I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. My Commencement matter concerns the need for the Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, to outline the steps her Department is taking to increase tourism at the Cliffs of Moher and in areas of west Clare to support a greater spread of the socioeconomic benefits of tourism. I raise this matter because I have huge fears around the plans for the Cliffs of Moher site. The site is stunning, the staff are amazing an…

The bottom line is I feel Fáilte Ireland contradicts itself. One the one hand, it says it wants more sustainable tourism but on the other it is putting all its eggs in one basket - the Cliffs of Moher only - and it has just increased the number of cars driving through the Burren. It came up with this great plan that if all the cars are on the Wild Atlantic Way, let us get some of them driving through the Burren but the local people and businesses just see more cars, which does more damage to the precious and sacred…

I have two points. I could not but come in when I saw the Minister was in the Chamber. I have really enjoyed her from day one since I became a Senator. We do not have enough strong, female rural voices in Dublin and in Leinster House. The Minister is as good as two of them. It has been really refreshing-----

Men are always interrupting us.

No thanks. The Senator can stop talking now. It is my turn. I did not interrupt him.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. There you go; a case in point. What I was trying to say is it is difficult being a woman in politics. It is difficult being a politician now anyway, and it is harder than it has ever been before because of social media and all that stuff, and the free-for-all relating to keyboard warriors. My experience is that sometimes it can be difficult for the men to hear us or actually listen to what we are saying but the Minister has managed to do that in spades. That is a great skill and one…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I also thank my colleague, Senator Vincent Martin, for his work on this Bill. In fact, he has brought in more Bills to the House in the lifetime of this Government than any other Senator. I believe the number is in double figures in four short years, and that must be commended. It is good to use the House. We are legislators so we can bring in Bills. I think Senator Martin for being outstanding in his work to date in bringing in Bills. As a senior counsel he is well able…

I thank the Acting Chairperson for pointing that out. There are Cavan people in the audience as well.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stait go dtí an Teach. I welcome the motion. It is great to see progress finally being made. What is envisaged should probably have happened about 20 years ago. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has been pushing for this for a long time. What is envisaged will hopefully lead to our becoming an energy independent and self-sufficient country. Not only that, Ireland will hopefully become a net exporter of energy, which would be great. The motion is required in order for the Minister to final…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach agus fáilte isteach roimh an Aire. I am very pleased to be speaking about this important Bill in the Seanad. I thank my party colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, for bringing forward this important legislation, which will allow for mothers who have had a difficult diagnosis of a serious illness to pause their maternity leave and introduce long overdue maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas. Maternity leave is such an important and precious time for new mothe…

Tá sé an-suimiúil nach raibh a dhóthain ama ag an Aire Stáit dul tríd gach rud. Tá an buiséad chomh maith sin. This is such a big and long budget, and so much money is being given out for many things, that the Minister of State ran out of time. You never get everything you want but that is the way it is in life in general. It is a part of being in a coalition government. It is a part of being here at this time when we face so many different challenges. I do, however, think that the budget has made a good attempt to…

I welcome the Minister of State.

We all know how bad the situation is in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, which has become infamous, being possibly the worst hospital when it comes to trolley numbers, accident and emergency services, and chaos. I want to ask if the Minister for Health will make a statement on the extension of opening hours of the injury clinic in Ennis Hospital to help reduce pressure on the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick. So many injuries are happening at night time and this is plain to be seen if one is e…

I thank the Minister of State. I take it from her answer that the opening hours will not be extended past 8 p.m. I reject the findings of the HSE working group. To say all injury clinics should be treated the same and all should open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. is not good enough for us in County Clare. We are the only region in Ireland that does not have a model 3 hospital. There should be a special case made for Ennis Hospital, unless the HSE wants to provide us with a model 3 hospital. I do not see that happening beca…

I would like to put on the record of the House something I have seen on social media. The heads of this Bill came out two and a half years ago, perhaps, and I am sick and tired of people talking about this legislation being rushed through with no time for amendments. Members of the joint Oireachtas committee on housing spent many hours and weeks on it. I am looking at Senator Boyhan, and many others who have left the room giving out.

The Senator looks at me all the time so I can look at him. Take it easy.

Do not interrupt.

May I finish my sentence, please?

Was the Senator there for pre-legislative scrutiny?

On pre-legislative scrutiny, the Senator considered the legislation quite well in terms of amendments. I am saying that for the record-----