I welcome Mr. Louis Merchant and thank him for all his work in my office over the past number of weeks. I really appreciate it. I hope he enjoys his summer in Dingle.

Thank you for sharing your own personal experience, which you used very well to articulate the needs of so many families in the country.

Before I call on the next Senator, I thank the Minister for coming into the House and the Labour Party Members for their motion, as well as the sentiments behind it. I also welcome the members of the various organisations and the carers themselves, who are present. They are representatives of the tens of thousands of carers around the country who simply cannot be here because of the very important work that they do. Go raibh maith agaibh.

We are delighted to be joined by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for international development and the Irish diaspora, Deputy Fleming. He is most welcome to the House. I welcome also our visitors in the Gallery from the New York University Gallatin School. They are here with us for three weeks but they are not actually going to be in the Seanad for the three weeks. Lucky them. I hope they get something out of this debate. You are most welcome to the Irish Senate and th…

Before I call on Senator Joe O'Reilly, I welcome to the Gallery his son Daire and friends, Matt Dempsey from Massachusetts and Liam from Dublin. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann to see Senator Joe O'Reilly address the House.

I thank the Senator and I call Senator Warfield.

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome the guests of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys to the Gallery. They are most welcome. Importantly, I also welcome the cousins of the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, who I believe are also here with us. I thank them for coming and I hope they enjoy their time in Leinster House. I know the Minister of State will meet them afterwards. They can be sure he is doing a good job in his portfolio, as he always does. I thank them for bein…

There are two Senators offering and I must bring the Minister of State back in, by order of the House, at 5.31 p.m. I suggest the Senators share time - three minutes and two minutes, respectively. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to Seanad Éireann today for this important debate. When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Dáil Éireann has passed the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023 on 5 July 2023, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann has agreed on 5 July 2023 to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022. Dáil Éireann has agreed on 5 July 2023 to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Martin Conway - The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the delays in processing and registering foreign births. Senator Eugene Murphy - The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the lack of broadband connectivity in parts of rural Roscommon and its impact on local businesses. Senator Gerard Craughwell - The need…

Before I ask the Deputy Leader to outline the Order of Business, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery, from Minneapolis in Minnesota, Julie Dolan and Easton and Oliver who are here with the erstwhile reporter from RTÉ, Paul Cunningham. They are most welcome. I know they have been all over the country and I thank them for coming to visit and for spending some US dollars here. It is appreciated, especially when they were in Kerry. I thank them for being here today. I call the Deputy Leader to outline the …

Not to be outdone by the visitors from Minnesota, we also have visitors all the way from Colorado. I thank them for coming and spending their dollars here. We hope they enjoy their time in Ireland. Their visit is most appreciated.

The Senator can do the canvassing for Galway after the Order of Business. I call on Senator Dooley.

I thank the Senator for his tribute to Brendan Daly who, as he outlined, served not only his constituents but his county and his country at all levels of Government as a Minister, a Deputy, and as a Member of Seanad Éireann. We send our deepest sympathies to all his family on their sudden and sad loss and to the village of Cooraclare where he is from. I am sure they are all shocked and saddened by a member and a leader of their community being taken from them too soon. I call Senator Keogan.

I join with the Leader in wishing Senator John McGahon and his soon-to-be wife all the best. Senator Keogan has moved an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 13 on the Order Paper be taken before No. 1", which was seconded by Senator Craughwell. The Leader has indicated that she is prepared to accept this.

When is it proposed to take Second Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the current status of the delivery and handover of primary care centres in County Monaghan. Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister of State with special responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy to provide an update on her Department’s plans for the operation of the north inner city d…