I welcome the Minister of State. I thank Senator Warfield and Sinn Féin for introducing this motion. I welcome the commitment in the programme for Government to deal with the matter to which it relates. I look forward to the Minister of State's response on the timeline to deliver on that commitment. I presume there will be all-party support across the Chamber for Senator Warfield's motion. The year 1993 seems like an age ago. I suppose it is, to a degree. It is still part of what we would have referred to as modern…

The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, entitled Elimination of Abuse Directed Toward Referees, Officials, and Players in Sport, to be taken at 11.45 a.m., with the time allocated for the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than eight minutes to reply to the debate.

I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator Malcolm Byrne congratulated Ms Eileen Morrissey and the team in the libraries on her election. I, too, congratulate them. The Senator called for a debate on the issue of rural accommodation and rural tourism. The Leader has asked the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to arrange a date to come to the House to discuss this important issue. When the war and illegal invasion of Ukraine happened, Irish people very much accepted Ukrainians. We had hoped that it would…

I welcome the Leader. I welcome all the delegates from various parts of the country and the world to the Chamber. I will start on a positive note. Last Friday, we had a great occasion in Athenry, County Galway, with the news announced by Dexcom of a major investment in County Galway and the west with the creation of 1,000 jobs over five years plus 500 construction jobs on an IDA Ireland site located at Newford, Athenry. Dexcom is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of continuous glucose monitoring sys…

I welcome the Deputy Leader. I have raised on many occasions the status of the emergency department in University Hospital Galway, UHG. I welcome that there has been progress, albeit slow progress, of late. The strategic assessment report has been sanctioned by the Department of Health after a long time. Planning permission for the demolition of the old emergency department has been granted. The new temporary emergency department has been in place since last summer and is working well. There is more space. The old …

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this matter. I welcome the Minister of State. This is down for answer by the Minister of Transport but, of course, it could equally have been put down for answer by the Minster of State because it relates to issues of heritage, even though greenways fall under the remit of the Department of Transport. We can agree on the benefits of greenways for their tourism potential, local recreation and the possibilities of commuting to work in circumstances where they are locate…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I will bring his response back to those who are concerned about the matter. The Minister of State indicated the cantilevered boardwalk will be designed in such a manner as to minimise potential environmental impacts on Kilcaimin Bay, and that is certainly welcome. As he will be aware, there are huge difficulties in the planning process. Galway is particular as regards its environmental constraints. Whether a house is being built, the N59 road is being upgraded or it was …

The social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, is a hugely important programme run by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal. I understand the new programme is due to start on 1 January next year. In Galway, we have had a debate for many years, going back to pre-2016, on how many lots should be allocated to the county. We ended up with one lot to cover the second largest county in the country. This is a totally inadequate allocation of lots to tender for this programme. I under…

I wish to raise two items. First, I have previously raised the pandemic payment for duties performed during Covid-19, which front-line workers so thoroughly deserved. I ask the Deputy Leader to contact the Minister and the Secretary General of the Department. I raised this with the Minister at committee today. Aramark employees who worked at University Hospital Galway have not received the pandemic payment. This is despite the payment being announced, agreed at Cabinet and - I hope - paid out to a majority of peopl…

If it is defeated, it cannot.

Does the Senator wish to second the amendment?

The next item is No. 128, motion No. 10 regarding public water connection charges. I ask Members to please note the time limits. Under a new procedure approved by the House, the combined speeches of the proposer and seconder shall not exceed 16 minutes, and all other Senators shall have six minutes. I call on Senator Garvey to move the motion and understand that she is sharing time.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank Senator Boyhan. There are no Members here from the Fianna Fáil group. From the Fine Gael group we have Senator John Cummins who has six minutes.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome to the Public Gallery a group of retired members of An Garda Síochána from Nenagh, County Tipperary. Cuirimid fáilte rompu go léir anseo tráthnóna inniu. The Minister of State has 15 minutes to make his contribution.

I thank the Minister of State. We will move now to the Fianna Fáil slot. I understand Senator Fitzpatrick is sharing time with Senator Murphy.

The Senators have four minutes and two minutes.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the Minister of State. I welcome the extension of the agricultural tax relief, as outlined in the Finance Bill 2023, particularly the young trained farmers stock relief. It is particularly notable that Macra na Feirme members are walking from Athy in County Kildare to Dublin today and are scheduled to arrive later this evening. It is a 79 km walk in recognition of its 79 years in existence. I certainly welcome the impact of the Finance Bill 2023 on young farmers who represent the future and the lifeblood …