Before I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business, we are joined in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery by Jeremy Wilmshurst, the First Secretary of the British Embassy, George Moore, also from the embassy, and Daniel Katte, head of the Ireland team at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. They are all very welcome. I know Jeremy will be leaving us shortly, to be replaced by George. He is returning to London. On behalf of the Seanad, we wish Jeremy all the best for the future and thank him for his assiduous work in developing excellent relationships with Members and officials of both Houses, but especially the Seanad. We look forward to working with George and building good relationships with him into the future. We wish Jeremy all the best on his next travels.

I join with the Leas-Cathaoirleach in congratulating Jeremy on what we assume is a promotion to new pastures. I thank him for his service and friendship over the years. I wish George the very best of luck and welcome him to his promotion here as well.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024 - Committee Stage (resumed), to be taken at 4.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 6.15 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 2, Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023 – Committee Stage, to be taken at 6.15 p.m.

I support the Order of Business. I, too, wish Jeremy well. I had the opportunity to do so outside the Chamber. Of course, I wish George well too. He has big shoes to follow in terms of the excellent work that Jeremy has done.

Today is a good news day for commuters from Kildare and Newbridge because the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, announced that the fair fares scheme will be implemented on 28 April. What does that mean? It means an incredible amount. For commuters from Newbridge, fares will go down by 45% on average and, for commuters from Kildare town, fares will go down by 37% on average. There will also be an integrated Leap card scheme. This is long overdue but it is very important that we finally have the date it will be implemented. We all look forward to that day.

While today is a good day for commuters, last Friday was the start of bad days for daycare and meals on wheels services in Allenwood. The meals on wheels service in Kildare South delivered almost 40,000 meals in 2024. There were 11 different providers, of which Allenwood was one. Now, there are only ten. The Leader will recall that I have raised this issue previously, including as a Commencement matter with the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell. The problem was that the existing service provider pulled out last December, although meals on wheels were delivered right up to last Friday. There is a new provider ready to step in but apparently that will not happen until June. Between December and June, we will have no daycare and, between last Friday and June, there will be no meals on wheels. This is a rural part of Kildare where people are quite vulnerable and dependent on this delivery five days a week. I had the opportunity to call to the daycare centre on Friday to thank Albert, Fred and the other staff and to wish them well. There were tears on behalf of the service users and the staff. It was very sad. I am disappointed that the Minister of State did not meet the group, as he committed to here.

Finally, I raise the issue of catfishing. It needs to be taken seriously. Teenagers are being misled daily and adults are being manipulated by fraudsters preying on people’s vulnerabilities and loneliness. The consequences can be very serious and far-reaching. I pay credit to former Senator Lisa Chambers, who authored a Bill to deal with this issue. I was the proposer for the Bill and it will be put back on the Order Paper this week. It is beyond time for us to deal with catfishing.