I am appalled that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is not here. I am also very disappointed that no officials are here. It is a case of do what you want and to hell with what we feel in here.

I do not know what the Minister of State said. Anyway, it is sad. I remember that officials could be here all night. There is ageism and discrimination against men and women who, when they reach 70, cannot drive a bus that does school runs, although they can bring people to matches and everything else. They are willing to get a doctor's certificate and to have a medical twice a year if necessary. The system should be changed as it is discrimination. I must also mention the Waterford to Limerick rail line. It is dis…

In a trough.

He had plenty of snouts in the trough. He wrote about them.

Medical scientists carry out critical diagnostic testing of patients sampled in acute hospitals, including urgent testing for Covid-19 and everything else. They have played their part. This dispute and issue was settled 20 years ago and then, for some reason, some people in the HSE decided to overturn it and now we have this problem again. I welcome the fact that the pickets were withdrawn today and that there is room for talks because picketing is the last word, especially in the congested and failed health system…

Ar an gcéad dul síos, I too, on behalf of the Rural Independent Group, condemn that most savage crime in Texas last night and I extend my sympathies to everyone affected. It is appropriate the Minister is taking Leaders’ Questions here today. The housing crisis is worsening and immediate emergency measures are required to prevent more and more families from becoming homeless, to assist those who have already become homeless, and to give our Irish citizens a fair chance at homeownership. The crisis in Tipperary is d…

The Minister cannot deny the truth.

Beidh fíorfháilte roimhe ann.

Bring the airgead with you.

That is not what we are being told.

We will hold the Minister to that.

The Minister will be welcome to Tipperary. He talks the good talk but we were told that we are out of that plan. The catastrophic dysfunction means that all small builders are not even able now to tender for building houses that are bound to fixed-price contracts. This is just not happening and they have given up the ghost because they cannot get prices from suppliers. Before the most recent general election, the Fianna Fáil leader and now Taoiseach promised that under his party in government, councils would be giv…

A reality check is needed. The Minister needs to get down and dirty. He should bring his wellies tomorrow and we will show him many good sites that are available for building houses.

I raise the serious situation regarding mental health and people with psychosis problems in County Tipperary. We do not have a single long-stay bed in the entire county, which extends from Carrick-on-Suir up to Lorrha. A Vision for Change promised so much. We lost St. Michael's psychiatric unit, St. Luke's Psychiatric Hospital and much else. Kilkenny hospital is full and cannot accommodate patients from south Tipperary while those from north Tipperary have to go elsewhere. I ask the Minister of State for an update …

I am glad to be able to say cúpla focal faoin scéal seo. The people of Northern Ireland are quite bewildered. They went to the polls a couple of weeks ago. I met some of them at the Fleadh Cheoil Thiobraid Árann two weekends ago and they are asking why they got up and voted. They voted for nationalists and the assembly is not sitting. There is more to this than meets the eye. There is whole clamour around a border poll. I am well known as a republican. My late dad fought in the War of Independence. He spent quite s…

Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together.

The time allotted for this debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an Order of the Dáil of 24 May: "That Seanad amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, are hereby agreed to and agreement to the amendments is accordingly reported to the House."

A message will be sent to the Seanad acquainting it accordingly.

They are not agreed to. Time should be provided this week to discuss the situation in respect of the medical scientists. They do such valuable work in our laboratories and hospitals. Our hospitals cannot function without them. This issue is ongoing since 2001, and the industrial action was postponed during the Covid-19 period. They do tremendous work, they are invaluable-----

-----and there needs to be a debate here. We cannot just ignore it.