Before I ask the Leader to outline the Order of Business, I welcome interns of Deputy Cormac Devlin to the Gallery; Conor Eyre, Sam Casey, Paddy English, Eoin Fallon and John McCann.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to conclude at 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Second Stage to be taken at 2.30 p.m. and to conclude at 4 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, statements on homelessness to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude at 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed four minutes each, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 55, motion 2, Private Members' Business, motion regarding investment in youth work, to be taken at 6.30 p.m. with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

I congratulate the new Hungarian Prime Minister and I welcome the results at the weekend. It is very clear that the people of Hungary decided to choose liberal democracy and a pro-European party. This election really mattered. It was probably the most important election in Europe in 2026. It solidifies the European response to Russia and to Putin and is a very clear rejection of Viktor Orbán. I pass every good wish to the new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, and the Tisza Party.

I ask for a debate with the Minister for education. I am concerned about increasing financial pressures being placed on families across the country specifically in relation to rising school transport costs and the reintroduction of State examination fees. A parent contacted me the week before Easter about these fees which were brought back in. I accept they were stopped for a period but were brought back in about three days before the oral examinations started. Students were told if they could not pay, they could still do the orals but they would not get the results until the fees were paid. I am concerned about that. We have to ask whether any of these increasing costs are fair and sustainable. Are they in keeping with our commitment to equality of opportunity? At a time of a growing cost of living when households are grappling with rising rent, higher grocery bills and increased energy costs, the reintroduction of these costs is not insignificant. I would appreciate if the Minister could come for a debate on it.

The night before last, I watched the playback of Kathryn Thomas's documentary, "Young Forever: The Death of Ageing?". It was really interesting and there were also some interesting articles in the Irish Independent. It has brought renewed attention to a growing and concerning issue; the rise in cosmetic procedures in children under the age of 18. Obviously, we are living in a world of treatments, plastic surgery, supplements, etc., and adults can make their own choices. I make no judgment on that as long as people make sure they go to the right person for these types of surgeries. Unfortunately, there are too many unregulated operators in the market. It was very concerning to listen to a young man who said he started getting these treatments at 16. He literally became addicted to it and was spending €1,400 a month on different types of plastic surgery. The problem is that there is no regulation. I would like a debate with the Minister for Health on how we can regulate these products better. It is a concern when social media is driving image so much. We can all fall under the spell of that.

If there is one learning, to use the modern jargon, we can take from the internationally caused fuel crisis in the country and the recent protests, it is the need to augment and develop public transport in this country. Before I go further, I acknowledge that we are very lucky in Cavan with the hourly service on the N3 to Dublin, which is excellent, and Local Link does good work, but there is much more need for connectivity in public transport. I give the practical example of Carton Brothers' Manor Farm, a poultry processing place in Shercock, County Cavan. It is an example that repeats everywhere in the country. It has two shifts a day starting at particular times with a large cohort of workers coming from the various centres around. There needs to be public transport into that place to coincide with the beginning of these shifts. The same applies to all the major employers in the country.

In light of what has happened in the last few weeks, there is a real need to review the level of availability of public transport, and to look at the linkages between towns and major centres of education and employment. If people sat down and did good logistical studies on it, it could be done. Great strides were made on public transport during the period of the previous Government and this needs to be further developed and continued. I would like us to debate this on some occasion as soon the Leader is able to accommodate it. In the interim, he might convey to the Ministers that this should be the great learning from the recent problem.

We need Local Link services augmented.

We need rail connectivity and, sadly, we do not have in my region. We need more bus services for towns and villages and serving hospitals and other healthcare establishments, education establishments and workplaces. Apart from global warming or the environmental element of carbon emissions, it is an issue of efficiency and cost as regards fuel. This is a logical thing to do. We have to go at this with gusto. Let us do so now. With God's help, there may be a settlement in the coming days in Lebanon and Iran. Even with a settlement, however, who knows when the next situation will erupt, so it is critical that we do this. I expect and hope for a positive response because this could be a game changer.

I call Senator Craughwell.

Senator Clonan is next.

To be clear, the Senator who comes in first gets called first.

Yesterday, I spoke about the protests and blockades that occurred over the last couple of weeks. Both the Iranians and the United States are locking down the Strait of Hormuz. We may as well prepare today. Fuel prices will spiral in the coming weeks and months. We cannot allow a situation to develop again whereby local gardaí are pitted against their fellow citizens and local members of the Defence Forces are called out. That was erroneous in the first instance. What we really need to do now is to prepare.

We have been asking for the national security strategy for years. It is always a couple of days away or it will come out the following week. It is a bit like Donald Trump's alternative to Obamacare in the United States, which we hear will come out next week or the week after or maybe they are working on the last paragraph. It is simply not good enough. We need the national security strategy urgently. That is the first thing we need.

Second, we are about to head into a period of extreme industrial unrest. The teachers' conferences are just over and demands have been made for higher pay, better facilities in schools, etc. The Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, met at the weekend, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, will meet soon and the Garda representative body is meeting this week. We are heading into a time of industrial unrest. Let us not do what we did with respect to the protests on fuel, which we allowed to go on. When I say "we" I mean the Government and all of us in this House who sat on our hands while they were going on because the Houses were in recess. We should have recalled the Dáil and taken steps in the first days. We should have met people on the ground and engaged with them.

There is only a limited amount of tax revenue coming in to this country. We will not be able to buy our way out of this as the situation escalates, and escalate it will over the coming months unless, by some miracle, Donald Trump and the Iranians decide they never meant to go to war and let the ships move through Hormuz again. I ask that we invite the Minister for Finance to the House to debate the future problems associated with energy crisis.

We also need to publish today what a protest is and what is acceptable in a protest. The right to protest is guaranteed under the Constitution but it is limited and subject to restrictions. A protest that impacts the general population is simply not a protest – it is an illegal act. Locking down O'Connell Street or fuel depots so that nothing can move is an act of illegality. The people who were there thought they were behaving legally because nobody was giving them alternative information. They were taking their information from a hard right group. Let us be honest. These people did not care. We saw on social media stuff coming in from the United Kingdom. Let us publish what a reasonable protest is.

I was recently contacted by a parent who has twins. They are both autistic and will be starting school in September in the local primary school where they will be part of its autism class. The ratio in the class is one special education teacher to six children, with two special needs assistants, SNAs, in support. Both parents work and they requested that their children be included in the after-school facility nearby which takes children in from the school in question. The after-school facility is willing to take the children in but it is very concerned because it is not sure the facility has sufficient supports to look after these children properly. The ratio in after-school education is one to 12. There are no additional supports for children with additional needs. When children go to preschool, access and inclusion model, AIM, support is provided. When children go to school there is SNA support or if they are in a special class, there is a special education teacher and a reduced ratio, but there is no support in the after-school facilities.

I contacted a number of providers in this area, all of which said the same thing, namely, they want to include more children with additional needs but they are not in a position to do so. To refuse is discrimination but, at the same time, the providers have to ensure the safety of the students who are using the facility, the students with additional needs and the staff. There is also very little training for staff in these centres.

I want to raise and highlight this matter with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley, because it is a form of discrimination. I ask that we invite the Minister to come to the House to discuss additional supports in after-school facilities for children with additional needs. We know the prevalence of autism in particular is increasing. We will have more and more children who require support after school. Both parents have to work these days because of cost-of-living pressures. I would appreciate it if we could have that debate.

Some weeks ago, I requested that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, come to the Chamber to discuss the roads funding allocation for County Cavan. Has there been any follow-up on that? Has the Minister agreed to come to the House for a debate on the state of our roads?

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome from the banner county, County Clare, guests of Deputy Cathal Crowe from Scarriff National School. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. It is hard to distinguish between the teachers and the pupils but I will tell the pupils there is no homework for the rest of the week when pupils visit Seanad Éireann. They can tell their teachers and parents that.

I call for a debate on Traveller accommodation. Labre Park is the oldest halting site in Ireland. Since the age of 18, I have been working on the redevelopment of Labre Park. Two years ago, we got a playground for the children. It has been wonderful for all the children on the site. It is very unfortunate that the redevelopment of Labre Park is no longer going ahead. The residents of the site are devastated. With all my heart, I say that really wonderful people came from Labre Park, people like the Keenans and other good, famous people. I know there is some negative behaviour and I want to be able to deal with that as well.

The story is all over The Irish Times today. We were given a commitment by Dublin City Council 20 years ago. We did the Part VIII process. We negotiated with Clúid and Dublin City Council. Everything was going ahead but in the last few days, residents in Labre Park got the devastating news that the redevelopment will no longer go ahead. It is not just about Labre Park. I want a debate in the House on Traveller accommodation in general. While the committee on Travellers is working, in my opinion it is not working very effectively at the moment. Somebody needs to be held accountable for the injustice that our community is suffering on a daily basis. We see it in St. Margaret's Road in Finglas and other halting sites on the northside as well. They are left to rot. Traveller accommodation money is not being spent properly by many of the local authorities. We have at least two good examples of local authorities drawing down money but that is not happening across the island.

It would be brilliant if the Leader could contact the Minister on this. I am not expecting to have a debate on this in a week or even two weeks, but I would like to have a debate before the summer recess.

Today I reiterate my call for supports for every sector affected by the fuel crisis. One group I mentioned yesterday, and whom I have been working on behalf of and advocating for to Departments and departmental officials, is ferry operators who connect citizens of islands right across the coast of my own county of Mayo, but also across the whole country. They are equally impacted by the fuel crisis. Supports and packages that are being devised for all of the industries must include ferry operators and support their efforts. I would like to lend my support once again to those in the inshore fishery sector, who are also facing dire consequences because of the cost of fuel and the reductions in quotas. They are facing severe challenges and need to be supported. I ask that any of these packages are done in a way that is, of course, supportive of hauliers and key sectors like agricultural contractors, which we have already discussed, but is also supportive of all of the other sectors that have not been advocated for as much. They all need to be covered and included because there are livelihoods at stake. I acknowledge the work of Councillor Peter Flynn, who has been advocating for the ferry operators in his own area. He has raised their case with me and I have been working very hard with the Departments on it to make sure we deliver for ferry operators.

Before I finish, I would like to welcome the students from Balla National School, who are on a tour of Leinster House today. They are here as guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, and are off to Croke Park this afternoon to play a blitz. It was lovely to meet all of the students earlier. This is the people's House and we are all here to improve the lives of young people and others right across the country. I wish Balla National School the very best of luck this afternoon. I met with Chelsea, Luke, Robbie, Jack Óg, Gabriella and Cian, among others. I am told that Balla boys do not stop. They asked me to say that. I congratulate them and wish them well in the competition this afternoon in Croke Park.

I very much welcome the opportunity to speak this morning on a very important topic. It has been almost three months since Storm Chandra ripped through Wexford, leaving a trail of devastation. Since then, Wexford County Council road crews have been out surveying the damage and have concluded that 157 roads are now impassable in Wexford, to the point where it is not safe to drive across them. The council has submitted a request to the Department of Transport for €20 million in emergency funding. This is a one-off request that recognises the fact this devastation is having a serious impact on the local economy in Wexford. Hauliers, bus drivers, farmers, agricultural contractors, carers and people trying to get to school are all unable to use the roads as a transport network in rural County Wexford. Given the fact that it has now been three months since that request was submitted, I am calling on the Minister for Transport to come to the House to clearly state whether the Government is going to support Wexford County Council's application for this one-off funding. Back in 2020, an application for €5 million was submitted after storm damage that happened on Christmas Day and that money was allocated, but this time the situation in rural Wexford is far worse. I would like the Minister to come to the Chamber to discuss this issue.

