This morning, I want to raise the upcoming new round of sports capital grants and the proposed introduction of the arts capital grant. It will be good to have both schemes. The arts capital grant is a new scheme. The sports capital grant benefits every community, town and village throughout the country. I reiterate the point I have made previously about some areas having a low amount of sporting infrastructure. Perhaps an urban area is without all-weather playing fields, for example, AstroTurf pitches, while other …

I welcome the visitors to the Gallery. Yesterday, I raised the issue of the Irish expeditionary team that was very close to the summit of Mount Everest and had, the previous night, made an attempt. I am glad to report, as others may have seen, that the Irish team reached the summit overnight. The team included Mayo man and former footballer, Pádraig O'Hora, along with Eanna McGowan from Dublin and Adam Sweeney from Waterford, along with the leadership of their team leader, Jason Black. It is an incredible achieveme…

I would like to raise the opportunity that we have to realise the oversupply of wind energy across Ireland. As we know, at certain times, especially at night-time, there is an oversupply. Some €500 million worth of wind energy is wasted every year, which means a huge amount is left uncaptured. I am calling for consideration of grant supports for battery storage for residential units at night-time rates, perhaps at the EV rate. Where there is an oversupply of electricity, it provides a great opportunity for househol…

I, too, welcome the visitors to the Gallery. Knocking on doors in both Dublin and Galway in recent weeks has been very useful to keep abreast of different challenges facing people and keep the finger on the pulse. As we know, one of the great issues of the day is housing. One of the suggestions that was raised with me, and one I would like the Minister for housing and the Government generally to consider, relates to the whole process of buying a home where first-time buyers and others trying to purchase a forever h…

I thank the Minister of State for being here and I thank my colleagues for putting forward such an important Private Members' motion. Like Senator Cathal Byrne, I wish to first acknowledge the fallen heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty in service to the State. The gardaí from my home county of Mayo are Garda Brian MacNeill, Garda Henry Gerard Byrne, Detective John Morley, Garda Robert McCallion, Detective Garda Colm Horkan, and fellow Ballina man, Garda Anthony Golden. Some of these gave the …

I call on the Minister for justice, Jim O'Callaghan, to provide some clarity regarding the local safety partnerships that were established following the bringing to an end of the joint policing committees. I was a member of Mayo's joint policing committee for a number of years and found it to be an excellent forum to discuss policing-related issues in a very constructive, community-led way. In Mayo - I believe it is the same in other counties - there is a lack of clarity around the attendance of the media at meetin…

I thank the Minister of State for being here. My Commencement matter arises from work I have done with Councillor Ben Ward in Tullow, County Carlow. I have also worked with Senators Garret Ahearn, Maria Byrne, Garret Kelleher and P. J. Murphy on this issue. We are making a clear request for a reduction in the maximum payment under the drugs payment scheme, DPS, from €80 to €60 in budget 2027. I know that budgets are finite, but there is a commitment in the programme for Government to explore a reduction in the maxi…

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. The improvements and advancements in health outcomes in Ireland have been incredible. I know we give the HSE and the health service a fair bashing at times, but the advancements and improvements, including improved access to healthcare for the whole population, have been incredibly pronounced. That being said, in a cost-of-living crisis, consideration should be given in the next budget to further reducing the maximum payment. I ask for further engagement with the Taoisea…

I thank the Minister of State for being here for this very important discussion about vital supports needed for the fisheries sector. Since taking over as Minister of State, he has inherited many challenges in the sector. I thank him and acknowledge the work he has done on behalf of the sector and the support he has given Senators right across the House and Oireachtas Members generally. It has been an incredibly difficult time for the fisheries sector. Recently, Senators O'Donovan and Boyle and I hosted a discussio…

