We have had nearly a record attendance, and it is good to see so many Senators remaining in the Chamber for their response as well. We had 22 Senators speak, so I thank all of them for their contributions this morning.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about being in London at two important events during the St. Patrick’s recess. One of these involved Tesco Ireland, which was supporting small indigenous producers through a Love Irish Food element. I have no doubt that this was a great promotion of Irish foods. It was interesting to marry that with what Senator Noonan just spoke about in relation to the number of producers, particularly Hughes in Kells, County Kilkenny, which sadly has now ceased operating.

In fact, we only have 75 producers. There has to be something between those two events that will support our Irish producers at home and abroad. Senator Fitzpatrick mentioned the event in the Irish Embassy. We are so well served by our teams abroad. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who does so much to promote the Irish-UK friendship.

Senator Fitzpatrick also spoke about the drugs committee, as its Vice Chair. I thank her and all of the committee members for the important work they do. There is no doubt that drugs impact everywhere that people live, no matter how small the community. We see the devastation they cause to individuals and their families. The Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, has drafted a new policy, which will be available for public consultation until 10 April. It is very important that everybody takes the opportunity to submit to that, bearing in mind that Senator McCarthy also spoke in his capacity as Chair of the south-west drugs task force, acknowledging all of the important work done by Tiglin. While there is the opportunity to engage before 10 April, the Senator feels there is not sufficient examination of the link between addiction and those from deprived backgrounds. We need to have a community response, and I hope the Senator will make a submission, as I have no doubt he will, before 10 April.

Senator Mullen also spoke about this issue. I am vehemently anti-drugs. The Senator talked about checking drugs at festivals. When that policy came in, as someone who is genuinely anti-drugs in whatever form they take, I questioned it too. However, we have seen deaths in the past when young people at festivals have taken drugs laced with toxic substances. I believe that checking what the substances are saves lives. It is not a measure we want to take but, at the same time, we cannot put our heads in the sand and pretend drug-taking is not going on. Recently, the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, visited Willow and Cuan Mhuire in Kildare. I know she is understanding. Excellent work is happening with many organisations around the country that are trying to stand up to the drug scourge.

Senator Cathal Byrne spoke about the impact of war on the cost of fuel and prices. This is something we are all witnessing. Senators Murphy O'Mahony and Sarah O'Reilly also brought up this issue. There is no doubt that there is an element of price gouging. When someone has paid in advance, they basically have a contract with the supplier. It is completely wrong to come back to look for more money. I have advised other people to refer those cases to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Its role is to enforce consumer rights, which are important. The suggestion was made by Senators Byrne and Murphy O'Mahony that the free fuel allowance scheme be expanded. I know the Cabinet will be considering measures next Tuesday. We all support it in that. We need to have measures. I think those measures will be around the excise part and not the carbon tax. If we believe in a climate crisis and in global warming, it is important that there is a carbon tax. We have signed up to it at European level. In fairness, those taxes provide the funds for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and for retrofitting and the extension of the fuel allowance. It is working to help those who are at risk of fuel poverty.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the International Protection Bill 2026 and the proposal to complete Committee Stage at 4 p.m. today. He is wrong to say we met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. We actually met at 1 p.m. Ministers were not available last week because of the visits taking place around the globe, which have been acknowledged in the House and which have been important in terms of trade and of fostering international relationships. This is not the conclusion of the Bill. We will move to Report and Final Stages next week. The International Protection Bill is large, complex and time-sensitive because it transposes and implements the EU asylum and migration pact, which Ireland opted in to in July 2024, nearly two years ago. It is a central priority of the Government that our immigration laws are robust and are enforced. This is the most comprehensive reform of immigration law in the history of the State. The overall objective is to provide a fair, sustainable and effective asylum procedure, which will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU. The enactment and commencement of the Act are required by 12 June 2026. Therefore, it is time-sensitive.

Senators Higgins, McDowell and Mullen spoke on this issue. The Minister has requested that we finish Committee Stage at 4 p.m. Senator McDowell asked who requested that. The Minister requested it. Senator Higgins said she would be proposing an amendment to the Order of Business, which, on behalf of the Leader of the Seanad, I will not be accepting at this point.

Senator Collins spoke about a school in Dromcollogher being on a main road. It is a busy main road. I know the area and Dromcollogher. It is surprising that this has not yet been addressed under the safe routes to school scheme. Obviously, funding goes from the Department to the local authorities. I have no doubt the Senator has been in touch with the local authority about the issue. We will ask for a debate with the Minister about the safe routes to school and active travel schemes because they are an important element of safety and in ensuring that not everybody has to drive to school. We will certainly ask for that.

Senator Stephenson spoke about the fact that we now have 89 data centres. I agree with her that they consume a lot of energy and there needs to be a balance between domestic consumers and businesses that need to have the data centres. However, the data centres sit at the intersection of economic strategy and the transition to the digital economy, and they support cloud-based business systems. There is a statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's enterprise strategy. First published in 2022, the strategy was updated in 2025. We will ask for a debate about it. Balance is the important element here.

Senator Comyn spoke about Daffodil Day. It was great to see so many supporting Daffodil Day at the coffee morning earlier in LH 2000. The Senator is right to raise the fact that there are a lot of non-medical costs for those who suffer from cancer. Another Senator also spoke about that. In terms of parking costs, it is awful. When people are at the end of their tether and sad, upset or traumatised going to visit relatives in hospital, it can sometimes be the last straw. Scrabbling around trying to get change or to ensure you have money on an app is difficult and an extra burden.

I understand Senator Comyn was talking about Drogheda in particular and she said maybe a shuttle bus should be provided instead. That could be a viable alternative. It is a proposal we should put. We will look for the Minister to come in and address that and also what Senator Ryan said about Ireland facing a significant shortage in clinical trials. That we are lagging behind other EU countries is not good enough. We need to show ambition. We need to show courage for people who are suffering from cancer and who are getting those diagnoses. None of us knows on any given day when any of us might get that diagnosis. We need to show that ambition. The geographical disparity Senator Ryan spoke about is quite shocking and we must acknowledge that here. Again, we will look for the Minister to address this inequity. In light of what Senators Ryan and Comyn spoke about, we will look for the Minister to come before the House in relation to those specific issues. When a family member is undergoing treatment for cancer, finances come into it in a big way. The financial stress apart from the medical stress is quite enormous.

Senator Duffy spoke again about the cost of living and particularly about the costs for hauliers. He pointed out that, of course, the impact is going to come back onto the retailer and the consumer.

Senator Keogan spoke about legislation recently introduced in the House of Lords. While we do not comment on legislation brought forward in other jurisdictions, I share her concern about it opening a door to unregulated abortion. She also mentioned the improvised Epstein files floats in two parades. It is quite shocking. I do not know how anybody could have conceived that either of those would be a good idea. We have to call it out for what it is. The Senator did raise this issue before and I said that anybody who has any information or evidence absolutely needs to go to the Garda, and once a formal complaint is made, it absolutely should be investigated.

Senator Rabbitte spoke on the policy and funding role of the Minister for Transport and the responsibility for TII in local authorities to carry out policy and make sure the structure is in place. She highlighted the fact there is no adequate traffic calming in Portumna and its environs. We absolutely do need to have a good, active and safe traffic programme. That relates to the issue Senator Comyn spoke on and we will look for the Minister to come. He is overdue a visit to the Seanad. We will certainly look for that.

Senator Scahill looked for a debate in respect of dentists. To think we have gone from 1,500 to 600 dentists who are active in the medical card scheme is quite shocking given the growing population. It is particularly difficult with young people and with schools. Somebody recently told me about a Ukrainian dentist who was here but could not get work. One thing we need to do is look at recognising qualifications from other countries. We need a debate on this. It comes up in this House regularly and we have not had a debate on it with the Minister for Health, so we will certainly look for that.

Senator Andrews spoke about the CBS in Westland Row, which has been there since 1864 and needs maintenance. Half of the boys' toilets are closed because the downpipe is not working. The Senator said the school has been given funding of €750,000 but it is spending only about €450,000 on what it was assigned for. He believes we need to be able to divert that funding. I agree that we need a common-sense approach, but we must have procedures and protocols that are quite strict. If funding is given for a specific purpose, it should be used for that purpose, and if there needs to be a change, there needs to be a very specific set of criteria. It is shocking to see a school operating like that in the city centre. I suggest Senator Andrews put down a Commencement matter. Speaking of Westland Row, I was in Dublin City Council's Pearse Street Library last night, which I believe has been refurbished in the last few years. It is an absolutely stunning, beautiful building. A really excellent job was done of refurbishing it and having an open building people can come into.

Senator Noonan spoke about Hughes Agriculture and Farming Limited. He talked about the cost of production and getting labour, etc. We need an urgent policy reset of how we support horticulture in this country. Maybe that has happened at the agriculture committee, but it is terribly concerning to see us going down this road as a country that has always been so proud of our produce and, it seems to me, is always talking about food security. However, we are not living the food security piece if we see what has happened in Hughes if that continues, which none of us want. The Senator has also asked for a debate about the local democracy task force. That is important to all of us for many different reasons. I understand the report is with the Minister at this point. We need to have an urgent debate in this House. We will certainly look for that.

In relation to Bessborough and sites of sensitivity, that is something to explore. I am not sure whether it would lie with the OPW or the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, but we will investigate it and see if we can do something and bring forward a debate on it.

Senator Black spoke about Family Addiction Recovery Ireland, FARI, presenting in Buswells today and thanked them for their huge work around addiction impact on families. She outlined very eloquently the huge trauma on families. I thank the Senator for her work with the Rise Foundation because all of that work is important for rebuilding people's lives and giving them all opportunities. She also spoke about the wonderful Dolores Keane. Once somebody heard her voice, they were just addicted to her. I remember seeing her and her two aunts what must be 35 years ago down in Dingle and it was one of the most incredible concerts I ever saw. She had a haunting voice and she embodied Ireland's culture within that. Mary's poem was lovely. She was right that Dolores's music will remain forever and we will always thank her for her music.

Senator Tully spoke about the Oireachtas Members meeting Cavan councillors about insufficient funding for Cavan roads. Obviously I was not privy to that meeting and did not hear what was said besides what was said here in the Chamber. We will look for the Minister for Transport to come and talk about allocations. Once allocations are made, it is important that the Minister, for whatever allocations, comes and talks about the position and defends the policy around what funding is given to which county.

Senator Conway spoke about the Taoiseach's visit to Washington and the fact that the international programme went very well. Thankfully it did in Washington, given that you just do not know what you are going to be faced with. I spoke about this yesterday here in the Seanad. I think the Taoiseach absolutely faced up to his responsibilities both as a Taoiseach and as a proud European member. Senator Conway also spoke about equality and equity for those suffering from cancer. We have already said we will look for the Minister to come to the House in relation to that.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin. Senator Higgins has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 1, International Protection Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (resumed), be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business and to adjourn at 4 p.m. if not previously concluded. Is the amendment being pressed?

Yes.

I welcome to the Public Gallery the group from Coláiste Bhríde Carnew, who are guests of Deputy Brian Brennan. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today. As is customary, the pupils have no homework for the rest of the week.

Is the Order of Business agreed? Not agreed.