I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the sad passing last Saturday of a Galway great, Ken Bruen, one of the country's finest writers. He lived an extraordinary life, having spent 25 years travelling around the world working as an English teacher before he began writing in the nineties, with more than 50 works published since, several of which were turned into movies or television series. Of course, the Jack Taylor series was especially popular. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Phyl Kennedy Bruen, …

I thank the Minister of State for joining us in the House. As he and Members will be aware, cancer affects nearly every family in Ireland, with one in every three people receiving a diagnosis at some point in their lives. When that happens, access to timely and effective treatment is critical. Radiation therapy plays a vital role in cancer care, yet students training for this essential profession receive no financial support, uniform allowance, travel allowance or payment for clinical placements completed every yea…

While I understand that any payments while on placement is a matter for the relevant employer, which in the public sector would be the HSE and, in other cases, private providers, regarding the HSE aspect, I believe there would be considerable benefit in the Minister for Health raising the issue with the chief executive of the HSE and agreeing on a path forward to address this. I have outlined the staffing issues, so I will not repeat them, but it makes this career path more attractive and it requires a focus. As th…

I raise the issue of broadband access following Storm Éowyn. As Members will be aware, tens of thousands were without broadband for weeks following the storm. Indeed, ComReg said at the end of last week that 3,500 remained without access, a month after the storm. Speaking of my county, the impact was particularly felt in Connemara and across north Galway, where thousands remained without access for weeks. The impact this has cannot be overstated. Businesses were unable to take payments. Remote workers were unable t…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the Bill. As the Minister of State has outlined, the Bill provides the option for companies to hold general meetings partially or fully by the use of electronic communication technology. This is something we have had the technical capacity to do for some time but Covid-19 required the holding of more meetings online and we have all seen the benefits of that. There are time benefits for participants, who can simply log on for an hour or two instead of spen…

Now.

Now.

Now.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. I will offer further background on the question I have raised. I have been contacted by PE instructors who have run courses in primary schools for a number of years. I have been told by the schools that in recent times they are finding it difficult to access funding for such schemes. My understanding is these courses have been very popular with schools, students and parents alike. The courses teach very young children fundamental movements such as how to run, hop, j…

Yes, I do. That is very welcome news. The feedback I received from instructors indicated that there was an issue and that that was not the case. I will investigate the matter further with the schools. I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. I will leave it at that for now.

I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome the legislation. As the Minister of State outlined, the Bill extends the levy-raising powers of Coimisiún na Meán and the CCPC to allow them to fund new enforcement functions under the Digital Services Act 2024 and the terrorist content online regulation. The aforementioned Act designated Coimisiún na Meán as the lead competent authority of the EU digital services regulation, known as the digital services co-ordinator, and the CCPC as the competent authority with resp…

Next Tuesday.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy McGrath, to the House. I am covering this issue as Senator Pat Casey could not be here this afternoon. I welcome the establishment of these funds. This is about protecting public services and living standards for current and future generations. We know today that our rising population and increased demand for services will create pressures. The future Ireland fund will be there to protect vital State supports like pensions and health services. The future fund is an historic developmen…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, to the Seanad this morning. The motorised transport grant was a means-tested payment for people with disabilities who needed to buy a car in order to work. As the Minister of State and Members will be aware, in 2013, the Government closed the motorised transport grant to new applicants after the Office of the Ombudsman found those schemes’ eligibility criteria were in breach of the Equal Status Acts. An alternative…

I thank the Minister of State. Given the enormous impact this has had on thousands of people across the country, I believe we need urgent action. While the reply is welcome and I know significant work has been completed, it is essential that a replacement for the motorised transport grant is finally delivered more than a decade after such a commitment was made. I would be grateful if the Minister of State raises this with his governmental colleagues as a matter of priority. As I noted in my earlier comments, we mus…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate her on her ministerial appointment. I wish her well. As she noted, the Bill has been introduced in response to the programme for Government commitment to review whether the legal provisions surrounding collective redundancies and the liquidation of companies effectively protect the rights of workers. Following that commitment, there was extensive consultation with social partners, which resulted in a plan of action on collective redundancies following in…

Next Tuesday.

I am standing in for Senator Malcolm Byrne, who cannot be here this afternoon and who asked me to convey his apologies. I thank the Minister of State for joining us to discuss this important legislation. All Members recognise that the expansion and development of Ireland's education system in recent decades has been crucial to the country's development and growth. We all share a desire to see that continue. The new agency, Taighde Éireann, has the potential to ensure we remain on that path. As the Minister of Sate …

Next Tuesday.

Tomorrow morning at 9.30 a.m.