I wish to share time with Senator Casey. We will take three minutes each.

I too welcome the Minister to the House this afternoon. This is the first opportunity I have had to address him. I wish him well in his new brief and compliment him on the enthusiastic manner in which he has handled it to date. I wish him well in his work. Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate on the important topic of zero tolerance for violence against women. It is imperative that the political system responds in a robust, urgent, and comprehensive way to tackle this scourge on our society. Senator Ward mentioned that…

I wish to highlight a number of incentives, reliefs and supports available from the Government to businesses, individuals and families. I will start with the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, which provides qualifying businesses with supports of up to 40% of the increase in electricity or gas up to €10,000 per month, or €30,000 in certain cases. This scheme has been in place since last September and is administered by Revenue. Figures I came across recently have been surprising in the context of the …

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding membership of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding membership of the Committee of Selection, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3., statements on emergency department waiting times and hospital admissions, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks…

I thank all the Senators for their contributions. We started off with Senator Seery Kearney, who brought up a condition that some pregnant women suffer from, hyperemesis gravidarum. I ask Senators to excuse my pronunciation as it is not correct. It is a serious debilitation, as the Senator rightly outlined. There are issues. There is meant to be a scheme in place but, based on the Senator’s comments, there are serious issues with that, including delays in payment. There are expenses incurred before it is possible t…

I move: That the following shall apply in relation to the membership of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight: (i) Senator Paul Daly, Senator Seán Kyne and Senator Pauline O’Reilly be discharged from membership of the Committee and Senator Robbie Gallagher, Senator Róisín Garvey and Senator Joe O’Reilly be appointed in substitution for them; and (ii) Senator Regina Doherty be appointed to the Committee as an ordinary member in place of Senator Lisa Chambers who, pursuant to Standing Order 98(4), h…

I move: That Senator Lisa Chambers, Senator Paul Daly and Senator Róisín Garvey be discharged from membership of the Committee of Selection and Senator Robbie Gallagher, Senator Vincent P. Martin and Senator Joe O’Reilly be appointed in substitution for them.

I would like to raise with the Leader the young adult travel card. It was introduced on 9 May last year and extended to participating commercial operators in September of last year. It is a worthwhile scheme where students attending colleges or universities or doing traineeships anywhere in the South of Ireland will get a 50% reduction on the adult fare of that journey. It is a great idea and I very much welcome it. It has been welcomed broadly as well by everyone using the facility. It makes public transport more …

It is grossly unfair. I raised this matter by way of a Commencement yesterday and there has been no change. Frankly, that is not good enough. I respectfully request that the Leader ask the Minister for Transport to come in here. At a time we are promoting a shared island and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, this is discrimination against people, largely from Border counties such as Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal. It is unfair that this issue has not been addressed despite the fact that a …

I welcome the Minister of State. This matter relates to the young adult travel card. The Minister of State might recall that on 4 September 2022, a scheme was introduced whereby all students attending colleges and universities and doing apprenticeships and training courses would receive a 50% reduction in the travel fare in order to allow them to attend their courses, etc. A few months ago, I asked that the Minister extend this further to include all students. I was glad that scheme was introduced and I welcome it.…

Can I just-----

Very briefly, I thank the Minister of State for the response. I appreciate that this is not her Department but I have to express my disappointment with the response I have received from the Department. I was given an undertaking that the Minister would look at this. I ask, respectfully, that the Minister of State communicate with the Minister again. This is discrimination against approximately 2,000 young students, which is 2,000 families, in the Republic of Ireland. At a time when we are talking about a shared isl…

I promise I will be very brief. I appreciate there is other business to be attended to before the day is out. I start by congratulating the Cathaoirleach on his elevation to the role of Chair. I know he will bring sheer passion to that role. I remember in the previous term I was at the receiving end of that passion on many occasions. It is a very proud day for the Cathaoirleach and all his family. Good days like this do not come every week, as well he knows. As soon as the good days come, the bad days also come, so…

Yes, "dynamic" is the word. I thank Senator Martin. The word "dynamic" springs to mind. I look forward to seeing that dynamism for the next two and a half years as well. I pay tribute to the gentleman I have worked closely with over the past two and a half years, namely, Senator Kyne, for the very calm, assured and controlled manner in which he goes about his business. He is a gentleman through and through. I cannot mention Senator Kyne without mentioning a certain lady who works in the office with him, and all the…

I will have the Minister of State out of the Chamber before lunchtime. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. She is welcome back to the House. I am seeking an update regarding the transport charge that is being levied on service users who are attending HSE day services in community healthcare organisation 1, CHO 1, which includes counties Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. As the Minister of State knows well, disability is strongly associated with poverty. People with disabilities are twice a…

I welcome the response of the Minister of State and thank her for the work she has done to try to progress this matter. The word "inequality" keeps popping up. All we are looking for is fairness and a level playing field for the people of Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. We want those people with disabilities to be treated no differently from anyone in any other part of the country. That is all we are looking for. I note that discussions are ongoing but I hope they will gather pace in January. I am not …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach ar maidin. I would like to discuss the role of the peace commissioner with the Minister of State and request that a review of the duties of peace commissioners is carried out with a view to expanding that particular role. Peace commissioners have been working in communities across the country since the early 1920s. A peace commissioner is an honorary position and every single area in the country has people performing these duties, which makes them very accessible to …

I thank the Minister of State for his response on behalf of the Minister. I tabled this Commencement matter having been contacted by a number of peace commissioners who have people coming to them stating that they incurred fees in getting documentation signed. Peace commissioners were of the opinion that perhaps their role could be expanded to facilitate situations such as the ones that I outlined. Many of the people concerned are experiencing financial difficulties, perhaps in the middle of a divorce, and by the n…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is often the case that the nature of a person's job changes over time and a re-evaluation process may be required to ensure fair remuneration and conditions for staff. Such an evaluation has been carried out in the health sector recently. However, while most workers received a recommendation of higher grades, it appears that some categories of employee were completely ignored. Those not recommended for any upgrade include cleaners, laundry workers, domestics, grounds…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I said at the outset that these people - domestics, porters and other staff affected by this - are deeply disappointed that they have been overlooked. It is fair to say that many of these people are not on the highest grades to begin with. Many of them will be struggling financially, like many other people, to make ends meet. From a simple base, I find it difficult to understand how such an important cog in a wheel and such an important member of the hospital team has…