I thank all Senators for their contributions this morning. We started with Senator Ní Chuilinn, who had a very interesting proposal for co-locating EpiPens with defibrillators around the country. We know the important role defibrillators play in saving lives. EpiPens clearly have a very important role as well. This is an interesting proposal. I will consult with the Minister with responsibility for food safety, depending on who has responsibility, to see if the proposal is either practical or possible. In the meantime, the Senator may wish to raise this as a Commencement matter.

Senator Costello spoke about givinostat, which is a drug that assists with slowing down the progression of DMD. Will the Senator put down a Commencement matter in order that she may get a quicker response? Obviously, there is an impact on the 110 people who are living with this progressive disease. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Health.

Senator Boyhan referred to the national planning framework. There is a lot to debate here. The Minister for Housing was in last week. I am not sure if the Senator was present or if he got the opportunity to raise this matter.

I was.

I am also not sure whether the Minister was able to give any reassurance or response in respect of it. I will raise the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, to see if he can get involved, perhaps by coming to the House to discuss this very important issue.

We had over zoning over many years in respect of which there was no control. When I first served as a councillor in 2004 and 2005, hundreds of acres in small and medium-sized towns were being zoned. There was a change in policy to try to regulate what was happening but perhaps it went too far. We need to ensure that we have land zoned not for the sake of it and not to benefit somebody but, rather, to ensure it is serviced and available. We have a mixture of zoning, serviced sites initiatives and investment in services to make sites available for planning. There is also the zoned land tax. The Senator talked about active farmers, who are very important. The Government has been clear on the need to exclude active farmers from the zoning tax. As I said last week, it is my view that lands should not be zoned while being actively farmed without the tax. It is a case of having the lands dezoned, and that policy was there. This is a very important matter. The Senator also talked about the Housing Commission and An Bord Pleanála. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to come before the House to discuss those matters.

Senator Collins talked about thatched houses, which are part of our built heritage. They are not as common as they once were. As a result, it is important they are protected. I have come across some cases where, for example, a council will not buy a house under the tenant in situ scheme because it had a thatched roof. There is an issue in relation to insurance costs. Obviously, the cost of insurance relates to the risk. Insurance companies have made a judgment on the greater risk from relating to thatched houses. This is a real issue of concern. I am not sure where to go with it but perhaps if the Senator put down a Commencement matter then the Minister of State with responsibility for heritage, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, might be able to shed some light on possibilities. There was a news story during the week of a school in Portnoo in Donegal that is involved in training the next generation of thatchers. That is a positive development. It was on the RTÉ website during the week.

Senator Cosgrove talked of Marian, may she rest in peace, and her daughter Martha in the context of dense breast tissue. The information provided by the Senator is very interesting information. I was not aware of it either. It certainly makes sense that 3D mammograms and breast ultrasound scans would take place in those cases where there is dense breast tissue. I will certainly raise this matter with the Minister. Perhaps the Senator could also table a Commencement matter in order to get a more direct response.

Senator Paul Daly talked about the interesting and positive news in relation to greenhouse gas emissions and lower figures in this regard that are now evident here. Ireland has a grass-based food, beef and dairy system that is different from those in other countries across the world that involve more intensive feeding indoors.

That is possibly why the standards are being considered. If there are international standards, there are always outliers. Clearly, if Ireland is an outlier, then we need to be able to use the most up-to-date data about our emissions. I will ask one of the Ministers, Deputies Heydon or O'Brien, to come to the Chamber to discuss this matter.

Senator Linda Nelson Murray, supported by Senator Boyle, talked about the safe routes to school programme. When this announcement, more than 1,000 schools applied. Different tranches have been done over the years. The most recent tranche in November involved 141 schools. There is clearly an appetite and demand. If a school is not picked this year, then parents, the board of management, teachers and principals will ask where it is on the list and when it will be picked. The decisions are made, I believe, by An Taisce-----

Yes.

-----and the NTA, but the county councils have a role, too. It is an important and valuable scheme and we want to see greater investment in it. I will raise that with the Minister for Transport.

Senator Craughwell talked about the important issue of tariffs. Senator McCarthy raised the matter, too. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is in the United States today. He has stated:

We are here to keep the lines of communications open with US political and business leaders as well as share insights and engage. During the visit I will be emphasising our desire to find a negotiated solution between the EU and US on tariffs and that I am fully supportive of Commissioner Šefčovič’s work.

I will make the point that the European Union is ready right now to negotiate.

We wish the Tánaiste well in his engagements with Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce, over the course of today and the next few days.

Senator Boyle again raised issues relating to the stretch of the N56 from Inver Bridge to Bruckless and its impact on safety. I know there were announcements last week or the week before about Transport Infrastructure Ireland funding. I am not sure if there was any good news in that for the N56. I know there will be greater funding for national roads towards the end of the decade than at the start. That was the agreement under the previous Government, which had a greater emphasis on public transport than road infrastructure. As we progress towards the end of this decade, there will be greater funding for national roads. All I can ask is that the Senator continue to engage with TII and the directors of services at the council about progressing these plans.

Senator Tully raised an important issue relating to sexual violence. There was a recent court case and I commend the brave woman for her testimony. That case dealt with the rape that she was subjected to. I will ask the Minister to come in to talk about sexual violence. I commend the work of, as the Senator mentioned, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and all rape crisis centres across the country.

Senator Keogan mentioned the Mercosur deal. We are very much committed to getting the best possible deal for Ireland. I know the Minister, Deputy Heydon, is in the United States meeting the Secretary of Agriculture. We are continuing to engage with our European colleagues about the tariffs and removing whiskey and other associated products. I do not know exactly who called that meeting. I think it was organised by France. I am not sure if it was an official EU meeting but I will try to get clarity on the matter.

Senator Conway talked about integrating Muslim children in our schools. It is important that all children be integrated and that we learn to understand the different religions in this country. I know that work goes on. I acknowledge that we are approaching our Easter festival, which is the central festival of the Catholic church. It is important that we do not forget any religion when discussing these matters.

Senators Black and Sarah O'Reilly have raised the triple lock. We had a debate last week. I know this was addressed by the Minister-----

Deputy Harris.

-----Deputy Harris and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne. The latter addressed these issues. He respectfully disagreed with the notion that the triple lock is a threat and that Russia does not have a veto under the triple lock. He maintained clearly, as does the Government, that Russia and the other permanent members of the Security Council have a veto against Ireland's peacekeeping policy. That is the reason for the proposals to change the triple lock.

Senator Andrews spoke about the betting tax. I do not know exactly. I asked the Minister for Finance to come to the House to talk about all matters in his brief. That may be an opportunity to addressed that matter. If the Senator had raised it as a Commencement matter, he would have got an answer from the Department of Finance, which would have come from the Minister's office. Obviously, the Department does not negotiate budget matters on the floor, but the Senator's colleagues can raise the matter in the finance committee, if he is not a member, once committees are established. It is an important issue. I am not sure why it is not in the programme for Government but, as I said, it will be subject to negotiations regarding the budget.