We started this morning with Senator Blaney who spoke about the N2 and A5, particularly the A5. This has been ongoing for a long time. I think the agreement was made in 2009. The Senator has brought this up several times and I thank him for being a champion for it. We need champions for different infrastructure projects in different forums. My understanding is that a commitment has been made by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I read somewhere a few weeks ago that he recommitted to that financial commitment. Commitments have been made by Stormont as well. The Senator is right that everyone needs to work together and be on the same page to deliver this. This is about the shared island of Ireland. It is why we have the shared island unit, to make sure projects are implemented. It is for the benefit of people living in Northern Ireland and the Republic and will save lives when it has been put in place.

The Senator asked that we write to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the minister, Liz Kimmins MLA, to encourage and offer support to finding a pathway. As the Senator said, we are at a crucial point because another court case is coming up on this matter. We need to have co-operation. I understand the minister, Andrew Muir MLA, has also been very co-operative. We need co-operation between the ministers, Mr. Muir and Ms Kimmins, and all public representatives on both sides of the Border. Senator Blaney mentioned three specific ones, but we ask that all raise their voices and show their support. This absolutely needs to happen. We need to get it right because if we do not, we may not have another chance.

Senator Blaney also mentioned that Senator Gallagher has been supportive in looking for funding for the southern end of the route between Castleblayney and Ardee. We will include that in our correspondence to the Minister.

Senator O'Donovan spoke about flooding in Bantry and mentioned that another 22 businesses were flooded during the week. That has a huge impact on lives, quality of life and people trying to go about their daily business and make a small amount of money every day to pay the overheads. When something like that happens and impacts their businesses, it is sad and shocking. That is quite apart from the residents who are affected. The Senator is correct that we need to look for an early warning system. I do not know how that can be done technically. However, given that the work that is ongoing will not be completed until 2030, we will certainly look for a culvert to be put in at this time. This gives rise to the wider issue of flooding and the need for a debate in the House on ensuring all our local authorities are assisted to support businesses and residents.

Senator McCormack spoke about day 47 of the hunger strike of the survivors of industrial and reformatory schools. All of us across the House have spoken about it and we are all concerned about it. The Taoiseach met the group formally twice and also informally. The mediation process restarted yesterday, which is good. It started before, but unfortunately the key mediator was taken ill so a new mediator has come in. Work is ongoing behind the scenes on the medical cards.

It is a sad fact that those who went to industrial schools, unfortunately, were always labelled as having a conviction. Work is ongoing to make sure that those convictions are overturned. It is important that work is going on. We are all concerned about the four people that are there. We should ask them to come off the strike while mediation is going on. That is for their health. As we go into colder, damper, wetter times, we all have to be concerned. I understand that doctors and paramedics come out to them on a regular basis to make sure that they are getting the help and the support they need. That would be my ask, that the hunger strike stops while the mediation process is going on.

Senator Noonan looked for the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs to come to speak about competitiveness funding and expressed concerns for projects regarding biodiversity and wildlife. He mentioned that it seems there could possibly be a redistribution of funds through the competitiveness funding. We will certainly ask the Minister of State to come in and address that. It is an important issue.

Senator Noonan also spoke about COP. The Taoiseach is there at the moment. I think two Ministers will be there representing the State. There is a roadmap, the Baku to Belém roadmap, with key outcomes that does not have to be negotiated. That is an important roadmap that will be unveiled at the end. There will also be debates and negotiation on just transition, capacity building, forests and gender. Ireland has always taken a leading role in COP in terms of different negotiations and formed part of the negotiation team for Baku last year. It is important that Ireland works closely with the Danish Presidency and the upcoming Cypriot one on COP and climate issues before we come into our Presidency.

Senator Murphy O'Mahony spoke about scams. She is right to raise this. It is shocking and shameful to see so many people losing money. As she rightly pointed out, people lose confidence in their ability to deal with people and deal with their own financial transactions. Nobody wants to hand that over to anybody else. A lot of these scammers are professional. They are elaborate. We need a publicity campaign. We also need to do it through some of the community organisations that we are lucky to have around the country, like the men's and women's sheds, Active Retirement and all of these different organisations that can actually get the word out. We will ask the Minister to come in and talk about how we can raise publicity and advise people how to deal with these things.

