The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on fuel supports to the agricultural sector, to be taken at 5.15 p.m. and to conclude at 6.45 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, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 2, Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 6.45 p.m.

We were all very excited last week when we saw the release and celebration of the 1926 census on its 100th anniversary. By yesterday, there were 20 million hits. Everybody was having great fun and learning an awful lot about those who went before us. It gives us a small window into the country we had and all those who lived there. It is wonderful the exhibition is travelling around the country. Ten centres have been chosen. I am happy Naas Library and Cultural Centre is one of them. It is an excellent service for the local communities in those areas. It shows what living in a newly independent Ireland was like 100 years ago.

One of the most interesting facts that came out was that Kildare, the county I am proud to be from and live in, has seen a population increase of 327% since 1926, from 58,000 people to nearly 248,000. That is by far the biggest growth in any county. I thank Councillor Suzanne Doyle for putting some of these figures together. Bearing that increase in population in mind, it is a fact that 100 years later, Kildare County Council receives lower national funding per capita than any other county. We receive approximately €715 per person annually. To put that in the context of a large county and a small one, Dublin City Council receives €1,900 and Leitrim receives €1,256. We also have a high number of large towns. We are the fourth most populated county, after Dublin, Galway and Cork, and they have cities for a lot of investment. We need autonomous and equitable funding. We need resources based on the metric of need and sustainable growth, which allows for strategic planning and development. We need to have the Minister in to speak about what we have learned from 100 years ago and how we need to move forward.

I raise the growing issue of nitrous oxide misuse. That is commonly referred to as laughing gas or fast gas. Across towns and communities, we are increasingly seeing the impact of this problem, with discarded canisters littering everywhere. It is not just an environmental problem. It is a clear indicator of wider use and that is a concern.

It is not classified as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. It can cause serious health problems. We need to have a debate about this for two reasons. We need to be concerned about the safety of our young people but we also need a very clear policy about how these canisters can be disposed of because the local authorities cannot do anything. There is not a policy. We need a national policy on it.

On my way to Dublin this morning, I was listening to RTÉ Radio 1. Darren Freehill aired a piece on the Roscommon Community Sports Park group. It was highlighted on the radio that Roscommon is one of only three counties - the other two being Leitrim and Longford - that do not currently have an athletics track. Darren made a recording from a sand track or a sandpit, which I am familiar with because we used to play soccer there 30 years ago. We used to have blitzes there on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer. After all the investment and all the progress that has happened down through the years, we are still expecting athletes to train on this sandpit without having proper facilities in Roscommon.

I acknowledge Roscommon Community Sports Park and the wonderful young people from Roscommon Athletics Club who were interviewed and spoke of how it was inhibiting them from reaching their full potential in athletics. It is a privilege and advantage all the other counties that have these facilities have over them. The fact is they are able to run, sprint and to do hurdles but they are not able to do jumps or throw practice in this facility. Sports capital funding has benefited them down there but they are currently on a €1.5 million fundraising drive to support the new facility's development in Lisnamult.

Over the last three years, I have had the privilege of participating in the Roscommon community challenge. It is a night-time run the group runs every year to support that facility but also to support the Special Olympics. The facility is very inclusive and ticks every box we are looking for community groups to tick in order to access funding at the moment. The facility in Lisnamult is one of the few facilities around the country that has an accessible toilet with a hoist in there, should people visit. It is something I encourage any member of this House to go down and visit at some stage to see how inclusive it is and how it has made a place for itself within the community.

I look at other parts of the country and I wonder why would people try to pit one element of society against the other - urban against rural and those who have against those who have not. We are all constantly coming into this Chamber on a daily basis, fighting for our corner and fighting to have the same services delivered in rural areas that are delivered in urban areas. I do not think it is helpful for former Members of any of the Houses in Leinster House to make off-the-cuff comments about one element of society supporting others when we all know that is not the case. It is our job to fight for better services, better supports and better utilities like this for the people in our areas. We will continue to do that.

I rise to speak on the issue that is being raised today in Stormont. I refer to the website commonly known as Escort Ireland. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 criminalises the purchase of sex in this jurisdiction. Yet, this platform exists for one clear purpose; to advertise sexual services to be bought here in direct defiance of that law. It is not a marginal operation. It is a large, highly profitable enterprise, reportedly charging weekly fees for advertisements while hosting hundreds of listings aimed squarely at Ireland.

