Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad
The Cathaoirleach announced several Commencement matter topics and selected four for immediate debate, focusing on legal aid for domestic violence survivors, community CCTV in Carrickmacross, car parking in new housing, and school transport age limits.
I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:
Senator Patricia Stephenson - The need for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the recommendations of the civil legal aid review, specifically relating to legal aid for survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to make a statement on the community CCTV scheme and plans to ensure its availability in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.
Senator Teresa Costello - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the provision of car parking spaces in new-build housing developments.
Senator Gareth Scahill - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the extension of the upper age limit of drivers of small public service vehicles contracted under the school transport scheme.
Senator P.J. Murphy - The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine to make a statement on the timeline for publishing the scientific assessment into the threats posed by imported non-native honey bees.
Senator Tom Clonan - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the criteria for enrolment in special classes for children with developmental language disorder or speech sound disorder as set out in Circular 24/2025.
Senator Martin Conway - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to make a statement on the opening of an IDA office in Taiwan.
Senator Nessa Cosgrove - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the provision of adequate funding to ensure the provision of the public service obligation on routes deemed not to be commercially viable, in particular the 64 bus route in Tobercurry, County Sligo.
Senator Pauline Tully - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the surgical and emergency departments in Cavan General Hospital.
Senator Mark Duffy - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the introduction of a temporary order, similar to the Road Traffic (Recognition of Foreign Driving Licences Held by Relevant Persons) (Ukraine) Order 2022 that would facilitate people returning temporarily from the Middle East due to the current situation in Iran.
Senator Victor Boyhan - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on plans for local authorities to deliver social and affordable housing for people with a disability.
Senator Mike Kennelly - The need for the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a statement on GAA matches being placed behind paywalls.
The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Stephenson, Gallagher, Costello and Scahill and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.
I apologise for delaying the Minister and I thank him for coming to Seanad Éireann today to take these Commencement matters.