On behalf of the Fianna Fáil grouping here, I also extend our deepest sympathies.

First, I wish Katie McCabe and her team the very best of luck tonight in Grenoble at 8 p.m. This is a very significant match. We are all hearing about another match, but for now, this is very important; it is the World Cup qualifier. Thinking back to when I was growing up, there was not really a thought of women's football being able to compete at this level or indeed at all, so it is fantastic for our Irish women and I wish them all the best.

Last week, the midlands hospice was finally given the green light for much-needed palliative care for those who live in the midlands. It was a very long and challenging road, but Professor Humphrey O'Connor led a grassroots campaign for this. I want to pay tribute to him because there were a lot of twists and corners, as there often are, as regards site acquisition in particular.

What has happened is good. I was delighted to work with the campaign. I worked with our local Offaly representatives as well, including Barry Cowen, MEP, in his time as a TD and with Deputy Tony McCormack. It is just great to see this development and I want to note it, and I thank all of those involved.

Today is a significant day in terms of Cabinet approval of Jennie's law. I first met Jason Poole when Deputy Paul McAuliffe introduced me to him a number of years ago. I was very struck by his story, as were many, and was determined to try to help with what he clearly saw as a void in our legislation. We worked together and I drafted a Bill called Jennie's law, which went through a number of iterations here in the Seanad. I am really pleased to say that it got Cabinet approval today with the help of everyone in the Dáil and the Seanad. This may well become legislation before the end of the summer. It is an important step in helping to protect victims of domestic violence and provide people with information that could help keep them safe. It is a lasting legacy for Jennie and hopefully it will save many lives.

The last thing I would like to mention is the frontotemporal dementia, FTD, brothers. I spoke about them the week before last and then had the opportunity to meet Jordan and Cian, who have taken this incredible race of 33 marathons in 33 days. They are racing against time because they both have the gene for FTD. It was just incredible to meet them, their dad Glenn and everyone around them. This has to matter. It cannot just be about fundraising. They have raised over €2 million, which is absolutely incredible. Half of that money is going to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. It has to matter and we have to make it matter. The Government has to make it matter in terms of helping to support research and support those with dementia and their carers. Equally, all of us within our society and communities have to think in terms of making our towns dementia friendly. It is a great thing to do for those who are living with dementia and their carers. I think we need to have a debate about how we can make their legacy matter, how we can make what we saw around the country matter and how we can all work together on that.

I would like to pass on my condolences to the family of the former Senator, Ernie Caffrey, on behalf of myself and my colleagues.

I want to raise concerns about the liquidation of Tickets.ie and the Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon. The festival is one of the most important cultural and tourism events in the north west. Every year, it brings thousands of visitors to Donegal and supports local hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops and up to 30 small businesses. It is reported that the festival is now owed €283,000 following the collapse of Tickets.ie. This is a major concern for the organisers and for all those local businesses that provided services during the festival. What makes it most difficult is the fact that this was the best festival in the 23-year history of the event and had the biggest crowds in Ballyshannon. Organisers are now facing uncertainty about whether another festival can be put together and bills can be paid. We need to get clarity on the protections that are in place when ticket companies hold money on behalf of festivals and other events. I would ask the Minister what engagement has taken place with the liquidators and affected festivals. What supports are available to organisations impacted by this liquidation? These issues are about more than one festival. They are about protecting our community events, supporting local businesses and maintaining confidence in Ireland's events sector. I hope we can all work for those affected and consider what lessons can be learned. This is a very sad situation when an organising committee has pulled everybody together for a great event. I attended it myself. The crowds that were in Ballyshannon were unreal, but now the festival has been landed into a mess like this where it is €283,000 in debt through no fault of its own. Surely we have to get the Minister involved here.

I want to raise a matter of huge concern that has been reported in the newspapers recently and was even on "Morning Ireland" this morning, namely, the Aughinish Alumina factory in Limerick.

The reports suggest that the plant is shipping vast amounts of alumina to be smelted in Russia where it is then used to manufacture aluminium which is then sold to a trading company supplying dozens of Russian arms manufacturers. The CSO figures for the first quarter of this year show that 83% of the factory's total exports were shipped to Russia. The company has said since that was a mistake and a clerical error. I am a convener of the Ukraine group. Ireland has been unwavering in its support for Ukraine and we cannot allow confusion about figures or statistics to obscure the truth. If material is being exported from Ireland and is contributing, whether directly or indirectly, to Russia's capacity to sustain its war against Ukraine, that has to be taken with the utmost seriousness. I call on the Acting Leader to arrange a full debate on the matter. The Department of enterprise is conducting an investigation which must be transparent and independent and conclude without delay. Our integrity and solidarity with the Ukrainian people deserves full transparency.

I also want to mention the tragic death of Alex Coughlan following an assault in Blanchardstown recently. There is a police investigation. When something like this happens, we all express our shock and offer our condolences, and then it seems that we move on until the next time it happens. We need to start asking ourselves why this is happening and why it keeps happening. Alex Coughlan, whom I did not know, was a son, brother and friend. He seems to have been a remarkable individual. He was described as caring and selfless. An article mentioned how he carried an organ donation card. A number of people were thus helped after his death. His family now faces the loss of a loved one and had to face a horrendous funeral. We need to have an honest conversation in the House about violence in our communities.

I have spoken in the House about one-punch attacks which seem to be a part of life, yet we are losing people. Every act of violence leaves victims, families and communities carrying the consequences. We need stronger support for young people, early intervention when problems emerge and a clear message that violence is never acceptable and is certainly not entertainment. I heard videos were shared, which is appalling. My thoughts are with Alex's family, friends and loved ones. I hope his family find peace.

