I do not want to begin on a negative note, but it is unfortunate to hear the phrase "so-called transgender rights" from Senator Mullen. Sinn Féin stands clearly in support of transgender rights-----

Can the Senator define them? I am sure we will agree on some of them, but not on some of the other things the Senator might describe.

Senator Gavan, without interruption.

-----and I hope that all parties will stand clearly in support of transgender rights. I wish to put that on the record.

On authentic rights, yes, but perhaps not on the fuzzy stuff the Senator comes up with.

Senator Gavan, without interruption.

I welcome the Leader back and thank her for scheduling the Fourth and Final Stages of our Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill for next Thursday. This is very much a cross-party initiative. It has received support and, indeed, signatures from almost every party here. It means a great deal to many people.

I place on record my thanks to the Leader in that regard. My understanding is the Government has promised to bring forward a Bill of its own but the latest news is that there is no timeline for that Bill appearing. I again appeal to colleagues of all parties to get behind the Together for Safety safe access Bill next Thursday. I am delighted that safe access legislation has been passed in the North. That is a step forward and I congratulate the Green Party and, indeed, my own party for making that happen in the past week. We can take a similar step and complete the passage of the safe access Bill through the Seanad next Thursday. I appeal to Senators of all parties to continue on that cross-party basis and enable that to happen.

I wish Conal Henry, the new chairperson of the Shannon Group, well. It has been an unfortunate 12 months. There was an appointment that did not go ahead. Our good colleague, former Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh, was appointed but, unfortunately, after six months he felt the need to step down. That is unfortunate because he had a great deal to offer. It would be good to understand what happened to make him feel he had to step away. A fundamental point is that in his new job, Mr. Henry needs support from the Minister for Transport. Members saw the chaotic scenes at Dublin Airport in the past week. Of course, much of that relates to the current crisis and staff shortages but the other issue in this regard - I hope colleagues from the west of Ireland will appreciate this - is that while 90% of aeroplanes are taking off from Dublin Airport, there will always be a degree of chaos. Right now, unfortunately, people are being asked to arrive three and a half hours early for their flights. We need a new national airport authority with an explicit mandate for a new regional balance to support airports in Shannon and Cork and across the west of Ireland. I am surprised the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has not grasped that. The transport committee gave him an all-party instruction to consider doing that. We need that kind of fundamental change.

I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach to allow me a few more seconds due to the interruption.

The Senator caused it.

Ultimately, we will not see the sort of fundamental change we need to secure our airports unless that regional balance is incorporated into Government policy at the highest levels. I call for a debate on that subject and for the Minister for Transport to address the House on it.

The Senator got his few seconds back.

I refer to a proposal I put forward approximately six weeks ago in respect of having a silent street for St. Patrick's Day parades. I know the Leader's office wrote to local authorities around the country to ask them to take part in that initiative. Several parades did so this year. I attended the parades in Longford and Athlone. I commend the organisers of the festival for taking this proposal on board. Very positive feedback was received on it. We will keep going with the campaign to ensure every parade does it next year. It needs to be taken on board not just in Ireland, but should be considered internationally. We have had discussions with the organisers of the parade in New York, who will consider it for 2023. I thank the parade organisers, particularly those in my home town, including Fiona Fenelon of Longford Chamber of Commerce, who took this on board and worked with local parents. Ann O'Leary, whom I know personally, was involved and has been a very strong advocate for children with autism. I thank them and put that on record. We will keep the campaign going and make sure there is more of it next year.

I refer to just transition. Many groups are struggling for funding for projects. The midlands, my area, has been particularly badly hit in the context of just transition by the closure of Lough Ree power station. Significant funding has been allocated for projects but large community contributions have to be made to ensure those projects are delivered. With prices increasing, that is becoming ever more difficult. I did some research into funding. The Western Development Commission, which covers the west of Ireland, was set up many years ago and provides low-interest loans. It has a community loan fund under which loans of between €25,000 and €250,000 are provided at 3% over ten years. It also provides bridging loans at 1% that can be used for match funding for LEADER projects under the rural development programme. I ask the Government to consider extending that scheme to the areas affected under the just transition. A significant amount of funding has been allocated for projects but these projects have not progressed as a result of the large local contribution that is required. As one involved in community activities, I know the difficulty involved in accessing money from banks and so on. If that community loan fund could be extended to cover the just transition area in a manner similar to the fund offered by the Western Development Commission, it would be of great benefit. It is about adding extra counties in which groups would be eligible to apply to that fund. I would be very grateful for that. It would ensure we actually deliver a just transition for the midlands.

That is an interesting proposition.