I thank the Minister. The other area I wish to ask about is childcare costs. I recently met a young family in Newbridge, County Kildare, who are paying €1,400 per month. The Minister will know, as it is often referenced in this House, that this is a second mortgage. However, it is obviously not just in Newbridge that those are the costs of childcare; it is throughout the State. Linked to those costs are the turnover in staff where the average turnover is 25% of those working in the sector. Many of them quote the lo…

I wish the Minister and Minister of State well in their new briefs. I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this important motion. The lack of special school places in my area, Kildare South, continues to grow. Not a week goes by when I do not get contacted time and again by worried parents who simply cannot find a place for their loved ones. It was in late 2023 that the then Minister of State, Josepha Madigan, announced that four new special schools would be established the following September, in Limerick, Meath, Wexford a…

Recent commentary talks about a housing crisis in this country. The term "crisis" does not describe what so many families and individuals are experiencing because what we have is a housing emergency. No other word can describe it. It is not a crisis when over 15,000 of our citizens, including over 4,500 children, are living in hotel rooms. That in itself is an emergency. However, this emergency is not limited to that totally unacceptable figure. It also includes working families who cannot get onto the housing list…

I agree with my colleague, Deputy Smith. We recently met with Dublin Fire Brigade. We listened to unbelievable stories from individual members who went above and beyond on a daily basis for the people of Dublin. A young firefighter called Aisling says she is trying to build in her mortgage because she knows she may have to retire at 55 due to the nature of the job. Even after 40 years’ service and paying into a pension, they would be left with €250 a week. That is simply unbelievable. It is not acceptable. Firefigh…

If the Chair will indulge me for a moment, as this is the first time I have spoken in this historic Chamber as an elected Member of Dáil Éireann, I would like to thank the people of Kildare South for putting their faith in me. I assure them that I will work tirelessly for them, their families and all the great communities that we have in that most important county in the State. I thank my wife, Michelle; my sons, Eoin and Cathal; my father, Jack; and all the members of my family who worked so hard in recent years t…

I formally second Senator Carrigy's amendment to the Order of Business. Yesterday, we spoke about the lack of teachers. The Cathaoirleach mentioned that this is not just an issue for Mayo, it is also a problem throughout the country. I support the many calls to support teachers at this particular time. There have been calls for a Dublin allowance by my party's education spokesman, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, which I support. We must ensure that there is support from the Government for teachers regarding the cost of living, …

I want to raise an issue that is very personal to me, namely inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and colitis. As someone who suffers from Crohn's disease, I know on a daily basis how it can affect a person. Over the past two weeks, I have been contacted by four people from south Kildare who are having difficulty accessing services because they suffer from Crohn's. In the first instance, a local authority has not allowed a person to apply for a grant for a downstairs bathroom because it does not recognise Cr…

I want to join with colleagues in wishing the Minister the very best into the future. I have dealt with her since I came into this House four and half years ago and I have served on the social protection committee and dealt with various Bills. I have always found her to be most co-operative in everything she does and very fair in listening to the points that have been raised by Members on the Opposition and on any committee I have been on. I have no doubt that she is only starting another chapter in her life and I …

As a proud Lilywhite, I am delighted to be here tonight. I congratulate and thank Senators O’Loughlin and Chambers for bringing forward this important Bill. Senator O’Loughlin said the Curragh is iconic. It is iconic for every Kildare person, not just in this country but throughout the world. When we sing “The Curragh of Kildare” as we did in 1998, which was, unfortunately, the last time and hopefully we will do so again, it brings passion to every Kildare person in this country and abroad as well. Unfortunately, t…

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we commence, I welcome to the Public Gallery my former colleague, Joanna Tuffy, as well as Siobhán and Courtney from New Zealand. They are welcome to Leinster House and I hope they enjoy their trip. I remind Senators that they may speak only once on a Report Stage amendment, except the proposer of the amendment, who may reply to the discussion of the amendment. Amendments other than those tabled by the Government must be seconded. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are related and may be discussed together by agreement…

Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Fifth Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I wish to raise a number of issues today. My colleague, Senator Hoey, has the University College Cork, UCC, students' union in today to talk about student accommodation. Student accommodation is something we have all heard about and dealt with over the last number of years and particularly the last number of months. The UCC students' union will tell us that students are missing classes because of the long commute they have to do to get to college. It is an issue all of us in this House have raised on various occasi…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I also thank the Minister of State for being here to discuss the issue. I know from conversations with colleagues throughout the country, particularly in south Kildare, that there have been an awful lot of unplanned power outages in recent weeks and months. There are considerable knock-on effects for families as a result. One of the biggest effects relates to medical devices. Along with colleagues of mine, I have been cont…

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. I am aware of the Minister's role in this but I also believe he should be aware of what is happening on the ground. I appreciate the CRU is an independent authority and it should be so but the Minister is responsible for energy provision in this country. If there are continual unplanned outages in certain areas of the country - and I believe from speaking to colleagues that this is not just in my own area but right throughout the State - the Minister should…

I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome to the House our friends and colleagues from AsIAm. I thank them for all their advocacy and help in preparing this report. Previous speakers rightly thanked Senator Carrigy for his work as Cathaoirleach of the committee. I do the same. At various meetings we had, we learned of the opposition there was to his setting up the committee in the first place. He stood fast, with the help of many others, including the Minister of State, to ensure the committee was established…

Hear, hear.