I want to raise the case of a woman in her 30s who is the mother of children, two of whom are very young. She is currently in Cavan General Hospital and has experienced pain for years due to kidney stones. The failure of the hospital and Beaumont Hospital has robbed her of her health and life because she has put up with years of antibiotics, painkillers and steroids while being told her case will be addressed. She has been in and out of hospital. A year ago, she was admitted to the hospital when very ill with an infection as a result of kidney stones. She had a recurrence of sepsis. Her partner and parents were called in one night because it was thought that she would not see the morning. Thankfully, she was rushed to Beaumont Hospital and the infection was brought under control. A stent was inserted into her kidney in Beaumont and she was told it would be in for a maximum of two months and she would then be brought back to have her kidney stones removed. A year on, she is still waiting for that. The stent is still in her kidney and has become infected.

She went back to Cavan General Hospital on Friday for a routine scan and had to be kept in because she was so unwell. She was put on a ward yesterday, but had not yet seen a doctor as of midday today. She does not know what is happening. She does not know if she is being sent to Beaumont. If her issues had been addressed in a timely fashion she would not require additional medication and hospital stays which cost our health service money. People seem to go to hospital on a regular basis with an issue and are given painkillers and told to go home, and then have to return in a few days or a week later because the condition has worsened.

I had a Commencement matter on a different issue a few weeks ago and neither the Minister of Health nor any of the Ministers of State from the Department of Health turned up, which I was really disappointed about. I call for a debate on acute medical care. I will also contact the Minister directly to intervene in this particular case. We need a debate on what is happening in our health service. We are supposed to be looking after people's health, not making it worse. I cannot understand the reluctance to deal with a very routine operation. She should have had those stones removed by keyhole surgery and avoided all of this unnecessary pain.

Recent days have unfortunately brought more disquiet and concern over governance issues at Horse Sport Ireland, a heavily funded organisation to support and grow the vibrant sport horse sector. Representatives for professional riders and equine veterinarians have resigned from senior positions saying their roles are no longer tenable. The Irish Equine Veterinary Association has withdrawn its representation from HSI and cited governance issues. Also resigning last week was Barry O'Connor, representing professional competitors. He is one of the most respected voices in the sector. His decision is damning. I have repeatedly endeavoured to raise issues of concern at HSI, as have many staff members who as a consequence were bullied out of the organisation. The chief executive has been before the agriculture committee several times and continuously stated that the organisation had no cost exposure as a result of HR issues over the past three years but we now know the HSI had in fact been availing of employment practice liability insurance to cover the cost of those actions. All costs, legal and settlements, are covered by a very expensive insurance policy. In January 2025, Nadia Rea took a bullying case and settled for a six-figure sum. In July 2025, HSI settled a case with Michelle O'Reilly, another former staff member. Brian Hennessy, a former press officer, has also filed an action against HSI. I understand the organisation is also facing two defamation actions from former showjumping coaches. In the current Olympics cycle it will receive €3.6 million in funding from Sport Ireland but of greatest concern is the fact that it is one of at least two organisations tendering for contracts with the Department at the moment worth €6 million and €2 million. One is for national equine breeding services and the second is for the provision of marketing services. I have asked in the past for this organisation to be wound up. Now at the very least it needs to be omitted from the competitive process for these two contracts. Anything short of that is a dereliction of the Department's responsibilities to the sport horse sector and the integrity of governance across the public sector.

I remind members in relation to the Standing Orders on the public good that there is a balance between that and the Standing Orders in terms of naming people in the House. I trust Members' judgment but I want people to be aware of it. A lot of the issues the Member brought up are in the public domain but I just want to make sure we do not say anything in this House that could affect any process in the future. I call Senator Scahill.

I raise an issue that has been brought up with me by a number of families recently in relation to domestic wastewater treatment systems. The local authorities through the national inspection plan have an onus on them to inspect a certain number of domestic water treatment systems annually. Unfortunately my area in Roscommon has historically had a very high failure rate. In 2025, the failure rate was 85% of the systems inspected. Thankfully in 2026 that is down substantially to about 50%, I think, so far this year. All of the households and individuals I have been engaging with understand why they need to be inspected. They want to participate and ensure their systems are up to scratch. In 2023, supports for domestic wastewater treatment increased from €5,000 to €12,000 but as we constantly hear in this House and in the Lower House, the cost of doing any job has significantly risen in recent times. People are finding now that even the €12,000 support, when they are eligible, does not cover enough of the cost.

It is leaving an increased burden on these households. These people are potentially facing the prospect of having to appear in court over not being compliant. I was hoping that we might be able to have a look at this in the House. I know the Minister has proposed some amendments to the schemes to try to bring more guidelines in for local authorities but I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss that.

In the time I have left, I would like to acknowledge Ernie Caffrey in Ballina. I extend my sympathies to his family. I did not know Ernie but I was familiar with the Moy Valley Resources centre. Back during the downturn, I know the support that resource centre gave to the community in Ballina in terms of training and access to further job opportunities. It is good that he has a legacy like that to follow him.

The last time the Seanad met, the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 was shamefully guillotined on Committee Stage before the House could properly debate the legislation or discuss the vast majority of proposed amendments. This morning, we were notified that Report and Final Stages would be cut short, with the Bill being forced through the Seanad. Our ability to scrutinise the legislation will be completely cut off. For that reason, I want to again propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 would adjourn at 9 p.m. and not conclude at 8 p.m. Senator Tully will second this.

I would also like to join with Senator O'Loughlin and send best wishes to the Irish women's soccer team in their game against France in Grenoble. It will be a huge game and I am looking forward to watching it.

