I concur with the Cathaoirleach's remarks and welcome the Speaker and our Maltese friends to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. They are most welcome here this morning.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Seventeenth Report of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, motion regarding the reappointment of members of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of No. 1; No. 3, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Institutional Burials Act 2022 (Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam) Order 2022, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude after one hour, if not previously concluded, with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed six minutes, those of group spokespersons not to exceed seven minutes each, and the Minister to be given not less than five minutes to reply to the debate; No. 4, Higher Education Authority Bill 2022, Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stages, to be taken at 1.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 3.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 5, Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020 – Committee Stage (resumed), to adjourn at 5.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 6, statements on the procurement process for a new Irish Coast Guard aviation service, to be taken at 5.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 5, whichever is the earlier, and to conclude after one hour, if not previously concluded, with the opening contribution of the Minister is not to exceed six minutes, those of group spokespersons not to exceed seven minutes each, and the Minister to be given not less than five minutes to reply to the debate; and Private Members’ business, No. 114, motion 3 regarding school transport, to be taken at 6.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 6, whichever is the later, with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming our Maltese friends and the Speaker. I have a family connection with Malta insofar as my mother's great aunt was a Little Sister of the Poor who went out to Malta aged 16 years, believe it or not, and was in the convent in Hamrun near Valletta. I visited her grave some years ago. It was a tremendous commitment on her part but it was also a very sad story. She left Ireland as a young woman at 16 years and she never returned. At some stage in the 1950s or 1960s, a group of our family were emigrating to Australia and the boat they took was to stop in Valletta. There was great excitement as a package was prepared for a Sr. Louis Charles, as her name was. She went down to Valletta to meet the boat but, unfortunately, there was a storm and the boat was unable to dock. It was a terrible sadness at that time. The boat continued and she never got to meet anyone from her family again. It shows that, going back, the links between Malta and Ireland are very strong. I have heard people say we are the only English-speaking country left in the EU, but of course that is not true. It is great to see another English-speaking nation join us here today. They are very welcome.

In the context of the EU, colleagues here are members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. It is responsible for the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, in Strasbourg. This week it elected Síofra O'Leary, the Irish judge, as the president of the court. That is a tremendous honour. Síofra O'Leary is a very accomplished European lawyer and has a proven track record on the court. It is very welcome that the honour has been bestowed on the Irish judge on the court and that she would be elected president. It is important to point out the ECHR goes beyond the borders of the EU and to the Council of Europe. It is an incredibly important body.

One of the most important things we have done in Ireland in recent times, which I very much welcome, is that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has moved to join a case against Russia under Article 16 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Russia has been excluded from the Council of Europe because of its illegal actions in Ukraine, but there was a six-month window which ran until last Friday within which actions could be taken against Russia in the European court for breaches of the convention. I called in the House on 25 May last year for Ireland to initiate or join such a case. I am delighted the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has now done that and we will be part of an action taken by a number of European states against Russia for its egregious breaches of the convention against Ukraine. We know the history of that conflict. We have had Ukrainian MPs here and some of us have visited Ukraine. It is entirely appropriate and laudable that Ireland would join that action and put down a very clear marker that we in no way accept the validity of Russia's actions which were compounded this week by Mr. Putin's support for sham referendums in the occupied territories in Ukraine. I welcome that action by this country. It is part of our proud tradition as part of the Council of Europe. I congratulate the president of the court.

I also add my voice in welcoming our distinguished visitors form Malta. I have had the opportunity to visit Malta on the area of inclusion in sport, the Special Olympics and the Paralympics. I know the Maltese have a very strong and proud tradition of excellent inclusion in their country. I also add my congratulations to Judge Síofra O'Leary. She is not only the first Irish person to hold the post but also the very first woman to hold the position of president. We are all incredibly proud of her. She is a very strong leader over in Strasbourg in the European world of justice.

The National Transport Authority, NTA, has just released the new timetable to come into effect from 11 December, with additional train services in Mayo, Carlow and Tullamore and the commuter belt. Newbridge will have 12 extra services, which will be very welcome. They are very important to us. There will also be additional services between Hazelhatch and Pearse and Grand Canal Dock stations. I contend we need to have the extra services to Grand Canal Dock starting before Hazelhatch. It is very important Newbridge and Kildare have the opportunity. I got the train this morning. There are only two of those particular trains and only one that would suit if someone had to be somewhere for 9 a.m. There is a consultation on this on the NTA website. It is open until Sunday, 3 October. It is important the public gives its feedback and keeps pressing for the extension of the short hop zone to that area.

I also raise the issue of modular housing. All our communities and towns have been under a lot of pressure with housing, and at the same time they have shown a very strong welcome to the Ukrainians. There is a pilot scheme of modular housing for Ukrainians in five counties. I am not opposed at all to modular housing. In fact, we should have been looking at them long ago for our own housing situation and for students. However, I really object to the manner in which they are happening. Two pilot sites have been chosen in Kildare. There will be no planning process whatever. Kildare councillors have just come through a very detailed process of the county development plan. It is wrong when all that is ignored and there is no room for third level submissions. It is the wrong system and the Minister needs to look at that.

The Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, ONE, looks after ex-military personnel and does incredible work in our communities. We are very lucky it has a full-time centre in Athy. Newbridge has a considerable concentration of former military personnel. The St. Conleth branch in the Curragh camp has to leave because the premises is not suitable. It is crucial we provide a place in the town of Newbridge. It is basically an advice centre combined with a community-type men's shed. The Department of Defence should help support it along with Kildare County Council.

Before we proceed, I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the Maltese delegation. I had the privilege of meeting them with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs committee yesterday. I echo the Cathaoirelach's words and those of the other Senators on that. They are very welcome. We are friendly countries with a lot of cultural ties and many political issues in common. It is great to have everyone here and I hope this will start a period of further friendship between our two great countries.

I echo the words of our Cathaoirleach. I hope the rest of their trip is successful and that they have a safe journey back.

I return to the list of speakers. Next is Councillor Sharon Keogan, my neighbour from Cavan. I could hardly ignore a Cavan woman.