I thank all the Senators for their contributions this afternoon. I will start with Senator O'Loughlin, who quite rightly acknowledged the role of St. Brigid, the only female patron saint, and wished everyone well for St. Brigid's Day. She acknowledged the previous Government's announcing of a new bank holiday and the choosing of St. Brigid's Day as an additional national holiday, and her and others' role in that.

She also talked about the network meeting with representatives of the Kildare Chamber of Commerce, Peter Mahon and Ruth Murphy, about indigenous businesses and those on our main streets and high streets and side streets. She is quite right that we need to support those businesses, but also of course that those businesses need to embrace the online world. It is important that there is that balance and they do not ignore the fact that there are people who prefer to buy online. It is important that when they do, that they can buy online from Irish companies as well. There is a dual issue there but I will request a debate with the Minister on that.

Senator O'Loughlin also welcomed the inclusion of the Curragh Community College, St. Anne's Special School, the PBS and the Cross and Passion school, Kilcullen, in relation to the announcements regarding the national development plan for education today. I wish all the principals, boards of management, teachers' associations and parents' associations well in progressing those projects.

Senator Scahill also welcomed the NDP announcements on the 105 projects and 27,000 additional modernised school places. He also called out in particular Scoil an Chroí Naofa, a DEIS school in Ballinasloe, which is dealing with extreme disadvantage. He commended former Senator Aisling Dolan, Councillor Alan Harney, Councillor Marie-Thérèse Duffy and others in relation to the progression of this hugely important project, I know the planning permission was received in 2023 and I wish to acknowledge the Senator's own work on progressing that project.

Senator McCarthy talked about an interview on radio with Professor Jo-Hanna Ivers, an expert in addiction studies. She talked about the rapid rise in cocaine use and the damage that can be done. She spoke about the need and importance of health-led approaches and the need for people to be able to rebuild their lives. I would like to acknowledge the work of Tiglin, Cuan Mhuire, the Rutland Centre and others that are involved in helping those who are addicted to drugs to rehabilitate themselves. I will request a debate on this matter as well. A lot of good and necessary work is being done to assist those who have issues.

Senator Murphy raised the ESRI report on the North and South and the growth rates in the North and South and disputes the view that the North would be a drain on finances in a united Ireland, so he has commended the report. Economic growth on both parts of the island benefits both. There is that whole cross-Border trade. We have a soft Border and cross-Border trade is hugely important. A strong Northern Ireland is of benefit to the Republic and vice versa. It was good to see that both communities are growing and how that growth and progress is made and impacts on people's lives has to be acknowledged.

Senator Paul Daly raised the decision by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to decouple doors and windows from the retrofitting scheme to allow people to avail of those.

I acknowledge the lengths of time surveys and decisions on BER assessments can take. The Senator quite rightly talked about the importance of the residents of those homes, particularly those who have health issues. I will request a debate with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on that matter.

Senator Boyle welcomed the deployment of four new helicopters for air ambulance cover. He called for one of them to be based in Finner Camp, which has a central location in Donegal. This will enhance the work of the National Ambulance Service. There is also a cross-Border element to that. The Senator may wish to table a Commencement debate on that matter to get a more direct response. I think what he mentioned makes sense. Donegal is a huge county geographically and has areas where population is sparse, as well as urban areas. It would be of huge benefit. The Senator may wish to table a debate on that matter.

Senators Keogan and Lynch both raised the issue of trade deals, the Indian deal announced yesterday and the Mercosur deal. Senator Keogan talked about the importance of the national interest. In general, free trade and trade deals are to the benefit of both communities. However, as Senator Lynch said, it is very important that food standards are protected. They have been under the Indian deal but there are concerns in that regard with respect to the Mercosur deal. That is the reason the Government decided to vote against that deal. There were concerns among consumers about Brazilian beef, which is not farmed to the same standards as this country's beef, and about antibiotics and hormones entering the food chain, irrespective of how small the quantities were. That is the reason the Irish Government made that decision. Any trade deal has to be in the national interest before it is agreed and signed by Government.

