The Senator is correct that we are hoping a general scheme for adult safeguarding legislation for the health and social care sector will go to Cabinet before the end of the year. We are working intensively on that. We will seek the Seanad's assistance, and the legislation will be enacted once the President has signed it. There will then be a lead-in period. There will be a year for HIQA to get ready for the legislation. Within a two-year period thereafter, HIQA will have a full register of home support providers up…

I thank the Senator for his contribution and collaborative approach. Home support hours are a key priority for me and the Government. I want to bring the numbers down. They are coming down, but not at the rate I would like. The key element here is that we need to recruit more staff within the HSE. As I said, another 257 are funded and that work is under way. I have regular meetings with the HSE, along with my officials, specifically around delivering home support. Some areas of the country are different from others…

I acknowledge the issue that Senator Tully, on behalf of Sinn Féin, has raised in the context of the amendment. This is an important issue that the Government is actively addressing. The delivery of high-quality home support is dependent on the efforts of people who work in the sector. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the great work that has been done by home care workers who provide support and assistance to people of every age who have a wide range of medical, conditions, abilities and needs and who are liv…

The Senator’s amendment has been ruled out of order but I will speak to the section and the particular points he raised. I looked at this in great depth because I wanted to cover everything. I will read out the note and then I will cover a number of points thereafter. I thank Senator Clonan for raising this matter. All exemptions included in the Bill have been carefully considered to ensure that there is no adverse impact on services that are not intended to be captured under the current regulatory framework. In re…

I thank everyone for their contributions. This is significant legislation. It is a landmark Bill in that for the first time ever we will be regulating home care providers. That will give added confidence to the people who use the service, who are the most important people of all, about the high quality of the service. I acknowledge all the work done by home support workers and providers and by the people who are doing it for family without being paid. They do phenomenal work. This legislation has now gone through b…

I thank Senator Boyhan. It goes without saying I acknowledge the officials in the Department.

A lot of it goes unseen. They are a huge part of any work done by Government. I wanted to put that on record.

I thank the Members for their genuine and thoughtful contributions. I join with the Senators and welcome the advocacy groups in the Public Gallery, including HIV Ireland, Outreach and LGBT campaigners. There are probably many others so forgive me if I do not namecheck everyone, but I acknowledge the work they do. I welcome them to Leinster House and to the Seanad. Today the House had an opportunity to reflect on HIV and AIDS in Ireland. I thank everyone who has participated in this discussion. The Minister, Deputy …

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I thank the esteemed Senator for raising this matter. The long-term illness scheme was established under section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970, as amended. Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 prescribing 16 conditions covered by the scheme. There have been no changes to the list of 16 conditions since that time. Under the LTI scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related t…

I thank Senator O'Reilly again for raising this important matter. As I stated previously, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I have very much taken on board the points the Senator has raised. I will revert to the Minister for Health on those specific points. While there are no plans to extend the scope of this scheme, the long-term illness scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework. The Government is focused on expanding eligibility and improving the affor…

I thank the Acting Chairperson. I am pleased to introduce the Bill following its recent passage through Dáil Éireann. I look forward to hearing the views of the Seanadóirí and working with them to progress this important legislation through the House. Home support is a vital service that is delivered to thousands of people nationwide every day. This highly valuable service has users of every age and their families. It enables people to maintain independence and dignity while living at home. In line with Sláintecare…

Will the Senator make that point again?

No, beyond that.

How much time do I have?

Do Members wish to come back in?

I am quite open to it if Members wish to come back in.

I thank the members for their very constructive and heartfelt contributions. Virtually everyone spoke about a family member. There is probably no one out there who has not been in some way involved with family members, friends or relations of any form, in dealing with home support. To give context to my role, I have responsibility for older people in two Departments. The programme for Government outlines a commitment to design a statutory home care scheme, which I am utterly committed to doing, but I want to do it …

I thank Senator Murphy O’Mahony for raising this important issue. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, is the name used for a group of disorders that cause inflammation of the intestine. It is a term used for conditions known as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and indeterminate colitis. I hope Jason is doing well. Is he still a member of the Senator's staff?

I wish him well.

Approximately 50,000 people in Ireland suffer from IBD. The national clinical programme for gastroenterology and hepatology was established in October 2019 as a joint collaboration between the HSE and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, RCPI. Gastroenterology and hepatology multidisciplinary teams, MDTs, provide expertise in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of conditions of the digestive tract, liver and pancreas, including inflammatory bowel disease. The HSE advised that as of May 2026, all level 4 …