I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Sharon Keogan - The need for the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to make a statement on the number of unaccompanied minors from Ukraine who are under the care of Tusla since March 2022; and the number currently in aftercare with Tusla. Senator Aubrey McCarthy - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on his plans to address homelessness and the …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to the House. Before I call Senator Keogan, I welcome Hanna Gregor and Hanna Steil from Cologne in Germany. They are welcome to Seanad Éireann. I also welcome the school from Athlone and thank the students for coming in today. I apologise if it is a transition year class. What happens is students get no homework for the rest of the week when they visit Seanad Éireann. If the students are from a transition year class that is not much good to them, but it carries…

Members will be saddened to have heard of the death of the former Member of this House, former county councillor and Chair of Cork County Council, Michael Calnan. Michael had many interests and talents. He had a great interest in Manchester United, I understand. He was a long-serving member of the council, was vice-principal of Maria Immaculata Secondary School in Dunmanway and a founding member of Dunmanway Credit Union. Michael was a proud member of the Labour Party and to his Labour Party colleagues, I express m…

I welcome the ambassador from Austria here today. The ambassador is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. In October Austria celebrates its national day and we celebrate with them in the many and enduring links between Ireland and Austria. Obviously, as two militarily neutral countries in the European Union, we share a great interest in the work of the United Nations and work on peace and peacekeeping. Our connections go way back to the Wild Geese where many of those who left Ireland served in the continental army and in…

Before I call the first speaker, I welcome from County Clare Barefield National School from Doora-Barefield. They are most welcome. Would this be in the same area as St. Joseph's Barefield? Thanks for coming in. I also welcome Deputy Cormac Devlin with his guests. The Deputy is most welcome.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland. He is most welcome. I thank him for coming to Seanad Éireann today. He is joined by his ambassador and MPs [ Mikko Savola ] and [ Jenna Simula ]. They are most welcome. We had a great discussion on the importance of working together in the EU, recognising the immediate threat to Finland from its nearest neighbour, Russia, and how we should all work together in the EU to ensure that threat does not impinge on Finland’s security or so…

As the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland will have heard, Senator Ahearn has invited him to Tipperary for his next visit. If the Speaker does not have time to go there on this visit, I am sure the Senator will put him up in his house on the next occasion. However, he will always be welcome in County Kerry and can stay with me there. We will make sure he enjoys the scenery. The food is quite good there as well.

Anois, before I call the Leader, I welcome the ambassador of Georgia to the House. He is a guest of Senator Joe Conway and Senator Aubrey McCarthy. We also welcome the ambassador of Barbados, who is a friend of Senator Joe Flaherty. They are both welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for being here. I call the Leader to respond on the Order of Business.

A copy of the resolution of Seanad Éireann will be sent to the family of the late Senator Calnan.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Nicole Ryan - the need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on funding for the improvement of train services and fare access for students travelling from north Cork to Cork city. Senator Pauline Tully - the need for the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to make a statement on making the Retrofit Ready pilot programme permanent and extending it nationwide. Senator Alison Comyn - t…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome my friend, the ambassador from the Czech Republic, Pavel Vošalík. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. In October of each year, the Czech Republic celebrates its independence day. It was in 1918 that an independent Czechoslovakia was declared in Prague. As we all know, many countries got their independence on foot of the end of the First World War. Ireland, curiously enough, was the only country of a winning power to gain any level of independence after the First Wor…

I hope you have a Monsignor Horan there as well.

I will allow the Senator extra time. I know many Members have raised issues of ongoing investigations that will lead to criminal procedures. I want the Senator to be very careful that she does not prejudice any criminal case against anybody by saying anything that would make that criminal case unprosecutable. I want her to be careful when using language. She is entitled to use any language she wants but she must be conscious.

I am aware it is in the public domain. However, the Senator has a right to say things here that are not allowed to be said in the public domain and do not get put in the newspapers. What she might say here can be put in the newspapers regardless of any rules in relation to other people. I just want her to be aware of it. All Senators are aware of the Standing Orders. I just want the Senator to be careful.

We join the Senator in wishing Peter a long, happy and successful retirement. Anois, an Seanadóir Duffy.

Anois, we have the proposer of the motion, Senator Tully.

We had one Senator who voted twice. The Senator shall remain nameless. The vote has been corrected.

Students from St. Brigid's Boys' National School in Foxrock are in the Gallery. It is Harry Keane's 12th birthday. Harry, you are 12 years old today and you are in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Thank you for being here for the Taoiseach's address. I know he is looking forward to meeting you. As is traditional in the Seanad, and as it is Harry's birthday, there is no homework for any visiting school for the rest of the week.

I will have to check to see if that is in Standing Orders. We are deeply honoured that An Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, is addressing us today. I ask Senators to be upstanding for the Taoiseach. I thank the Taoiseach for being with us in Seanad Éireann today. In his address to the Seanad on its 100th anniversary, he said the Seanad is "a place where it is possible to have a more reasoned and respectful debate". As 33 Senators are here for the first time, they may not have heard the Taoiseach's wise words but I …