Also today in the Dáil there is a motion on stopping the Ireland-Israel game. The Football Association of Ireland, FAI, has decided to play the game in another country. I will not say it is a neutral country because it is not neutral if it is hosting a game that involves Israel. It is clearly facilitating sportswashing. It is a spineless decision by the FAI to move the game to another country. The FAI constantly talks about UEFA rules and the penalties Ireland would face. In fact, the Taoiseach said that the game should go ahead so that the FAI would not have to pay any penalties. At the same time, the Taoiseach is willing to ignore Ireland's responsibility to comply with international law against a genocide. Ireland playing Israel is facilitating sportswashing. So much for priorities. What about the brutal attacks by the Israelis against flotilla members just a couple of weeks ago? There was lots of outrage about that but two weeks later the Government is willing to overlook that and allow Ireland to play genocidal Israel. Does international law mean nothing to this Government? Are we going to sacrifice Ireland's commitment and obligations under international law to uphold human rights for the sake of six points and a fine? The media are also fixated on the consequences for the team if it gets fined and loses six points but I do not hear the media being so fixated on Ireland's unwillingness to uphold international law. Israel has turned sports facilities in Gaza into graveyards. The Israel occupation forces, IOF, shoot sports people in the legs, yet Ireland is going to play Israel, which includes IOF soldiers among its players and management. It is very unfair on the players and the decision needs to be taken out of their hands. Imagine being a player and being told by Ministers and representatives of the FAI that they will not attend the game and yet they expect the Irish players to play Israel. It is leaving the players isolated and alone. The Minister will not attend on principle but expects the players to play. So much for protecting players. We need the Minister to come here to discuss this issue.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, from Galway Golf Club. Next is Senator Curley.

Tá rud éigin le rá agam faoi Uisce Éireann. I want to raise the issue of Uisce Éireann's communications, particularly with public representatives.

Not alone have we had reports in the House about its communication with Oireachtas representatives but I am now getting communications from councillors that what they are getting in feedback is nowhere near sufficient. Councillor Caroline O'Reilly in Dunshaughlin in County Meath raised discolouration in the public water supply last November. Six months later she has received three generic copy-paste emails telling her and her constituents to run the cold water tap for 20 minutes and if the discolouration continues to call a generic 1800 phone number for a call centre nowhere near Dunshaughlin in County Meath with absolutely no on-the-ground knowledge. It is an extremely frustrating situation. I found it frustrating when I was a councillor. In the case of other public bodies, such as the ESB or the public lighting companies that look after the county council, we had a direct line to a direct representative who looked after our county council. If we had an issue as public representatives we had a direct phone line we could use to have a conversation to explain a niche on-the-ground issue. Councillor Caroline O'Reilly and other councillors throughout the country have no ability to do this with Uisce Éireann and I ask why this is. It is about time we brought in the Minister to discuss having a more on-the-ground presence from Uisce Éireann throughout the country so people can represent their constituents properly.

As the Acting Leader knows, as public representatives we deal with a lot of different issues, projects in our community and a whole multitude of issues but sometimes we meet some really inspiring people who leave a mark on us and who display immense courage. I met such an individual yesterday evening. Emma O'Shea, from Ballylickey near Bantry, is 26 years of age and suffers from Friedreich's ataxia. To be honest, in my years in public service one of the most difficult encounters I have had was to talk to someone suffering with such a disease, to try to talk about a solution and to offer help to Emma and her mother and father, Ted and Kathleen, who were also in the living room. To be honest, I did not know much about Friedreich's ataxia until recent weeks. As Members know, or may well not know at this stage, more than 200 people in Ireland suffer from the disease. It is deeply debilitating. It is a neurological disease and the end fate is death. Emma lost her brother Timmy nine years ago from the same disease, when he was three years older than the age Emma is now.

Emma has had the courage to speak out and ask for help of the HSE, the Department and the Government. There is drug coming on the system. It would not cure the disease but it would slow its progression. It is offered and available in many countries in the EU and in the US but at the moment the HSE is deciding on its availability and reimbursement for the drug. I appeal to the HSE. Yes there is a cost to the drug but cost should not come into it when we are looking to extend someone's life. It really should not. I appeal to the HSE to replicate what other EU countries have done and to give life to Emma.

Yesterday evening I asked Emma what she would like me to say today because I have her permission to talk. I asked her what words she would like me to use on the floor of the Seanad. She said she watched her brother die and now she is at home in the same place. She sees what is coming and she needs help. As a State we owe it to Emma, and to the many families in this country who live with this horrible disease, to make this drug available. It is not a cure but it is groundbreaking, and this is what scientists have said, in terms of offering more support. Her family, Ted, Kathleen and her younger brother Kevin, would travel the world to keep Emma for longer and we need to do this also as a State.

Hear, hear.

I rise to address the harrowing news we have received from Belfast today, where a local man is in a critical condition after surviving what appears to be an attempted beheading by a man believed to be a Sudanese national, confirmed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I express my praise to those community members who bravely intervened to save his life at great risk to their own. I hope the House will join me in offering our prayers for his safety and survival. The investigation is ongoing and the motives are unclear. Those involved are unnamed and the attacker's status has yet to be confirmed but two things remain clear. The first is that reckless migration policy is putting lives in danger. We have seen this here with the murder of a young Ukrainian refugee, the stabbing of young children near Parnell Street, the beheading of two gay men in Sligo and the terrorist assault on our own An Garda Síochána last year. Most recently we have seen the brutal murder in Galway of the Iranian mother of two, Masuma Sohrabi. Let us remember her name today, her partner standing accused.

It is true enough that we already have problems with violent crime in this country. If anyone is still questioning the dangers of uncontrolled migration to the safety of our citizens, I must ask what more proof they need. Will there ever be evidence that will satisfy them or will they continue to stick their head in the sand while blood is spilled on our streets? The second thing that is clear is that we cannot neglect the risk Northern Ireland poses in terms of migration. We have an open border with that jurisdiction and it, in turn, has, in effect, an open border with Britain, which is struggling with the impact of years of unprecedented levels of irregular arrivals. The Government, with imminent urgency, must, first, commit to a serious programme of vetting arrivals and, second, it must do so on all-island basis. We need to reach out to Stormont and London immediately to begin forming a system to ensure we can know and control who is coming into our island.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Andrews.

I refer to the local democracy task force established by the Minister, Deputy Browne, which is looking at recommendations on supports and boundaries. The biggest issue is to do with the role of councillors. Most Members of this Houses were councillors for quite a while. The roles and powers of councillors certainly have diminished in recent years. They could achieve a lot more as elected representatives instead of having some faceless civil servant or whoever else making particular decisions. Councillors put their name forward, as we all know, and put themselves before the people at the hustings. The least they deserve is to have the proper powers to implement particular laws that represent the rule of the country. We need to see an empowerment of councillors and a reversal of the stripping back of powers that happened over the past 20-odd years.

I have talked briefly to the Minister about the task force. I am aware that a lot of work is under way and its report may be near enough ready. Alongside the Minister we have the hard-working Minister of State, Deputy Cummins. I talked to him about this earlier today. The review is near completion and I would like to see it implemented in full. Perhaps the Minister will come to the House to discuss the report with us. This issue is close to the heart of the Cathaoirleach. I ask him and the Acting Leader to invite the Minister to the Chamber for a debate on it.

In recent weeks, I have raised the subject of bringing back the holiday hunger pilot programme, which was run in 2025, this year. This follows on from the large amount of debate and discussion we have all had on the hot school meals programme. We learned at the joint committee on education, as I mentioned here the week before last, that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul had 112,000 requests for food assistance last year. Food poverty is still a massive issue among our children.

Therefore, I was absolutely delighted to hear that the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who is working very hard on everything to do with the hot school meals programme, alongside the Minister, Deputy Naughton, is extending the holiday hunger pilot programme into this year. This will mean that 42,000 children receive a hot school meal. Today is 9 June and we are very close to the summer holidays. I very much welcome that we know this is happening as we go forward and that it is not left waiting until the last few weeks. It is very important that the scheme be provided at Christmastime and Easter time.

The children hungry during the school year are the same children who are hungry at Christmas, at Easter and during the summer. It is great that 42,000 children will get this but there are plenty more who need it. We are serving 300,000 children through the hot school meals programme as it is.

I welcome it but we need to look at it further. I would welcome a debate with the Minister on it and on many other things to do with child food poverty and hot school meals. I would like us not to be sitting here next year waiting to know if it is going to be announced. I ask that in this budget we roll it out for the next few years and continue from there.

I welcome guests of Deputy Clendennen from the Dunkerrin history society. They are welcome to Seanad Éireann and I thank them for being here today.

I want to talk about the triple lock. I give huge credit to Senator Clonan, who has been a sound and constructive analyst of the danger of removing the triple lock.

I know it was to come before Cabinet today. I do not know the result of that but I am guessing it got full approval. I urge all in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and all supporting this, to rethink it. We are making a really big mistake here. The UN is not perfect and the Security Council is 100% not perfect and needs massive reform, but it is the best thing we have. If we get rid of the triple lock, it will be like a single lock because the Government always has a Dáil majority to go along with Cabinet approval.

There is a move towards militarisation in Europe, which I certainly am not comfortable with. Defence spending has increased in all European countries. Of course, we need to increase our spending in Ireland. The underinvestment in our Defence Forces has been really worrying. No one is doubting that but getting rid of this essential mechanism will compromise our neutrality and put it seriously at risk.

Hear, hear.

We need a full debate about this here. I would nearly go so far as to say we should have a citizens' assembly on neutrality. Four out of five Irish people have said they want to keep our neutrality. Let us have a serious conversation about the triple lock. It is unfair to pounce it in. We know there will be a Dáil majority - if it is passed by Cabinet, it will be like a single lock.

I call for a debate as soon as possible and I urge the Acting Leader of the House to consider putting forward a citizens' assembly for a general conversation about our neutrality.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

I want to speak once again about givinostat and the urgent need for Irish boys living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to finally gain access to that drug. Tomorrow marks an important point in the reimbursement process and on Thursday, 11 June, it will be exactly one year since the day we gathered outside and inside Leinster House to explain and show the reality for people living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Those families are still waiting for access to givinostat. Duchenne is the most common and one of the most severe genetic conditions diagnosed in childhood. It almost exclusively affect boys and causes progressive muscle-wasting, loss of mobility, heart disease and respiratory failure, and it ultimately shortens lives. Time is something these boys do not have.

I will go through the timeline quickly. On 6 June 2025, givinostat received European Medicines Agency, EMA, approval. In July 2025, the manufacturer submitted it for reimbursement in Ireland. In August, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE, initiated a full health technology assessment, HTA. In September, pre-submission consultation took place. In November, patient submissions were gathered by advocacy groups. In January, the full HTA dossier was submitted. In March, the NCPE completed its assessment and stated reimbursement could not be recommended unless cost-effectiveness improved. That sounds harsh but it was not the final decision. In March, commercial negotiations began. On 10 June, tomorrow, this medicine comes before the drugs group. The drugs group could make a recommendation to the senior leadership team in the HSE, which is the final decision-making authority, or can refer it for further review to the technical review committee for rare diseases.

I am running out of time. These people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy are running out of time, as are the people with Friedreich's ataxia. These are muscle wasting diseases. Two drugs are available that can halt the damage being done and preserve these people's dignity. I am passionate about this and desperately want these drugs to be available to these people.

