The Cathaoirleach has received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Linda Nelson Murray - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on the roll-out of the holiday meals pilot programme during Christmas and Easter holidays. Senator Pauline Tully - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on introducing a system where people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance who become ill are automatically transferred to th…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and thank him for coming this morning.

I welcome guests of Deputy Sean Fleming from the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, LOETB, Portlaoise. They are all very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit today.

May I check with you, Senator Boyhan, are you proposing an amendment?

Before I put the question on the Order of Business, I welcome the working party on general affairs from the Joint Committee on European Affairs. I know they are the first of two groups. They are very welcome. I hope they enjoy your visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas and especially to the Seanad. Is the Order of Business agreed?

The combined speeches of the proposer and seconder shall not exceed 16 minutes, and all other Senators have six minutes.

Before I call Senator Ní Chuilinn I welcome the working party on general affairs and their committee guests. I understand they are guests of the European affairs committee, and they are all welcome today. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. I would also like to acknowledge Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan in the Gallery, who has with him Finbar and Carl Harrington. They are welcome and I hope they also enjoy their visit to Leinster House, especially Seanad Éireann.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome students from Blessington Educate Together National School who are guests of Deputy Jennifer Whitmore. I hope they enjoy their visit.

I welcome the Minister of State and the officials from his Department and thank them for coming before the Seanad to discuss this important issue.

I acknowledge Deputy Daniel Ennis and his guests in the Gallery, as well as Deputy Paul Gogarty and his guest. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today.

I ask the Acting Leader when it is proposed to sit again.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to our colleague, Senator Craughwell, on the passing of his wife, Helen, and also to the Bonner family. I knew Senator Bonner. May they rest in peace. I am raising the plight of pubs and publicans. As the Leader is aware, I come from a publican background. More than 2,200 pubs have closed since 2005. That is a decline of 25%. In my county of Limerick, over 40% of pubs have closed. In Dublin that figure is 1%. That 40% versus 1% is a startling figure. Th…

I thank MEPs Andrews, Doherty and Ó Ríordáin. Certainly, the insight they have shared with us is wonderful. It was an opportune time, especially as we are almost halfway through the European Presidency. They are our voice and advocates in Europe. Their voices very much shape the future of Ireland, and not only Ireland but our citizens. It is really important for them to share their insights of the different committees and workings and to answer the engagement with Senators. I thank all of the Senators who came here…

Senators Comyn and Ryan are sharing time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister of State for coming in to answer my question today, which is to do with the funding of oral and dental health. I want to raise the issue of the future of oral health promotion and prevention in Ireland and specifically the work done by Dental Health Foundation Ireland, which is a registered charity. A lot of that work is done on behalf of the Government, where the organisation goes into schools to promote oral health and to teach children the importance of brushing their teeth properly. For alm…

I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response on behalf of the Minister. I appreciate that, at the end of the day, the responsibility lies with the HSE. Nonetheless, I have a concern. While oral and dental health services are being streamlined, better value for money is being sought and new ways of doing things are considered, my concern is that if the Dental Health Foundation is wound up, there would be no body there to oversee things in the interim period between now and whenever new ways of promot…