I thank all 11 Senators who spoke this morning. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke initially about the committee work in relation to drugs and the new drug strategy that is upcoming. It is very concerning, listening to some of the media coverage over the past few days in relation to the present-day status regarding drug use and, indeed, the nature of drugs that are used. As the Senator rightly said, the use of drugs now is widespread and complex. There is no street, village, town or city that is free from this. When we look at the statistics, there is a big increase in women taking drugs. We have to appreciate that because there are more people receiving treatment, and the statistics show that, it shows that there is an increase in the treatment and other supports. That is probably the only positive thing that has been emerging. At a meeting recently with Nicola Kelly in Cuan Mhuire outside Athy in Kildare she said that is absolutely borne out in their experience on the ground at Cuan Mhuire, which operates not just in Kildare but around the country. We need to help support all those treatment centres. We need to look for more treatment beds. When somebody is at rock bottom, they are seeking help and their family are encouraging and doing everything they can to help them get the help, the State absolutely has to step in and provide that. The Senator is right about looking for an urgent debate on the HRB report. It is something that every single person in this House will support. We will look for the Minister to do that. It is a crisis.

The Senator also spoke about the illegal abduction of the flotilla. I heard on the radio this morning that they are, thankfully, being released today. It is not before time. It is absolutely shocking to see how they have been treated. It is shocking to see how the Israeli security minister did everything to try to humiliate them. That took it to another level. Like the Senator, I am very glad to see a strong Government response and the Taoiseach coming out very strongly and not just contacting but writing to the EU to say that the EU collectively needs to take a stronger stance. We wish the protestors, who were trying to bring both educational and medical aid to those who are suffering huge challenges, problems and indignities in Gaza, a speedy return home. The issue itself is not going away, so we need to have that EU co-operation. I thank the Taoiseach for leading that response.

She also raised the tragic situation of Yves Sakila who lost his life on Henry Street in very tragic circumstances. We all need to extend our sympathy to Yves's family, the Congolese community and, of course, the community in the area. We need to have that investigation carried out very quickly. We need to have a strong sense of what happened. While the investigation within the Garda is ongoing, because a private security firm was involved initially there is that investigation as well. It was a shocking event. We all need to be very concerned about it.

Senator Duffy spoke about the new round of sports capital community grants and the arts capital grants, which is a new venture. He asked that there would be a consideration of places where there are gaps and places that do not have a lot of investment in sports facilities. From my understanding, there is a mechanism to capture that, and rightly so. Within the past few years, the system that is used to allocate funding has a lot of different measures, including female participation, inclusive measures where people with disabilities are involved, looking at geographical areas that have not received parity in funding and looking at minority sports that have not received parity in funding. The sports partnerships have a key role to play because they do excellent work in relation to trying to ensure that there is a level playing field - excuse the pun. We want to make sure that no community is left behind. We certainly support the Senator on what he said.

He also spoke about the upcoming arts scheme. This is certainly something that I fought hard to have included. There are so many within all the communities that we serve who do not participate in sport for different reasons but are very interested in cultural and arts activities within their communities. Our amateur drama groups around the country are incredible. I got to see a number of plays this year, between the Rathangan Drama Festival and the Kildare Drama Festival. What we see on our stage from amateur drama is incredible. We need to be doing everything we can to support them to have venues. The Senator mentioned the different choral groups. We need to do anything we can to support youth theatre. At the moment, we are undergoing a review at the suggestion of Senator Black in relation to one of our subcommittees here in the Seanad on arts venues across the country. That will throw up some interesting information and recommendations that will go to the Minister for culture and arts.

Senator Duffy also spoke about Tom Bourke and Bryan Hyland from Westport who are undergoing a row across the Atlantic in aid of Daisy Lodge in Cong. We all wish them well.

Senator Conway spoke about Waterford and Wexford ETB and his meeting with the chair and CEO last week. He raised the breadth of work that is going on, between schools, training, music generation and different youth groups. There are 1,800 staff and 28,000 students. The ETBs have taken on a lot around the country and have to be commended on that. He raised the collaboration with SETU and a new campus in Wexford town. He is looking for the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to visit. Although we are very happy to have adopted him in Kildare, the Minister is a very proud Wexford man. His formative roots were in Gorey. I have no doubt that he would be happy to go down. We will certainly ask him to do that.

Senator Andrews spoke about the dog breeding Act. We have been waiting for this for a long time and the Senator has been looking for a debate in the Seanad for a long time. We have sent the request in every single time. We did not get it. Regarding this Act, we will have it. He was negative about the draft legislation. I know he will make salient points when we come to discuss it. It is very welcome that we have the draft legislation there. It is going to look at welfare and breeding, sales and record-keeping, administration and enforcement. The previous update was in 2010. Over the latter few years in particular, there has been a huge growth in the illicit dog-breeding industry. It is about time that we have this. What is welcome is that there will be a minimum number of full-time staff workers with every 20 dogs. There will be strict limits on female breeding, with a maximum of four over the life of a female dog, or six if certified by a vet. For breeding dogs, it can only be one litter per year. We have to welcome that. The main point the Senator was making is that there is not a limit in the draft Act in terms of the number of breeding dogs. I accept that. We will have the opportunity to ensure that goes in as an amendment. I would certainly agree with that at this point in time.