In 2024, before I was a Member of this House, many TDs and Senators raised concerns about the EU migration pact. It was passed by a slim majority of seven votes in the Dáil Chamber. The Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, has repeatedly stated that a large number of asylum seekers enter the State via the North of Ireland. When challenged on how this issue could be addressed, the Minister stated the only way to stop it completely would be to impose a hard border. If that is the Minister's assessment of the challenge we face, I wonder why we have signed up to a pact that will do practically nothing to address our issues with migration.

The solidarity mechanism in the pact is presented as burden sharing but it is backed by financial penalties and obligations that could require Ireland to accept applications for which we would not ordinarily have responsibility under international law. Poland has secured a reduction in its solidarity obligations because of the migratory pressures it faces. In fact, 16 of the 27 EU states are under, or at risk of, similar pressures. If more and more member states qualify for exemptions or reductions, who will carry the burden?

Our GDP creates a false image of the State as a wealthy European country but the reality is that our infrastructure is weak and our services, from health to education, are on their knees. Has the Government sought a reduction in quota allocations given the pressure Ireland is under? Only six months ago, the justice committee made a cross-party recommendation to the Government asking it to reconsider the decision to opt into the EU migration pact. Members clearly believed opting out was still a viable option and yet that recommendation was ignored. Why?

Back in 2024, then Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, assured people the pact would not prevent a future Government exercising sovereign flexibility. If Ireland is not forced into these arrangements, the Government currently should employ all mechanisms available to opt out of the pact.

I was struck by a report published by Michael McKeon of Teagasc recently. Mr. McKeon cited research carried out by Dr. Breda Smyth into farmer mortality rates to highlight the poor state of farmers' health in this country. Some of the findings of the report were stark and alarming. It found that farmers experience a five times higher incidence of cardiovascular issues, five times higher incidence of cancer and seven times higher mortality rates in the working age range compared with white collar workers. Mr. McKeon used the analogy of the car, tractor or loader to explain what is going on. He made the point that we all take great care to ensure our car, tractor or loader is properly serviced because not to do so would result in damage to the vehicle. He says we need to use the same thought process when it comes to our health. Unfortunately, farmers do not go to the doctor often and when they do, it is normally as a result of a problem they are having. Mr. McKeon says that mentality needs to change.

The research also noted that many farmers wear wellingtons and footwear that does not have great support. He said that results in issues like sore ankles, knees and hips down the road.

He also talked about the silent killer that we all know stress is, particularly when the weather is poor and the farmer cannot get out to the fields to work or when productivity is not what it should be. That places a strain on both the farm and the farm family with regard to income coming into the house. That can cause stress. He talked about the importance of being able to speak to people.

I would be grateful if we could have the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, in here to have a debate about farmers and their health. It is a hugely important issue.

I was outside at 3 p.m. in the rain with five beautiful young Irish citizens who suffer from Friedreich's ataxia. This is a degenerative condition that causes consecutive and cumulative failure of the nervous and muscular systems. It is not a good way to die. I have had a sibling die a slow and painful death. I have a son who I now hear struggling for breath. Why are we allowing this to take place in our Republic? Why are they out there with their parents in the rain? One of the mums, who is from Clonmel, asked me why the Government has taken Skyclarys off the programme today in the Houses of the Oireachtas, and I do not know the answer to that. I suspect it is because we, as a society - you and I - do not assign the same human value to disabled citizens as we do to so-called able-bodied citizens. As Senator Costello said, there are some 200 people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy whose lives are slipping away from them.

Do Members remember the kids who were caught in the cave in Thailand in 2018? The whole world came to a halt to rescue those children. We have children and young adults, beautiful Irish people, who are suffering in this way, and there is nothing. For shame. I am so angry. When I go home and look at my son and I see him struggle, I think that, for these parents, there is an intervention that can help them and prolong their children’s lives but the Government will just not do it. Action it. Do something for the time your are in this House.

The other issue I wish to raise is the announcement that the triple lock is to be abolished. That is a major mistake. It is a fundamental error of judgment. The Government is setting its face against the will of the Irish people. If the former Minister for Defence, Deputy O’Dea, writes an article in the Sunday Independent saying this is the wrong thing to do, and if former Army officers, like me and those writing in the Irish Examiner in recent days, say it is the wrong thing to do, why is the Government doing it? Every time I hear the Minister go out on this, it is misinformation, incorrect information and disinformation. The Government is making a fundamental error. There will be a huge negative public reaction to this. We need to have the Taoiseach in here. We need to have a referendum on neutrality. This community of decision-makers have left our country defenceless. They have allowed the transit of cluster munitions to be used on young people in Lebanon and in proximity around Irish positions. They then want to play a game of football with them. The situational awareness is completely and utterly absent. I have never seen anything like it.

I welcome the Government’s announcement that the draft national planning statement on design standards for apartments will now open to the public again. This is a new draft set of guidelines. I cautioned this many times. Members of the House should be aware that the current guidelines were the subject of a High Court action, which is not appropriate for me to go into other than to say they were referred by Mr. Justice Humphreys and are now before the European courts. Many developers and planners have raised concerns about this. Indeed, I have raised concerns and submitted a Commencement matter for later this week.

I wrote to An Coimisiún Pleanála on 5 June and received correspondence today. It said that An Coimisiún Pleanála has been applying the 2025 design standard guidance for apartments for planning authorities to the planning appeals since July 2025. We have somewhat of a confused state in relation to these guidelines. We know that a number of councillors from other parties and none initiated these legal proceedings. We know they were heard in the High Court and the decision under Mr. Justice Humphreys was to refer them to the European courts. We are applying guidelines that are in legal limbo. Anyway, the State has clearly recognised there is a concern in this regard. There is an issue with the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, directive.