I want to first welcome Gavin Brennan Morrow to the House. He is an intern with me and is a student in St. Muredach's College, my former secondary school. He is also a great active musician and a member of the community in Ballina. I welcome him to Seanad Éireann this morning and thank him for his assistance throughout the day. I also want to wish the best of luck to St. Joseph's Secondary School, Foxford. It is in the FAI schools national U15 B cup final against Coláiste na Sceilge, Cahersiveen, in Limerick this a…

I thank the Minister of State as well as the Minister who was present earlier, for being here for this incredibly important debate and for listening intently on the contributions that have been made. We are in a perilous situation where nothing is the same as it was previously. We have seen that with the weaponisation of fuel and energy following Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. We have seen it more recently in the Middle East with the Strait of Hormuz. We see how quickly anarchy can be at risk of breaking out, wheth…

I thank the Minister of State for being in the House this afternoon for this important motion. I also thank Fianna Fáil for tabling the motion. There is no doubt that people across the country are feeling the pinch and are under pronounced pressure. That situation came to boil over the past number of weeks. It is worth reiterating that like the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, another external factor in Iran has caused huge upheaval in fuel prices and other energy costs, which has affected agricultural contra…

Today I would like to raise DEIS status for schools. It is a brilliant programme for schools that benefit from it. I got a benefit from it in my own time in primary school. I call for the Leader's support in arranging a discussion with the Minister for education on schools that have missed out on either DEIS status or the home school community liaison element of DEIS support. I think in particular of Scoil Naomh Bríd in Ballycastle, an area that I raise regularly on the floor of Seanad Éireann. It is a three-teache…

I wish to raise the shocking increase in the levy on local radio stations announced yesterday by Coimisiún na Meán. As we know, local radio stations across the country are the beating heart of every community. They provide updates in times of emergency and keep us informed on issues of the day such as local democracy, justice, sports or community involvement. This levy is a devastating blow for local radio stations. Coimisiún na Meán is there to regulate radio stations and puts enough pressure on these independentl…

I have raised on many occasions here on the floor of Seanad Éireann how important and strategic the River Moy is in County Mayo. It begins in east Mayo and flows through north Mayo and out to the Atlantic Ocean. It has been fished by many people. It is known nationally and internationally. The late and great Jack Charlton fished there many a summer after World Cups. Later this afternoon the climate, energy and environment committee will have a discussion on the salmon decline in the River Moy. I would like to take …

This matter kind of explains itself. I thank the Minister of State for being here. The ask is that Mounjaro be included in the long-term illness scheme through the medical card. I was contacted by a constituent in my home county, Mayo, whose husband has unfortunately been sick since 2010 and is a cancer survivor. His health is declining and the cancer treatment has caused a number of severe side effects. He is unable to work and his wife is his full-time carer. They have two teenage children. There are a lot of pre…

I acknowledge the members of the Behy Irish Countrywomen's Association, ICA, as they head out the door, and wish them well on the rest of their visit and trip. I know Margaret is celebrating her birthday today. They might wish her a happy birthday; I know she is here. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I understand there is work under way. I know she has taken the point based on my contribution anyway, but I want to reiterate that we need to do whatever can be done to support the inclusion of Mounjaro. It…

Very similarly, in relation to public transport and improving services for commuters in County Mayo, I would like to raise an issue that has been highlighted to me on many occasions. In my role on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, I have been advocating for a shelter at the Manulla Junction platform. For those who may not be familiar with it, in County Mayo there are two train lines, one originating in Ballina and the other beginning in Westport. They meet at Manulla Junction, which has no road or vehicu…

Today I reiterate my call for supports for every sector affected by the fuel crisis. One group I mentioned yesterday, and whom I have been working on behalf of and advocating for to Departments and departmental officials, is ferry operators who connect citizens of islands right across the coast of my own county of Mayo, but also across the whole country. They are equally impacted by the fuel crisis. Supports and packages that are being devised for all of the industries must include ferry operators and support their…

Thank you, Senator Gallagher. I now move to Senator Boyhan, who is sharing time with Senator Keogan. Is that agreed? Agreed.