I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan.

Perhaps the incoming Cathaoirleach of the Seanad could follow up on the Minister of State's suggestion regarding the scheduling of ministerial appearances before the House.

I thank the Minister of State for that advice and for coming in this morning.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House again.

I propose the sitting be suspended.

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 Finance Bill 2022 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

Now.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He referred to the credit union movement as an integral part of the community, and that is what it is. Whenever we speak of the movement in this House or the Lower House, we all speak of it in a positive manner because it is an integral part of the community. If it retains those values, the Bill will add to that service it provides. The pillar banks have resiled from face-to-face meetings with people and devalued in-person contact with people, which is a retrograde step…

I welcome the Minister to the House. Today’s Bill is further evidence that the number one priority of the Government is to protect all the people facing an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis caused by the continuing plague of populist politics, in particular the illegal invasion of Ukraine by the Putin regime. Older people trying to heat their homes, families trying to feed their children and make ends meet and businesses trying to keep their doors open and retain jobs do not need fantasy policies that have wrecke…

I welcome our special guests in the Gallery and the Minister of State. Fianna Fáil welcomes the Bill, which was put forward by my colleagues, Senators Ardagh and Buttimer. It seeks to end the discrimination cancer survivors face when trying to access financial services. Research from the Irish Cancer Society has shown that nearly a quarter of people affected by cancer are unable even to get a quotation for a financial product such as a mortgage or life insurance. A cancer diagnosis, and the treatment that follows, …

I move: That, notwithstanding the order of the House today, progress be now reported on Committee Stage of the Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022 and the sitting be suspended until 6 p.m.

I second the motion.

I thank my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, for introducing this motion. One strategy at the heart of Government is about getting as many people on public transport as we can. We see this as the future. If this is a Government aspiration, looking at the short-hop zone and its success for the people who live within that zone in terms of access to services but more importantly access to reduced fares, it must be extended beyond that zone. As my colleague said, we need to create a medium zone and maybe a wider zone if w…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the Chamber for another debate on housing. I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss housing, and more particularly Housing for All. When we mention figures and data from a Government point of view, they are factual, accurate and realistic, unlike those of the major Opposition party, whose policy would not stand up to any scrutiny. Its policy is composed of slogans with no depth at all. We must take a quick look back at what has been achieved since the publ…

I call the Deputy Leader to suspend the House until 2.30 p.m.

Now.

Amendment No. 8 has been ruled out of order because of a potential charge on the Revenue.

Amendment No. 10, involving a potential charge on the Revenue, has been ruled out of order.

Amendments Nos. 15 to 17, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the guests of Senator Frances Black to the Gallery.