I met a lady last week who was looking for some help for her daughter, who is ten years of age and has been diagnosed with dyslexia. The psychologist recommended that she get a laptop for school but she was refused by the special educational needs organiser, SENO. When I asked why, I was told that apparently you need an IQ of 90 to get a laptop for school and she had an IQ of 89. I could not believe what I was hearing and this actually is the case. I thought surely we cannot be getting things this wrong. I had a lo…

Like my colleague Senator Ní Chuilinn, I congratulate Senator Nicole Ryan. We are on a cross-party group about pregnancy and infant loss together and she has been amazing to work with. I can only imagine the joy this morning in her little family. It is absolutely amazing news. I was standing on a sideline, as people with children do, a few weeks ago and ended up talking to someone about solar panels. The person was not talking to me from a political perspective. The person mentioned that they are a teacher, as is t…

Hear, hear.

I am sharing time with Senator Ní Chuilinn. I sometime feel I am like a broken record when it comes to talking about insurance. I have spoken a lot about it to the Minister of State. The message coming from businesses, community groups and voluntary organisations across Ireland is now impossible to ignore. Despite years of reform, too many people are still not seeing fairness in the insurance market. A recent report found that 62% of respondents have seen increases in their public and employer liability premiums. A…

I concur with my colleague Senator Ahearn on the relocation issue. I have been trying to help a couple of gardaí in that way as well. Again, they are looking at leaving because they just cannot get closer to home, and especially for women who might have had a baby or are planning a family and do not want to be too far away. I am proud to support this Fine Gael motion. I thank Senators Kelleher and Noel O'Donovan. The motion includes proposals around the online harassment of gardaí, Garda pursuit driving rules, a de…

I sincerely thank the Minister of State for coming in to discuss the Navan rail project, a project that has become almost mythical for the people of County Meath. When I mention the Navan rail line to people in my home town of Navan, they sigh. They do not believe it is happening. For 25 years, the people of Navan and Meath have heard promises, announcements, timelines and commitments. Generation after generation has listened to politicians say the railway is coming. Now I hear things like, "I'll be retired before …

I thank the Minister of State for coming in and giving this answer to my Commencement matter. I ask him to pass on my gratitude to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, because the Minister of State has just given me the answer. I had a feeling in my waters that it was going to come in the next week or two, so I am delighted to be able to tell people in Navan that we will have the opening of the public consultation on Wednesday 20 May. I am sure the Minister will be delighted to tell the people of Navan that as well. I am …

As Senators, we come in here and discuss disabilities and advocate for people with disabilities. We speak of how much more needs to be done and how much more we want to do to advocate for these people. Today however, I want to talk about something really positive about an amazing person from my home town of Navan, County Meath. Sometimes I need a bit of escape time and yesterday I was checking social media and who popped up only the amazing Sinéad Burke, looking absolutely stunning in a black sequin gown by Christi…

Now.

I second my colleague. I met Jordan and Cian yesterday at the start of the Navan run and my goodness, it was such a humbling experience to hear them speak about what is going to lie in their future, what they are doing and the money they have raised. I advise everybody to get out in their counties to meet these two boys when they arrive. They have only done nine counties so far, but Members should make sure they are there when they arrive because it is a very special time. I wish to use the remainder of my time to …

Over and over in this Chamber, many of the Senators bring up the safe routes to school programme. It is brought up a lot because we all recognise in our communities that we really want to get kids to school safely. Over the past few weeks, I have visited Killyon National School, Dunderry National School, Cannistown National School, Kilmessan National School, Kiltale National School and Kildalkey National School. They all have the same issue. The school authorities are asking how they get the kids more safely to sch…

Today, I wish to talk about Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and its continued future as one of the most important healthcare facilities in County Meath and the wider north east. It is important to mention this because so many people ask me if the hospital is going to close and what will happen to it. Despite ongoing debates, we are going to see continued investment in the hospital, which will only benefit patients and staff alike. Future capital investment for Navan hospital includes a new minor injuries unit and an up…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in here today. Physician associates in Ireland are healthcare professionals who work under consultant or GP supervision. It was lovely for me to learn about this role because I did not fully understand it until somebody approached me about this. Physician associates support medical teams providing continuity of care by taking patient histories, conducting exams, formulating diagnoses and managing care. They work mainly in hospitals across surgical and medical subspecialities…

I did not know that. It is great to get new information in a Commencement matter reply. It is great that the report will be published on 1 May. I urge the Minister of State to go back to the Minister for Health and let her know that I hope this results in ending the pause on recruitment so that we can keep that worry away from these students. I will finish off by talking about the experience I read of another lady being a medical physician associate in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan. She started on 23 March 2020, a tim…

There are major concerns in Enfield, County Meath, due to the removal of a long-standing school warden from near St. Mary's Primary School. For 32 years, a long-serving warden, who we used to call a lollipop lady, has looked after the children going to and from the school. The position has now been removed. As is completely understandable, community members and local representatives have expressed real concern, citing high traffic volumes during the school run and the risk to children. My office wrote to Meath Coun…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. Senator Clonan is a great advocate for his son. I cannot imagine walking a day in his footsteps. I cannot imagine walking a day in Tracy Caroll's footsteps or understand what it is like, and I never claimed to know what it is like. I have a friend with two beautiful daughters and I cannot imagine what it is like walking in her shoes or those of the lady whose daughter I helped to get into a residential facility. I will never claim to understand even for a secon…

It is my time to speak. I appreciate what Senator Clonan spoke about, but now it is my time. I will speak about something that goes right to the heart of fairness, dignity and basic human rights. Many families like Senator Clonan's have a child with profound disabilities and are trying to adapt or build a house or build an extension for that child. As mentioned, over 1.1 million people, or 22% of our population, live with long-term health conditions or disabilities. For many, adapting their home is not a luxury; it…

Well said.

I raise the town of Navan and CCTV cameras. The people of Navan deserve to feel safe while walking around the town, but many do not. In my day, I could go to the disco, come out of it at about 2 a.m., and be able to walk home and feel safe. Many people cannot do that these days. We have raised the issue of needing more gardaí in the town and county. Meath has the lowest number of gardaí per capita in the country. We have also been raising the issue of CCTV cameras. Fine Gael councillors, including myself when I was…

Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.