I wish to share my time with Senator Carrigy. The Minister is always welcome to the Seanad. I spoke with him many times over the years about travelling by train. I travel by train all the time out of necessity as I do not drive. I often describe myself as the original Green because I travel so much on public transport. I would say 80% of the travelling I do is on public transport. The staff in Iarnród Éireann are outstanding. Everyone from the ticket people to the hosts on the train, right up to Jim Meade, the mana…

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her appointment to what I consider a very important role. We all know that drugs have caused huge problems in every town, village and street in this country. When I was in college it used to be, to a large extent, a problem in urban areas but sadly now it is a problem throughout the entire country. In the last Oireachtas and the one prior to that I was a member of the Oireachtas joint committee on justice. At that time, the drugs issue was considered a justice…

I support the outline of the very busy Order of Business.

As I said, I support the outline of what is going to be a very busy Order of Business today. I commend the Government on the cost-of-living measures that were announced to supplement what was already announced in the budget last October. They are targeted responses. They are not everything we would all like to see. Overall, it is a package that will put money back in people's pockets and help people through what is a very difficult period. I particularly welcome the announcement that the 9% VAT rate will remain unt…

I welcome the Minister and also Deputy Niamh Smyth. I commend the committee members, including Senator Carrigy, on their excellent work in producing this report. In the cut and thrust of everyday politics, tourism might not necessarily get the headlines, but it is an incredibly important industry in all parts of the country. It is particularly important in my home county of Clare. The announcement that the 9% VAT rate will be retained until the end of August brought a sigh of relief from many people in the hospital…

I welcome the Minister. I commend Senators Hoey and Wall on putting forward this important motion. I work with Senator Hoey on the Joint Committee on Health. She is a valued member of our committee who brings common sense and cop-on to her contributions. I enjoy working with her and value her contributions. That extends into this House and to this motion. I am glad the Government is not amending or opposing this motion in any way, because we need to shine a light on what is happening, particularly in accident and e…

On a point of order, I was in the anteroom and I heard everything Senator Hoey said.

I was in the anteroom.

It is disrespectful, Acting Chairperson.

A charge was made.

I am raising the issue of Crusheen railway station for a number of reasons. It was closed in 1976 but the infrastructure remains. It is not a big issue to reopen it. It should be reopened simply because the rail line between Limerick and Galway is now extremely successful. I take the train from Ennis to Dublin every week. I take it in both directions. I get it from Ennis to Limerick and on to Dublin. Sometimes I get it from Ennis to Athenry and on to Dublin. I return on a Thursday evening both ways again, regularly…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply, the contents of which I note and am not 100% happy with. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is talking about opening new rail links and lines the length and breadth of the country. He is even talking about opening a rail line between Ennis and Shannon, and between Shannon and Limerick. I welcome that and it is an excellent proposal. He is talking about utilising the rail link around Limerick city to create a light rail service. That would be welcome and I would support it.…

Hear, hear.

I would like to pass on my sympathies to the family in Cork of Bishop David O'Connell who was brutally murdered in Los Angeles. This is a shocking crime and I hope that the perpetrator is brought to justice as quickly as possible. I want to raise the need for a veterinary college in the mid-west. The University of Limerick is very keen to press ahead with plans to establish a veterinary college. This would be an excellent initiative. In my work with the expert group as part of the Organisation for Security and Co-o…

In today's Irish Examiner there is a worrying article by Ciara Phelan on the delays for people suffering from domestic violence regarding their cases going to court. Our colleague, Senator Martin, deals with domestic violence in his Bill which will be discussed this afternoon, but this is an issue that warrants scrutiny by the Seanad. People brave enough to report and make a complaint about being abused and treated badly at home should not suffer further due to a delay in getting justice. People who suffer domestic…

I thank the Acting Chair. Everybody needs to speak on this very important issue. I thank Senator Martin for his briefing and it cleared up a couple of concerns I had. There were concerns because I thought the Bill might not have gone far enough or may not have been strong enough but once the rationale was explained in terms of the "shall" and the "may" it made absolute sense because the last thing we want is to go backwards. This legislation is designed to bring us forward. It may not be as forward as we would like…

The time is up.

Apologies. I was premature.

I apologise for interrupting the Minister of State's flow.

I thank the Minister of State. Senator Clonan raised an important issue. The response was positive and we appreciate that.