I thank my colleagues. James Cawley is a person I know well. It is a long time since I have seen him so I want to send him our best regards. I acknowledge the asks. If there was ever an organisation that amplifies the "nothing about us without us" ethos, it is certainly something for Mr. Cawley's organisation to be credited with. I know Senator Carrigy raised the cost of fuel and VAT reclamation with the Minister for Finance. I wish him well, in particular in regard to that industry, as it is going to become a very…

It was to commission a report on the cost of disability because the €203 flat fee or income support for all people who have disabilities, at entirely different levels of the spectrum and entirely different levels of outgoings because of their disability, just does not cut it. Senator Seery Kearney might ask the Minister where that report is and we might have a debate on that because it will then be based on structured research, and we can have a proper discussion as to what needs to be done.

It might be a good place for us to start. Let us have a look at the report and see what the recommendations were. I ask the Senator to contact the Minister for that one. Senator Mullen talked about the meeting he organised this morning. I thank him and I think he is right. I do not know about sending it to everyone but he could definitely send it to me and to all colleagues. I did not have an opportunity to attend this morning. That recent court case in the midlands concerning women totally abusing other women real…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the Seanad on its rising on Thursday, 7th October, 2021, shall adjourn until 12 noon on Tuesday, 12th October, 2021, and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) Commencement matters shall be taken at 12 noon; ( b ) Standing Order 30 shall stand suspended; ( c ) The Order of Business shall be proposed at 3.30 p.m.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Twelfth Report of the Seanad Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the continuation of provisions of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to conclude at 3 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the Minister's opening speech not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and a…

I thank my colleagues. Senator McGahon asked the $64 million question. I would love to know the answer. An obvious answer is that caring is a bloody hard job. Some of the conditions that the State has imposed on private care providers make it even harder for them to do their hard job. They make it harder to recruit people to do the hard job. One concerns the rate of pay, which is €11 per hour, although I am aware the HSE pays a little more. A carer might have to look after one person in Dundalk and another in Black…

I move: That the Twelfth Report of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight on new Standing Order 63A be adopted, laid before the House and printed.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the report of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action under Seanad Standing Order 116 on legislative proposals of the EU Fit for 55 package - COM (2021) 551, 554, 555, 557, 558 and 568, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, the Child and Family Agency (Amendment) Bill 2021 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to adjourn no later than 6 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 2 a on the Supple…

I thank colleagues for the variety of topics that have been raised. Senator Ward has outlined the mistakes that we have made as a State over many years by centralising too much. One can see how unsuccessful it has been in our health service delivery and in how we are now unravelling and unwinding it and going back to regionalisation. The Government acknowledged last year that the SHD process was an unmitigated disaster and we are going back to the way we know how to do things well. That is empowering our local poli…

If it is not necessarily in a debate form, they definitely require a response. I will do my level best to get the Senator a response this week.

Senator Lombard spoke of being starstruck when he was walking around west Cork by all the famous people who were there. He was right in stating support for the film industry needs to be highlighted in the budget that will be presented next Tuesday. Senator Carrigy also mentioned this issue. Those in the industry have had a devastating number of years. They provide every section of society with entertainment. They definitely need to be supported by way of tax measures next week. I applaud Senator Clifford-Lee on the…

I move: That Seanad Éireann: (1) notes the agreed Report of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action under Seanad Standing Order 116 on COM(2021) 551, 554, 555, 557, 558 and 568 – Legislative proposals of the EU ‘Fit for 55’ package, which was laid before Seanad Éireann on 28th September, 2021, in accordance with Standing Order 116(3)(b); (2) having regard to the aforementioned Report, and in exercise of its functions under section 7(3) of the European Union Act 2009, is of the opinion that the proposa…

The Order of Business is No. 1, Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to adjourn at 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with time allocated to the Minister's opening speech not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 2, statements on Housing for All - a New Housing Plan…

I thank Senator Dolan. The expansion of the walks scheme this morning as announced by the Minister is very welcome, particularly in the past 18 months when plenty of Irish citizens took to walking and cycling as we did not really have an awful lot else to do. Investment in the beautiful routes in rural Ireland is very welcome. On Senator Craughwell's point, it often astounds me as to who has €3,000 to spend on a dog in the first place. There is no doubt that prices for dogs have gone up in the past 18 months becaus…

The Order of Business is No. 1, Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2021 - Second Stage, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to adjourn at 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the Minister's opening speech not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 2, Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020 - Second Stage, to be taken at 6.45 p.m or 15 minut…

I thank Senator Dolan for informing the House about the Ballinasloe library and all the merits available from what is a huge resource for people. Sometimes we forget about them and they are just in the background of our villages and towns. I wish the horse fair in Ballinasloe every success for its 300th anniversary. I pray to God things will be back to normal by this time next year. Senator Currie spoke of people showing leadership and I acknowledge the alliance announced yesterday by eBay, Liberty Insurance, the E…

I thank the Minister for joining us in the House, although I must say it is a real pity that the Minister for Transport is away on business because of the serious nature of the leak that we are discussing today in respect of the MetroLink project. We are all aware, based on the last presentation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, which was only two weeks ago, that the MetroLink project was supposed to be completed in 2027. Last Sunday, the Irish Mail on Sunday reported that work on the MetroLink project wi…

I do not want to be disrespectful to the Minister for Education and I thank her for coming in to deliver the message from the Minister for Transport. Given that confidence has been shaken so badly in the last few days, what we need is something more definitive than ambition. We have been listening to ambition since the 1970s. The Minister laid out the timelines and how they have slipped already, long before the Irish Mail on Sunday told us what they think they know. The railway order application was supposed to hav…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and welcome everybody back. I am looking forward to a very fruitful session. Today's Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the taking of divisions in the Seanad Chamber, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the address to the Seanad by the MEPs representing the European Parliament Midlands North-West constituency, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, motion regarding the appointment of a member to the Commi…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and colleagues. It is absolutely lovely to be back and to be talking about any issue other than Covid-19. We have been consumed by that for the past 18 months. There is certainly romance in the air in the Seanad. On behalf of colleagues, I wish Senator Moynihan every happiness. I also wish Senator Hoey, who got married a couple of days after we went into recess, every happiness. I congratulate our colleague, Senator Ward, on his engagement. He has all of our support and good wishes. As Sen…