We are out of time, but there are three Deputies still offering. We will have 30-second questions from each of them. Deputy Durkan is first.

She will not be surprised.

Thank you, Deputy. I suspect it was good to get that off your chest.

Tá Roghchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge tar éis a bhreithnithe ar an Meastachán Athbhreithnithe seo a leanas i gcomhair seirbhísí poiblí le haghaidh seirbhís na bliana dár gcríoch 31 Nollaig 2024 a chríochnú: Vóta 33.

Seanad Éireann has passed the Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 without amendment.

We will do our best to assist the Minister of State today.

The Bill is not being referred to the select committee as the Government intends to schedule Committee and Remaining Stages in the Dáil next week. The Bill will proceed quickly.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Mairéad Farrell - To discuss the sustainability of early childhood care and education in Indreabhán, County Galway. Deputy John Lahart - To discuss the inadequate and inconsistent Luas red line service to Citywest. Deputy Neasa Hourigan - To discuss when the review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 will be published. Deputy Berna…

We may proceed as the Deputy who submitted the first selected Topical Issue and the Minister of State who is responding are present. Before we start, I am reminded that, for many years, we had a superb individual in the Government Whip's office, Alice Kearney, who had the ability to foresee the future. She always ensured that Ministers and other participants were in the Chamber when the time for the Topical Issue debate arrived. However, we are where we are. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, to deal …

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I propose on hearing from the Taoiseach and the leaders of the party groups that we then hear the constituency Deputies. I then have a list of speakers, including members of the Government and others, if that is in order. Before I call the Taoiseach I want to say it is profoundly sad the occasion has arisen whereby we must meet here today to express our sympathies to Finola Bruton, her children, Matthew, Juliana, Emily and Mary-Elizabeth, to our colleague and friend, Deputy Richard Bruton, and to his sister, Mary, …

Before calling the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, on behalf of Fianna Fáil, I acknowledge the presence in the Gallery of two great friends of Ireland from the diplomatic corps: British ambassador Paul Johnston and the recently elevated Sir Trevor Mallard.

As we do not appear to have anybody from Solidarity-People Before Profit, I call Deputy Denis Naughten from the Regional Group.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Denis Naughten – To discuss the need for a review of the strategy for the delivery of banking and government services through the An Post network. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív – To discuss the need to ensure there are sufficient dentists in the scheme to provide dental services to medical card holders in County Galway. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan – To discuss the …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien.

It appears that there is inordinate pressure in the Deputy's constituency and information seems not exactly readily forthcoming. It might be possible for the Minister of State to ask the Department of Education, which is doing superb work all across the country, if a briefing could be organised for the Deputy to give her some understanding from officials as to where various projects are at.

If the Minister of State could request that for the Deputy, it would be helpful.

Before I call the Minister of State, by way of explanation, the Minister, Deputy Foley, was attending an extraordinary event in Kildare earlier this afternoon, where more than 3,000 pupils and their teachers, from 17 schools, gathered to participate in a Brigid 1500 event, hence her unavailability. We are really glad to have the Minister of State here.

I thank the Minister of State and all the Deputies.

I call on Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands.