I refer to the issue raised by my colleague Senator Kyne regarding Inland Fisheries Ireland. I salute him for continually referencing this issue and the concerns about the governance of that body. Before coming to the House this morning, I read the transcript of his contribution in the House on 24 November 2022. I would stop somewhat short of describing anyone in Inland Fisheries Ireland as rotten or corrupt but the language the Senator used demonstrated his concern. There are serious concerns to address. A number …

Hear, hear.

I believe it is 27.

Before I call on Senator Ruane, I welcome Councillor Peter McVitty and his wife and Senator Joe O'Reilly to the Chamber. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today.

Before we proceed I wish to remind Senators that on the Order of Business this morning we agreed this item would adjourn at 5 p.m. I am conscious the Minister of State needs time to come back to make a statement and I am conscious the proposer needs to speak also. I am also conscious that Senators Conway, Chambers, Ahearn and Joe O'Reilly have yet to speak. Sharing is a suggestion. Finally Senator Seery Kearney is to speak so if we could tighten it up to possibly four minutes.

It is normally six minutes.

Senator Conway will proceed and Senator Joe O'Reilly will share with him.

Senators will have three to four minutes and we will come back to Senator Ahearn.

There are two more speakers. We have until 5 p.m. We can adjourn then if we have not concluded but I believe we could conclude this business today. I call Senator Seery Kearney, who is to be followed by Senator Ahearn.

The Minister of State has up to 15 minutes. I do not want to put him under any pressure. I am sure he will need most of the time.

Yes.

Senator Martin will then have some time in which to respond. Under the Order of Business agreed today, we have to adjourn at 5 p.m. Finishing before then is the alternative.

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate there was a time constraint on him there and I very much appreciate his contribution. I call Senator Martin to speak now as he may wish to reply. I am also conscious that I must put the question by 5 o’clock so that we can conclude this process. I give the floor to the Senator for two to three minutes.

The Senator may but there are only two minutes remaining because we must adjourn at 5 o’clock.

I thank Senator O’Reilly and Senator Martin. The Senators appreciate the time constraint under the Order of Business to conclude by 5 o’clock.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the Minister to the House. I ask her to make her statement available to us. We did not get copies and that puts us at a slight disadvantage. We listened to the statement and it was all very positive. I thank the Minister for her overview in relation to education. I jotted down a few things as I listened to the Minister and she might take a note of them and come back to them at some point in the future to me on them. Some years ago, the Department of Education acquired at a very high price, a major site at…

I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I will bring an issue to the attention of the House. On 1 February 2023, we had a debate on a Fine Gael Private Members' motion on University Hospital Limerick, UHL. We discussed many issues with regard to the hospital and the care provided there. I raised the issue of a woman and her daughter who were admitted to a hospital in the west. I inadvertently referred to Ennistymon. I did not mention any hospital but it has come to my attention that I was not fully correct…

I will be brief. I do not want to repeat what others have said. I welcome the Minister. I particularly thank the advocacy groups for women. They work tirelessly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. I have had experience of them. I particularly acknowledge the great work done in Laois. In the past two weeks, I have become involved in three or four cases from that area and I know how these groups interface and interplay with our local authorities with regard to supports. I vary somewhat from other speak…