I thank the Senator-----

It is in the report. I am not saying anything that is not public knowledge.

I am aware of that, but-----

It was reckless in its behaviour with respect to safety.

As the Senator pointed out, it is a one-person company, which makes the person easily identifiable.

The name of the one-person company is long in the public domain.

I am aware of that, but it is not here to defend itself.

The Minister named the company, not me, so-----

It might be a matter for a Commencement debate.

My point is-----

I know but, to be fair to everybody, each contribution should not exceed two minutes. I do not disagree. The Senator is entitled to raise the issue, which is important, but I want to be fair to everybody.

These issues have to be aired in public.

I agree, but a Commencement matter is a way of doing so.

We are about to reward a contract to a company again for ten years. If, for example, the incumbent is part of the tendering process-----

I know, but it is a matter for a Commencement debate. The Senator is over time. He has raised this before and-----

Do I not have an obligation as a public representative to raise these issues?

Absolutely, but the Senator needs to use the two minutes-----

-----and the only place I can do that safely is in here because I have been threatened by the Department-----

But the Senator can table a Commencement matter.

-----that it will contact the other people.

There is the possibility of a Commencement matter and other ways in which this can be raised. The committee can also be used. I have done it myself regarding the Coast Guard service. The committee has had hearings on it that lasted five hours, but we do not have five hours here.

Let me put something on the record.

Senator-----

We have been prevented many times from talking about SAR services. We now have a Bill going through this House-----

I am not preventing the Senator from talking; I am just trying to be fair to everybody. Everyone has two minutes.

I am trying to be as-----

I give a bit of latitude, but there is taking a mile when given an inch.

I am trying to be measured here. We have a Bill on air navigation going through the House. We are not listening to the pilots. We must listen to the pilots lest we find ourselves down this road again.

I ask the Senator to submit a Commencement matter or raise it with the transport committee.

He can bring the matter up here as long as he can do so within two minutes, or three minutes if the Senator is allowed to lead off tomorrow.

Okay.

I call Senator Malcolm Byrne.

I will try to do this within two minutes.

I ask the Senator to please try. At least make an effort.

I raise the issue of the culinary arts students at the Technological University Dublin, who do not have changing facilities. This is a significant concern given that we are talking about people operating in a kitchen environment and such a situation is not suitable for hygienic reasons. Equally, however, there are also questions here concerning student dignity. It is not acceptable to expect students to have to change in toilets and corridors. I submitted a query about this issue to the management of the university, and the matter has also been raised by the students union there and by the Ógra Fianna Fáil cumann. This situation was broached with the management of the university prior to the start of the academic year, but frankly I do not think it is acceptable for those students not to have the appropriate changing facilities, especially given the nature of the work in which they are engaged.

The second issue I wish to raise concerns a lovely story covered in today’s Gorey Guardian and syndicated on Independent.ie. I refer to an interview with a young actor, Jayson Murray, conducted by Cathy Lee. Jayson recently starred in a play in the Abbey Theatre entitled What I (Don't) Know About Autism. The production raised a great deal of awareness of the positive contribution made to society by people with autism. Jayson speaks in the interview about his own experience and the impact of the pandemic on people with autism. As our society recovers from the pandemic, we must indeed consider the impact it has had on those with autism. Jayson tells people to feel free to ask questions of people who have autism and to try to understand the condition, and the more awareness and engagement we can have, the better.