I extend my warm welcome and congratulations to the ambassador. It is lovely to have her here again. It is a lovely country. A delegation from the Joint committee on European Affairs visited Luxembourg recently and was very impressed by all whom they met and all that they saw. I was not part of the delegation but we look forward to the continued friendship between our two countries.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, which is changed from Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 - Second Stage, to be taken on 11.30 a.m. or on conclusion of the Order of Business, whichever is the later, 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.

I welcome the ambassador and congratulate her, her country and her community on their national day. I hope they enjoy the celebrations, which are well-deserved.

The media is dominated consistently by negative stories when it comes to housing and it is important for people to recognise the challenge but also recognise the progress being made. On that basis, I welcome the announcement from Government this week of additional funding to unlock more homes through the housing infrastructure investment fund. This €1 billion fund is dedicated solely to unlocking lands suitable for housing, which, for various reasons, be they related to water or roads infrastructure, are not being used. Dublin is part of the much bigger nationwide programme of 82 projects with over 200,000 homes. In Dublin city, this will result in more than 5,000 additional homes on land in Ballyfermot, Balbutcher and St. Teresa's Gardens. It is really welcome investment and builds on the progress made since Fianna Fáil took over in 2020. There have been more than 170,000 new homes built. We see real momentum. In the first quarter of this year alone, more than 8,000 homes commenced.

The second issue I will raise is one I have raised multiple times here: retail crime. The Deputy Leader and everybody else in the House will have heard reports in the news yesterday of multiple individuals on multiple charges in one court in Dublin. There were 81 arrests in Dún Laoghaire for shoplifting. I commend the Garda. It has had a targeted approach to this, is using intelligence and is supporting businesses. However, this is a national issue. It costs more than €1.6 billion per year. There are direct links to organised crime. This is not just casual, opportunistic shoplifting any more; it is an organised activity. The people being hit hardest are small retailers in our villages and towns. I was nominated to the House by the Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Trades Association, RGDATA. I have called for a debate in this House. I have met with the Minister for justice. He is taking the issue seriously. He has a retail crime strategy and task force in place. I would appreciate if the Deputy Leader could arrange at the earliest opportunity for the Seanad to debate the issue.

My hometown of Dublin is our capital city and it pains me to raise this but it falls far short of what we should be able to expect in terms of cleanliness in the public domain. I have raised the issue many times. Dublin City Council needs to step up to the plate; it needs to stop stepping back from the issue and creating more problems. Today we hear of compactors being overloaded and unavailable, and of the doubling of costs for businesses. I presume all Senators are familiar with Stoneybatter. It is one of the oldest villages in the city. These are small artisan two-terraced houses, two-up, two-down - not even two-up, two-down in some cases - and they are expected to use wheelie bins. Dublin City Council needs to tackle street cleaning and waste management more effectively. Our capital deserves better.

I was also glad to see the Luxembourgish ambassador here today. I was part of the European affairs committee delegation that went to Luxembourg recently. It is a very interesting country given all its minorities, including the many people who were not born there and, indeed, the many who travel there every day to work. It is also a country with a very interesting association with County Carlow because its patron saint is St. Willibrord, as the Deputy Leader probably knows very well. Whereas we often talk about all the monks who travelled from Ireland abroad, this is a man who came from England originally and studied in Carlow for 12 years. According to Wikipedia, he is the only saint who is buried in Luxembourg. Carlow is the county connected with Luxembourg for our European Presidency.

I register my disappointment and that of many people over the passing in the Dáil last night of Second Stage legislation that proposes to remove the three-day wait for abortions. I spoke about this yesterday but what I did not mention was the rather lopsided situation whereby the two party leaders in Government, Deputies Martin and Harris, signalled at an early stage their intention to vote in a way that does not represent the position adopted by the majority in their own parties. While they say this is a matter of a free vote, in fact they are creating a lopsided situation because they are conspiring with other parties – left-wing parties – that do not allow a free vote. If everybody had been allowed a free vote, I wonder what way it would have gone yesterday. For example, I was in contact with one member of a left-wing party yesterday and I said I encouraged people to vote against the proposal, and that we need to give women the chance to at least pause to reflect, which would save many lives. The person responded to me that was certainly a positive thing they supported, and that they had stated so in their party, but that they were not prepared to lose the whip. It is fine for people like the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, to pretend they are somehow great democrats, but in fact what they are doing is working behind the scenes with the other parties to move the dial on a very sensitive social issue in a way that does not reflect what their own membership expects of them and what the majority of their members would support.

I commend in particular those Ministers in leadership positions who went the other way last night. I renew my call for a debate in this House, but also for the opportunity to put on the agenda that we need to work together to reduce the number of abortions. It is a tragic thing that the likes of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, who were in favour of legalised abortion, used to talk about abortion being safe, legal and rare, but we are not even allowed to say that now. The Taoiseach will not say that abortion should be rare. Why? It is because he, like the Tánaiste, is captured by an abortion lobby that seems to be calling all the shots. The pile of bodies is rising higher, with over 10,000 babies losing their lives every year. These people do not seem to care. They portray themselves as people who want to create a cohesive, united, caring society and they have nothing to say about the fact that our abortion numbers are rising. This is a massive tragedy and a massive loss of human potential. There is a human cost, as Deputy Tóibín spoke about, not to mention the hurt caused to very many women. There are women who have spoken out. I recall in particular the remark of Moya Brennan, whom we all admired as a great artist. She said she wished somebody had told her before she had her abortion. There are testimonies like this that need to be heard. Please, can we have better leadership from our Government on this to at least allow different sides of this debate to be heard?

In response to Senator Mullen, I for one am delighted to see that the legislation might pass and the three-day rule might stop because I do not know of any man who walks into a doctor’s surgery and is told to go home and think about it for three days. Yes, there is strain and mental stress for women on both sides: women who may have had an abortion and maybe were not 100% swayed that way and maybe regretted it afterwards, but also women sent home for three days, with the stress on their bodies that involves, who are told to have a think about it. It is absolutely disgraceful for anybody to be told to go and think about it when it comes to their own healthcare. I am delighted to see that there is cross-party support for the legislation.

On childcare, there is a serious issue with core funding. I am sure this does not just arise in County Limerick and that it is widespread in every county. The rates were reduced last week. The fee reduction for parents of a mere €14 per week was not what we wanted but it was something. Two TLC Childcare crèches in Newcastle West, County Limerick, have done their books and have realised that while the €14 a week is going to come off for each child, what they can claim back works out at €5.80. Regarding what they can claim back under core funding, they are going to be nearly €10 short per week per child. Core funding was supposed to be reviewed. I understand there is a review beginning, but it is only a review of year one. We need a review of the four years of core funding to see how this is affecting childcare facilities.

The parents from one of the childcare facilities have all contacted me. TLC Childcare charges €140 and €150, respectively, for its two childcare centres in Newcastle West. It needs the fee increase assessment to be opened. The assessment does open but the provider has not been given a date. Through it, the provider can show its books and accounts, show where core funding is not meeting what is needed to stay sustainable, and show that it needs to increase its fees by a small amount. It needs to increase its fee to €180. If not, it says, it will have to leave core funding, which would see its fees increase to €240 per week per child. The parents are not going to be able to afford that and will end up leaving. There are many nurses living in Newcastle West and they use this childcare facility. We are talking about HSE staff having to consider giving up work because this childcare provider cannot afford to stay within core funding. I ask that the core funding be reviewed for all four years. Could we have a date for the opening of the fee increase assessment so the provider will at least have some sense of when it might be able to look into this and determine whether its fee can be increased while staying within core funding, which is what we all want?

I am very shocked and quite angry at some of the news that is coming from Drogheda, County Louth, today. The 14 step-down beds in Cottage Hospital are under threat. These are vital beds that at times serve very vulnerable and elderly people who are freeing up beds in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital but who cannot go directly home. The beds in Cottage Hospital are to assist these people in making it back home again. The thought that these people might have to travel to Dundalk or even further is just unthinkable. There are 30 staff in the hospital, very loyal staff, some of whom have been there for up to 35 years. They were told by text that the beds are under threat. That is simply not acceptable.

This hospital has been under threat for years. In 2012, I marched with local people to try to stop its closure. In 2015, long-term care was removed. In 2021, the then health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, visited the hospital regarding an upgrade, but now I am hearing that the 14 beds on the top floor are under threat. The downstairs of the hospital has clinics, the doctor on call and the ambulance service. There is no question but that it needs an upgrade. The hospital has been in place since 1907 and has provided an invaluable service to the town and must be protected at all costs. I will certainly do everything in my power to make sure that the HSE reverses this decision.

My own grand-aunt was the midwife in the hospital when it was the maternity hospital. They say she delivered half the town. I certainly will not allow the bed closure to happen if it is unwarranted and unneeded. We need to make sure our elderly people are looked after in their own hometown and not removed. Of course, if the jobs can be protected within the hospital, we need to do that. There is a wider discussion to be had on looking after our smaller healthcare facilities in communities right across the country.

I add my voice to the comments made today by Senators Mullen, Gallagher, O’Reilly and McCarthy on the new Bill introduced by Sinn Féin to eliminate the three-day waiting period before receiving an abortion, and to express my sadness at its being passed on Second Stage last night. With the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste standing back on this issue, it is very worrying.

It is very worrying because there is no real evidence that there is broad public demand for this reform. In fact, most Irish people, even those who are in favour of abortion, believe there is a need to reduce it. Many who voted yes in the referendum only did so with the assurance that they would allow it in moderate and reasonable circumstances. Instead, the leadership of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are caving in to a loud but small group of people who are privileged to be disproportionately represented and present in higher echelons of society and politics and do not reflect the popular democratic feelings. I am deeply worried about this because it is exactly what many of us who supported the eighth amendment feared and warned about, that is, once the issue of abortion was taken out of the Constitution and put into statute, we would see a slow, continual coup, an erosion of any safeguards or measures to reduce abortion and would find ourselves on a slippery slope towards total, unlimited abortion access.

There is something quite cynical in Sinn Féin bringing this forward so soon after such a similar Bill by the Social Democrats fell through. Of course it is entitled to do so but just because it is permitted does not mean it is right. Like the Government parties, Sinn Féin also appears to be listening to the loud but minority left-wing ideologues within its ranks and not to its broader Catholic, nationalist and pro-family membership and voter base. In this Bill, both the Government and the left Opposition appear more content in copying their English counterparts in Keir Starmer's Labour Party than in doing the right thing by the Irish people and they will not forgive them come the next election.

This week is Men's Health Week, and I acknowledge and support that here in the Seanad. Men face higher risks of premature mortality, often because they are slow to get things checked out. Men are known for not talking about health issues and certainly not going to their doctors to get things checked, so the motto for this week is, “one step at a time, progress not perfection". This aims to encourage men to make small changes rather than attempting huge, chronic changes in their lives. We need to encourage our menfolk to talk about their health and get things checked out. We as women are much better, certainly at talking about our health, and it is proven that we are better at going to our GPs to get things checked. It is important that it comes from here that men should look after themselves.

I agree with my colleague, Senator Collins. It is right that the three-day rule is hopefully going to be got rid of because it is about choice and respect for women. If I went to a doctor and the doctor told me that I had to think about it for three days, I would find that really patronising. As I do not think it would happen to a man, I do not think it should happen to women either in terms of healthcare.

Cuba is facing an extraordinarily difficult economic situation as a result of the illegal trade blockade imposed by the Trump regime. Sinn Féin activists and representatives and the Cuba Solidarity Forum Ireland have donated and organised containers of medical supplies for Cuba to help alleviate some of the most severe effects of this blockade. I thank everyone who contributed to this important cause. The blockade has resulted in severe shortages of food, medicine, and other necessities. It is having a dire impact on ordinary Cuban citizens. This is nothing new, as the Cuban people have been enduring this situation for more than 60 years, but those in power in the United States are clearly trying to put maximum economic pressure on Cuba to try to force regime change. This blockade has been repeatedly condemned by the UN General Assembly, which votes practically every year to call on the United States to end its blockade. Despite this, American policy is going in the other direction and Trump, Rubio and their acolytes have been trying to bully other sovereign states to stop their trade with Cuba. It is just another example of the terminal decline of international law and institutions.

Since the illegal and criminal US military actions in Venezuela, we have seen an escalation of aggression towards Cuba and it is not unlikely that this country will be next targeted by Trump. Some will claim the US won in Venezuela. That is debatable. It has clearly lost in Iran and now Trump will be setting his sights on a new target, which is likely to be Cuba. In particular, the Trump regime has been trying to deprive Cuba of its energy supply by trying to force Mexico and other countries to stop perfectly legitimate bilateral trade with Cuba. It has also been propagating false propaganda narratives that Cuba somehow poses a threat to the United States as a clear means of justifying a future war. For anybody who knows anything about geopolitics, that is clearly not true. Ireland and the EU have a responsibility to stand up to Trump and his endless aggression.

Well said, but the Senator might add that Cuba is not exactly one of the great democracies either.

I raise the proposal reforms to the criminal legal aid scheme, which are due to come into effect on 1 July. As Members are aware, strike action began in courts across the country in recent days and is expected to continue today and tomorrow. To outline the changes in pounds, shillings, and pence, at present, solicitors are paid €239.38 for an initial District Court appearance, and €59.86 for each subsequent hearing. The reforms would change this to a single fee of €455 regardless of the number of court appearances required. The case could be adjourned nine or ten times and the fee would not change. I appreciate the Department's efforts to ensure value for taxpayers' money and that the Department is continuing to engage with stakeholders such as the Law Society of Ireland on the proposed changes. Having said that, it seems at this point that it would be better to push back the date of introduction for the reforms to the autumn at least, and allow for longer consultation to take place over the summer. We all recognise the importance of an effective court structure and strike action will significantly impact the smooth operation of the process. I would be grateful if the Deputy Leader of the House would raise this with the Minister for Justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, and possibly write to him also.

This morning, as part of the housing committee, I was downstairs for the launch of the homelessness report. I mentioned in this House before that I appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing and Homelessness back in 2016, at which stage there were approximately 6,000 people in homelessness. The Minister for housing gave an undertaking that homelessness would be eradicated by 2020. The homeless report today deals with a trebling of those numbers in the past ten years. We have more than 17,500 in emergency accommodation, and the report is now saying we hope to eradicate homelessness by 2030. The timeline is fairly tight.

We need 300,000 houses by 2030. I know we are describing homelessness as a crisis but for me a crisis is something that is usually temporary and arrives suddenly. You declare an emergency, you deal with it, and then you move on. It is disconcerting that ten years later we are dealing with a trebling of the numbers. That should concern every one of us.

Today's report reflects many of the concerns I have spoken about in this House and which front-line organisations have spoken about too, such as the need to focus on prevention and tenant in situ schemes. We need to focus on the members of the older generation who are now entering into homelessness, and how the demographics of homelessness have changed. Through our outreach service at Tiglin at the Lighthouse, we meet people who are not from the group traditionally associated with homelessness. These are ordinary people who, through no full fault of their own, have lost their house because, for example, the landlord is selling the house. Families are becoming homeless, not because of addiction, mental health issues, etc, but because they have nowhere else to go when the house is sold.

The committee's report is very welcome but reports do not house people. We need definite action and urgency on that. Every day we delay more people are losing their home. More than 24,000 people have received eviction notices in the past year, since we changed the regulation. We owe them better than that.

The first issue I want to raise is the proposed closure of Carlow College. I had a public meeting online last night with concerned staff and students, people living in the area, members of the public, and students unions who are expressing deep concerns in relation to this, and seeking more clarity in terms of what will happen with specific courses and what it will mean for the local economy and students.

My big concern is that this is a workers' rights issue. There was a lack of information and transparency when it came to informing staff about this. There is a lot of worry at the minute and I urge the college to engage fully with the trade union movement. I know that SIPTU is seeking a meeting with the college. The Minister needs to provide further clarity for the general public. This issue is of public interest. I know that the further and higher education Oireachtas committee will be looking at this further as well and inviting representatives of the college to come before it in the coming weeks. The issue is also presently being discussed at the Committee of Public Accounts, but we need more clarity in relation to this.

I also raise the issue of student homelessness. A recent report showed that 346 students reported being homeless in the most recent academic year. We know that this is not the full figure because it does not account for couch surfing, for example, or other forms of hidden homelessness. We know that student poverty exists. Nearly one third of students in UCC two years ago reported going to class hungry and skipping meals because of issues around the cost of college. Coming up to the new academic term in a few months, there will be a scramble for accommodation again and issues around affordability. It should be a happy time for students and their families where they are excited about beginning a new chapter and going to college. It should be an exciting time but it is a time of great worry. I have requested a meeting with the Minister to discuss that issue and the issue of student rent caps. A very worrying practice is going on in some institutions whereby student rents in purpose-built accommodation are being raised by putting up the service charges, often without proper explanation as to why these charges are increasing. DCU is one example and UCC is another example. We need to clamp down on this. The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, should be conducting more inspections and having more authority over it. The cost of college needs to be addressed. Student homelessness is another symptom and consequence of the wider homelessness issue in this country but it is definitely a big part of it as well.

I congratulate Senator Ahearn, who has been appointed Leader of the Seanad. I also congratulate Senator Cathal Byrne, who will be the Government Chief Whip in the Seanad. I wish them both well. It is an important step and a great honour and privilege. I hope from all sides of the House that we will work constructively. While we might not agree on policy or legislation, we will agree on how we conduct ourselves and the way we in this House order our business. I wish them both every success and happiness in their terms in office.

I raise the issue of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, post-2027 priorities for the Irish Farmers Association, IFA. Many of us will have received its document. I want to initially indicate my full support for the IFA in relation to the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, which is critical for the CAP. We have always to get under the bonnet to the finances. I commend the MFF on the CAP. I would like, if possible, to have a debate in this House on the issue. It is important.

The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley, today launched the 2026 what works in communities fund. It is an amazing fund. It is really progressive. It believes in supporting and encouraging early interventions to ensure that children and families receive the right support at the right time in our communities. I commend the Minister on this initiative, which she announced this morning.

I support the community of Strade in County Mayo who are campaigning to have a bus route returned that is a vital link for their whole community. The 52 bus route connects Ballina and Galway. It always connected into Strade where two new bus stops were recently built. Unfortunately, however, Bus Éireann ceased the bus route, much to the dismay of everyone, including me. Thankfully, a public service obligation kicked in and Citylink took over the route. Sadly, the village of Strade was left out of this important route. The village of Strade is a rural area and this bus was a vital link to connect people from the village into Foxford, Ballina, Castlebar and onwards to Galway for education, work and medical appointments. To have the route stopped has been a devastating blow.

I reiterate my call to Citylink to include Strade on the route. I ask the National Transport Authority, NTA, to intervene. I have raised the issue on numerous occasions and continually campaign for the community. I ask for the support of this House to see the route reintroduced because we need to have supports for public transport. We need public service obligations and this is a perfect example of it. I ask for support. I acknowledge Councillors Neil Cruise and Donna Sheridan who have raised the matter with me and asked me to continually campaign for it. We will not let up until the route is returned. I also acknowledge the local community, including Jimmy Mulroy, who has led a petition to reflect the demands of the people of Strade.

I congratulate Senators Ahearn and Cathal Byrne on their appointments as Leader and Whip, respectively. They are brilliant achievements and I am delighted for them both. Like Senator Boyhan said, I hope, and have no doubt, that they will work across the House in a constructive way on behalf of us all.

I welcome the students from St. Colmcille's National School. They are a student council, I understand, along with their múinteoirí. They are guests of Deputy Ciarán Ahern. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit. It is customary here in the Seanad that there is no homework for the rest of the week. I hope they enjoy their visit.

I will talk about local authorities and councils, and address some of the comments made by the Tánaiste, Deputy Harris, earlier this week about derelict houses. It was a low blow to attack local authorities and councillors for not doing enough. I wonder has he forgotten that local authorities get their policy from Government. Dereliction is a massive and complicated issue. Our local authorities have been doing the best they can with the resources available to them. There can be problems with ownership, titles or rebate, making it difficult to see who is responsible for a property. Of course, policies and schemes have to be workable and sometimes schemes are unworkable. The Tánaiste said he was frustrated that he had to bring in legislation to fine owners of derelict properties but it was already in the programme for Government. The existing legislation goes back to the 1990s and is not fit for purpose. For context, there are circulars and diktats sent down from Government Departments on an ongoing and constant basis. Every day, there is something new from the Government that has to be implemented at local authority level. Local authorities are really struggling with their workloads. They need more resources.

I have noticed a culture of the blame game. The Minister, Deputy Browne, when there were floods in Enniscorthy, blamed Met Éireann for not giving a warning. I was at a funeral a couple of weeks ago and was asked by a constituent about her road, which is in a very bad condition. I said that the money is not there for the roads. It is just not there. I told her she needs to lobby her local Fianna Fáil TD. She told me she had already done so and was told it was the fault of the local authority. It is unfair to be blaming local authorities when they are not properly financed and resourced.

I, too, would like to be associated with the good wishes to Senators Ahearn and Cathal Byrne on their appointments. When the announcement was made, I was wondering did they get the right Gareth in the first place, but there were 17 good candidates in the race and a good decision has been made. We are in good hands for the remainder of the term.

I also welcome the planning green light for Coillte's development in Lough Key Forest Park in Boyle. It was just announced this morning. There will be redevelopment and upgrading of the visitor centre, a new activity hub, enhanced outdoor attractions and a new aqua park. I recently spent a day with the Minister for tourism, Deputy Burke, in Roscommon and we visited Strokestown House and gardens, the Arigna Mining Experience, the John McGahern Barracks in Cootehall and finished off the day in the forest park to attend the Night and Day Festival. If anyone in the Chamber or watching has not visited Roscommon in the last 12 months, they have not visited Roscommon, and there is an awful lot more to see at this time of year. I mention Clonalis House in my home town, the Suck Valley Way for those who want to go outdoors, and Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, which the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, recently visited with me. There is an awful lot happening. Government is backing these initiatives. It is looking at which parts of the country we can do an awful lot for regarding attractions and tourism. I welcome that and give out a call in my last few seconds to visit Roscommon-----

You call and we will be there.

-----before Senator Comyn gets in and tries to convince everyone to go to Louth again.

It is too late.

It is too late.

Before I call the Deputy Leader to respond, I, too, congratulate Senator Ahearn on being appointed Leader and Senator Byrne on his appointment as Government Chief Whip. I look forward to working with both of them.

A Leas-Chathaoirligh, it was remiss of me not to do the same when I spoke on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group. I congratulate the two Senators. I am really delighted for them and we wish them well. I look forward to working with them in their new roles. They will be super.

I thank the 17 Senators who contributed on the Order of Business. As Deputy Leader I add my voice to the congratulations to Senators Ahearn and Byrne. In the month or so since the by-election in Galway, I have been working closely Senator Ahearn. We have worked very well together and I look forward to that continuing. It is also really important we have co-operation not just between the two Government parties that are in coalition but that we have co-operation and work effectively with the leaders of all the groupings in the Seanad. We will disagree on policy and possibly on implementation of certain policies, but having smooth running of the Seanad and showing respect for each and every Member is really important, and that is an important role for the Leader. I again wish both Senators well.

We started with Senator Fitzpatrick. She spoke about how we see negative news about housing on an ongoing basis but, while recognising the challenges, we should also recognise the wins and the progress. The funds that were allocated three days ago are definitely a good news story. I was delighted to see 82 projects nationwide being allocated funding. The Senator mentioned the funding for Dublin, in particular for Ballyfermot and St. Teresa's Gardens. Unlocking the possibility of 3,000 houses is certainly good news. I had the opportunity on Tuesday to talk about our own in Kildare, which is important as well. We have to continue building on progress and building momentum. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for reminding us of that.

Retail crime is a really serious issue and we had a meeting with RGDATA, I think last year, on the ongoing huge problem with this type of crime. We see multiple individuals on multiple charges on an ongoing basis. The few times I have been in a courtroom, the number of people who were returning really bothered me. It is difficult, to be fair, for gardaí too and very frustrating for them. For some people it is casual opportunism but, as Senator Fitzpatrick said, for many it is not as they are shoplifting to order. It is shoplifting by organised crime. There is a retail task force and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is very conscious of the issue, but I agree we need to have an informed debate on it. We need to look at some type of solution-based focus but also to look at the judicial system. That absolutely needs reform because when we have people doing this on an ongoing basis, that is not good enough.