It today announced a new public consultation, which I welcome because it gives a sense of certainty. Parallel to the disputed guidelines that have been in operation, we will have other guidelines. The submissions and observations regarding the draft national planning statement, which will now be a planning statement, and an SEA environmental report have been published for consultation. The Government is happy to announce today that the consultation process starts and will be completed at 5.30 p.m. on 7 July 2026. I thank the Leader and the Government for bringing a bit of common sense to the matter. We will not be able to discuss it tomorrow because it does not come within the broader context of planning, but it will come up later in the week. It is a good decision. I want to be practical and to acknowledge that late in the day, the Government has taken the pragmatic decision, regardless of the outcome in the courts, to proceed in the interests of certainty so we can have a planning statement that will cover this issue.

I want to speak today about football. We have an Irish team preparing for possibly one of the biggest nights in Irish football and possibly one of the biggest nights in global football. We have a potential shock on the cards - perhaps "shock" should be in inverted commas - for the Irish women's team in France tonight. It is an enormous game. It is at 7.30 p.m. I want everyone to watch the football at 7.30 p.m. Those women have put their lives into this campaign, this game and this sport. We are not talking about or watching them enough. We are not putting them up on a pedestal. It is important that we do so this week.

I was disappointed that the FAI released a statement yesterday, stating that it will not talk any more about this other football matter until the match tonight is over. All it has done is to increase the number of conversations that are happening outside the sport and the women's match taking place tonight. No Irish team, men's or women's, has ever qualified for a World Cup through the direct route. That is what is at stake tonight for Carla Ward's team. I send my best wishes and good luck. I have pride in the Irish women's national team. I hope, and know they will, continue to do us proud. I hope they know that we will all be behind them at 7.30 p.m.

Hear, hear.

I join everyone in offering my sincere condolences to the family of former Senator Ernie Caffrey. I know him when I was a member of Young Fine Gael in University College Dublin, UCD. We were coming in and out of the House at various times, and he was always an absolute gentleman. I had not seen him for a long time. I send my condolences to the Caffrey family on their sad loss.

At the convenience of the Leader, I request a debate on active tourism. This country has so much to offer in walking tourism, cycling tourism, walkways, cycleways, hill climbing and mountain climbing. In my country of Clare, we have the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher walkway, the proposed cycleway along the former line of the west Clare railway and many other activities. I sometimes think they are not marketed as one product in the effective, efficient and productive way they could be. The Cliffs of Moher walkway had thousands of people walking it but it has now been closed for some time for health and safety reasons. It needs to be reopened as a matter of urgency. I am sure there are other walkways and potential walkways around the country that are not achieving their potential for one reason or another. I would like to hear what the Minister for tourism has to say about these projects and how an effective and efficient international marketing campaign could be put together to promote active tourism. Many examples of active tourism are not weather related. Given that the weather in this country is precarious at the best of times, I believe we need to be looking at year-round activities to build a year-round tourism business, on top of the successful tourism business that we already have.

I would like to take this opportunity to join colleagues in mourning the loss of a friend and former Member of this House, Ernie Caffrey, and offer my sincere condolences to his family. Ernie was a representative of both Mayo and Sligo county councils at different times in his life. He has a unique legacy and served here in the Upper House from 1997 to 2002. He lived an incredible life dedicated to family life, community life, volunteerism and the common good. He was a volunteer on the Moy Valley Resources board of directors for a vast number of years, served on a number of different boards, was an entrepreneur and was a founding member of the newspaper The Western Journal. In later life, he was at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth, where he won a silver medal at the age of, I think, 76. I have just come from his funeral Mass and it was brilliant to see him so fondly remembered. It was just this day last week that I was chatting to him, and to see his passing so soon is heartbreaking. It is lovely to see how fondly he has been remembered at home in Ballina, County Mayo, and in this House.

I offer my sincere condolences to Ernie's sons, Liam and Declan, and his daughters, Elizabeth and Miriam. He leaves such a void for the family, but also the community. He was a great friend to me when President Biden was due to visit Ballina. He was one of the main people to research the connection between Ballina and the US President. He discovered that President Biden's ancestor had supplied the bricks that built the cathedral. Ernie had some of those bricks, one of which he presented to President Biden, which was an incredible moment in time and a memory for us all to share in.

More recently, in my political career, Ernie was very supportive of me when I joined Fine Gael and in the general election campaign, when he gave up his upstairs office space for our campaign headquarters. I thank him and offer condolences to his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I thank Senator Duffy for his tribute to a former Member of this House. The Senator outlined a life well lived in a fitting tribute to Ernie’s service not only to Seanad Éireann and the country but also to his hometown and, as the Senator said, Mayo and Sligo at different times. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Before I call on the Leader to respond to the Order of Business, I welcome the father of the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, and family and friends who are here in the Gallery, along with guests of Deputy Aisling Dempsey, who are associated with the Ballivor St. Patrick’s Day parade. The guests of Deputy Eoghan Kenny from Mallow, County Cork, are all welcome to Seanad Éireann too.

I call on the Acting Leader to respond on the Order of Business.

I thank the 21 Senators who made contributions.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin spoke first, on the green light for palliative care for the midlands hospice, which is very welcome news. She outlined the process and how difficult it was. That people came together, including her, to make it happen is very positive for the midlands area.

The Senator also spoke about Jennie's law and the announcement this morning of Cabinet approval. The Bill was drafted by the Senator and others. As she said, there was a void in legislation pointed out by Jason Poole, but it is welcome that Cabinet approval has been announced today.

Senator Boyle spoke about the distressing news of the liquidation of Tickets.ie, the effect that has on the thousands of people who were going to go to the Rory Gallagher International Festival and the €283,000 shortfall because of it. This has affected the organisers and has had a massive impact on the community that can benefit from such big events that happen within the region. I will talk to the Minister's office to see what can be done in terms of getting involved and the supports that are available for the organisers of this event because it is not their fault that this has happened. It is Tickets.ie that has gone into liquidation. The organisers should not have to suffer the consequences of it.

