The issue I wish to raise today which I know is of concern to a lot of people is the closure of Tara Mines, albeit perhaps temporarily. I have been contacted by a number of people, both people who work there and have worked there. Councillor Paddy Meade has spoken to me about it. There is very much a direct connection with the impacted workers. These things are happening not just in Ireland but across the globe but the fact Tara Mines cannot say how long these 650 workers will be out of work is very worrying. There were discussions on "Morning Ireland" earlier about unsustainable losses tied to changes in the prices of zinc and electricity, inflation, and operational issues. The mine will be put under care and maintenance over the next four weeks but the reasons for that are of course little comfort to the 650 workers who have been temporarily laid off. One of the people I spoke to said they did not know whether they should start looking for work. By the way, they have worked in Tara Mines for a considerable amount of time. They liked working there. They liked their colleagues and their job and do not particularly want to go somewhere else but there is a state of uncertainty for them. People have families to provide for and mortgages to pay. People have their own inflation and cost-of-living crisis that they must deal with. This level of uncertainty, albeit perhaps unavoidable, and the shock of it has been remarkable for the people I spoke to who currently work there and have worked there, and others. I am not sure whether we need to have a debate on this but perhaps a call to Government. I understand the Government has offered whatever assistance it can. It is that certainty piece that is the most important. Will this really just be a temporary situation or will half or some of the 650 workers be permanently laid off? While it may be difficult for the company, this kind of swift operational thinking is of vital importance to the workers. It is a company of people who have worked there for decades of their lives and who have spent a considerable amount of time there. As Tara Mines is a big employer in County Meath, I hope it is only a short-term crisis and that it will not be a permanent closure. I wish to put on record that whatever needs to be done, be that through the Minister, Deputy Coveney, or others, that the Government tries to find a resolution to this and give those workers certainty as to what will happen whether they will go back into the workforce or if they need to begin to search for other work.

As with the Senator, Councillor Paddy Meade got in touch with me this morning and I am sure that, along with other members of the House, our thoughts are with the workers in Tara Mines. The Senator is right that it is the job uncertainty about how long the future lay-offs will be for.

I am sure Members will raise the matter. Councillor Meade was in touch with me this morning regarding it. Our thoughts are with the families, staff and workers of Tara Mines.

I express the same sentiments as my fellow Seanadóirí who have spoken on this. Tara Mines is weighing heavily on the minds of everybody at present, especially in the area where I live in north-west County Meath, including towards Athboy and that catchment area around Navan. It is a serious concern that such a vast swathe of jobs is to be put on hold at once. We had that experience previously and it was not nice when it happened. I am curious, in that while the price of zincs, coppers and many associated metals has dropped and halved recently, it had been on some run for quite an extended time. Tara Mines made quite a lot of money over the past number of years. You cannot just take the good with the bad; you have to have a long-term plan. The management is not being fully honest in the way it is looking at its figures and running its operation. Senator Gavan also has made a couple of similar points in that regard. I press the Acting Leader to bring the issue of Tara Mines to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, including what extra things can be done to get it up and functioning again.

I would like to be associated with yesterday's expressions of sympathy regarding our former colleague and Leas-Chathaoirleach, Mr. Paul Coghlan. We will have another day for proper expressions of sympathy for the late Senator.

I support Senator McGahon on the issue he raised regarding the €70,000 grant for first-time buyers. That issue could nearly be resolved now. I compliment the Minister on being on top of it but the grant's hold-up has caused some hardship to some people. Issues with it should probably have been ironed out before the scheme was launched. It is a great scheme. The banks are looking for their pound of flesh to get protection in case anything goes wrong and the taxpayer comes in at the end of the day as well. The issue may well be resolved.

I also support what Senator Clonan said about the Ombudsman's report this morning regarding disability grants for disabled drivers. We have to do more on that issue. That report warrants a debate in the House. I ask the Acting Leader to arrange a debate on the report at some stage. There are so many different forms of transport out there, from disability scooters to cars, which can help disabled drivers. Every effort should be made to make life easier for them because they experience a lot of hardship. Whatever we can do, we should be doing it. As the Ombudsman said this morning, some of those grants were there for 40 years but have not been in place for the past ten years. It is an issue we should look at and on which the Government should intervene straight away. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is doing a lot of work in this area. I have no doubt she is a very competent person and will deal with the issue but the report warrants a debate in the House. I would welcome such a debate in future.