Seeing as we have no other Senators offering contributions, we will now move on.

I thank the Minister of State for being here this afternoon and showing her commitment by taking this Commencement matter. I also thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting it. The question relates to the development of an equine therapy centre on the Toghermore House site. When we talk about equine therapy and children with additional needs, it is important to realise the value it provides as a form of respite and regulation. That is what we have heard through the horse boy method. When one looks around at what good lo…

I thank the Minister of State. In the one minute allocated to me and her response, I would like to know that the €650,000 funding secured in last year's budget has been ring-fenced for the revenue spend and staff development piece related to the equine therapy development at the Toghermore regional campus. That would also cover Mayo and Roscommon. That €650,000 funding fell under respite and there is an annual spend of €1.3 million. It is very important clarity is brought to that. The second part relates to HSE est…

I move that the House stand suspended until after the vote.

I thank the Senator. I call the Minister to make his closing statement.

I thank the Minister. I really appreciate his remarks. While he was speaking, I could not but reflect that four fifths of this Seanad is made up of rural Senators. Just one fifth is from in or around the Pale. The Minister has put out the offer of working with the Seanad and the Seanad with open hands wants to work with him. That was clearly demonstrated. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I wish to raise the issue of swimming pools. Before we broke for the June recess, I spoke about water safety but today I wish to speak about the need for swimming pools. In my constituency, there is a good active group in Loughrea trying to get a pool for the area. One of the biggest issues when we were out knocking on the doors was the fact that a population of 6,000 people did not have a pool. Due to the good work of the committee, its expression of interest was accepted by LEADER last week. Now, the group is goi…

You have ten minutes, so you can take of it what you wish.

I thank the Minister for taking the time and making it a priority to be here this afternoon to listen to the lived experiences of all those who have advocated on behalf of Sheila and Catherine. It is really important that the people who are watching this debate online this afternoon see the Minister present and the priority her office and team have given to this. The Minister has the floor.

I thank the Minister very much for her contribution.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Last week, most of us in this and the other House watched the “RTÉ Investigates” programme on nursing homes. I want to start by welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell's statement today that he will meet with representative bodies of the private nursing home sector. He is expected to provide an update on actions undertaken by the Department of Health and HSE in recent days and an interim report to be delivered by HIQA. What we saw last week was harrowing and scandalous. As a public representative, I was h…

Before the Leader replies, I wish to raise a point of order. I am not happy about the way Senator Craughwell spoke earlier. I thought his attitude was jarring. When somebody commits a criminal offence and the DPP has it overturned because of domestic violence on the streets, where a woman is beaten to a pulp, I do not think any of us should condone the behaviour involved. What was said was unforgivable and unacceptable.

Tragically an average of 110 people drown each year in Ireland. Irish Water Safety says this is unacceptable considering most of the fatalities are avoidable. We are entering into the bank holiday weekend. It is normally this weekend that our local authorities put the swimming guards on duty at all our open lake areas and wherever there is a blue flag, including on our beaches. Unfortunately, in my own constituency and that of Senator Murphy, we only have one public pool in our area and that happens to be in Tuam. …

I raise an issue relating to the education and training boards. Over the past number of years, we have seen the magnificent work that was done in the ETBs, particularly in respect of apprenticeships. I must applaud the previous Ministers of State with responsibility, Deputies O'Donovan and Collins, for the work they did to ensure there was an expansion of delivery, particularly for the trades. We also need to look beyond the trades at health and social care. We need to look beyond SNAs and towards the training of o…

I welcome Tara Doherty, Craig Byas, Nessa Vaughan, Paul Ginnell and Rebecca O'Gorman to the Visitors Gallery. I thank Senator Andrews for bringing their presence to my attention.

I welcome Fine Gael members from Newbridge, guests of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to the Gallery, along with Philippa Dunlop, a TY student who is here with Catherine Ardagh.

Before I move to the Government side, I thank the Minister, Deputy Foley, and her team for being with us for this Private Members' Bill. I call Senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony.