Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad
The Cathaoirleach selected four Seanad matters for immediate discussion: Moore Abbey support, War of Independence commemoration funding, the IRGC designation response, and gambling licensing engagement.
I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:
Senator Fiona O'Loughlin - The need for the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to make a statement on support for the purchase of Moore Abbey, Monasterevin, by Kildare County Council.
Senator Nessa Cosgrove - The need for the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a statement on the provision of funding to commemorate the men and women who fought in the War of Independence who have not yet been acknowledged.
Senator Sharon Keogan - The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make a statement on the Government's response to the European Parliament's designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
Senator Mary Fitzpatrick - The need for the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to make a statement on engagement with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland regarding its review of the licensing regime for bookmakers.
Senator Eileen Lynch - The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the timeline for the provision of a day care centre for older people in Macroom, County Cork.
Senator Chris Andrews - The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on the regulation of urban horses.
Senator Nicole Ryan - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the criteria used in recent special needs assistant reviews.
Senator Sarah O'Reilly - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on conducting an independent review into the provision of telemedicine abortion.
Senator Patricia Stephenson - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the additional special need assistants allocation for Newtown Dunleckney National School, Bagenalstown, County Carlow.
Senator Tom Clonan - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the inclusion of hereditary ataxia, hereditary spastic paraplegias and myalgic encephalomyelitis in the long-term illness scheme.
Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the review of the eligibility of drivers over 70 years of age to drive smaller school buses.
The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators O'Loughlin, Cosgrove, Keogan and Fitzpatrick and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.