I call the Leader to respond.

I thank my colleagues. James Cawley is a person I know well. It is a long time since I have seen him so I want to send him our best regards. I acknowledge the asks. If there was ever an organisation that amplifies the "nothing about us without us" ethos, it is certainly something for Mr. Cawley's organisation to be credited with.

I know Senator Carrigy raised the cost of fuel and VAT reclamation with the Minister for Finance. I wish him well, in particular in regard to that industry, as it is going to become a very big issue in regard to losing business to our Northern Ireland colleagues and customers.

Senator Ahearn talked about the roll-out of broadband. I very much welcome the all-party consensus on the fact it was a good and right investment to make. To be honest, I do not think there is anything wrong with us clamouring to improve the speed at which it delivers on behalf of the people we serve. I will certainly organise a debate because it seems to have slipped just a little bit. To expect people to wait until 2027 is not on. I will organise that as quickly as I can.

With regard to Senator Lombard’s point, I am reminded that when my children were small, although this is probably not the most politically correct thing to say, the only time we would get to go out for a pint was on a Sunday, when we went down to watch the match in the local GAA club. I take on board the merits of what the Senator is saying and that it is not and should not have to be a necessity. We did it for pleasure and to get out, but the fact families are being forced to do it, in particular to go to pubs in our villages, is just not on. They certainly should not have to do it. It is a debate that we definitely should have. We all cherish different sports and I do not think any sport that is in the national interest, and certainly one that has a national team, not least of which is the GAA, should have to be paid for to be watched. I will certainly raise that and ask for a debate.

Senators Ward and Ahearn extolled the virtues of women in business. I would say that this is something us women knew, long before National Women's Enterprise Day. I do not think this can be overemphasised and, although we have been talking a lot about women's issues, it is probably new to me, as a Member of the Seanad, because it is certainly not something we ever did very much of in the Dáil for the last ten years. It is to be commended from the perspective of the Seanad. Women do not just run businesses; they run homes, communities, families, school libraries and they are involved in every single facet and asset that we call this great country of ours. I have to tell the House that I am sorry that they are not recognised a fraction enough, given what they contribute to our society. I thank both Senators for raising National Women's Enterprise Day.

The coolest place in the world to live is a pretty high accolade, so congratulations to Dublin 8 and to all of the people who represent Dublin 8 here today.

Senator Seery Kearney is right that the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, as an organisation and as a committee, is certainly the right place to highlight what are injustices in the delivery of services and the provision of income supports for people with disabilities. Although this is probably bold and cheeky, when I was Minister with responsibility for social welfare, I obtained some €60,000 in the budget of 2019, I think, and Senator Boyhan might remember this-----

Yes, I do.

It was to commission a report on the cost of disability because the €203 flat fee or income support for all people who have disabilities, at entirely different levels of the spectrum and entirely different levels of outgoings because of their disability, just does not cut it. Senator Seery Kearney might ask the Minister where that report is and we might have a debate on that because it will then be based on structured research, and we can have a proper discussion as to what needs to be done.

The difficulty is that it is across every Department.

It might be a good place for us to start. Let us have a look at the report and see what the recommendations were. I ask the Senator to contact the Minister for that one.

Senator Mullen talked about the meeting he organised this morning. I thank him and I think he is right. I do not know about sending it to everyone but he could definitely send it to me and to all colleagues. I did not have an opportunity to attend this morning. That recent court case in the midlands concerning women totally abusing other women really shocked me. In my mind, we nearly expect men to abuse women and, again, maybe that is a stereotypical image, which is wrong. However, we have a real, serious and growing issue in this country, and it definitely needs to be highlighted. I thank the Senator for that.

Senator Martin talked about East Belfast GAA Club, which was founded just over a year ago. Again, we can shine a light on the fact that Linda Ervine is a very calm, intelligent and respectful woman, and to acknowledge what she said this morning.

Senator Maria Byrne talked about the extra 100 neurology nurses needed around the country and I will certainly ask for a debate. It is shocking that eight are required in one setting that looks after one region of the country. I will try to do that as quickly as I can.

Senator Conway asked for a debate on the continuing saga of the ownership of the national maternity hospital. The recent announcement by the audit and risk committee certainly highlights some of the things that some of us have been saying for quite a long time, that is, there is no way that hospital can be built without it being in full public ownership and without us having full control over it. This is certainly the time for a new debate.

Senator Malcolm Byrne talked about the CAP payments system and the negotiations on CAP. The Senator is absolutely right. We cannot talk about sustainable farming from an environmental perspective without ensuring we have sustainable incomes for those people who work, love and cherish our land. I will organise that debate as quickly as I can.

Senator Dolan talked about Marathonkids Ireland, which is a great initiative and I wish them every success.

Senator Crowe raised the issue of the 100,000 people, most of them young, awaiting driving tests. His idea of extending to weekend testing is a great one. I will send a letter in that regard to the Minister.

Senator Ruane asked for a debate on care leavers. I am happy to be able to tell her that a debate on children in care and thereafter is scheduled for 11 November. The Minister agreed to that this morning. I look forward to that debate.

Senator Boylan raised the issue of Merchants Arch and the announcement in recent weeks of the plans in that regard, which are ludicrous. Why one would knock down something that is so beautiful and precious to build something that is new and average is beyond me. The Senator highlights that there is need for stronger planning legislation and a better plan on behalf of Dublin City Council.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly spoke about last night's debate on succession, which was very welcome. She also raised the issue of maternity restrictions. I am mindful that we will probably have to continue to raise this issue on a weekly basis. Although everybody is singing from the same hymn sheet in regard to the removal of restrictions for one nominated partner in the maternity journey, it does not seem to be happening. Everybody says they want it to happen, but we cannot seem to put our finger on the person who is responsible for making it happen. We need to keep raising it until it does happen to show respect and solidarity to some of the women who came out yesterday. For those who did get the opportunity to go down to the protest yesterday outside Leinster House, it was a warm and emotional protest. The feeling was lovely, perhaps because there were many babies there. It was really lovely, but they do need all of us to support them. I thank Senator Pauline O'Reilly for raising the issue.

Senator Boyhan spoke about waiting lists. It is shocking that there was an increase of 66,000 in one year. I hope it was because of Covid and that it is an overlap, but it means we are right back to trying to catch up on catching up. I will ask for a debate on hospital waiting lists but I encourage Senators to continue to raise the issue even more regularly than once a month.

Senator Kyne spoke about European Carers Day and his requests in regard to the budget, in particular for a review of the national carers strategy. Senator Murphy opened today's Order of Business with a request for a debate on childcare. It was also raised by a number of other colleagues this week. It certainly is timely. I have asked for that debate. I do not think it will happen before the budget but it will have to happen as soon as it possibly can.

Order of Business agreed to.