Senator Boyhan is next.

I believe Senator Clonan is next.

I want to raise in the House again the issue of the triple lock. We have all received the schedule of the Government's legislative programme, which says that the Bill will provide for the removal of the existing requirement regarding the triple lock. Make no mistake, this is in regard to the dispatch of the Defence Forces for service outside the State as part of an international force. What kind of force? If it does not have a UN mandate, if it is not blue helmets, then we are talking about a coalition of the willing, a stabilisation force, and Chapter VII missions, which are fighting missions.

There was a very interesting article in the Sunday Independent last weekend by the former Minister for Defence and Fianna Fáil TD Willie O'Dea, in which he seriously questions the logic and reasoning behind the abolition of the triple lock. His view is shared by me and many of my colleagues in opposition. Indeed, I know that this view is shared by some colleagues in government. We need to pause on this. As recently as last week, we saw a collective of decision-makers, a community of decision-makers, make the wrong decision about the deployment of the Defence Forces in aid to the civil power, which is a use-of-force operation. Thankfully, they were not needed, but in the history of the State we have never deployed troops against the population. I have been on both aid to the civil power and aid to the civil authority operations, going right back to the hunger strike riots, the destruction of the British Embassy and the Love Ulster parade riots in Dublin. Even Margaret Thatcher did not deploy the army against the miners in their protests. I absolutely accept that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, acted in good faith - he is a person for whom I have a great deal of respect - but it was the wrong decision. How can we trust those people to make the correct decision in the absence of the triple lock? We need a debate. I know the Leader shares my concerns, as do other members of the Oireachtas committee on defence and national security. We need to have a debate about having parliamentary oversight of these decisions.

I was delayed coming to the Chamber earlier because I was approached by a very senior politician who expressed serious concern about the spending of €600 million on armoured fighting vehicles that could be destroyed by €60,000 worth of flying drones. We have no oversight. We need to have the remit and to have a debate on this. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his latitude.

Today I wish to speak about the recent comments made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, directed at Pope Leo. In an increasingly volatile global moment, words spoken by leaders matter. When those words dismiss, denigrate or threaten entire peoples, religions or institutions, they do real damage, not just diplomatically but morally. As some Members may know, it would be an understatement to say that I am no admirer of the Iranian regime. It is a criminal regime and it deserves to be challenged, opposed and ultimately dismantled, but to call for the destruction of the entire Iranian civilisation is something all together different. These are callous and small-minded words. The Iranian people themselves and their beautiful, millenia-old civilisation deserve freedom, dignity and respect. We must always be clear about this distinction.

The same applies to the Catholic Church. Whatever one's personal belief or whatever criticisms may be made, it is an undeniable historical fact that the Catholic Church is a millenia-old pillar of European civilisation. Through its art and architecture, through the preservation and development of learning during Europe's darkest centuries, and through the safeguarding and renewal of classical Greek and Roman philosophy in which our own Irish saints and scholars played a key role, the Catholic Church helped to shape the civilisation we inhabit today. Without it, European civilisation as we know it would not be recognisable today. To attack the Pope in such a crude and unserious manner is an attack not just on a religious leader, itself unacceptable when not done in a considered manner, but on our shared civilisation inheritance.

Finally, I want to place on record my support for Pope Leo and also for Giorgia Meloni and other leaders who have stood by him. They have acted with dignity. As for President Trump, I can only say I am deeply disappointed.

I support the proposed Order of Business. I want to acknowledge the very significant role of the former Minister of State at the Department of agriculture, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae.

