I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, to the House.

I thank Senator Ward for raising what is a very important issue. Education and the opportunity people have to learn music is wonderful. I thank the Minister of State for his time this morning. We realise how busy he is. His time is appreciated here.

I am sure the Cathaoirleach and the Acting Leader will join me in congratulating our former colleague in the House, Tony Mulcahy, on becoming a member of Clare County Council. It is great that he is back in politics as he has a huge amount to offer. Councillor Mulcahy has been in touch with me on an issue which has already happened in County Clare and is happening again. Some 74 Ukrainian citizens are being moved from Shannon to Lisdoonvarna, even though 27 of them are in full-time paid employment in the Shannon ar…

Before I call on Senator Lombard, I welcome Maebh Doyle to the Public Gallery. Maebh is a transition year student from Bandon, County Cork, who is spending this week with Senator Lombard. I sincerely hope she is having a good week in Leinster House and that she sees how hard politicians work and how democracy operates. I also hope she will choose politics as a career because, in spite of everything, it is a great career and you can achieve so much. She is very welcome and please God we will see her back here soon.

I thank the Minister of State. The experience of democracy we are going to see in Limerick in the next couple of weeks will be very interesting. Once it is over the line and we see the Mayor of Limerick in operation and that person fulfilling his or her mandate, every county will want a directly elected mayor. I thank Senator Lombard.

Thank you, Senator Byrne. I thank the Minister of State for his time in taking all the Commencement matters. We know how busy he is so his time in the Seanad is appreciated.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I think it is-----

On a point of clarity, each one of those organisations gets substantial Government funding.

They get substantial Government funding and it is only right and appropriate

Today's announcement by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, regarding Palestine is very welcome. There is never a right time to do these things. I concur with the concerns voiced by Senator Malcolm Byrne. It has to be done appropriately and properly. We will all reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire, the opening of humanitarian aid and a stop to what is going on. It is a truly appalling situation. I would like to call for a debate on aviation at some stage. I do not necessarily agree …

Maybe we should start.

I thank the Minister of State for his time in the Seanad this morning. We know he is busy and we appreciate it. We wait now for Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, for our next two Commencement matters.

Before I bring Senator Seery Kearney back in, I welcome sixth class from Ballinalee National School in County Longford. They had a great win last night in the minors. I offer them huge congratulations. I particularly welcome Brendan Carrigy, the son of our colleague and friend, Senator Micheál Carrigy. Brendan is in sixth class. I hope they have a wonderful trip to Leinster House and that they find it informative. You will now hear Senator Seery Kearney posing a supplementary question to the Minister of State for d…

This is an extremely important issue.

Before our guests in the Gallery leave, I forgot a very important issue. One of the few powers the Cathaoirleach to the Seanad has is to decree that the children have no homework for the rest of the week.

I say this as Chair and I am sure Senator Cummins will agree with me. It is refreshing for a Minister to come in and not stand over a reply that is clearly not what the Minister or the Senator finds desirable. It is always very refreshing when that happens.

I again thank the Minister of State for her time today.

I also would like to welcome the Speaker, Michelle Roberts, and her husband, Greg, to the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery. I briefly had the pleasure of their company earlier this afternoon. I sincerely hope their visit to Leinster House is enjoyable and informative. I say that on my own behalf and, indeed, as chairperson of the Ireland-Australia parliamentary friendship group. Members of the group will visit County Clare over the next few days. I have no doubt that they will take the opportunity to visit some of t…

Before I bring Senator Byrne in for his supplementary question, I welcome a very good friend and guest of Senator Aidan Davitt to the House, Emmet Creighton. I believe heartiest congratulations are due to Mr. Creighton on the birth of his new baby. Congratulations from us all here in the Seanad. We hope you have a wonderful day. We are doing Commencement matters, which provide an opportunity for Senators to raise issues they feel strongly about. I hope you enjoy your day in Leinster House. You are with a very good …

I believe the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, is taking this one as well.