Hear, hear.

It is an important day because it celebrates the positive values that men bring to their families, to their communities, to the world and, in this case, to the Seanad and the Dáil. The day has gone from strength to strength. As we hear a lot about International Women's Day, it is important that we celebrate International Men's Day. The day is important to me because it is also my dear departed dad's birthday. It is a day that I will always remember. One of the six pillars of International Men’s Day is to improve gender relations and to promote gender equality not just for men, but for women also. In that light, the theme for 2021 is better relations between men and women. I am glad to say that in the Seanad we all have an excellent relationship and work very well together. We all need to lead by example to promote respect for one another and to create a fairer and safer society.

This week is also Transgender Awareness Week. It is a week to help raise visibility about transgender people and address issues that members of the community face on an ongoing basis. As a society, we need to show compassion and understanding. We also need to address bigotry in relation to transgender issues. We need to listen to the stories of the men and the women and to understand where they are coming from. I think it was Oscar Wilde who said, “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” We need to give people that opportunity to be themselves.

There is good news today for the people of Newbridge. I spoke before about the possibility and potential for Newbridge and Kildare County Council to acquire the Patrician monastery, which is located within the community of Newbridge. I am glad to confirm that Kildare County Council has acquired this unique and centrally located building. I hope that the council will use it in full consultation with the people of Newbridge, to serve all of the community, young and old. I look forward to the possibility of a new playground, which we need there also.

The last point I would like to raise is that tomorrow is the very first Adult Safeguarding Day. I am proud to wear the pin that we all received in the post. The day is about putting measures in place to uphold rights and support health and well-being, particularly for those that are vulnerable.

I thank the Senator for mentioning International Men's Day, as well as her father, who I know was an inspiration to her in being involved in public service and public life.

I wish to join Senator O’Loughlin in recognising International Men’s Day. I had a Commencement matter debate on this issue yesterday. I welcome the fact that the Department of Health is renewing the men’s health strategy, which has been a huge success since 2009 in improving and giving recognition to men's health issues. It is important that we continue to promote and urge all men to get regular health checkups and to visit their GPs, as well as to encourage women and men to encourage their menfolk to get a checkup at regular occasions.

Yesterday's announcements by the Government obviously were difficult. They have led to much frustration about the possibility of further restrictions down the line, particularly as the Christmas period approaches. I note one of the initiatives will be working from home and encouraging people where possible to work from home, whether that is for three or four days per week. There is an obvious recognition that many people do not have that possibility, such as people who are out and about on construction sites, those who are in trades and salespeople, or whatever. They are continuously working away from home. That possibility may not be there in most cases.

Connectedhubs.ie, which is operated by the Department and the national hub network, is a Government of Ireland initiative providing a vehicle for individual hubs to come together. It is important, and recognition once again that we will see remote working or working from home being thrust onto people, but there are huge benefits in relation to working from home. There are 164 co-working hubs across the State, identified as part of connectedhubs.ie, with 220 desk plans available and 214 meeting rooms, offering private rooms and meeting spaces, co-working and collaboration spaces, hot desks, virtual office facilities and enterprise and supports to help and grow businesses. This is an initiative from Our Rural Future, a programme of the Department of Rural and Community Development, and supported by the Western Development Commission. The national hub network working group, led by the Department of Rural and Community Development, has identified more than 400 remote working hubs across the country. There is still an opportunity for more of these hubs to be part of the connectedhubs.ie programme, which is accessible. If a person is going to Connemara or Kerry for a holiday, for example, and perhaps needs to find space to partake in a vital meeting - even though he or she should be relaxing on the holiday, this is not always possible - then the opportunity would be there and this platform identifies the hubs and is easily booked. A person could book an hour in the Portershed in Galway, or elsewhere. It is a wonderful initiative. It would be important to get an update from the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on the progress on this and how we can get more than 400 hubs identified and onto the connectedhubs.ie platform.