Public reporting has identified individuals linked to this operation who have past criminal convictions for pimping. Company records show the business was relocated from London to Spain, where it now trades through a Spanish registered company reporting multimillion euro revenues. This is organised, transnational activity, not casual online behaviour. These concerns are now underlined by serious, independent research.

The Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy, SERP, Institute, which has called on our Minister for justice to take action, reports stark findings. Hundreds of women are advertised daily across the island of Ireland on these platforms, with over 900 on a single site. The majority are young migrant women, many of whom have limited English. In a four-week analysis of online profiles, the SERP Institute identified 19 of 28 internationally recognised indicators of trafficking and sexualised exploitation. Women presented as independent escorts are, in reality, often controlled by organised crime groups that dominate the sex trade. These websites provide anonymity for buyers, pimps and traffickers while generating millions in profit. If the law cannot reach those who openly organise, advertise or profit from the breach of our laws then we must ask ourselves who exactly is the law for. I call for a debate to allow the House to discuss these issues, particularly as the continued existence of the website in question is nothing short of a mockery of our laws.

I also want to address the online abuse received by my colleague Senator Eileen Flynn. While I disagree with a number of Senator Flynn's opinions, I restrict my criticisms to the opinions and not the woman herself. Comments on Senator Flynn's background as a member of the Traveller community, the way she dresses and the way she speaks are racist, deplorable and, worst of all, intellectually bankrupt. She is the most voted female Senator in the Chamber and she has as much right to be here as any of us. I commend her, and I hope she does not take any of that rubbish to heart. I am a believer in free speech and debate, but such abusive comments hurt our national discourse and, most of all, let down those who utter them.

Hear, hear.

On foot of what Senator Keogan has been speaking about, we will be bringing in the social media companies. They had a policy before whereby Members could contact them directly when there were issues relating to online posting. This is something we will be addressing in relation to the protection of Senators who are doing their work in the House and the level of abuse they receive online, which, sadly, is increasing. Unfortunately, it does not appear that everything that should be done is being done by the social media companies to protect Members of the House.

I concur with Senator Keogan's remarks on the abuse of Senator Flynn. I wish the Cathaoirleach well in his discussions with the social media companies, although from past experience I would not be overly optimistic about how they run their platforms and whether the protection they should be giving to people will materialise.

The spring economic statement released this morning refers to the prospect of a surplus of €9 billion, which is almost twice what had been predicted. Certainly, in the first instance, that will put the Government in a position where it can meaningfully step up on the cost-of-living crisis and the cost of fuel and put some significant supports in place rather than implementing actions of they kind which have been taken to date and which clearly have had very limited impact and only in a certain number of sectors.

I note also the comments by the Minister, Deputy Chambers, that the Government intends to increase capital investment on critical infrastructure. I was at a meeting of the Good Friday Agreement committee this morning that was attended by a number of representatives from chambers of commerce from both sides of the Border. Some were from as far away from the Border as Dún Laoghaire and Bangor, but most were from areas either side of the Border. We were discussing the opportunities that exist and that have already arisen in the context of all-Ireland economic growth, the huge potential that there is for more and the barriers being faced. Some of the barriers identified by the chambers of commerce relate to critical infrastructure such as wastewater treatment, water services, rail and road networks. The chambers of commerce on the southern side of the Border in particular made the point that investment in these on one side benefits both sides and is a benefit to the all-island economy. People recognise the work being done by the shared island fund, and there was a strong call for a structural fund agreed between the British and Irish Governments, and with input from the Executive in the North, to look at the idea of necessary infrastructure across the island. There was criticism of the lack of cross-Border infrastructure planning, which is clearly necessary.

In a context where the economic output, even with all of the challenges, looks significantly good, that is something the Government needs to address.

Other issues raised in the context of cross-Border rebuilding included the whole area of taxation, recognition of qualifications and pensions. There have been promises over many years to have a one-stop shop to address all of those issues but that has not materialised. There is work to do for both Governments in that regard. The all-Ireland economy is growing. It has been growing significantly despite all the obstacles. There is, however, a danger in the time ahead of both economies, North and South, diverging. It is in the interests of this State, as well as the interests of the whole island, to ensure that the economic growth potential is harnessed and that sufficient investment is put in for infrastructure and the removal of barriers in order that it can benefit everybody who lives across the island of Ireland.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome the guests of Deputy Mattie McGrath from Tipperary, who are members of Cahir Active Retirement. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann and I thank them for being here today.

I want to be associated with the comments in relation to our colleague and friend, Senator Eileen Flynn. What she has gone through is appalling. It behoves us all to be there with her and stand with her, and to challenge the social media companies, in particular.

I want to reference two specific items. Today is world curlew day. We have seen some positive results in County Monaghan from the head starting programme, which was run by Breeding Waders EIP, led by Mr. Owen Murphy, down on Lough Ree. This is a collaborative piece of work that involves the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, through the mink eradication programme, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, local landowners and local communities. It also includes Fota Wildlife Park because they take the eggs from the nests and head start them, incubate them, in Fota Wildlife Park and release them.

I was fortunate enough to be out on Lough Ree with Mr. Murphy and the team last year when the birds were released. There have been some successes, but we are talking about a bird that has experienced a 98% decline since 1980. It is quite shocking. For all of our efforts, the bigger plan needs to be around landscape scale restoration. We have these huge interventions that are taking place. Nest sites need predator control 24-7. We have broken landscapes and habitats. The Government needs to invest significantly. I will use the opportunity of today to welcome the efforts that have been made, are ongoing and are proving successful up around the midlands and in the north west.

The second issue I want to raise is the traditional farm buildings grant. It is a popular grant scheme among farmers. It deals with not only the conservation and restoration of a part of our vernacular heritage but also had an effect because these are habitats for barn owls, swifts and other wildlife. The grant is very popular among farming organisations and farmers in particular. It is administered by the Heritage Council and the funding is in place through the Department of agriculture. Unfortunately, funding this year was cut, for whatever reason. It was not cut by a small percentage but was cut in half from €1.5 million to €750,000. Is it the intention of the Department of agriculture to get rid of the scheme? As I said, it has been oversubscribed in previous years, in my experience. It is about the protection and restoration of local vernacular heritage. It often employs local contractors and local heritage and conservation skills. As I said, many farmers want to hold onto these buildings in their farmyards and the grant scheme has been a real lifeline in doing that. I want to question the Minister in that regard. Why was this really important grant scheme cut in half from 2025 to 2026?

Senator Ahearn, who is the Acting Leader, is doing a brilliant job.

I rise to speak about kinship care. It is where children are raised full-time by relatives, close family members, friends, grandparents, aunts or uncles after a parent has passed away.

Kinship Care Ireland is not fully supported by the State. It gets little or no State funding. Payment grants for children are little supported by the State. My ask this afternoon is that we have a debate on kinship care, the vital work of the organisation and, most importantly, the 12,000 children who are in kinship care. We talk a lot about adoption and children in care and we too often forget about critical organisations like Kinship Care. The workers in Kinship Care have been in contact with many Senators and many TDs as well. I think many colleagues would agree that we should have a debate specifically on the critical work and service Kinship Care delivers to 12,000 children in this country.

First of all, I would like to be associated with the comments condemning the online abuse that my colleague, Senator Flynn, has received. No one should be subjected to that and, unfortunately, women representatives are especially open to that. It just should not happen.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a community football group, namely, Drogheda Boys and Girls FC, that was really struggling after waiting four years for the most basic of changing facilities for their teams. There are 21 teams in all. It is a very popular club. I am working with the organisation to try to help it with that but then it got a letter from Uisce Éireann asking for almost €26,000 to connect water to those facilities, which are not even there yet. This is not an isolated incident. I am sure, right across the country, there are small grassroots clubs that are surviving on either getting a sports capital grant or fundraising from the parents. They would like to see something for it rather than it being sucked up by Uisce Éireann. As I said, this is not an isolated incident. I raised the issue of Wolfe Tones GFC in Drogheda only last year. Its bill is €140,000. I really think we need to look at what other streams or sources this could come from, whether that is engagement with Uisce Éireann, or I really would like to invite the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, in here to try to tease out whether there is a different source for funds for bills like this or whether Uisce Éireann can waive or source them in some other way. All their fundraising efforts are really not being seen. There is no benefit being seen. Also, a sports capital grant, which is long earned, could all just disappear overnight with a water connection. I would really like to see an open discussion on this to try to help these community organisations going forward.

I would also like to support Senator Keogan's comments in relation to Senator Flynn.

It is another week, and another week of carnage on the roads and deaths of horses at the hands of sulky racers. There was another dead horse in Clonmel, where a sulky horse collapsed and died of exhaustion. Clonmel seems to be a hotspot for these animal abuse cases by sulky racers. In another incident, there were two horses racing up the N7 dual carriageway while the lanes were all blocked by cars following behind them. This, ultimately, is the responsibility of Government, which has allowed this lawlessness to continue. Horse and animal rescues, like My Lovely Horse Rescue, are left to pick up the pieces. The Government has given an exemption from the normal rules of the road to sulky owners, who appear to be under no obligation to hold insurance or abide by safety standards on public roads. They can do what they want and they seem to face zero consequences. It is completely unacceptable. The sulky racers must be held to account.

The Government has also given an exemption to the sulky racers for brutalising the horses in their care. They face no consequences for abusing their animals. They say they love their horses but there is no evidence to suggest that is the case. How many more horses have to be abused to death before the Government acts and deals with the sulky racers? We need to have the Minister for justice and Minister for Transport in this Chamber to outline why sulky racers are exempt from the law and what steps the Government will take to end the abuse of these horses and the danger posed by unregulated sulkies on the public roads.

What is happening on the roads is unbelievable. It is unacceptable that horses, or any animals, would be treated like this. There have to be consequences for them. There have to be measures put in place by the Government to ensure that the Garda clamps down on sulky racing.

I raise the town of Navan and CCTV cameras. The people of Navan deserve to feel safe while walking around the town, but many do not. In my day, I could go to the disco, come out of it at about 2 a.m., and be able to walk home and feel safe. Many people cannot do that these days. We have raised the issue of needing more gardaí in the town and county. Meath has the lowest number of gardaí per capita in the country. We have also been raising the issue of CCTV cameras. Fine Gael councillors, including myself when I was a councillor, and every councillor from every other party are in agreement that more CCTV cameras are desperately needed in Navan. This conversation has been going on for years.

I am delighted to say that, at the Navan municipal district meeting tomorrow, there will be a briefing on where all of these cameras will go on the map. There are more than 100 of them. Although it has taken many years for this extension, I welcome the significant development that the CCTV cameras across the town of Navan will bring. CCTV in a town like Navan is not just about watching streets. It is about making the town feel safer and more confident and attractive for people to live, work and visit. Visible CCTV cameras can make opportunistic crime far less likely. Things like vandalism, theft and anti-social behaviour are reduced, and when crime does happen, the CCTV provides clear, time-stamped evidence that can be used by An Garda Síochána. With footage, investigations move faster and prosecutions are stronger. Towns like Navan face challenges around late night disorder, loitering and intimidation, and CCTV can help identify repeat offenders.

CCTV is a welcome thing, especially for the retail and hospitality industries. People's perception of safety matters as much as actual crime rates. If residents feel unsafe, they avoid certain areas, especially in the evening. Navan is a beautiful town, with many lanes going through it, but people feel very unsafe going through those lanes in particular.

CCTV will be a great addition to Navan, but only if we have gardaí there to be able to follow up on the reporting from the CCTV. It is all very welcome having the cameras, but we need the follow-up. I would like assurances from the Minister for justice that the CCTV system in Navan will have backup from An Garda Síochána. For now, I very much welcome it.

I empathise with Senator Flynn completely. She should never have had to face the barrage of comments she did. It is absolutely disgusting. All of her colleagues are around her.

I, too, want to be associated with the comments on Senator Flynn. It might be of interest to her to know that, shortly after I shut down my X account, somebody appeared on X as "G. Craughwell" and continues to tweet on that platform despite the fact that I have already complained that my name is being used. These companies have an obligation to ordinary citizens, never mind Members of the Oireachtas or anywhere else. I have complained and am still complaining. I complained when I was impersonated on Facebook, and within hours, Facebook acted to stop it. That did not happen on Twitter and it is not happening on X. I think X actually drives revenue by destroying people. It is a horrible organisation. I would have nothing to do with it.

I want to talk very briefly about bullying in the workplace. I am glad to see a class of students here because they need to know that bullies have no place in our society. Bullies only thrive when people allow them to. A bully needs to be confronted, not just by the victim. Actually, we do not call them "victims", but "targets". Once you confront a bully, he or she will move his or her sights to another target. Essentially, bullies are weak people who lack confidence in themselves and only ever attack a person who actually is great, confident and excellent at what they do. The bully is actually jealous of who and what you are.

Do not ever let a bully take over. There is an excellent story today titled, "I stood up to my workplace bully – everyone tells you not to, but fighting back was my therapy". I fought back personally for seven years. I lived in an office on my own rented for me by my college, outside the building where all the staff were, and a classroom was rented outside the school so I could teach my classes. People would look at a big guy like me and say I surely could not be bullied as a man of my size, but I was for seven years of my life. I do not carry it with me though. I now see it as a badge of honour because I stood up. I am telling people today there is no place for bullies in any workplace and companies need to stand up and confront bullies that exist within their organisation. Fair play to the young woman mentioned in the Irish Independent today.

Before I call the next speaker I welcome Scoil Mhuire na n-Áird from Shillelagh in Wicklow. The students are guests of Deputy Brennan. I was talking to the Deputy earlier and, as is the tradition in the House, there is no homework for the rest of the week. The students should make sure their teachers enforce that law because if it is said here it must be law.

Anois, an Seanadóir Fitzpatrick.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Fáilte to everyone in the Gallery.

Today the Tánaiste brought to Cabinet a paper for discussion on the economic forecast for our country. I would like the Acting Leader to arrange a debate in the House on the economic forecast with a particular focus on the cost-of-living pressures being experienced by households and businesses. We are very fortunate to live in a country with a strong, stable economy. We have full employment and growth continues to be forecast. However, my understanding is the report from the Department of Finance outlined three possible scenarios and it is important we debate those in the House. In particular, households are feeling the pinch. I was nominated by RGDATA, which represents indigenous, independent shop owners and convenience stores. Many of them have been hit very badly over the last number of years by continued increases in the cost of doing business. RGDATA has engaged very constructively on behalf of its members with the Department of enterprise and the Minister and we are looking forward to the cost of doing business report, which I urge the Minister to publish.

This House has an important role to play in taking the forecast and debating it and debating the scenarios. As a country we have come through Covid, Brexit and the war in Ukraine and now we have the very significant threats and pressures we are experiencing due to global conflict and the energy supply crisis. I would appreciate it if the Acting Leader could use his offices to organise an early debate on the economic forecast for the country.

I associate myself with the comments regarding Senator Flynn, my colleague. I know what it is like to receive bullying online and it should not be tolerated. I want to support her in that.

About 30 years ago I volunteered in the Salvation Army. Its homeless hostel just off O'Connell Street is called Cedar House. At that time I did not know it but it would change my outlook and how I viewed people going forward. I met a young guy there who was homeless. His name was Mick Finnegan. He has often been mentioned in this House by various people. He has red hair, sharp wit and is a pure Dublin guy. He was homeless but you would not know it. He used to always slag me about my clothing, the way I spoke and the trousers I wore. He would always give you a hard time. We stayed in touch and yesterday I met him again. I was down at Killashee Hotel where there was a social care conference, supported by In Sync, and Mick was the keynote speaker.

He was talking about his life. He is after getting married, is expecting his first child and is studying social care in the Netherlands. He is now back working with the Salvation Army in the Netherlands, the very organisation that helped him to get off the streets many years ago. Mick's story was not an easy one. He had terrible trauma in his life and that has been discussed in this House at length. All he was looking for was for somebody to believe in him. As he said to me yesterday, sometimes all it takes to change a life is for somebody to take an interest and sit down and have a chat.

It is a powerful reminder to all of us today that behind every label, whether that is homelessness or addiction trauma, there is a person, and a person with huge potential. Today I acknowledge all the people who work in Focus Ireland, Simon, Tiglin, Merchants Quay Ireland, etc. There are heroes in the community who actually help the likes of Mick Finnegan to turn their lives around. One thing I noticed about him is that childhood trauma may have shaped the story, but it does not define the ending. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Acting Leader.

Hear, hear.

With excellent timing, I call Senator Robbie Gallagher.

For a change, says you.

Spot on.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Recent data from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine shows that in 2025 we imported 40,000 tonnes of beef, which is the equivalent of about 118,000 steers, based on average weight. It is a strange statistic really, when we consider that we export seven times more beef than we import. Our largest customer for our beef is the UK. It is ironic that the majority of the 40,000 tonnes of beef we imported last year came from the UK. Farmers are asking what I would claim is a legitimate question: what is going on here? Why are we importing 40,000 tonnes of beef from the UK when that country is our largest customer for beef? Is it to do with price control or what is going on? It is fair to say we need answers in relation to this matter.

Turning to the poultry sector, last year we imported €629 million worth of poultry products into the country, while we exported approximately €165 million worth of poultry. The poultry industry employs roughly 5,000 to 6,000 people throughout the country. Of that figure, the vast majority, 2,000 to 3,000 people, are based in the Border counties, including in my area of Monaghan and Cavan. According to the Minister for agriculture, the majority of the poultry in our retail shops is imported. I would like if the Acting Leader could organise for the Minister for agriculture to come into the House so we can have a debate in relation to the beef and poultry sectors and perhaps get a few answers as to why we are importing the quantities of beef and poultry that we are. It raises many questions, and if the Minister were in this House, he may very well be able to give us the answer to those questions.

I concur with what Senator Gallagher said. I sit on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food and these issues are debated weekly, but I think there are good reasons for it. Certainly, within the European Union, it makes sense that we do business. That is just a general comment. I would welcome a debate in this House, but I think there are many reasons for this situation. We advocate for trade and competition, of course, and therefore we must engage with competition, certainly within the member states.

I thank the Leader's office for facilitating additional time this afternoon for the debate on the Government’s package of fuel supports. It is worthy of debate. I thank the Leader and the Leader's office for being open to extending the period for the debate, given the measure of interest in this topic outside these Houses. I convey my thanks for that and I look forward to engaging with the topic. Additional supports of €100 million have been provided specifically for farmers, fishers, foresters, etc. That is important. We will have that debate later and I acknowledge that.

I was in Galway the week before last in the context of the forthcoming by-election. I want to speak about something I have been talking about for all the years I have been in the Seanad, which is the publication of rural housing guidelines.

Today, however, the Cabinet is talking about modular housing, an idea dreamt up less than 12 months ago. We now have a circular today on issues relating to that. Everyone in this House from a rural area has spoken about it, whether it is Senators from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, but somehow it is falling on deaf ears. No one is listening. No Minister will come in here and give us a commitment. All we are asking is that a draft copy of the rural housing guidelines be published. I will revisit this matter tomorrow. It is a big issue for everyone on the doors in Galway, but it should be everywhere. It is time we stopped talking out of both sides of our mouths and got clarity on what is the Government's intention in respect of this matter.

I once more raise the issue of trolley numbers at University Hospital Limerick, UHL. Today, according to the INMO, there are 105 patients in UHL who do not have beds. That is double the number in next nearest hospital, University Hospital Galway, where 54 people are waiting for beds. Unfortunately, the numbers in this regard have been tracking upward again in recent weeks. I ask that the Minister for Health come before the House to provide an update on the welcome news regarding the site that has been acquired near Dooradoyle in Limerick at which more acute beds are to be delivered. The first step to bring this forward would be for the hospital project board to be constituted. I would like an update from the Minister on progress in that regard.

There were a number of questions. Senator O'Loughlin referred to the 1926 census, which was released this week. There have been 20 million hits on the website, which is phenomenal. Most families have been talking about it. Members of my family have been discussing our ancestors. There was a discussion in my house about how there were four in the family working full-time on the farm in 1926. The farm is now twice the size it was 100 years ago, and we have two people working part-time on it. Lifestyles and work are different, but people have a great interest in what they are finding out from the 1926 census. It is important that there is going to be a roadshow across ten centres, and, obviously, Naas, County Kildare, is an important area for Senator O'Loughlin.

The Senator also spoke about Kildare getting the lowest funding per capita in the country. I will speak with the office of the Minister, Deputy Calleary. There has obviously been a lot of funding put into rural Ireland over the past seven or eight years, but we need to have future-proofing for areas with populations that are growing faster than those in other areas. I will ask the Minister's office if the Minister is available for a debate.

Senator Scahill spoke about a radio interview he was listening to this morning during which the Roscommon Community Sports Park group came up. He is right that it is important to have good sports facilities in Roscommon and in other places across the country for a number of reasons. The Senator spoke about an athletics track. I know about this from experience. Four or five years ago, we built an athletics track in Clonmel, County Tipperary. It was done through moneys provided by the Department of housing from urban regeneration and development fund. Money is also available through the rural regeneration and development fund if a town has a population of less than 10,000. This is a prime example of putting funding into what is not a major sport in this country but that is important for people in an area. At the sports committee, a number of smaller sports groups and organisations came in to discuss funding and how we can support them.

The Senator also spoke about the rural-urban issue, which has been the subject of discussion over the past 24 hours or so. It is important that when individuals are speaking in the media or in rooms like this, they do not try to create a further divide between people.

