I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Cummins welcomed the investment in the roads programme. He commented on yesterday's news about the Supreme Court upholding the granting of permission to Glanbia for a new multimillion euro cheese plant, which will support 4,500 dairy families in Waterford and the wider south east. He also spoke about the move towards continental markets for cheese. That Senator Martin raised the issue of judicial reviews shows how there are divergent views on the matter just as …

I refer to Monica Barnes and others who had a proud record of engagement with the National Women's Council for years. Senator Boyhan spoke about the trade mission by the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. Trade missions are very important. As in the case of the St. Patrick's Day visits and itineraries, Ministers and delegates work very hard on behalf of this country in such trade missions. They have a real impact. Engagements with Ministers and their attendance at events is hugely important. These missions are a huge bo…

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for attending. I acknowledge the important and life-saving role carried out by our fire personnel in Galway city and county, and across the country. Whether it involves fires, road traffic accidents or river rescues, it is vital life-saving work and sometimes, unfortunately, recovery. I know that fire personnel see some harrowing scenes in their daily work. Proper facilities are the least we can provide for our fire personnel. The Minister of State's Department has done…

I thank the Minister of State for his positive reply. I am sure that on his next visit to Galway city and county, he will be happy to meet the relevant personnel to discuss a fire service facility for Galway. I invite him to do so. The Minister of State mentioned the project consideration stages. When they are all listed we can see that it is a long process to get a new building delivered. The stages include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of site; applicatio…

On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the ambassador to the Seanad Chamber. We offer solidarity to a fellow small country and fellow European Union member. These are worrying times in eastern Europe with all that is going on and possible threats between Russia and Ukraine, so we offer solidarity from a small country that has a long history with foreign powers. I join in congratulations to the Cathaoirleach and his team in the Houses of the Oireachtas for the wonderful launch yesterday of Seanad100 with Senato…

The Minister of State is welcome. I welcome also the committee Chair, Deputy Cahill. I thank him and all the members of the committee for their work and endeavours in the important area of forestry as part of the Oireachtas joint committee and for the publication of the report. I know that all committees are extremely busy. To have picked this subject shows the importance the committee feels it has and the role it plays in the area of climate mitigation and climate change endeavours. I also welcome the Minister of …

I will hand over to Senator Burke.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to the Chamber. I welcome the Bill before us, which relates to the cost of living and energy costs for Irish householders. It will have a hugely beneficial and real immediate impact once it can be processed. The electricity cost emergency benefit scheme is welcome. A sum of €100 was announced before Christmas, which is to be amended to €200 in recognition of the price increase for wholesale gas. I also welcome the Government response, with the cost-of-living measures that …

Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for selecting this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, particularly as I am raising a west of Ireland issue, the Saolta Hospital Group, although it may be something that is relevant to other hospital groups as well. I am not sure about that. We all appreciate and accept the sacrifices that front-line healthcare workers made over the past two years during the Covid-19 period and, indeed, before that in a very challenging health service environment…

I thank the Minister of State for her official reply and also her frankness on this issue. It is not good enough and I think she will accept that. She has admitted it is not good enough. Why is it happening in the HSE? Is it not happening in any other organisation? Is it happening in the Department of Education, for example? I have not heard that it is. Yes, there was a cyberattack. However, the information has not been wiped out, I presume. It has not disappeared. It is there and it needs to be processed. Yes, pen…

I am sure Mr. Watt knows what his pension entitlements are.

I too would like to raise the issue of the Galway city ring road. I have supported this project and its precursor, the Galway city bypass, for all of my political career. It is regrettable that two judicial reviews have been lodged as of now, with perhaps more to come. The one from Galway city race committee makes clear that the committee supports the road but has issues with the planning conditions, although it is still regrettable that an application for a judicial review was lodged. The Galway transport strategy…

I took the Order of Business the day Senator McDowell raised this issue before Christmas. I saw the motion on the Order Paper and suggested in good faith that we have a fuller debate because I had not seen light of or, indeed, read the report, and I was sure other Members had not seen it either. I thank Senator McDowell for providing a copy of the report. I am not clear from the report when or where the tribunal met. I am sure it was in secret and it certainly was not done under the eyes of the People's Republic of…

The language and the descriptions used in the report are graphic and upsetting. We rightly acknowledge and commemorate the anniversary of the Holocaust and we read in our history books all that has happened throughout the world in different places. In our own living memory, we know what happened in the Balkans. We can look back on some of the documentaries, including "The Death of Yugoslavia" from the BBC, which is upsetting, very graphic but very insightful in what it says. I accept this report, which speaks about…

No, but they would have presented advice to the Minister and in memos. It is safe to say that in my time as a Minister of State, I never wrote a memo that came to Cabinet. They are presented to Ministers and the Cabinet and agreed. Somebody wrote the memos presented to the Cabinet and it is regrettable it was not able to accept the findings and the motion put down by Senator McDowell.

I welcome the Minister of State and the publication of the Bill. "Miscellaneous provisions" allows for a number of things being included under the same Title. It is something of a pity because the central provision of the Bill, the ban on fur farming, is worthy enough of its own Bill with its own Title included but I understand the decision. I served in the Department of the Gaeltacht which is across the road from Agriculture House where there were numerous protests. Perhaps the Minister of State was part of them i…

Bhí ócáid speisialta againn i Ros an Mhíl inné nuair d’fhógair an tAire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara, an Teachta McConalogue, €25 milliún chun calafort domhainfharraige a thógáil i Ros an Mhíl. Is dea-scéal é do Ros an Mhíl, don Ghaeltacht, do Chonamara agus do Chontae na Gaillimhe uile. Molaim an obair atá déanta le tamall fada ag an gcoiste áitiúil, Coiste Tacaíochta Chalafort Ros an Mhíl. Tá sé ag obair níos mó ná 20 bliain ar an togra seo. Is obair dheonach atá i gceist agus molaim an obair atá déanta aige. Is r…

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his comprehensive report and analysis of the issues within the Passport Office. I acknowledge and compliment all the staff in the passport services for the processing of applications that takes place and the officials in the Minister's office who are of assistance. It is quite clear that online is best. The Minister stated that 90% of applications are made online. I have said previously that Passport Express is a misnomer because it is not express. Online is express so that …

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this important Commencement matter for debate. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. I have raised this matter a number of times in the past 18 months. This is probably the third or fourth time the Minister of State has been before me. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, has appeared before me as well, but I have yet to meet the senior Minister in the Chamber to discuss this matter of importance to Galway and the wider west. As the Minister of State has poi…