Senator Crowe spoke about a proposed new IT system for trains to make sure that they are running on time. There has to be a huge amount of co-ordination. I use the train when I can - I used it yesterday morning. There is a big issue with trains coming from the north and trains coming from the south and west. The trains from the south and west are using the Phoenix Park tunnel and trying to come into Pearse Street. It is causing problems on both ends. We need this new system and we need it to work.

The Senator is telling me now that Iarnród Éireann has said the system cannot be deployed after a significant amount of money has been spent on it. This is the first that I have heard of it. The National Transport Authority has ordered an independent review and we need to have that as soon as possible. The Senator asked whether the Minister could come in to address it and look at it. We will certainly look for that. Effective, affordable and accessible public transport is key to so many things we do. I genuinely feel lucky that I can access that in Kildare. I know so many people who cannot access it in other places. Having said that, the announcement yesterday of the rail link to Navan is really good, so there are good things happening as well, but we will request that.

Senator Manus Boyle spoke about self-employed people and the challenges they have. I absolutely agree with him that we need entrepreneurs in this country. We need people to take risks. They are the people who pay the taxes and who provide the employment that gives the State the money to be able to pay the people it has to, including teachers, nurses, doctors, gardaí and so on. It is very concerning. I come from a family that has been in business so I totally understand the concerns and the stresses. I know very good people in business. There is concern about their pension when they finish. As the Senator said, there are concerns about access to medical cards and so on. These are the people who have been paying the pension contributions and PRSI for their employees. We do need to have a debate with the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke. It is a really important point. We have to support our SMEs within the country. We have to see what supports we can put in place for them now that the minimum wage has been raised again, and rightly so. It is another challenge for people to meet. Again, these are the businesses that provide the raffle prizes and supports to local community groups, local schools, local GAA clubs and local sporting clubs. We will look for a debate. I think we need to have it.

Senator Keogan spoke about the current situation in nursing education. Only last week, we spoke about International Nurses Day and how important it is to recognise the 93,000 nurses we have in this country who are working not just in hospital settings but in clinic settings and in nursing homes. Their training is hugely important. Obviously, the placement part is hugely important. Trainee teachers, especially primary school teachers, have the same issues. I have no doubt that it is hard to balance the academic demands with that and then to financially cover the costs of living and learning. That training element ceased when nursing became a degree course. We will ask the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to look at it and we will ask him to come in to have a debate. The Senator also mentioned retention. That is an issue for the Minister for Health, but obviously it is important that we look at ways we can retain our nurses who do such a valuable job. We will bring that to the Minister's attention.

Senator Murphy O'Mahony spoke about Organ Donor Awareness Week, and how we should always remember those who have donated and the families of those who have donated during this week, and of course those recipients whose lives have been changed. It has been life-saving. At the moment there are 550 people waiting for organ donation. It is really interesting that since the opt-out clause came in we have had fewer donations. That is a little bit concerning. We have to have those conversations. The gift of life is hugely important and we all have a job to do on that within our own communities.

Senator Nelson Murray spoke about the situation of somebody who came to her with a child with dyslexia who was refused assistive technology. Assistive technology is hugely important. It has always been a battle to get it and I have never understood that. I have had to undertake battles and had to raise it within the House. While it is a significant amount of money for a laptop or any type of assistive technology, it is going to help a young person not just learn but actually increase their confidence and self-esteem. That is what I came across in the personal situations I was helping with. The children themselves felt they were being looked down on. They felt they were being targeted for low-level bullying and their self-esteem was low. We absolutely have to get this right. We certainly will look to see when that circular will commence. We will ask. Maybe it is worth putting in a Commencement matter with the Minister for education as well. It is important. It transforms lives.

Senator Dee Ryan spoke about dental care, not for the first time. She spoke about the statistics from 2023 within Limerick when 8,500 children were entitled to get it and only 1,600 were seen, which was one in five. It is simply not good enough. There is a regional disparity. It is a very good suggestion that we look at developing dental tax credits for families. As one of 11, my parents were driving us to the dentist every single week. I am sure they would have been delighted with a tax credit at the time. It is a really good suggestion that needs to be taken up. We will ask for the Minister for Health on that regional disparity.

Senator Boyhan spoke about two issues. He spoke about the Ombudsman for Children's report. I heard a little bit of it this morning. Dr. Niall Muldoon is doing an incredible job. We all stand over it, and we respect and support what he says and his observations every year, as we should. As the Senator said, 34 years after ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child we need to ensure that the rights of children are fully incorporated. I say hello to all of the boys and girls here today in the Gallery. It is something that is important to all of them as well. I know that the priorities have not been announced yet and are only being finalised because Ireland does not take over the Presidency until 1 July. We have many competing challenges at this stage but it is something that I will bring to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne.

I disagree with Senator Boyhan on one thing. The Senator referred to the debate last night, which I believe was an excellent debate. I thank the Senator for tabling that motion. Senator Boyhan said he thought consensus is not always important among politicians. I think consensus is hugely important. While we will have disagreements and different views on things, working together to have consensus is mature and important. It is what people want to see us doing. The people we represent want to see those in the Opposition and those in the Government working together.