Senator McCarthy mentioned the alumina factory in County Limerick, which has been spoken about quite a bit recently. As the Senator said, and it is something that I am aware of, he is the chair of the Ireland-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group. The Senator and I have visited Kyiv on behalf of this Parliament to show our unwavering support for Ukraine. There is an investigation happening within the Department of enterprise and let us see what happens. The Senator outlined that information was given out that was not correct, so let us see where the investigation goes and what decisions are made. I have been in contact with a number of MPs from Ukraine who are concerned about it. I have highlighted, as much as I can, what we know. Once the Minister, Deputy Burke, finalises the investigation, decisions can hopefully be made based on that.

Senator Tully spoke about Cavan hospital and gave us another good example of issues with decisions, or lack of decisions, and lack of care for people in need. This seems like a very simple thing where kidney stones need to be removed. At no point should this end up with someone having sepsis and being brought to Beaumont Hospital while clinging to life and still waiting for the kidney stones to be removed. It seems totally unacceptable - "frustrating" is too light a word - that a simple procedure has not been followed through on. All of the complications that come with that can be so distressing for people. I note that she said that none of the Ministers from the Department of Health came to one of her Commencement matters. I will raise that with the senior Minister. I also know that the Senator has called for a debate on the issue of procedures, in particular, and I will ask the Minister's office if that is possible.

Senator Flaherty raised Horse Sport Ireland, the resignations of senior figures and the problems within that sector. It is probably important that I do not speak on that, but I understand where he is coming from on it. In terms of applying for contracts and Horse Sport Ireland being omitted from the process, that is something for the Department of agriculture to decide on. The Senator could put down a Commencement matter on it. It is a delicate issue to deal with on this floor, but the Senator has been vocal on this a number of times, and I understand that his concerns are genuine.

Senator Scahill spoke about wastewater treatment systems. A lot of inspections are happening right across the country. A lot of inspections in rural areas are recording fails. The numbers in County Roscommon are very high with 85% last year and 50% this year. It is hard for families at a time of significant costs of living to be able to fork out for a new septic tank. Although the previous Government significantly increased the supports available, it is time to review that again. I will ask the Minister for a debate on this issue for Senator Scahill.

Senator Andrews mentioned that the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill is being taken tonight. The four hours that were put down initially are just an indicative timeframe. It is not scheduled for exactly four hours. It depends on a number of factors, including how many amendments come in. Fewer amendments came in than we expected.

It depends on when the Ireland-----

The Acting Leader is talking with no interruptions.

There was a 5.5-hour debate on the Bill on Committee Stage. We will have another three-hour debate on it tonight. There are only 34 amendments and about a third of them have been ruled out of order. Some of them might be paired.

Three hours is a significant amount of time to talk about it, in our view. That will be happening tonight so I will not be accepting the amendment.

The point is that the Ireland match starts at 8 p.m.

The Acting Leader without interruption.

The Ireland match starts at 7.30 p.m.

I thought it was 8 p.m.

No, 7.30 p.m.

The coverage starts at 7.30 p.m.

Coverage is at 7.30 p.m.

So it starts at 8 p.m.

The Acting Leader without interruption.

In the greater scheme of things, this has been debated quite a lot. There has been a lot of debate, in this House and the other House, on it. It is important that we make decisions at the end of that debate.

We do have an important match tonight. In relation to the FAI, I said it the week previously and I will say it again. This is a decision for the FAI in conjunction with FIFA and UEFA. It is not for Government to get involved. In fact, if Government gets involved, there are rules in place within FIFA and UEFA. It is not just a simple fine or a points deduction. It has happened for other countries where countries have got involved and there have been further repercussions on them in terms of-----

There were no sanctions against Poland.

The Acting Leader without interruption.

-----not being involved in competitions, whether men's competitions, women's competitions, underage competitions, club, country. It has an impact in terms of hosting events, whether that is-----

Please.

-----hosting the Euro 2028 or the women's champions league final. It is not as simplistic as just having a boycott on this and there being no repercussions other than the six points and maybe a small fine to deal with. That is not the way to look at it and it is not a true reflection of what could happen. All that being said, I hope decisions will be made by the end of the week on this. It might not be to Senator Andrews's satisfaction, but certainly it will be done in terms of the safety of people more than anything else.

Senator Curley spoke on communication with Irish Water. I have had a problem with this all week in my own area in terms of communication regarding water supply and the difficulty it poses for us, as public representatives, and for councillors in particular. I totally agree with the Senator that it is time we have a debate with the Minister on that because it is incredibly frustrating when your water is out, you do not know why it is out, you do not know how long it will be out for and you are not even aware there is a boil-water notice. Back in the day, with local authorities, there used be a letter sent out and it used be on the radio but that does not seem to happen any more.

Senators O'Donovan, Costello and Clonan spoke in relation to Friedreich's ataxia and a drug that is being called upon to help young boys with a very debilitating disease. You could not help but be emotionally affected by some of the contributions from people talking about their own life. Senator O'Donovan spoke of Emma O'Shea and what she has had to deal with in terms of seeing her brother, and her parents, Ted and Kathleen, and what they have to deal with. This is incredibly frustrating. As a parent myself, I can only imagine the pain they are going through. Cost should not be a barrier with this and decisions should be made quicker. I will certainly contact the office of the Minister for Health to try to push as much as possible the concerns and requests from Senators here.

