I thank the Minister for coming in. No doubt she will do a fantastic job. She already is doing so. There are many issues on women's health that have been brought up by all my esteemed colleagues here and I concur with many of them. Knowing today was coming up, I spoke to a female doctor friend and I asked her what we can do in government to support women's health. I was surprised by the answer given. The answer simply was to support women, especially younger women, to work by providing childcare. I know it is not t…

I will take just a minute and focus on one thing. I fully support this motion, which is very close to all our hearts. A year ago yesterday we lost our dad, who was the most beautiful man. My dad was sick for many years with his heart and hip problems and with cancer but he overcame it all and lived to just short of 88. He loved collecting his pension, going to choir and he loved life. However, the many illnesses he suffered made him less agile, along with 60 years of standing at a bench making furniture, which was …

I want to discuss the issue of bus escorts and transport police. I am on the board of an amazing special school in Navan, County Meath, called St. Ultan's. It was a big eye opener for me to see the work done there by all the staff. From 8.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. the school is a hive of activity. However, there is one area that I did not understand until I began to work with the school. This is the issue of transport to and from the school, and indeed to most special schools, and the difficulties associated with this. Som…

It is great to speak today on the Private Members' motion and I thank my colleagues in Fine Gael for tabling it. I have four topics to speak on and I will be quick. When a representative of the Department of Transport is in the Chamber, it is too important not to cover as much as possible. I represent County Meath. My fellow Senators will never guess what I want to talk about relating to County Meath. What is the elephant in the room? It is the Navan rail line. I bet they have not heard that one before. County Meat…

-----and we need people to stand safely while waiting for the bus. I encourage the Minister of State to seek extra funding for the provision of bus stops, particularly in smaller villages in Meath West. I wish to discuss our roads. I thank the Minister and Department of Transport for the €26 million that they recently provided to Meath for regional and local roads. However, it seems that we have a significant problem with potholes. In 2024 alone, Meath County Council paid out €55,000 in compensation for cars becaus…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak. There are many challenges in the Department of Justice. I am really looking forward to seeing the positive changes the Minister can make. My area is Meath West, which includes great towns like Navan, Trim, Enfield and Oldcastle and villages like Kilmessan, Ballivor, Longwood and Rathmolyon. Speaking to the constituents at the doors - believe me, I knocked on a lot of doors over the past year, as I have run in three elections – they are extremely worried about …

These were teenage boys who thought it was hilarious to push one person against another like dominoes with the last person pushing my daughter to the ground. Thankfully, she was not injured physically but it did take a while to get her back out shopping again. I reported it to the centre and the response was to say it was sorry it had happened and there was nothing it could do because they would just come back the next day. Then I reported it to the Garda. The individual garda was very helpful but also advised ther…

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and wish him an energetic and peaceful term. I also congratulate my colleague, Senator Kyne, who I know will be fair and wise. I am honoured to be elected to the Twenty-seventh Seanad. My colleague, Senator Ahearn, told me yesterday to take it all in and I am certainly doing that. I take my seat here as the greatest privilege. I thank my party, Fine Gael, my husband, Finbarr, and my daughters, Elle-J and Savannah, my friends who have supported me, my mam and dad, looking down from h…