Senator McCarthy congratulated President-elect Catherine Connolly. I know we all look forward to the inauguration next Tuesday. He acknowledged the current President, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife, Sabina, for all of their support and the compassion that was the cornerstone of Michael D.'s presidency. He thanked the President for all the support he has shown Tiglin.

Senator Boyle spoke about the increasing number of families reaching out in relation to special education. He spoke about a particular situation regarding the transfer of a child because the child was deemed to be age-appropriate to go to another school. Obviously we do not have the information on individual cases. Parents should be consulted. I know we have a much larger number of SENOs now than we did in the past. In my experience, having the extra number of SENOs has been very useful in liaising with parents, principals and the NCSE. Parents need to be part of the process. There need to be clear pathways. Special education is a key priority for this Government and the programme for Government has shown that. I know the Minister of State with responsibility for special education has weekly meetings with the NCSE to make sure that there are placements and enough special schools, 16 of which have opened in the last two years, and places within mainstream schools to make the appropriate placements that are there.

Senator Crowe spoke about tourism, that the figures for 2025 are negative, to say the least, showing a 13% decrease in expenditure from the same time last year, and that there seems to be a lack of clarity between the different figures. We need clarity. Importantly, we need to have a full debate on tourism. Tourism brings in so much money for our economy. Following Covid, we still have not got to where we were before. We will look for a full debate on tourism.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about the survey of parents. It is a good thing that parents are being asked. It is the biggest nationwide survey that is ever going to be carried out. The Department of education and the Government need to listen to how parents feel they want to have their children educated. It is important for society and for families. She raised the concern that some people can fill it in multiple times. I am sure that is not the purpose of it. That is a concern. The Senator also raised Saint Aidan's and other schools in her area that are at stage 2B. I suggest that she tables a Commencement matter on those.

Senator Andrews spoke about the humanitarian situation in Sudan. I thank him for raising it. A total of 24 million people are being impacted and 12 million children are in danger of dying because of malnutrition. There are huge problems in terms of capacity within hospitals, etc., and with gender-based violence, which we always see when there are warring factions. The Senator is right; we did raise it at the foreign affairs committee yesterday. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, is coming to the House in the afternoon, so it is to be hoped we will have the chance to raise it again. The Senator is right in saying that there needs to be a European-wide voice. Ireland, in my view, has always led the way in terms of human rights in Europe and globally, and we need to do it in relation to Sudan. We will ask the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs to come in and talk about that issue.

Senator Duffy spoke about World Pancreatic Cancer Day. It is a devastating disease. We all know people who have passed away very suddenly. The vast majority of people will pass within 12 months of diagnosis. Sadly, they suffer quite a bit too. Well done to Niall Rochford who has cofounded the charity in memory of his wife, Stella. We wish him well on his walk and in raising awareness. I thank the Senator for organising the event in the audiovisual room on 20 November. We will certainly support him there.

Senator Duffy also mentioned David Newcombe, who set up Awaken Ireland. It sounds very interesting. Its aim is to get young people involved in politics. We look forward to hearing more from David.

Senator Dee Ryan once again spoke about University Hospital Limerick and acknowledged the briefing that was given last Monday to all Oireachtas Members. It is important to get regular updates, but they need to be more than updates. They need to show roadmaps too. The Senator made the point that the board has called on the Government to declare a capacity emergency. We should endorse that from the Seanad and write to the Minister for Health to say that and to look for a specific winter plan for UHL. It always amazes me that the winter plan always comes out far too late for every single hospital that we have. We will write to the Minister for Health and ask her to address the House in relation to the winter plan in general but also UHL specifically.

The Senator made a very good point about the Ryder Cup bringing so many people. It is very welcome on so many different levels, but when there is a huge increase in population at any given time, as this will be, there obviously has to be an expectation that more people will need medical support and health. We will ask the Minister for sport to come in to give us an update on that as well.

Senator Cathal Byrne spoke about the need for a mental health facility in Wexford. I am surprised to hear that there is not one. I had not realised that and that people have to go to Waterford. I was actually in Wexford hospital recently visiting a relative. It is wonderful to see the new building that is there. I know it is going to be an excellent hospital and it has the capacity, but it is sad to think that there was no forethought in terms of having a particular section for mental health.

I commend the local charities that are doing the work but we certainly will ask the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health to address that.