I wish to welcome residents from the active retirement group from Bushy Park in Galway city who are in the Gallery as my guests. They are very welcome. Apologies, I did not get to meet them when they entered but I am here with the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath.

I thank the Minister for his contribution and his comments. It is important that this be kept under review because there are significant pressures as regards cost inflation. It is important for landowners on local land, homeowners, renters and local authorities that we maximise the number of grants that are drawn down for retrofitting and to make our homes warmer. It is so important in terms of health and well-being for renters. This benefit is very important for all concerned.

I move recommendation No. 17: In page 37, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: “29. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the take up of the tax credit to recompense householders for the renewably generated electricity fed back into the national grid.” This recommendation relates to the tax-free amount available to homeowners for the electricity generated by their solar panels and wind turbines that is fed back to t…

I move recommendation No. 19: In page 84, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “42. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of the regional uplift for the film and TV production sector outside Dublin and Wicklow which has been phased out with a view to its re-introduction.”. We know the importance of section 481 to the film industry. Previously a regional uplift was provided. I understand it received stat…

The Minister of State is welcome. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for choosing this Commencement debate. As a member of the Joint Committee on Health, I am raising the need to update the Dentists Act 1985. There are a number of aspects of the Act that need to be updated and improved in order to prevent the fall-out that befell parents and children in County Galway last year when an orthodontist in Oranmore closed. Serious questions remain with regard to record sharing, protocol responsibility, moneys being paid and…

I thank the Minister of State for conveying the response from the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and for her own words as a fellow Galway politician working on behalf of parents and children in this area. There are two issues here. First, there is a need to update the legislation for the future as quickly as possible because this could happen again in Galway or in any other county in the country and parents and children could be left high and dry. Second, we have the issue of refunds vis-à-vis the costs pare…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023, copies of which were laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 18th October, 2023.

The Minister is very welcome to the House. I support the motion. I am contributing to this debate on behalf of my colleague, Senator Lombard, who sends his apologies. The horse racing and greyhound racing industries are very important to Ireland. I am from County Galway, which is blessed with two fine facilities in Galway city, namely, the Galway Greyhound Stadium in conjunction with Connacht Rugby, which have exciting plans for a co-development, and Ballybrit, which is approaching its 150th year. Obviously, they h…

I move: That Seanad Éireann: abhors and condemns: - the attack on children and adults outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire; - any action that makes children, parents or teachers feel unsafe in a school environment; - violence of any kind against children; notes with approval: - increased powers for members of An Garda Síochána in relation to body-worn cameras and other matters; - recent increases in the penalties for assaulting a member of the emergency services; - the allocation of an additional €10 million for An G…

The Minister is welcome. I unreservedly condemn the attack on innocent people that took place on the streets of Dublin last Thursday. The attack on children outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire and their carer was absolutely abominable and atrocious. It was unbelievable that any individual, whoever they are, could attack innocent children in this country, in our capital city. I acknowledge the pain and suffering of the families and give best wishes to all on the road to recovery who were the subject of the attack. I …

The Minister is welcome. I congratulate him on his first budget. I will not get as historical as Senator Casey, who almost brought a tear to my eye. I am not sure if it was the launch of a European campaign. We will wait and see. It was meat to the grassroots anyway. The Minister listened to enough Fine Gael budgets in his time as spokesperson for his party, so I acknowledge that it was a proud day for him and his family. I have been saying in recent years on all Stages of debate on finance Bills that things are do…

My point is somewhat irrelevant to this amendment but it is relevant to advertising. In a lot of period movies or those set in the early part of the last century, westerns or whatever else, there appears to be product placement. I wonder if there is evidence of involvement or investment by the tobacco industry in some of these films or dramas. Is that being looked at or discussed on a European basis as well? I will not name any films or dramas but in those set in the 1950s it is commonplace to see people smoking. W…

I also support the motion. As a former member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, I was aware of the forum on family-friendly and inclusive parliaments and the suggestion that a second Dáil chamber would be an addition that could also be used as committee space. People have different views on that. From time to time, we could do with additional spaces such as committee space. As a member of the Joint Committee on Health, if you wanted to bring in a Minister in the morning on something urgent, it might have …

I thank the office of the Cathaoirleach for choosing this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, to the Chamber. I had hoped that the senior Minister might be here but I appreciate that the Deputy is a Minister of State in the Department of Education and I thank her for her attendance here this morning. The 2022 census showed that the population of Galway county and city was some 277,737 people and that the population of Galway city was 84,414. As those are the 2022 figures, they have…

I thank the Minister of State for her response and welcome the fact the Department is seeking clarity on the number of additional first year places required for 2024. The Minister of State mentioned the school planning areas. The concern I have is that my area of Maigh Cuilinn is included in a school planning area with Indreabhán and An Spidéal, even though the vast majority of students do not attend schools in An Spidéal and Indreabhán, but in Galway city. There are four schools in Maigh Cuilinn. While Scoil Bhail…

I welcome confirmation that the official opening of the Moycullen bypass will take place on 11 December. It will be performed by the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and the cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Liam Carroll. I thank and acknowledge all the work by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Galway County Council over the years. It is a project that has been talked about for more than 40 years. It will be a transformative occasion when the official opening takes place and Moycullen will become a safer, more …

The next speaker is Senator Mark Daly.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I gave the Senator some leeway because he did not use the full allocation of time for his first contribution.