Most of the points that were made are just not factually true. One of the really important points to make, which the Senator understands as well, is that all those subsidies he talked about actually come from Europe and date back to when we joined the European Union. One of the main reasons for subsidies in farming and the farming community is to lower the price of food. That benefits everyone. It is disappointing and is certainly not a position held by me, by the Senator or, I am sure, by any elected representative in either House. It is unfortunate but it is not a position we hold.

Senator Keogan spoke about Escort Ireland advertising for sex. She mentioned that there are almost 900 people who are essentially being trafficked and used, albeit that they are classing themselves as independent escorts. A lot of work has been done on this by the National Women's Council but we have never had a debate like that in the House. It is something that should be discussed and I will raise it with the Minister for justice.

Senator Keogan also mentioned the online abuse of Senator Flynn. A number of others in the Chamber also spoke about that. It is absolutely disgraceful. We can all have different views and opinions in this House but that anyone on any side of this or the other House would be subjected to that type of abuse is utterly unacceptable. I know for a fact that no one here agrees with it. The Senator is very strong herself. I know that this must be difficult but she is well-respected and well-regarded in this House by all Members. We hope and we know that she will continue to do the good work she has been doing since being elected. Senator Keogan mentioned that Senator Flynn got the most female votes in the country. I know that to be true because she was on my panel and she was way ahead of me. She is well-respected across the country, obviously.

Senator Conor Murphy spoke about the spring economic statement, the surplus of €9 billion as opposed to €5 billion and how that can be used in terms of cost-of-living measures. First, it is important to note that we have a surplus and, at the very least, that gives us options. It has given us options over the last number of weeks in the measures that have been brought in by the Government to the value of €750 million to try to ease the immediate pressure on different sectors of society. It also gives us the option, if required over the summer or in the budget, of introducing additional measures. The cost of home heating oil, for example, is an issue for many people, particularly pensioners who need support. The important point is that we have the flexibility because of a strong, growing economy and because of decisions that were made in the last number of years to put money aside for situations like this, albeit most Opposition parties did not support that at the time.

Senator Noonan spoke about the traditional farm buildings grant. He is right that it is a very popular grant. I know that from my own county of Tipperary. He said that the funding has been cut by 50%, which seems like an awful lot. I will ask the Minister to come in to discuss it. He will be in later today for a discussion on the supports that have been announced as part of the cost-of-living measures. I am sure if the Senator sees an opportunity to raise it as part of his contribution to that discussion, the Minister will respond, but I will talk to the Minister to see if it is possible to have a debate on the matter.

Senator Flynn spoke about kinship care and how there are 12,000 children under that service, which is phenomenal. We often talk about carers and children being cared for through adoption. Senator Keogan and I talk a lot about fostering as well, but this is an area that does not get the same discussion and one that certainly needs support. I will speak to the Minister for children to see if a debate is possible. A Commencement matter might be a good way to go in getting information. This is work that is being done predominantly by relatives, whether they are aunts, uncles or grandparents. If it were not done, the State would have to step up and pay an awful lot of money to do it. When it is relatives taking on that care responsibility of parents who are deceased, it keeps that structure in place for the child and enables them to keep progressing because they are in a caring family environment, which is crucial for them. It is a good topic for a discussion and debate with the Minister for children.

Senator Comyn also spoke in support of Senator Flynn. She then spoke about the Drogheda Boys and Girls Football Club, which has 21 teams and does phenomenal work. It has received a letter from Irish Water and a bill of €26,000.

It does phenomenal work but received a letter from Irish Water of a bill of €26,000. It is just not possible for small clubs like that to fund bills that come totally unexpectedly while at the same time trying to raise money when they look for funding for other things, it be whether sports capital grants or anything like that. They cannot keep going back to parents and members of their clubs to try to get money. The Senator is right about better engagement with Uisce Éireann in relation to clubs like that which are hit with bills. I will contact the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy McConalogue, to see if something is possible. A Commencement matter might be a good option for the Senator to discuss it in more detail.

Senator Andrews spoke about sulky racing. He mentioned Clonmel and being from Clonmel I know it very well myself. This is a real scourge on a lot of areas. It has been an ongoing issue in Clonmel for many years. In relation to the horse that died this year, everyone locally knows who the people involved are. There is a feeling within communities that not enough is being done. We have invested quite a lot in recruiting more gardaí but an issue is a lot of the gardaí are going to Dublin as opposed to across the country and this needs to be discussed. I will ask the Minister for justice to come in to discuss it. An animal care unit would be a good first step.