Senator Fitzpatrick also raised the cleanliness of the public domain. There is quite a bit of debate at the moment about Dublin in particular. There needs to be a focus on cleanliness, street cleaning and waste collection, as she said. I had the opportunity to speak to the incoming mayor, Daryl Barron, recently and it is going to be a key focus for him.

Senator Mullen welcomed the ambassador and spoke about the links between Luxembourg and Carlow, as well as about the vote in the Dáil last night. He was unfair to call out the Taoiseach and Tánaiste for how they voted. It was agreed at different times within each party that every member of the party would have a conscience vote, and I believe that is the right way to go. Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste voted according to what they felt was correct and we should absolutely not be calling them out for that. It is a free vote for everybody no matter what status you hold within the party and it will be a free vote within those two parties when the Bill comes to this House. Not every party has that. It is up to each party to decide whether it is going to have a collective view and have the whip in place or a free vote. It is not up to any other party or an Independent Member to comment on that. It is a very sensitive social issue with sincerely held views on both sides of this argument, and I genuinely respect the views on both sides, as we all need to do. It is not fair to say the Taoiseach is captured by a lobby group. We have to listen to both sides and we also have to listen to the women who have been impacted and the women who have crisis pregnancies. This includes listening to those who have spoken about abortion regret. We had other comments later on about that.

Senator Collins also spoke about this, expressing the view, as did Senator Andrews, that men would not be asked to delay for three days in relation to a decision. Senator Collins also spoke about childcare, those in core funding and those that may be coming out. We certainly do not want to see providers coming out of core funding. About 93% of childcare operators are in core funding and apparently those that have opted out are slowly coming back in. That is good but we want to try to get everyone into core funding. It is very difficult, especially on the parents, when children are going to childcare providers that are not within core funding because they have to pay more as well. Childcare is very complex and it needs to work for everybody. It needs to work for the children, their parents, the owners and operators and those who are working within it.

It is a very valuable resource for society and we absolutely need to work together. I will ask that the fee increase assessment to be open. I will certainly write to the Minister on that. On Friday evening I visited Tír na nÓg in Athy and they were celebrating 30 years in existence. Kathleen, Lorraine and their family and they had a little graduation ceremony celebrating 30 years serving families in Athy. We have to support them all in whatever way we can.

Senator Comyn spoke about news coming from Drogheda this morning that the small hospital that has been there since 1907 and has 14 step-down beds is in danger of closing.

It is closing.

The part of the hospital that has 14 step-down beds and 40 staff is closing. That is very concerning because step-down beds are hugely important and are keeping the beds open for those who need acute and emergency care. While we have people who are not able to go home and live independently for a short period, we have to have step-down beds. The Senator said that the fact that clinics, doctor on call and ambulance services are also located there means it is a very important part of Drogheda and she is right that we need to look after our own in our own town. That is what Sláintecare is about and what the Senator said is happening really goes against all the tenets of Sláintecare, which was an all-party agreement at the time. We most certainly will write to the Minster and ask that closure be reversed and ask that the HSE does so.

Senator Keogan spoke about the vote last night. That absolutely is democracy. We have to respect that at different times, different Members both in the Seanad and the Dáil will not be happy with votes that are taken and the result of them, but that is democracy. Senator Keogan used the phrase "caving in" and I absolutely take exception to that. Hard decisions by individuals were made. People have to make hard decisions about votes they take. It most certainly was not caving in to any lobbying.

It was caving in.

In terms of the comment, you used the words "caving in".

You never listen to the pro-life campaign voice.

Sinn Féin had every right to bring this motion forward. It was a separate motion. The similarity with the Social Democrats' motion was the issue of the three-day wait but there were two separate motions. Sinn Féin, or any party, has the right to bring in a motion it wishes to have, so we cannot condemn anybody for bringing a motion in that is within Standing Orders.

Senator Murphy O’Mahony spoke about Men’s Health Week and the fact men are sometimes slow to get things checked out. The motto of the campaign this year is "One Step at a Time - Progress not Perfection". We echo that call and encourage all men to go and have the checks done with their local GP.

Senator Andrews spoke about Cuba facing difficult times with the blockades by the US Government. There is huge concern about shortages of goods coming into the country and we are, sadly, seeing a decline in international law. I agree there is a false propaganda narrative that we need to stand up to.

