I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I acknowledge the supports that have been provided but they are not enough. They are way short of the mark. The funding allocated from budget 2022 and to Galway County Council works out at €802 per capita , which is the second lowest per capita figure. Kildare County Council is the lowest and Meath County Council is just above that. Per capita funding for Limerick City and County Council stands at €4,886 and for Dublin City Council it is €2,038. Galway is way off the mar…

The Deputy Leader is welcome this morning. First, I express my sympathies to the people of Türkiye and Syria on the tragedy there and the unfolding rescue and recovery attempts following the devastating earthquake. While we have issues in this country, thankfully we do not have such geological incidents that cause the hardship and devastation we have witnessed in those countries. I also express our sympathy to the Turkish ambassador and representatives of Syria on the suffering of their people. I have raised issues…

I move: That the application for a private Bill entitled The Royal Hibernian Academy (Amendment of Charter) Bill, being a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Charter of 1861 under which the Royal Hibernian Academy is incorporated and to alter the provisions relating to membership thereof and to provide for other matters connected therewith, be referred to a Joint Committee on the Bill which, pursuant to Standing Order 12 of the Standing Orders relative to Private Business, stands established on the agreement of this …

The general scheme of the registration of short-term tourist letting Bill is undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny at the moment. In his opening statement on 25 January, the principal officer at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage stated: As the committee is aware, large numbers of properties have been withdrawn from the long-term rental market in recent years for use as more lucrative short-term lettings, in particular in larger urban centres where housing demand and need is most acute. This tre…

I welcome the Minister. I acknowledge my colleagues, Senators Conway, Byrne and Ahearn, for tabling this comprehensive Private Members' motion. It is unusual to have such a specific regional topic brought before the Houses. It is important to acknowledge that, because the Fine Gael group decided to use its slot, which comes up every number of weeks, to highlight a specific hospital in a specific region. It is also important to highlight the issues of concern in University Hospital Limerick and in Ennis and Nenagh, …

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for selecting this matter for debate. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on her well-deserved appointment. I know she will do a tremendous job. Ábalta Special School is a day school based in Parkmore in Galway for students with autism and complex associated needs. Students in the school range in age from four to 18. There is a multidisciplinary team of teachers and therapists delivering educational programmes tailored to the needs of each student as wel…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I acknowledge the interest shown by the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, in this matter and her meeting with the principal and stakeholders. I again ask that the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, progress this matter through the Department and that the application not be viewed as just another application. It is a very important school for special children who deserve the best. They have a difficult enough life and their parents have unique challenges from day to d…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to the House. I do not have the passion of Senator Cassells on the matter this morning. While one person on a trolley is one too many, things have not been as bad in Galway this year as they were in previous years. There is a reason for this. The temporary emergency department in Galway opened in the autumn and it has improved the situation. It has also allowed the old emergency department to be used and for ten beds to be placed there. These ten beds were not available in t…

I have called previously for a debate on the capital health plan. Many projects are in planning but we had a debate at the Joint Committee on Health this morning, not on capital infrastructure but on the unique health identifier, etc. The comment was made by the witnesses appearing before the committee that they will still need five, seven or eight years to develop that system even if they get the permissions from Government to proceed with the business case, etc. For any capital project now, whether it be in the h…

I welcome the Minister. In May 2020, his predecessor, Deputy Richard Bruton, announced seven offshore renewable energy projects that were designated as relevant projects. Before Christmas those projects received and were granted Ireland's first maritime area consents, MACs, from the Department, which is welcome. The Sceirde Rocks project off the coast of Connemara was included. I certainly hope that the recently announced redevelopment and upgrade of Rossaveal Harbour will assist in ensuring that project comes to f…

I welcome you, a Chathaoirligh, to the Chair officially at the start of the season. I also welcome the new Leader and wish her well for the term ahead in the next two and half years or so. On numerous occasions I have raised the issue of Inland Fisheries Ireland. I thought I would not need to start the new year talking about Inland Fisheries Ireland, but unfortunately I do. Last year there were three resignations from the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, including the chairman. Already this year there have been t…

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach as a colleague and a good friend. We happen to share the same hotel and he has been great company over the years. He has had some tough days also. I acknowledge and congratulate Senator Buttimer's husband, Conchobar, and all of the members of his family. I also acknowledge his late parents. There is one member of his extended family that Senator Buttimer did not mention. This is a very important member of his household and that is his cat, Brexit. I am sure she will give him lots of…

The Minister of State is welcome to the House. This is probably one of the most important yet technical pieces of legislation that is generally rubber-stamped but is hugely important nonetheless. All facets and aspects of the State are covered under the 45 headings or Votes as laid out, ending with one of the newer Departments, namely, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is doing a great job in ensuring that Department is delivering for the …

On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I join everyone else in offering condolences to the family and loved ones of Private Seán Rooney from Newtowncunningham, County Donegal, whose home unit was the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk, on his tragic passing in Lebanon. To the families of the other injured soldiers, I say that hope they make a speedy recovery. As this is the final Order of Business before the break, I want to thank, on behalf of the Fine Gael group, the staff of the Seanad Office. I thank Martin Groves, …

Now.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders relative to public business, the Seanad shall adjourn until 11.30 a.m. tomorrow; Standing Orders 29 and 30 shall stand suspended; the Order of Business shall be proposed at 11.30 a.m. provided that, in the event that vacancies in the Office of the Cathaoirleach and-or Leas-Chathaoirleach are reported to the Seanad, there shall be no Order of Business; and, unless the Seanad should otherwise order, only business consequent on the reporting of those vacancies …

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter. I agree with Senator Buttimer regarding the lack of availability of the line Ministers for Commencement debates in general. That said, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who is always very amenable to coming before this House. Any time I have raised issues related to his area of responsibility, he has been here. It goes without saying that the rape crisis centres nationwide do invaluable work. They are hugely important and whi…

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response on behalf of the Department. Certainly when I was putting down this Commencement matter I knew that the functions were split between Tusla, which is under the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Department of Justice. That creates a little bit of confusion. The Minister of State highlighted the delivery of the rape crisis centres covering areas such as court accompaniment, accompaniment to Garda interviews and to sexual assault treatment …

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements for the sitting of the House on Thursday, 15 December, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Council decision regarding the extension of the period referred to in Article 552(11) of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement during which the United Kingdom may derogate from the obligation to delete name record data of passengers after their departu…

I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator Murphy talked about the important funding under the town and village scheme from the Department and Rural and Community Development. I would like to acknowledge the package announced by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, today of: €17 million investment in 75 towns and village projects nationwide; €6 million of funding to purchase and redevelop vacant derelict buildings and convert them to community facilities; €2.6 million to upgrade shop fronts and building facad…