Senator Keogan spoke about the attack in Belfast. As the Senator said, we are not clear what happened. I do not know who the victim is. I know what has been said on social media and I know what is happening but certainly this is not the place to talk about it. It is not the place to make decisions in relation to the findings of it. There will be an investigation. There is a protest happening tonight. I hope that will be done peacefully. We have seen protests go out of hand here and I hope that will not happen in Belfast. As I said previously when the Senator mentioned another case, an investigation will happen. We should let the PSNI do its work. It was an awful atrocity. That video is going viral. An awful lot of people are seeing it, and it is awful. The people who came in and risked their own lives to defend that person need to be commended, but it is certainly not our place - I am not saying the Senator is doing this - for us here to have a judgment yet on what happened. The Senator spoke about other examples. The examples she used are of people who were murdered or injured by people who came into this country and are not Irish citizens. These things are done by Irish citizens as well, not just foreigners. We need to recognise too that there are a lot of good people, as the Senator herself would recognise, who come into and contribute to this country. An attack is an attack from a person who is evil and wrong; it is not because of their nationality.

I always think we need to bear that in mind.

Senator Davitt spoke about the councillors task force. I do not think we have had a debate in this House since this term started in relation to councillors, their powers, the work they do and the feeling that their powers are being diminished. I will speak with the Minister about having a debate when that task force has completed its work. The Senator is right that the Minister, Deputy James Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, have done a lot of work on it, so it is a good opportunity for them to come in here and speak about it.

Senator Linda Nelson Murray spoke about the summer holiday hunger pilot scheme, which has been a very positive scheme. The Senator did a lot of work herself not only on the hot school meals initiative but on this issue as well to prioritise it. She makes a very good point. If we are seeing that 42,000 children across Ireland need to be fed during the summer, then they obviously need to be fed during the Easter and Christmas as well. If this pilot programme is being continued, then that means it has been a success this year and there is no reason we cannot expand and continue it. When you are in government, one of the frustrations is that decisions are sometimes made quite late. You cannot understand, for the life of you, why the decision cannot be made a month or two earlier so that the children and their parents have the comfort of knowing they will get a good meal. We all know the benefit of young children having a good meal.

Senator Nessa Cosgrove spoke about the triple lock mechanism, as did Senator Tom Clonan. The triple lock legislation was before the Cabinet today and will be in the Dáil and Seanad over the next number of weeks and months. We will have ample opportunity to discuss it. I am sure that, when those discussions happen, we will have the same sort of talk about a change to neutrality, which it is not, but people have the freedom to say what they want in both Houses. Senator Cosgrove has asked for a debate and that debate will happen. The schedule up to the recess is not done up yet, but the debate will occur either before the recess or when we come back in September.

Senator Sarah O’Reilly spoke about the EU migration pact, Northern Ireland and the impact of the pact. The pact went through the Dáil and Seanad. It went to the President, who convened the Council of State on it. They had hours of discussion on the legislation and the President signed it. The pact has been debated heavily in both Houses and then signed into law by the President, but we can have a debate with the Minister for justice at any point. If the Senator wants to do that, then I am more than happy to ask for that to happen.

Senator Robbie Gallagher spoke of farmers’ health, which is something I know well in terms of my own family. I grew up on a farm. Farming has a mortality rate that is seven times higher than in other professions. Mental health is also a big thing for older farmers. Health issues are very obvious when you have people who are either living alone or working into their 70s or 80s. They have stress. One of the really good things the Government introduced a number of years ago was the discussion groups farmers have now. The initiative was concerned with improving work on farms, but it also had a real impact in terms of loneliness among farmers because they had these discussion groups to meet and talk and help one another in relation to the work they were doing. From the discussion groups my own family members are in, I know it is a very useful initiative set up by the Department of agriculture.

Senator Tom Clonan also spoke about the triple lock mechanism. He mentioned how he was a former Army officer. We respect that, but it does not mean that we have to agree with his every view just because he is a former Army officer. We have other people in this building who were in the Army and who have the totally opposite view, so how do we agree with two people who previously worked in the Army who have opposite views? When Senator Clonan talks about people who have differing views, there are loads of people who are either in the Army or are former Army members who have the opposite view to him. I respect his view, and we will have ample opportunity to discuss it going forward, but there are differing views on this issue. We also have people in the Dáil who are former Army members, and, again, they have very different views to Senator Clonan.

Senator Victor Boyhan spoke on the draft set of guidelines for apartments that have been published and are open for consultation until 7 July. The Senator welcomed that. It is very good news, and we thank Senator Boyhan for the work he did on this issue.

Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn spoke about the women’s soccer team, who have been an incredible inspiration during this campaign.

They have an opportunity tonight against France to go to the World Cup. As the Senator said, it is the first time a team has had the opportunity to go to the World Cup and fully qualify through the first process without having to go to a play-off. Going to a play-off is something the men would be lucky to do. It is a huge game tonight, and it was a massive game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It was a great atmosphere from what I could see on TV, made all the better with a last-minute goal by Amber Barrett to put us into this position. We have a wonderful opportunity here. If the girls can win in France, it will be a fantastic achievement, or if Poland can do us a favour against Holland tonight. Carla Ward's team have been a huge inspiration and we wish them all the best; we are all behind them. It will be such a success if they get to the World Cup again. I was actually in hospital for three weeks when they were in the World Cup in 2022. I watched the games there; it kept me going. I have very fond memories of the 2022 World Cup.

Senator Martin Conway spoke about active tourism and its lack of promotion across the country. As he knows, there are many beautiful spots in Clare in terms of walkways, cycleways and mountains that have not been properly promoted. In Tipperary, St. Declan's Way has been promoted but more can be done. We will ask the Minister to come in and have a debate, not just on tourism, but on active tourism and how we can promote it further.

That concludes all contributions.

Senator Andrews has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, seconded by Senator Keogan: "That No. 2 be taken at 5 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn at 9 p.m." Is the amendment being pressed?

Yes.