I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Taoiseach is very welcome to the House here today and was even more welcome to Navan, my own town, on Monday of this week. The duties that he undertook were all reflected in his speech today as to his key priorities. On housing, I was delighted to see him opening the 109-home development in Gort Fionnbarra. This shows that despite Covid-19, large housing schemes by approved housing bodies and county councils are still happening. On climate change, one of the big areas of investment in…

I really welcome the National Transport Authority's Draft Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, which was published today. We have been a long time waiting for this. From the perspective of Navan and Meath, to read the line "The existing rail network in the GDA will be extended by the provision of a new rail line from the M3 Parkway [...] to Navan town" is just fantastic. It is the first time ever that we have seen those words written down. We have made it onto an actual transport policy for the State. …

I understand Senator Eugene Murphy proposes to share time with Senator Paul Daly. Is that agreed? Agreed.

As we have no other Members offering we will pass to the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth. He is very welcome and he has 15 minutes.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to sit again?

I 100% agree that there is a need for a modal shift in our transport policy. The investment in the public transport network under the NDP, particularly in the area of rail, is massively needed. In that respect, I am glad that the Navan rail project is included in the plan, as is referenced in this motion. As has been stated, allocations provided under the NDP will allow for the commencement of the planning and design of rail projects that might emerge from the review, including options for the proposed Navan rail l…

Today, the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media launched our report on the proposed online safety and media regulation Bill. It is hugely important legislation that it is to be hoped will be coming before us in the House in the winter. After nearly a year of intensive work, where we dealt with a huge spectrum of witnesses from across Irish life, the joint committee made 33 recommendations to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy C…

I welcome the intervention by the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, yesterday regarding the accident and emergency department in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan. He ordered the HSE to back down over plans to shut that accident and emergency department. The Meath Chronicle captured the situation well this morning when it referred to the Minister halting plans to shut the accident and emergency department. I welcome the Minister ordering the management and clinicians to engage now with the community through its elec…

Last night on "Claire Byrne Live", Irish entertainer and comedian, Rory O'Connor, spoke openly and candidly about his challenges with gambling and its impact on his life and family. An hour earlier, on BBC One, the famous soccer pundit and ex-Arsenal footballer, Paul Merson, had a special show detailing his lifelong battle with gambling and how he has lost £7 million to gambling. He was left penniless and living in rented accommodation, never mind the impact on his mental health. Over the last year, I have spoken e…

We are joined by the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Sean Fleming, who will address the House on budget 2022. He is very welcome.

I thank the Minister of State for his comments. The running order for speakers who are present at the moment is Senators Casey, Norris, Maria Byrne, Pauline O'Reilly and Paul Gavan. I call Senator Casey on behalf of Fianna Fáil.

Priority speakers have eight minutes.

I am delighted to address the Chamber this evening on budget 2022. I thank the Minister of State for his work, along with his Department and his colleagues, the Ministers for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputies Donohoe and Michael McGrath, for this budget. I listened to both Ministers that afternoon and I recalled George W. Bush's famous quote on receipt of his first budget when he said, "It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." The budget this afternoon clearly has a lot of numb…

I echo the comments regarding maternity services. It is hugely important that this is addressed because it is one of the most harrowing impacts on expectant mothers and their partners on what should be a very joyous occasion.

I thank the Minister for addressing the broader issues raised during the debate.

I raise the ongoing debate about the future of the emergency department and intensive care unit in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, which the Leader knows well. The debate about this hospital has been going on for decades. I grew up beside that hospital and have been listening to the debate for 40 years. Further claims last week gave rise to more concerns and naturally caused concern for many, from the staff to local people to campaigners. To try to get the facts on this, I spoke directly with the Minister for Health,…

The Minister of State is very welcome. A lot has been said in the Chamber this afternoon, simultaneously in the Dáil Chamber and in the media about the Housing for All plan but, as the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, said here earlier, we have had the discussion; it is now about delivery. As Senator Malcolm Byrne said, the reaction from outside of the Houses from the main stakeholders has been very positive. Senator Boyhan was right when he commented earlier and talked about the Government owning this plan. He wa…

I express my thanks to Senator Chambers, and to Senators McGreehan and Fitzpatrick, for bringing forward this Bill. In her remarks Senator Chambers set out the horrific examples of just two victims. The Senator put this on the record of the House for people to hear and listen to. As the Senator said, does the word "harassment" from a legal standpoint adequately cover what she has documented here: the continued and pointed stalking of these particular victims to the point where the man turns up with a rape kit, clea…