As someone who sits on and is elected from the agricultural panel and had a lot of direct dealings with the former Minister of State regarding forestry and the new forestry strategy, I have to say that he gave it his all. To be fair to him, I wish to acknowledge that. We worked well with our committee. He engaged with the agricultural committee well. He set out, for the first time as long as I am in these Houses, in direct engagement with people on the ground through his forestry work all over the country. I spoke to a number of civil servants last night about him and they said that the one thing about him was that he was on the case at 6 a.m. every morning. He took a huge interest. I will leave it at that. I wish him well in his long, distinguished career in politics that will go on further.

The other issue I raise today relates to solar panels. Before I do so, I acknowledge that my family and I have owned and farmed a substantial amount of land at the point of Narraghmore, County Kildare, which links on to Ballindrum and Fontstown. The leader of Fianna Fáil in this Chamber knows the area well and will agree with me in this regard. We have a situation where we have a massive planning application for in excess of 100 ha of solar panels on what is prime agricultural land. This is in an area where there is a substantial amount – more than most countries – of broccoli growing. We have an issue with regard to sustainable agriculture. There are challenges in that regard, especially the number of hectares we can allow to be taken for solar panels. I do not want to particularly comment about this planning application because it is my intention to make a submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála. We need a constructive discussion about the challenges around solar panels, solar energy and how they fit in with sustainable agriculture and land use, which are important.

I mark the passing of a wonderful lady, Moya Brennan. She was often described as the first lady of Celtic music. Moya was not just a singer; she brought the Irish language and culture, as well as Celtic music, to the world stage. She did so through Clannad initially and later as a solo artist. We all know her family from the small pub in Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal, which rose to global recognition. She showed what Irish identity could look like. Personally, Moya and her husband, Tim, were huge supporters of Tiglin, the homeless organisation. She used to sing at all of our events. I genuinely feel her generosity. Her resilience in life will be a loss for the Irish culture, but her voice will live on for generations.

On another note, I support what my colleague, Senator Boyhan, said regarding the former Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, who is moving on. It is disappointing as he was certainly a hard worker. We wish him well. Regarding the matter on which he resigned, I have a haulage business and I know what it is like running trucks, whether national or international, with exceptionally increasing costs. For every cent that is added to a fuel bill, that is a cent off the razor-thin bottom line. Last week, we saw people who were desperate because of the situations they are in. Most of them are ordinary, hard-working people and supporters of the Government. They are supporters of authorities. In my hometown of Naas last week, the fuel pumps were running out. Although there was a delivery that day, the pumps were still running out. They were down to the wire. It is happening because the system is not working. The ordinary citizen feels they are not being supported. They hear that Ireland is the wealthiest country in Europe but they want to make it very clear that it is not impacting them and that we cannot continue like this. They deserve to be heard.

I thank all Senators for their contributions this morning. I will start with Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, who acknowledged the recent Hungarian election and the new pro-EU Government there. She wished the new Prime Minister and Government in Hungary well. I certainly hope it will now be more pro-European and there will be more liberal democracy as part of this new Government. She also called for a debate with the Minister for education regarding the increase in financial pressures on people following the removal of the once-off payments in relation to exam fees. She also mentioned the increase in transport costs and questioned whether they are fair and equitable. I will request a debate with the Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, and her Department in that regard. She also talked about the documentary by Kathryn Thomas - I have not seen it – and the rise in cosmetic treatments, particularly for those under 18 years of age. She called for a debate with the Minister for Health, which I will certainly request. It is an important issue in the context of body image and everything else, particularly for young people in the age of social media and all the rest of it. I will request that debate.

Senator Joe O’Reilly talked about the ongoing oil crisis and conflict in the Middle East and how it is impacting on the need to invest in public transport. He called for a review of public transport availability and a debate on this whole matter. I will request a debate on public transport. While we have seen increases over the last number of years, it is important that we provide adequate services and increased frequency where there is demand. We must also increase the number of bus shelters, which many local authorities are putting in place. Where they are provided, they are welcomed because they provide that level of comfort to people who are choosing public transport.

