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.