I have the HSE's back on this. I will tell the Senator why. In budget 2026, I was able to fund 300 new posts. The difference between the mental health budget and the rest of the budget is that funding for those 300 posts is ring-fenced. I wrote to the six regional executive officers across the six regions to say I had secured this funding under the mental health budget. Three hundred whole-time equivalents is quite a significant number; it is the most I have got in the six years. There were 15 posts for intellectua…

I thank the Deputy for his advocacy in relation to ADHD, for the way he speaks openly about it and also for forming a cross-party committee on ADHD. As he knows, the model of care was launched in 2021 for adults with ADHD. We look after children with ADHD through the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. There was a recommendation to have 14 funded adult teams. All 14 teams have been funded. Eleven are in place and we are working to get the last three under recruitment. However, when the model of care…

I move: I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) and (Section 60(6)) (Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Regulations 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes) - Motion re Offences Against the…

In relation to Report Stage amendments, I will have a word with the Minister after this session and we will look at that to see about the timelines. In relation to everything else that was raised, we can discuss it at the Business Committee on Thursday. We had a very solid Business Committee meeting last week. We have a lot of legislation to get through this week so the Order of Business stands.

No.

I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. It is something I am very familiar with because my husband has the exact same diagnosis. It is amazing how lived and living experience can come into a lot of the stuff we deal with every day. To look at the Senator, we would never in a million years think she is dealing with a condition that can be very debilitating at times, when the knees start rubbing off each …

I welcome Deputy Conor D. McGuinness and his guests from Waterford to the Visitors Gallery of the Seanad. Senator Cosgrove makes a valid point. When we talk about expanding the chronic disease management programme, there are many issues that have to be addressed. We understand why including chronic diseases like kidney disease at stages 4 and 5 would take precedence over some other conditions. I give the Senator a commitment that I will talk to the Minister’s officials about the GLA:D programme. The Senator is righ…

I thank Senator Scahill for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer. He is not in a position to be here himself but he asked me to take it. We all recognise that volunteers are the backbone of every community. The majority of us who end up in politics have probably come through the community system. If you are on one committee you are on five. There is no doubt that we are involved in so many things locally. That is how I ended up becoming a politician after being i…

I thank Senator Scahill very much for raising this topic. I agree that there continues to be a need for LEP funding to support the excellent work our community groups deliver nationwide. It must be acknowledged that €72.9 million has been provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht since 2018. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, was in Waterford last Monday week and he attended 16 events. A lot of money is being delivered but I take on board what the Senator says. The Minister of Stat…

I thank the Acting Chair.

Hear, hear.

It is not opposed.

No. I congratulate the Deputy because I know he has put a significant amount of work into getting the Bill ready for First Stage.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Sections 51(3) and 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) (without debate and any divisi…

I thank all the various Whips for their commentaries. We can discuss all these matters again on Thursday. To clarify, statements will be held on Irish unification, as the Tánaiste has said previously, very shortly. I can confirm it this on Thursday but the Order of Business stands. We have a huge amount of legislation to get through, as everybody can see.

No.

No.

No. I congratulate Deputy Cummins on her first Bill.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approve the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, and Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, copies of which were laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 11th June, 2026.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 5th February, 2025, or in the Order of the Dáil of 15th April, 2026, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those next set down to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence, without any change to the allocation of Priority Questions: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister for Furthe…