Senator Crowe spoke about the criminal legal aid scheme, the changes due to come in on 1 July and the fact there is strike action at this time. He outlined the reasons for this in terms of the financial provisions for solicitors and the fact they will be changed. It is always important we look at reforms. It is always important we look at the ways taxpayers' money is spent. It is very frustrating for a lot of people when we see court cases being adjourned all of the time, and that is part of the problem here. Within the judicial system, I cannot understand how they do not work on a more efficient system and not have cases repeatedly adjourned. It is hard on everybody and it is particularly hard in family law as well. It is good the Department is engaging with the Law Society. We want to have a consensus on to how we go forward on this.

Senator McCarthy about the report on homelessness and the differences between 2016 and now. I note the Minister at the time is no longer in politics. The Senator is right that we have to look at ways to prevent homelessness, which is especially difficult for families, of course, and for the older generation. There are many different issues as to why people find themselves homeless. The report Senator McCarthy is referring to will be laid before both Houses and I will look for a debate in the Seanad on it. Again, we have to go back to how we started the debate this morning on the very significant funding announced this week that will lead to the unlocking of a lot of lands for housing.

Senator Harmon spoke about Carlow College and the concerns there. I happened to be talking to the Minister, Deputy Lawless, about this issue, unofficially. I acknowledge all the excellent work Carlow College has been doing for many years. I know the fact it will be coming under SETU means there will be a lot of progress in a lot of areas for the students, the courses and those who work there. I think that, genuinely, this decision was made in the interests of all involved. However, the Minister did acknowledge to me when we had the conversation that he had put it in writing to Carlow College three different times that there would be proper consultation with the students and all of those who worked there and that did not seem to happen. That is very regrettable. Absolutely, there should be more clarity and the consultation should have started at a far earlier stage. It is important it happens now to bring clarity to everybody involved.

Senator Harmon also spoke about student homelessness. It is particularly difficult, and I have come across a few situations myself, when the students are estranged from their families and that does happen. It is sad but it happens. Then, sometimes the students are not eligible for SUSI if the parents' income is above the income limit, even though, thankfully, the limit has gone up quite a bit now. It is concerning and we need to look at the issue. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, was in the Seanad because we asked him to come when Senator Harmon had requested we have a debate on student accommodation, etc. To be fair, he was here about three weeks ago but we will look to bring him in again.

Senators Boyhan, Duffy and Scahill also gave their good wishes to Senators Ahearn and Cathal Byrne in terms of the leadership positions they will be taking up here. Senator Duffy spoke about the community of Strade in Mayo that used to be on the number 52 bus route that connected Ballina to Galway and it was very important in linking the population there to Foxford and to Ballina. We support that. It is so important that people are connected to their larger towns and to the services those larger towns have. It is good that when Bus Éireann ceased the bus route, Citylink took over. We should ask the NTA to intervene. I have always found the NTA to be very helpful when I have gone to it, and Mr. Richard Kelly who is the Oireachtas liaison person, is always at the end of the phone. Public transport needs to be affordable and accessible. Good luck to Senator Duffy and to the local councillors who are also working on this.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about local authorities and their big workloads. She spoke about comments made by the Tánaiste about dereliction, etc. There certainly are a lot of problems when you are dealing with dereliction and many of them come down to legal issues around title, probate, etc.

It is important that we always work with local authorities. I appreciate the difficult job that they have to do and that policy changes and decisions that come from different Departments. I would not use the word "diktats", which was used. It is important that we work collectively on behalf of the people who we represent on local authorities and at national level.

Senator Scahill gave us a bird's eye view of everything that is happening in Roscommon. It is great news about Lough Key Forest Park. It is a fabulous amenity. It is quite a number of years since I was there, so I might just take up the Senator's invitation. Strokestown Park House is fabulous too. The Senator mentioned the Night and Day Festival. Maybe some day we might get down to it, if the Senator organises the buses. It is very good news and it is important that we showcase our counties, which might not be the first ones that spring to mind for tourism, including my own in Kildare. We have so much to showcase in our beautiful country and we need to do everything that we can to support it. That supports the small local business such as coffee shops, restaurants and pubs. I thank the Senator for highlighting that and we wish everybody who is connected well.