Senator Craughwell raised concerns about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and how we will see the oil price shock continue and increase, alongside the possibility of industrial unrest. I will request a debate with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Harris, on the matter.

Senator Tully raised the specific case about supports for twins with autism who are starting school in September. She asked me to raise the issue with the Minister, Deputy Foley. Senator Tully might put down a Commencement matter on that question to get a particular answer. She also called for a debate with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, regarding our roads allocation. We have a request in with the Minister. I understand he is willing to come to the Chamber but we have to finalise a date.

Senator Flynn called for a debate on Traveller accommodation. She talked about the redevelopment that is now not going ahead in Labre Park. I will request that debate but she may wish to put down a Commencement matter regarding that specific development. I know the issue is in The Irish Times, as she mentioned, today. She may get a more direct response about the reasoning or rationale behind that decision by doing so.

Senator Duffy called for supports for those sectors impacted by the fuel crisis. He mentioned ferry operators, which is a valid contribution and one which I have not seen in the dispatches. Certainly, it is something the Government will provide supports for. I acknowledge the role of Councillor Peter Flynn in bringing this issue to his attention. He may wish to put down a Commencement matter with the Minister with the responsibility for the islands or raise it directly with the Government. I will do so as well. He has also called for continued supports for the inshore sector. As I understand it, there is a debate next Tuesday with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on agricultural supports in the context of the challenges within the sector over recent weeks. He also wished the Balla boys, who are on tour, well in their event in Croke Park.

Senator Cathal Byrne raised Storm Chandra ripping through Wexford and had a request for the Department of Transport. Regarding this specific issue, he may put down a Commencement matter. As I said, I have asked the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to come to the Chamber to talk about the whole issue of roads funding. I will try to get an update on that and, perhaps, secure availability from the Minister.

Senator Clonan raised the triple lock, the talk of international forces, the aid to civil power and civil authority and the need for a debate on parliamentary oversight. I will request a debate on that. We have had the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in the Seanad recently on defence matters. Indeed, we had a Fianna Fáil Private Members' motion on defence. Some of these issues were aired then. She is due in the Chamber in the coming weeks to speak on international affairs. That may be an opportunity for the Senator to raise these matters.

Senator Keogan quite rightly raised the recent comments by President Trump to Pope Leo and the imagery that has been used officially in which Trump was depicted as Jesus. It was not particularly welcome. Certainly, it has undermined him in the views of many Roman Catholics and bolstered the support for Pope Leo in his work.

Senators Boyhan and McCarthy acknowledged the role of the former Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, and I join them in that regard. I am sure that resigning as a Minister of State was a huge upset to him, his family and his supporters. I acknowledge that and wish him well for what will no doubt be a continued long career in politics.

Senator Boyhan raised the issue of solar panels and planning applications. There is an ongoing debate about energy security.

Judging by valid contributions from many people in these Houses, there are so many people who have concerns about onshore wind, offshore wind, LNG, solar panels, battery farms, peaking plants, oil exploration, the nuclear debate and interconnectors. This is a real issue, but energy security is so important. There is a balance to be struck on all of this. I will request a debate with the Minister in relation to the whole area of solar and its use on agricultural lands. There are other properties, whether they be rooftops or car parks, where these could be focused on, rather than on farmland.

Senator McCarthy acknowledged the late Moya Brennan. May she rest in peace. She was a supporter of Tiglin. He also raised his own business in the haulage sector and the pressures and margins in the haulage sector. The Government has tried to respond over the last number of days, as they did before this, in relation to the diesel rebate. We will continue to keep these under review. As Senator Craughwell said, we do not know where oil prices are going to go over the next number of weeks and months and over the rest of the year. Hopefully things will settle and start to drop. We cannot be absolutely sure on that. That is why the Government has to be able to be agile and robust in trying to reduce the costs and pressures on businesses.