I welcome all Senators back after the Christmas period. I also welcome the Leader, Senator Kyne, and ask him to outline the Order of Business.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Mental Health Bill 2024 - Committee Stage (resumed) to be taken at 5:30 p.m. and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8 p.m.

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I wish to express sympathies to the people of Spain on the most horrific rail crash that occurred there on Sunday last. I believe 41 people have been confirmed dead, but the number of fatalities continues to rise. Almost 150 people were injured, 12 of whom are in critical care. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been bereaved and with all of the volunteers, safety workers and aid workers who assisted at the scene.

I congratulate the Newbridge Tidy Towns Association on winning its ninth green flag in a row for the Liffey Linear Park. I take the opportunity to thank the wonderful volunteers we have in the Newbridge Tidy Towns Association and in Tidy Towns association right around the country. These people are unsung heroes who do wonderful work in trying to ensure that we live in positive environments filled with colour.

Newbridge Silverware has been in existence since 1934. It has provided employment for many people over the years. At present, there are just 11 workers employed by Newbridge Silverware on the manufacturing side. Sadly, the company announced earlier that it is going to cease manufacturing work. The 11 people who are impacted will obviously receive redundancy packages. This is the end of an era. Newbridge Silverware has a much broader remit now, and I am really glad about that. There is a wonderful visitor showcase there and there is also the equally wonderful Museum of Style Icons. It is a thriving place. I wish Newbridge Silverware continued success and thank William Doyle, his family and the staff for their many decades of service.

Just prior to Christmas, HIQA announced that it would carry out a consultation process regarding the respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, vaccine. That process will close at 5 p.m. The reason I am bringing this matter to the Leader's attention is that I do not think the consultation process should have happened of the busy Christmas period. The process involves a really important survey. I urge everybody to complete it. This is about trying to protect our older and more vulnerable people. We need to ensure that there is a pathway to immunisation through vaccination. We need to a vaccine for older people. Currently, we have vaccines in respect of Covid and the flu, but I believe we need to have it for RSV because there are so many older people who are in hospital with RSV infections. If we had the RSV vaccine, it would free up our whole health network. I encourage everybody to complete that survey before 5 p.m.