I thank colleagues for the variety of topics that have been raised.

Senator Ward has outlined the mistakes that we have made as a State over many years by centralising too much. One can see how unsuccessful it has been in our health service delivery and in how we are now unravelling and unwinding it and going back to regionalisation. The Government acknowledged last year that the SHD process was an unmitigated disaster and we are going back to the way we know how to do things well. That is empowering our local politicians. We also need public consultation with local citizens on the changes that make an impact on their lives. We need to have that proper communications process and we see it working well with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, as Senator Currie mentioned. I will ask for a debate on that unravelling and the new process that will replace the SHD process.

Senator Ward and other colleagues highlighted the importance of restating the State's intention to deliver on major infrastructural projects with the second iteration of Project Ireland 2040 being announced by Government yesterday. As the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform detailed, it is €165 billion, which is the largest amount of money that has ever been put behind a national development plan. As one of our colleagues mentioned this morning, €11.4 billion of that is allocated for public transport investment. If MetroLink is going to cost €10 billion it does not leave an awful lot for the rest of the country. We could probably put triple the amount of money into the national development plan and still have people giving out that there is no money associated with particular projects that we all care about. It is a rolling project and something we are proud of. It is the continuing investment by the State into making people's lives better and providing them with services. I acknowledge and thank all the colleagues who have raised that this morning.

Senator Dolan talked about life slowly returning to normal and I am happy that those day services in Ballinasloe are reopening. Senator O'Loughlin is the chair of our cross-party Oireachtas group on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. I thank her for the presentation last week of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's pre-budget submissions. Life is starting to return to normal for those people who rely on the provision of day services. I mention the huge amount of services that are provided, not necessarily by the State but by private organisations and I know only too well the fantastic work done by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. It is good to see that life is coming back to normal.

Senator Currie mentioned that the DART+ West public consultation process will close tomorrow. Along with her I would encourage all of the citizens concerned to have their say because changes will be made and we want that to be done while empowering the people whose lives will be impacted by those changes.

Senators Maria Byrne and Gavan talked about the need for a debate on University Hospital Limerick and such a debate is required. I contest one point; there has been significant investment in Limerick over the last ten years although clearly not enough investment has been made. Some 96 new beds and a major extension have gone in but there is a need for a debate on what is needed now and what will be needed in the short term. I will try to arrange that as quickly as possible. It is nice to see colleagues from the same locality agreeing for a change.

From Senator Maria Byrne's perspective, I also want to acknowledge the concern around what seems to be the downgrading of the N20 and M20. That needs explanation.

If the expected plans for the Limerick-Cork project have changed, they need to be brought to the attention of all the people who will be affected by that. I will convey that message to the Minister for the Senator.

Senator Buttimer sought a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the One-China policy. I will ask for that debate. The Minister will be in the House this evening and next Wednesday evening. The debate sought is important, particularly given the events of the past week or ten days. I will again ask for that debate and come back to the Senator on it.

Senator O'Sullivan spoke of €3.5 billion that is the mainstay of the Taoiseach's shared island initiative and the investment across the shared island, which is important. I will ask the Tánaiste for an update for the Senator on the task force for the Shannon Estuary.

Senator Cummins raised the issue of the €11.6 billion for new public transport and €5.8 billion for new roads. Senator Gallagher asked for a letter to be sent to the Minister for Health seeking free mammograms for all women over the age of 40. I will put that letter in the post on behalf of all of us today and will let the Senator know when I get a response.

Senator Gavan, among others, spoke of St. Brigid’s Day. Senator O’Loughlin spoke about it when opening our proceedings today. When I was a child my primary school was St. Brigid’s National Holy Faith Convent School. I do not remember that she was from Kildare but I remember always thinking that she was ours. I grew up in Finglas and the Senator grew up in Kildare but St. Brigid belongs to all of us from every county in every part of the country. I hope we settle on St. Brigid’s Day for the new bank holiday. Regardless of whether we call it Brigid’s Day or St. Brigid’s Day, we all know the important role she played.

Senators Carrigy and Fitzpatrick raised the issue of anti-social behaviour and its prevalence not only in Dublin. The prevalence of the issue in Dublin was raised in the House a number of times in recent weeks. We saw from the television coverage last night that it is prevalent in Limerick, Cork, Galway and in many of our urban centres. My son, who is only 22 years of age, emigrated to Berlin in June and is home at the moment. He went out socialising at the weekend and when he came home yesterday evening he told me it is nearly impossible not to get involved in a fight in Dublin city because of the number of people who come into the city specifically and solely looking to either involve themselves in or cause trouble. It is bizarre that our young people have nothing else to do except find their entertainment in that way, shape or form. A number of colleagues sought a debate on this issue last week. I think we need a new task force on policing not only in Dublin but in many of our urban centres to adopt a specific response to this new type of entertainment. We opened our streets in the past year because we did not have anywhere else for people to entertain themselves but it certainly was not with the hope that this would be the result. I will bring that message back to the Minister for Justice.

