The Deputy made assertions. After the Dáil resolution of a number of years ago calling for a public inquiry, the scoping inquiry was established.

It took much longer than anyone anticipated - about three to four years - for the report to emerge. It was a comprehensive inquiry. The Government has now decided to refer it to the justice committee. Two weeks ago, other Deputies raised the matter during Questions on Policy or Legislation. I suggested that I would like to talk to members of other parties to see if there is a way through on this issue.

The Ceann Comhairle said he would be interested in convening meetings of party representatives to see if we can find a route through. I would now have ethical issues about another inquiry going on for four or five years or maybe longer. There have been lots of inquiries that did not give victims their-----

I am willing to work with the Ceann Comhairle and other parties to find a route through here and to facilitate the airing of some of the issues that people are perhaps not happy with in respect of the scoping inquiry.

The Deputy's motion came in between that process. That is his business; that is what he is entitled to do, but I think there is a better way of dealing with this.

I will engage with the Minister for Education in respect of the Delvin situation which the Deputy mentioned and also more broadly on introducing the practical measures contained in the school transport review as effectively as possible within the funding framework. It is the largest review of the school transport scheme since it was established in 1967. About 135,000 children are now carried every day by our school transport system. There will be a phased implementation of the review’s recommendations commencing th…

I do believe there is a very serious issue here in relation to children’s access to therapy. There are recruitment issues within the HSE but in my view we must look at other mechanisms and initiatives to deal with this. We are dealing with this at Cabinet subcommittee level at the moment and will be pursuing alternative approaches. However, that length of time is not acceptable.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for her help and co-operation and all of the ushers in the Dáil as well for all their support, and the staff in general.

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Health pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I know the Acting Chair was joining with me in celebrating Cork's victory on Sunday.

He had no choice in that matter. I also welcome the Kildare active retirement group as well. Senator Craughwell persists in either misreading or deliberately distorting what is in the Bill. The Bill stresses "while in uniform, or-----

It states: a member of the Permanent Defence Force shall not— (a) while in uniform or otherwise making himself or herself identifiable as a member of the Permanent Defence Force— (i) make, without prior authorisation from the member’s commanding officer, a public statement or comment in relation to a political matter or matter of Government policy, or (ii) attend a protest, march or other gathering in relation to a political matter or matter of Government policy, (b) canvass on behalf of, or collect contributions f…

That was affecting Third World organisations.

Speak for yourself.

That is not the case.

Through the Chair, it is outrageous to say, as Senator Craughwell has said, that members of the Defence Forces cannot become members of a committee in a sporting club or any organisation. Nothing changes in that respect. My own club, Nemo Rangers, benefited enormously from military personnel through the years who helped us win All-Ireland club championships and so on. One, Shea Fahey, came from Kildare. There was also the late Séamus Coughlan and I could go on. There was no problem with them turning up at an undera…

Ar dtús báire, caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil an Rialtas sásta agus den tuairim go gcaithfimid gach aon iarrachta a dhéanamh chun liostaí feithimh na leanaí atá ag feitheamh ar obráidí scolóise a ísliú chomh tapa agus is féidir linn. Is é seo aidhm an Rialtais agus aidhm gach éinne sa Teach seo. Tá an tAire Sláinte ag déanamh gach iarrachta é seo a dhéanamh agus chuir mé sé i bhfad níos mó airgid ar leataobh nó ar fáil do CHI chun go bhféadfaí i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh. Is léir go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó obráidí ag ta…

An audit, by definition, happens after a particular programme of action has taken place. You cannot audit something within three weeks of the money being allocated. That does not make any sense.

That is what the Deputy is suggesting.

The whole idea of auditors going in is-----