Before I call the Senator, I welcome Deputy John Connolly and his guests, who are pupils and staff of Eagles Nest National School, Renvyle, County Galway. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit. I know they are near their holiday, but it is customary here to make sure they have no homework for the rest of the week. I hope they enjoy their holidays when they come at the end of the week.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan.

In a personal capacity, I congratulate the Leader along with his wife Laura, sons Jamie and Daniel, his father, Liam, and his brothers. I had the privilege of knowing his late mother, Theresa, and I know she would have been very proud of him today. The contribution the Ahearn family have made, both in local authority life and here in the Houses of the Oireachtas, has been referred to here already. I wish him all the very best of luck in his new role. I know he had a good training ground in recent weeks and he will …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and his officials to the Chamber.

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome the guests of the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Niamh Smyth, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Senator Robbie Gallagher, Deputy Ryan O'Meara, Deputy Paul Lawless, and Mr. Barry Comerford from the committee office. I hope they enjoy their visit here to Leinster House this evening.

Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome her to the Chamber. I know it is not her first time here; she was here last week. I wish to personally congratulate her. She is a former Member of this Chamber, and it is great to see our former Members progressing to higher office. I wish her all the best in her new role.

Now.

Now.

I compliment the Minister of State and his staff on the passing of this significant legislation. As he said it is the first step on the way to a statutory home care scheme. I wish him all the best with it. It is really good people can have the assurance they are all on the same footing. I wish the legislation all the best and congratulate the Minister of State. I know how committed he is to the future of this and I am sure there is other legislation coming to us shortly in a similar vein.

Tomorrow, at 10.30 a.m.

Dáil Éireann has passed the Finance Bill 2026 on 17 June 2026, which is sent herewith to Seanad Éireann for its recommendations. Dáil Éireann has passed the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, changed from the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, on 17 June 2026 to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann has agreed on 17 June 2026 to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Chris Andrews - The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on capping the number of breeding females permitted within a dog breeding establishment. Senator Martin Conway - The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the timeline for a dialysis service to be operational in Ennis, County Clare. Senator Maria McCormack - The need for the Minister for Educ…

The Minister, Deputy Heydon, is very welcome.

It is my great pleasure to welcome Ambassador Ensch to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Tuesday, 23 June marks Luxembourg's national day, which celebrates the reigning monarch's birthday. The celebration of this holiday has been a tradition since the 19th century, though it has not always fallen on this date. Throughout Luxembourg's history, the holiday has fallen on different dates under various monarchs. This year marks 65 years since it was declared by grand-ducal decree in 1961 that the national day would be…

I welcome the students from St. Colmcille's National School. They are a student council, I understand, along with their múinteoirí. They are guests of Deputy Ciarán Ahern. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit. It is customary here in the Seanad that there is no homework for the rest of the week. I hope they enjoy their visit.

Before I call the Deputy Leader to respond, I, too, congratulate Senator Ahearn on being appointed Leader and Senator Byrne on his appointment as Government Chief Whip. I look forward to working with both of them.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and his officials.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss this all-important issue. I also thank officials for their commitment. I welcome the guests in the Visitors Gallery. It is a very important discussion. As the Minister said in her opening statement, we remember those who are no longer with us and who died of HIV and AIDS, and we remember the whole stigma piece. I acknowledge the work that the Minister and her Department have done in bringing in the community care piece with the pharmacies and doctors. That has…

I thank Senator Clonan. I now call our next speaker, Senator Costello from Fianna Fáil.

I thank the Senator. Our next speaker is Sinn Féin's Senator McCormack.