Senator Nelson Murray spoke about Navan and CCTV there. She said that Meath has the lowest number of gardaí in the country but thankfully over 100 new CCTV cameras are being put in the town. I hope that will give people from the Senator's community a sense of safety but as she said, there is only so much a camera can do. It cannot convict someone - we need gardaí, as I just said, outside of Dublin. There are rural towns, of which Navan is one - as the Senator said, Meath has the lowest number per capita - that need gardaí walking on the streets just to have a presence and be seen. While it is really good to have the CCTV cameras for prosecutions and making sure people who commit crimes can be found, we just need more gardaí in place. I know the Senator is doing a lot of work in Navan on that to protect the people there so they can feel safer.

Senator Craughwell spoke about Senator Flynn and social media and his own experience of that. We have had social media companies before the media committee. As I think Senator Conor Murphy said at the start, you would not have too much confidence in them. I would have to concur. Senator Craughwell also spoke about bullying in the workplace and his own personal experience of seven years of bullying. There is a real challenge for companies to have set criteria to deal with bullying in the workplace because it can be a real issue, particularly for women. Something needs to be done about that. Perhaps the Government could set out guidelines for what companies should do. When we talk about bullying in the workplace, this is a workplace and there was bullying in this workplace last week, predominantly against women. It was not in this House, thankfully. We conduct ourselves much better than the Lower House. It is a prime example of where bullying happens and there is no accountability for it. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the economic forecast and asked for a debate with the Minister for Finance. I hope to have him come to the House in the next couple of weeks. It is a perfect opportunity to talk about the forecast, the cost of living and the outlook determined across three areas in respect of where we might be, especially because of the past number of weeks with the war in Iran and the implications of that. It is a good opportunity for this House to discuss the long-term impact, where we are going in terms of the economic forecast, what decisions might be made in the budget and to try to influence decisions those made come September and October.

Senator McCarthy also spoke about the comments about Senator Flynn.

He also spoke about Mick Finnegan, someone he knows well from his time at Cedar House, and said he was a keynote speaker recently. Mr. Finnegan is a prime example, as the Senator said, of someone who got support, was believed and was able to turn his life around and have a good quality of life. The Senator has been involved in that for many years and knows it extremely well. What happened to Mr. Finnegan could happen to anyone and we always need to remember that. All that needs to happen is for two or three things to go wrong in someone's life and they could end up in the same situation. We should always be mindful of that.

Senator Gallagher spoke about the importation of 40,000 tonnes of beef and noted that we export seven times more beef than we import, most of which comes from the UK via the Border between the North and the South. The Senator also referred to poultry exports between the UK and Ireland. It would be good to have debate on the matter. I will ask the Minister for agriculture whether he is available. He is coming in later to talk about the measures announced last week for the agricultural sector to address the cost of living. I will talk to the Minister's office to see whether it is possible.

Senator Boyhan thanked the Leader's office for the additional time for today's debate on fuel. It is an important debate to have. The Minister is available, so it has been possible to extend the debate. That is good. It will be an opportunity for the Minister to outline the supports available to farmers because a number of measures are being brought in. It will also be an opportunity for Senators to raise any concerns. It is important that we have the debate today and that it is lengthy enough to be fulfilling.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the Galway by-election and rural housing guidelines. As he said, anyone from a rural community will understand that there can be a great deal of frustration about the guidelines relating to building houses in rural areas. The Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, is doing a lot of work within his party on discussing which options there are going forward and which decisions need to be made. I am sure when he is available to discuss those matters with Members of this House, he will be more than happy to do so. The Minister of State has always been available, in fairness, to come to the House to discuss anything relating to planning. He is eager to try to ease the pressure on people who want to build in rural Ireland and who want to live in their villages or homes. I think he will be able to do that soon. I will speak to his office to see whether he will be able to come in.

Senator Dee Ryan spoke about trolley numbers in University Hospital Limerick. It seems that this matter is always on the agenda. I know about it because a lot of people in west Tipperary go to the hospital in Limerick. The numbers are not acceptable, at more than 100, and are more than double those in Galway, which is in second place. That is not acceptable. We had good news with the opening of the new section of the hospital and the new site, but the Minister for Health has not been in the House in some time to debate health issues and, in particular, University Hospital Limerick. I will speak to her office to see if it is possible to have a debate. There is good news for Limerick, which is positive, but those trolley numbers need to come down. It would be good to have an opportunity to discuss the matter.