We would all like to be associated with those remarks and with welcoming Rev. Good to the House.

As a point of information, central to getting insurance is a driver licence. Changes are being made to medical practice when it comes to fitness to drive. Heretofore, when people got to a certain age they got a medical certificate to say that they could continue driving for the next three years. When people then reached a greater age, they might only get a year or so. There are changes in the Bill due to European legislation. How will this affect people in Ireland? Some people in their 70s or 80s can drive much bet…

Does this take powers away from the local authorities? This amendment would allow the Minister to override local authorities. Is he taking the powers away from the manager? In what cases would this amendment come in? TII makes recommendations for national primary and secondary roads. This relates to roads other than nationally managed roads, meaning local roads and so forth. I did not think the Minister would be getting involved in making recommendations on speed limits for local roads.

Under this section the amendment states that any changes to by-laws would be advertised in at least two national daily newspapers. I suggest that it would also be advertised in one of the local newspapers in circulation in the area where the changes are to be made. Am I correct in taking it that under this section the speed limit on dual carriageways could be up to 120 km/h and that the amendment tabled changes it so that it will relate only to the speed limits that are in place at the time? There were no dual carr…

I wish the Minister well with the Bill. It is very important legislation.

I welcome the Minister to the House. As she has stated, this is a short Bill, but an important one. It is important for families throughout the length and breadth of the country, and for the 1.2 million children who will be in receipt of €100. I have to say that the Government and the Minister have really stepped up to the plate over the past year or two since the pandemic and the hardship it has caused. The Government has responded, and the Minister has outlined here the generosity of the taxpayer to the people an…

Yes. As we have the Minister for Social Protection here, I will briefly-----

It is a pity that this girl missed out on a week’s wages. She cannot afford it. She has a lot of commitments. It is an area that should be looked at. It is important that people do jury service. It is a duty and service to the State. I know that the Minister will look at it.

Now.

Does the sunset clause expire in December? Is it only to cover this payment?

Now.

Now.

I move: That pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Bill 2023 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

I also welcome Niamh to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. I welcome the decision by the credit unions to offer mortgages. We have been fighting for that for many years. Credit unions are community based and I have no doubt that they will do a wonderful job in serving the people and providing very good value for money. About ten or 12 years ago, when new lenders entered the money markets, it was welcomed with open arms. At the time there were about 15 places in Castlebar where people could get finance and I am sur…

I wish to ask the Leader for a debate about health services. Two reports which came out recently, one from the Saolta University Health Care Group in the west region, where there is overcrowding at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, which is affecting the accident and emergency department. It is crowding out services and the hospital is under huge pressure, asking people not to attend hospital if at all possible and to go their GPs. There was another report about cancer services in the west, at University Hospita…

I welcome the Leader's neighbours and friends, and particularly her dad, to the House today, and I hope they have a great day. They are neighbours and friends of my own as well, I might add. Last week, the president of the GAA, Mr. Larry McCarthy, addressed the House and he said, "We need help". He is looking for help from the taxpayer, the Government and Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. He said there was a lot of pressure on the GAA to provide pitches and facilities for the growing number of people who are…

I congratulate Senator Flynn on raising the matter to which she referred. I am delighted that she had a platform to raise it. She is an equal Member of this House. I also congratulate my colleague from Mayo, Senator Chambers, on her recent marriage to Councillor Jarleth Munnelly. I wish them well and hope they have a long, happy life together. I would like to raise an issue regarding the €50,000 grant and the €20,000 top-up grant. There is some ambiguity about the drawdown of the €70,000. There is confusion between…

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate regarding newly-zoned land areas within local authority areas. I have received several representations from councillors regarding people from around the country whose land has been zoned, particularly from Councillor Tom Connolly in County Mayo. The only avenue that is open to those people now is to appeal to An Bord Pleanála. An exemption from the tax liability on the basis of farming activity being carried out on residentially zoned lands is not a provision in the Finance Act …

Mayo is going to deliver this year.

I thank Senator Cummins for sharing time. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank our colleagues in the Green Party for bringing forward this motion. It is a great proposal from which communities will gain. People in communities have already paid for these types of services down through the years by way of bringing forward group water schemes. People in housing estates have paid for their water connections and for bringing services to their area. The infrastructure for this type of provision is paid …