Senator Nelson Murray mentioned the village of Kilmessan and concerns about the possible loss of its playground as the result of the land, which is privately owned, being sold. The Senator called for a debate with the Minister for children. I do not know if there is a town plan for that community, how the land is zoned or whether there are other lands that could be purchased for the community. I know there are grants available for playgrounds under LEADER and other schemes. I am not sure whether the CLÁR scheme applies to that area. There are sources of funding available. There is a fund for community centres where land is owned or purchased by the community. Perhaps the Senator could engage with Meath County Council, as I am sure she has, and with the Minister to see what progress can be made in that town.

Senator Nicole Ryan proposed that No. 11 be taken before No. 1 on the Order of Business. No. 11 is the introduction of a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Maternity Protection Act 1994 to provide for postponement of maternity leave in the event of the death of a child of a relevant employee, and to provide for related matters. I support the amendment and wish the Senator well in progressing the Bill.

Senator Duffy raised the issue of the ambulance service in Belmullet. I ask him to put down a Commencement debate. I know two new bases were built in the west, in Tuam and in Mulranny, County Mayo. That was probably a decade ago. If there is need for additional expansion in Belmullet, the Senator might put down a Commencement debate. He is right that it is a sparsely populated community but it is important that response times in the area are adequate. I wish the Senator well in progressing that.

Senator Kennelly is right about the tenant in situ scheme. It is a good scheme but there certainly have been issues in relation to how it operates. I have come across situations where a decision has been made and the county council has agreed to purchase a house but it takes three or four months for the council to assess whether the house has planning permission and whether the standard of building is up to scratch and the council then suddenly decides three or four months later not to progress the purchase because of structural issues, issues with planning or whatever else. That person will have waited four months hoping and assuming that the tenant in situ scheme application would be successful and is then left a couple of months away from eviction. There are real issues with that. I will request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Browne, in relation to this issue.

Senator Andrews spoke about Katie Taylor, who he called a sporting icon, a description I agree with, and rightly talked about Government investment in a wide variety of sporting events. No decision has been made on supporting a Katie Taylor fight in Croke Park. I am not familiar with the issue. The Senator may wish to put down a Commencement debate on the matter. The former Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Michael Ring, was a huge support of boxing, as is Councillor Gerry Coyle in Belmullet. I am not exactly sure whether an application or request has been made or whether the Minister has not engaged. The Senator might put down a Commencement debate but I will raise the matter with the Minister as well.

Senator Boyhan thanked the Government for the possible issuing of a State apology to the victims of abuse in State-run institutions. I will have to leave that to the Taoiseach. I am not familiar with any package that has been agreed. I will wait for the Taoiseach to make an announcement on that. A number of people have raised this matter in this House and in the other House. Those who were on hunger strike will also have had an impact on the delivery of any package of supports.

Senator Tully again raised the issue of the 109 bus. I acknowledge that she has put down a Commencement debate at my suggestion but that this has been refused by the Department as it is not considered to be within the remit of the Minister. Bus Éireann is to facilitate a meeting but that has not taken place yet. I will raise the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and ask him to engage with the Senator. State agencies should at least meet with Oireachtas Members on request with regard to local issues. I will request that meeting be expedited.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised the matter of the ICCL guidance being circulated to schools. Senator Mullen also raised this issue last week or the week before. The only bodies that can give guidance like that to schools are the Department of education and the boards of management. It is certainly not right if information that is not factually correct is being circulated or given to any parent. I will ask the Minister for education to have a look at that.

Senator Craughwell quite rightly spoke about the Holocaust. Yesterday was Holocaust memorial day. The Taoiseach spoke at the memorial here in Dublin and said the Holocaust is to be taught in schools. We all accept the horrors of the Holocaust during the Second World War but that does not excuse a repeat of a holocaust like that or a genocide such as we are seeing in Palestine. The Senator quite rightly again talked about the treatment of Palestinians and the need to separate the Jewish religion from the actions of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Senator Ruane called for a debate on the ending of direct provision. There is legislation due before the Houses soon. There may be an opportunity there but I will request a debate. Our Senators proposed a Private Member's motion and there were statements at the start of the last term but I will request an update from the Minister for migration on that area.