

We are due to conclude at 3.21 p.m.

As the time allocated for the debate has elapsed, we must now adjourn in accordance with the order of the Seanad today. I ask Senator Gavan to report progress.

Before I go on, I welcome Liam McDonnell from Coláiste Pobail Setanta, Dublin 15, who is working as an intern with Senator Currie. Liam, you are very welcome. I hope you are enjoying your experience in the Visitors Gallery here in Seanad Éireann. Amendment No. 36 is in the name of Senators Higgins, Ruane, Flynn and Black.

Amendments Nos. 37 to 40, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Is the Senator pressing the amendment?

Amendments No. 41 and 42 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.