I agree with Senator Rabbitte and her comments towards the FAI. It does not really surprise me that its officials would come in to discuss safeguarding without a safeguarding officer, so I fully agree with the Senator's comments. I wish to raise the income eligibility thresholds for social housing, which have not been revised since 2023. Since then, wages and social welfare payments have increased significantly with inflation and the cost of living putting pressure on people, but there has been no change to the soc…

I wish the Acting Leader the best of luck in his position. I extend my condolences to the family of the usher, Seamus Carroll, who passed away yesterday. He was professional and pleasant, and it is often difficult to be both. He was both. He was always professional and pleasant. I extend my condolences to his family and to the other ushers in the Houses. I return briefly to the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA, and its decision to send a wheelchair basketball team to the European championships where Ireland will p…

Thank you. With the tournament just weeks away, why has there been no promotion of the event on the IWA or IWA-Sport social media? Was there a decision not to publicise the Israeli fixture until the tournament commenced? If so, who made it and why was it made? I also have to ask whether responses to these concerns have been condescending. Would questions about transparency around an Irish international team be treated this way in any other sport? Wheelchair basketball deserves the same scrutiny and accountability a…

While we wait for the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, I welcome our guest, Mr. Chandy Oommen who is a member of the Kerala legislative assembly in India and a guest of Senator Joe O'Reilly. It is nice to meet him and I hope he enjoys his visit. It is good to see other public representatives visit our Parliament.

I congratulate Aoife and Lisa O'Rourke on delivering two golds for Ireland in the European elite championships. It was a great achievement. My colleague must be delighted. It must be like winning the all-Ireland again. The FAI will come before the sports committee tomorrow. If the Ireland-Israel pre-match press conference is anything to go by, the FAI CEO is likely to have Heimir Hallgrímsson in answering any difficult questions for him. From first to last, FAI senior management has shown zero leadership. From the …

I want to raise serious questions about the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA, and IWA-Sport's decision to send an Irish wheelchair basketball team to the European championships division B in Switzerland where Ireland is due to play Israel. This team did not qualify for this tournament. Ireland was invited. It could have easily refused. I cannot imagine what the officials were thinking when they accepted this particular invite. The IWA said its board unanimously approved participation following a robust process. Ho…

I apologise for missing the opening statements. I had another presentation. Like Senator Clonan, I know that despite our political differences, we have great MEPs representing us and fighting for our city. I want to raise a couple of issues. The GPO and Moore Street are currently in limbo waiting on Government plans for their future. It is very disappointing that what should be one of the city's most important historic and cultural quarters has been neglected by the State for so long. However, I am hopeful that pro…

I thank the Minister.

While we are waiting for the Minister, I will take this opportunity to give a warm welcome back to Senator Goldsboro. It is great to have her back and I hope she gets plenty of work done over the next few months. It is good to see her back. She is looking very well.

I thank Senator McCarthy. That is a really important issue. He mentioned that Irish universities are looking forward to welcoming students. The Irish public is also looking forward to welcoming students from Gaza.

I will let the Minister of State off, seeing as it is early in the day.

Like a good Cork footballer. I welcome Deputy Murphy and his guests to the Visitors Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit. Usually, when visitors are very young, we let them off homework. Do not judge me for making this statement but I suspect they do not have homework, but I am sure he will buy them lunch in the bar or somewhere.

I also extend my condolences to the family and friends of former Senator Enda Bonner, and to Senator Craughwell. It is a difficult time for him and it is great to see him back in the Chamber. I was in the 3Arena on 1 August when a 31-year-old boxer, Lee Reeves, was fighting. It was a tough fight. Lee was stopped. It looked serious at the time but we only found out afterwards how serious it was. Lee is in a coma. He is breathing on his own but in desperate and urgent need of an operation. I have been in contact with…

As long as there is celebration.

We know.

I welcome the Minister of State. She has ten minutes.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I want to move an amendment to No. 1 on the Order Paper, proposing an orderly winding down of the accommodation recognition payment scheme in a way that is fair and efficient. I note today is the last day of Dáil and Seanad sittings before the summer recess. I thank the Leader, as Senator McDowell said, for his kindness and work, the Leas-Chathaoirleach for always being so helpful and supportive, and of course all the staff without whom we could not do our work. I acknowledge the work that the staff across the Hous…

You just have to look down at the Glass Bottle site. Ordinary people cannot afford those homes.