I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. I fully accept that he is taking this on behalf of the Minister. I welcome that he is bringing complete clarity to the situation so that if someone feels their home is going to be flooded, the first call they should make is to the local authority. It is the local authority that decides – I am assuming based on the gravity of the situation - what the next step in that process will be. I welcome the clarity the Minister of State has brought. It is importan…

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is appealing for blood donations as stocks are at a very low level. It normally aims to have a seven-day supply at all times. However, most blood groups are significantly below that level with the group O positive at its lowest level this year. Donating blood is one of the most important things any of us can do. I appeal to everyone who can to please consider donating blood today. A number of clinics are being held in County Monaghan this month. There are clinics in the Iontas ce…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Minister of State is very welcome. For many years, communities across the country have come together to fundraise and install defibrillators, or automated external defibrillators, AEDs, as they are commonly known, for local community centres, sports facilities, schools, workplaces and public places. In some areas, individuals and businesses have sponsored the price of a defibrillator. We are greatly indebted to them all, as I am sure the Minister of State will agree. CFR Irela…

I appreciate the Minister of State is taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and this is not her line of responsibility. I think the response is deeply worrying in that it states the Minister is not aware of any disruption. That highlights exactly what our problem is here. I have had community groups on to me, volunteers who are deeply worried. They are checking these things in their own time and telling me they have no batteries and cannot get any. Apparently they are coming from the Unite…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 23rd February, 2026.

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House, along with his officials. I thank him for outlining the detail of the ARP scheme, the continuation of it and the phasing out of it completely over the next year or so. As a country and as a people, we can be very proud of our response to the Ukrainian community when they fled here during the illegal invasion of their country by Russia. It was an emergency situation that required an emergency response. The Irish people and the Government can be very proud of how the…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. He is welcome to the House. I would like to discuss an issue about which a number of grieving families have contacted me recently. It is the delay in their ability to hold the funerals of their loved ones due to a hold-up in carrying out post mortems in a number of counties throughout the country. The problem can become even more acute at weekends and on bank holidays. As I am sure the Minister of State can appreciate, the delays in getting loved ones returned to them add another …

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I welcome the fact that a standing committee is looking at this issue to address the areas where a shortfall in the service exists. It is a very emotional and sensitive time for families and it is important that the State does all it can to ensure that the delay in conducting post-mortems is addressed as a matter of urgency. I am happy that all the relevant stakeholders are getting together to ensure an adequate service is available regardless of which p…

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I thank my learned colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, for sharing his time on this very important issue for the people of Cootehill. I thank Dr. Fiona O'Hanlon, Claire and Ms Kerry Mullen for their great work in Croílár na Drumlíní in Cootehill. They do an awful lot of volunteer work. They do excellent work for people of Cootehill and, indeed, the wider area. The one thing they are missing is a family resource centre base. They were disappointed the last time out wh…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, for the work they are doing in this area. I understand they have both introduced new policies and legislative changes to strengthen the system and ensure it is rules-based, efficient and aligned with other EU member states. As others have stated, we need a system that is fair but firm, and that respects both the dignity of the people trying to access better lives for themselves in…

Next Tuesday.

I, too, welcome Senator Boyle and the good people from Donegal to the Gallery this afternoon.

I was about to say that; the Chair beat me to it. Tá fáilte roimh an Aire ar ais chuig an Teach seo inniu. The Minister is very welcome back to the House this afternoon for this very timely debate in relation to our Defence Forces and the defence of our country. Indeed, I would like to commence where the Minister left off and acknowledge and thank the men and women of the Defence Forces for the fantastic service they give to this country. We are deeply proud that they act on our behalf and I would like to thank the…

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this afternoon. Over recent years, I have frequently raised the issue of the retirement age of 70 years old for Bus Éireann drivers. Today, I raise it again, seeking an update. This practice discriminates against people who are capable of providing a valuable service, and a much-needed one at that. Many people, me included, feel it is unfair that drivers are not able to continue to drive a bus after their 70th birthday under Bus Éireann contracts. These people may …

I thank the Minister of State very much for his response. I welcome the fact the review is complete and hope we are getting near to the endgame with this. We cannot lose sight of the common-sense approach to all matters, and there is a very common-sense approach to this issue. Nobody is talking about being reckless here. Individuals of 70 years of age and older will have to pass the necessary medicals, have the necessary licence in place and all that. Surely to God we can find a role for those people who are fit, a…

We often hear about many acts of wanton vandalism that occur throughout the country. Unfortunately, at Drum Lough near Drum in County Monaghan last Sunday night we had one such incident that would leave you scratching your head. There is a jetty there that was constructed using recycled plastic over 20 years ago. It was constructed primarily to assist wheelchair users or anybody who has mobility issues to go onto the lake to do a spot of fishing or just relax. Someone decided it would a good idea to set the jetty a…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach ar maidin. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House and I thank him for taking this Commencement even though it is not under his area of responsibility. Today, I wish to talk about the disability service for both adults and children in County Monaghan. We were delighted in November 2024 when the then Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte - now Senator - officially opened the Rainbow Lodge children's respite service in Urbalkirk, in County Monaghan. It was a de…

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response from the Minister, Deputy Foley. I very much welcome the commitment within that statement that funding has been ring-fenced, if I can use that word, to keep Rainbow Lodge operational until such time as a new facility is in operation. As I said earlier, there was some concern that perhaps that was not the case. This will go a long way to alleviating concerns that parents had voiced to me. On the development of adult respite services, mention was given to …

I too give a big céad míle fáilte to the good ladies from Lisdoonan, County Monaghan. They are all very welcome to the Chamber. I will take today's opportunity, like I have done on a number of occasions, to raise the chronic condition of local and regional roads in both counties Monaghan and Cavan. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of substantial development and funding in the road section, the net result of which is many local roads in both Monaghan and Cavan have reached a state where they are impassable. I am…

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this country and worldwide, killing more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer combined. I welcome a new initiative, a pilot scheme being undertaken by a number of GPs in north County Dublin and the Beaumont RCSI cancer treatment centre, which received over €4.9 million in funding from the Irish Cancer Society. The purpose of this screening programme is to identify at an early stage the signs of lung cancer so that treatment can…