This is quite a distinguished Order of Business because an Seanadóir Garret Ahearn is here to officially take his first Order of Business as the new Leader of Seanad Éireann. I congratulate Garret on his appointment, not only for himself but also for his friends and family. His dad, Liam, who I met last week, and his brothers, Liam and Scott, and children, Jamie and Daniel, are here. Jamie and Daniel will be on their best behaviour today, and I think there is a promise of more ice cream too, if possible. Laura is here too, of course, and I thank her for being here. It is a great honour for Garret and for all of them because the families, friends and relations are the unsung heroes of political life. Many sacrifices are made by family members on behalf of their loved ones who are in political life. It is not an easy job. It has become less easy over the years due to online abuse. I know that our new Seanad Leader will do a great job and has done so in an acting capacity. We pay tribute to the former leader, Seán Kyne, congratulating him again on his election to the other House. Laura, Jamie, Daniel, Liam, and the two brothers are most welcome to the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery for an Seanadóir Garret Ahearn's first Order of Business as the official Leader of Seanad Éireann.

I thank the Cathaoirleach, his office and the Seanad Office for their engagement over recent weeks, and the Deputy Leader, Senator O’Loughlin, for her constructive encouragement and engagement throughout the process. It is a real privilege to take questions as Leader.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 4.45 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 4.45 p.m., with the time allocated for the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2, and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.45 p.m. by putting one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government; and No. 4, Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 8 p.m.

I formally congratulate Senator Ahearn on taking up his position. I had the opportunity to congratulate him on Thursday in his absence, but it is important that I do it again, particularly in the presence of Laura, Jamie, Daniel, his dad and his siblings. It is a great honour indeed for him. I have always found him to be very fair, very engaging and very receptive. He absolutely has the ability to make decisions, and that is something we all have to learn. Also, he has a great presence about him. Meeting dignitaries, ambassadors and so on is a very important part of the role. I look forward to working with him and wish him well in the time ahead.

There are a number of issues I want to raise. First, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, ONE, recently published a comprehensive study revealing that Ireland was a significant outlier in its approach to veterans policy, legislation and support services. ONE is the national veteran society and Cormac Kirwan is its hard-working chief executive. Its study had a number of key findings, particularly around the fact that 140,000 veterans of the Defence Forces were really an invisible population. A minority of them have many unaddressed issues.

Although the Government has established the Office of Veterans Affairs, more needs to be done. More action needs to be taken regarding a legal definition of the word “veteran”, which is not in legislation, and also regarding the commissioning of an independent evaluation of Defence Forces transition supports and the establishment of a national council of veteran associations. I would like to have a debate in the House on that.

I would also like to mention Cuan Mhuire. Before its 60th anniversary, I mentioned here that I would be attending the event. It really was very moving. I acknowledge Senator Murphy’s role within Cuan Mhuire, and indeed the roles of his mother and sister. Cuan Mhuire is Ireland’s largest voluntary addiction treatment provider. Sixty years after she founded the organisation, Sr. Consilio continues to do wonderful work, along with Nicola Kelly, chair Paul O’Donoghue, the wonderful staff and, of course, an excellent board. However, they need increased, sustained funding and support to meet their needs. While we have to accept that funding is rising, the level of need is rising faster and treatment is more complex. I would like to have a debate on addiction and how we support those who support those who are in addiction or trying to recover.

I want to mention a great friend of mine, Teresa Harrison, who sadly passed away over the last few days. She was a legend in her own time and the most incredible volunteer you ever met – for the Community Games, the Special Olympics and the St. Patrick’s Day parade, to mention but a few. Teresa was always full of fun, humour and compassion, and was always there to help and support whoever she could. Her two daughters, Pauline and Deirdre, and the wider family are obviously devastated to lose her, but her legacy will absolutely live on in her incredible volunteerism.

I was fortunate enough to spend a little time by her bedside two weeks ago. What I learned from her about how to die well as well as how to live well is really important. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.

We join in extending our sympathies to Pauline, Deirdre and all of the family of Teresa, one of the great activists in the Senator's community. We all know people like that, and they deserve recognition on their passing.

On his first day on duty as the Leader of the Seanad, I too congratulate Senator Ahearn on his promotion. It is also a very proud day for his family who are here today including his father, brothers Liam and Scott, Laura, and Jamie and Daniel, who are the sparkle of this guy's eyes when they are not here. We are delighted to have them here as distinguished guests.

I ask the Government to recognise the vital role that wet bars and traditional pubs play in communities across Ireland and to provide meaningful support to help them survive. For many people, especially in rural Ireland, the local pub is far more than a business. It is the heart of the community. It is where families and neighbours come together to celebrate life's milestones and to support one another through difficult times from christenings, confirmations, 21st birthdays, engagements, the afters of weddings, anniversaries and even gatherings following funerals. As the famous song goes, it is like from the cradle to the grave. It is woven into the fabric of family and community life.

I attended the audiovisual room last week where the Vintners Federation of Ireland attended to seek support. I have never seen such a large crowd of TDs and Senators. They came in to hear their stories and to support them.

These pubs are under enormous pressure. More than 2,200 pubs have closed across Ireland since 2005, and closures continue at an alarming rate. Every pub that closes not only represents a lost business but also a lost meeting place, a lost employer and a lost community asset. Publicans are facing unsustainable cost increases. Electricity costs have risen by around 70%, wages by 40% and water charges have increased significantly. While recent VAT measures have helped the establishments serving food, they offer little or no benefit to the majority of small, rural wet pubs that do not serve hot food.