Senator Craughwell, as he has on a number of occasions, spoke passionately about a topic he really cares about and in which he believes. I can do no more than bring the concerns he raised again this morning back to the Minister and ask for a response. I will go one step further and phone the Minister today. The matters the Senator highlighted, particularly in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report in recent days, require a response.

Well said.

If it is not necessarily in a debate form, they definitely require a response. I will do my level best to get the Senator a response this week.

I thank the Leader for that.

Senator Lombard spoke of being starstruck when he was walking around west Cork by all the famous people who were there. He was right in stating support for the film industry needs to be highlighted in the budget that will be presented next Tuesday. Senator Carrigy also mentioned this issue. Those in the industry have had a devastating number of years. They provide every section of society with entertainment. They definitely need to be supported by way of tax measures next week.

I applaud Senator Clifford-Lee on the pairing arrangement she entered into with our colleague, Senator Flynn. It is something that should not be understated. It is an important arrangement and an enormous gesture but we should not need gestures. We should have proper arrangements in order that women can take maternity leave and men can take paternity leave. It is long past time for moaning and nagging about this. We should have it in every walk of society, every part of political life and every part of our working lives. It should be taken for granted that a woman when she has a baby can spend time at home with the baby and a man when his wife or partner has a baby can stay at home and bond with that family relationship. On behalf of all of us, I extend to Eileen and Liam heartiest congratulations on baby Lacey’s safe arrival. I know Eileen had a tough couple of months. I have no doubt that Billie will be a great big sister. I wish them well.

Senator Wall spoke about St. Brigid's Day and called for a debate on housing. The debate we had on housing last Wednesday was adjourned rather than concluded. As soon as the Minister is available to continue that debate, I will arrange for him to come to the House as quickly as possible.

Senator Ó Donnghaile talked about the mother and baby institutions report being issued today in Northern Ireland and the reflecting debate that will arise from the horribleness of what is in the report and the recommendations that will be required to make reparations. He is also looking for a debate on the Northern Ireland protocol. He raised this last week and I was able to text him later to say that the Taoiseach will come to the Seanad on 4 November to have a debate on that and to take statements from us. A very important part of the Taoiseach's proposals and programme is the shared island initiative, and I think the input of the Northern Ireland protocol to the prosperity and the increase in business between North and South will form part of his statement. We could probably have a debate on the Northern Ireland protocol separate from the debate with the Taoiseach. I will follow up on that for the Senator today.

Senator Garvey talked about the rent price increase in Clare being at 16.1%, which is off the wall, and the requirement for rent pressure zones. That will probably form part of the debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he comes back to the House. I will let the Senator know the date of that engagement as soon as I can.

Senator Keogan talked about child safeguarding in schools and the policies arising from instances that have been brought to her attention. I can speak about this only because when I was Minister for Social Protection - and it is that Department, for some reason, the gender recognition legislation sits under, not the Departments of Health or Education - there was a review of the 2015 legislation done, independently commissioned by the Minister at the time, who just happened to be me. There were quite a number of recommendations arising from that review as to how to update the 2015 legislation, but, unfortunately, I do not believe anything has happened on that since then. I might send a letter on our behalf to ask the Minister the current status of the recommendations and when new legislation will come that will provide safeguarding and guidelines to everybody who deals with children, whether schools, sports clubs or hospitals. I will follow up on that for the Senator today.

Senator Ahearn opened this morning with the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, extending Tús and the CE scheme, which is welcome. Things have not been normal for those workers since the onset of the pandemic. Therefore, they have not been able to learn and be mentored in the way they would normally be, so it is a welcome extension. The Senator also talked about the issue of work permits. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy English, was here this morning and last week discussing work permits and the pilot scheme he is trying to get off the ground. The issue is probably not unique to the hospitality sector because our horticulture, agriculture and farming sectors are crying out for workers. There is food being left in the ground because they do not have anybody to pick it, which is crazy. Whatever red tape is there, we need to cut through it to make sure we have food security and staff for the industries that are only trying to get back on their feet.

Senator O'Loughlin started by mentioning, as did other colleagues, the fact that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We wear our pink with pride and in solidarity with the women we have lost and the women who are still fighting, and fight they will continue. Senator Gallagher's suggestion to try to decrease the age by which women in Ireland get mammograms is a welcome initiative, and I will send that letter off. We will wear our pink and wear it proud.