So am I and I intend staying for a hell of a long time. I thank the Minister for his ongoing engagement. I know it has been a difficult few days for the Government and for the Minister, who takes his responsibility seriously. I also thank the Minister's officials. I can say unequivocally that the Minister will have my full support for this Bill. I will not spend too long on this. It is the right thing to do. I want to acknowledge a few people before I say a few words about the Bill. I thank the Garda Commissioner a…

I second the amendment.

I thank the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and her officials for coming here today. I acknowledge and thank Sinn Féin. This is a very timely use of Private Members' business and I thank Sinn Féin for it. It gives us an opportunity. Those who know me know that I tend to cut to the chase. At the end of the day, there is a lot of pious stuff in Private Members' motions but the real thing is "What are we asking?". What are we calling on the Government to do? This motion is calling on the Government to commit. Clearly peopl…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important Commencement matter and I thank the Minister of State for attending today. While I know he is not the Minister for Health, he does have a health portfolio and brief. I thank him for giving of his time in coming here. I know it is an exceptionally busy day in the Oireachtas. My Commencement matter deals with the escalating GP shortages, with rural communities being hit the hardest. I took a look at the parliamentary questions put down in the other House over the…

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. Hopefully, the review will identify arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GPs. It is going on a long time. Clearly, Deputies will continue to ask parliamentary questions. We will continue to table Commencement matters. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister for her commitment to the review. I thank the Irish College of General Practitioners for following the local authority electoral areas to do its research and give such qualitative…

I thank the Minister of State. At least we have got through winter and it is now spring.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for his time and for taking two Commencement matters.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, who will take the next two Commencement matters.

Sorry, but the Senator should continue through the Chair.

I thank the Minister of State and Senator Stephenson.

I thank the Minister of State for giving his time. I know it is a very busy day in the Dáil so I appreciate it.

I will raise two issues. I want to ask for a debate soon on enhancing social cohesion among communities in rural Ireland. This is against a backdrop of the Irish language community, the island communities and the desire to get rural housing back on the map. I know there are long promises about that. Affordability has become a real issue. Yesterday, the press had stories on how the GAA was in trouble in Kerry and national schools were closing in the west and in rural communities in the midlands. Parishes are dying o…

Absolutely.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for her time this morning in dealing with the two Commencement matters.

I thank the Minister of State. Before I call the next Commencement matter, I welcome the pupils and teachers of Whitechurch National School, and their rector, whom I happen to know. It is great to see them here; I did not know they were coming here today. They are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond. They are all very welcome here. To explain, this is the part of the Seanad for Commencement matters, when Senators table questions on issues of concern to them. They are raised and the Senators set o…

Senator Cosgrove, I should say. I have not promoted you yet.

Senator Cosgrove has four minutes to set out her stall.

Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome the students and all those visiting from the national learning network in Kildare who are guests of Deputy Mark Wall, from Kildare South.