I welcome to the Gallery Senator Vincent P. Martin's cousin Kevin Martin from Chicago. I also welcome Mr. Martin's wife Maria, their daughter Lucy and their son Zac and his partner Margaret.

Minister, I apologise for the interruption but there is a Dáil vote. Are you obliged to go to it or not?

I am advised by Senator Malcolm Byrne that we have another visitor, Councillor Nicholas Crossan of Donegal County Council. He is very welcome to the Gallery. I also welcome Chelsea Canal, a student at Villanova University, who is interning with Senator Malcolm Byrne and has a particular interest in media. She picked a good couple of weeks to be here and be involved in the discussion and debates on media.

I join others in supporting the call for a debate on the situation in Palestine. I also support the call by Senator Flynn for a debate in the context of her remarks on Travellers and Traveller Pride Week. I support the calls for those debates. Every year, there are issues with secondary school places. The issues generally sort themselves out in time but I have come across several cases in Galway that are taking much longer than normal to sort out. It is upsetting for children who still do not have an allocated seco…

Amendment No. 25 is ruled out of order.

Senator McDowell has contributed twice, as I understand it.

Briefly.

Amendments No. 28 and 28 a are related. Amendment No. 28 a is a physical alternative to amendment No. 28 and they may be discussed together, by agreement.

As it is now 5.15 p.m., I now required to put the following question in accordance with the order of the Seanad of this day: "that amendment No. 28 is negatived; that the Government amendments not disposed of are hereby made to the Bill; that Fourth Stage is hereby completed; that the Bill, as amended, is hereby received for final consideration; and that the Bill is hereby passed."

I also welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Office of the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that domestic violence is a scourge on society. I wish we did not have to raise these matters and I hope that, at a future date, it will not be an issue that needs to be raised, first, because it is not happening and, second, because there is no issue with funding for domestic violence organisations and refuges across the country. However, at present, unfortunately, ther…

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response from the Department. I welcome the news that there is engagement in the Department with Domestic Violence Response Galway and other services around the country. I also welcome the news that Tusla is happy to engage with Domestic Violence Response Galway regarding funding. I certainly hope that in advance of budget negotiations, there can be an increased level of funding provided in 2024 and possibly additional funding for 2023 as well because, as I said, …

I acknowledge and welcome Councillor Brendan Weld and his family to the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery. I hope they enjoy the proceedings and their tour of Leinster House. We are resuming the debate on amendment No. 14. Amendments Nos. 14, 18, 19 and 41 are related and may be discussed together.

Does the Minister wish to say anything further?

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

I raise with the Deputy Leader the matter of public transport and our Local Link services, which, I believe we can all agree, provide a very valuable service across rural Ireland in respect of both the request and fixed services. We have seen investment over many years where new routes have been created. I ask for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the continued roll-out of and the flexibilities required within the service. We certainly have situations, for example, on the new 432 service in Connemara, whi…

The Minister is welcome. I acknowledge the work that has been done by the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My colleague, Senator Lombard, cannot be here and has asked me to cover this Bill. I was first contacted about it almost two years ago by individuals at home who had concerns that - I will not say the Minister - the Department was trying to monopolise the market for vets and that it would put jobs at risk. I am not sure whether that was ever the intention or the case, but certainly, concern…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, to the Chamber.

When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Fifth Stage?