The proposed on-trade sustainability scheme will work by giving pubs financial support based on the number of draft products they purchase from suppliers each year. The support will come in the form of a tax credit, thereby helping publicans offset rising costs such as electricity, wages and utilities. For example, if a small, rural pub incurred significant supply costs throughout the year, it could qualify for a tax credit worth a few euro. This credit could then be used to reduce its tax bill or, if the pub had little or no tax liability, be paid directly as a cash support, and it is support we are looking for. The scheme would be capped at €20,000 per annum per pub to ensure that support is targeted at small and medium-sized family run pubs.

The Government already recognises the importance of supporting sectors that contribute to our economy and culture and our pubs deserve the same recognition. If we value vibrant villages, like we say we do every day in here, thriving towns, rural tourism, local employment and social connection, then we must value and protect our local pubs.

Once a pub closes, it is often gone forever and a community loses a piece of its identity. I call on the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to visit the Seanad to debate these proposals.

I welcome and congratulate Senator Garret Ahearn on his appointment as Leader of the Seanad. I want to welcome his family, and it is particularly great to see his father here, as well as his whole family and his wife. The Leader's father and I had a long chat at the count. He is a wise man who counted the numbers pretty quickly at the Seanad count. It is great to see them all here.

It is important to say that the Leader of the Seanad is a senior parliamentary role. He or she is appointed by the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste to manage the Government's legislative agenda through this House. Orla Murray, the private secretary to the Leader of the Seanad, co-ordinates this primary Government function. The Leader is lucky to have someone at his side in the Seanad's office, and I congratulate her on what is not an easy job in smoothly managing the orderly running of this House despite all of the conflicting interests.

I welcome the official establishment of the new guardian ad litem national service.

This new service seeks to ensure that every child's voice is heard and that children's best interests are independently presented to a court in cases relating to the proceedings. The official opening of the service today signifies major progress in delivering high quality, accountability and consistency grounded in children's rights. Ensuring that all children in all parts of the country have access to the same high standard of service is a priority for us all.

The independence of guardians ad litem has now been clearly established in law. Guardians ad litem make their own professional judgments and recommendations to courts and this legislation explicitly states that guardians ad litem must at all times act independently in carrying out their functions.

Announcing this initiative today, the Minister, Deputy Foley, said:

The launch of the Guardian ad litem National Service is a landmark moment for children in care in Ireland. At its heart, this ... is about strengthening the voice of the child ... and ensuring that their best interests remain at the heart of every decision.

I commend the Minister, Deputy Foley, and her officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. I also acknowledge, as is important, the substantial advocacy work in this space by the former Labour leader in this House and the current leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Ivana Bacik.

I also congratulate Senator Ahearn on his elevation to his new position. Having got to know him over the 18 months I have been here, I have no doubt that he has the qualities that will make him a good Leader of the House and I look forward to working with him in the time ahead. I like to think that my refraining from showering praise on him last week, from a Sinn Féin perspective, might have assisted in securing the job for him, so I am glad I held my tongue at that time. As I said, I have no doubt that he will make a good Leader.

In that context, this week marks the tenth anniversary of Brexit, an experience that none of us holds any deep sense of contentment in remembering. It was a project brought to us by English nationalism and essentially far-right politics in England. Unfortunately, it was supported by the DUP at the time, which wanted to see the hardest possible Border in Ireland. It was a project that was brought forward with no thought for the impact that Brexit would have on either part of this island. The chaos of it continues to unfold. We are now on the sixth or seventh Prime Minister in almost as many years; I have lost count, as many will have. In normal circumstances, we might tell our neighbours to get on with their business and wish them well, but that continuing unfolding of chaotic politics and lurch to the right has an impact on both parts of this island, but particularly on the North because the British Government still holds jurisdiction there.

As we move towards the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and recognise the contribution it made in a very positive way, not just to relationships in the North, but on the island and between Ireland and Britain, we can see the stark contrast with what Brexit brought us. The potential contained in the Good Friday Agreement is for constitutional change and a settling of the unfinished business of Ireland on this island, through referendums. I ask the Leader, therefore, to encourage the Government to begin the necessary discussion with the British Government. Who knows who might make up the British Government in three years' time - if it happens in three years' time - when there is a general election? If, God forbid, it is a Farage-led Government, we could be into the possibility of a referendum being called on a whim to satisfy some other need that is not present with us.

The Brexit experience tells us what can happen when things are moved in a chaotic way. Therefore, I ask the Leader to encourage the Government, when a new Prime Minister is in place - it seems likely to be more of a coronation than an election - to begin serious engagement and discussion, because what happens on the island of Britain has an impact on us on this island, particularly in the North. We need to make sure that we do our best to ensure the smooth transition to unity on this island that we all desire in the time ahead and that it is done in an orderly fashion and with good relations with our nearest neighbours.

I also congratulate, formally, Senator Ahearn on his appointment. He has been doing a sterling job so far and I know he will into the future. I look forward to working with him.

I warmly welcome his family, who are rightly proud today. They will always remember this date.

There are other dates that are permanently etched in the minds of generations of people. It might be the assassination of JKF or the passing of Elvis, but for a young journalist working in the Dublin in the mid-90s, it was definitely the senseless murder of the journalist Veronica Guerin in June 1996. This Friday will mark the 30th anniversary of her death. I was working in the continuity department of RTÉ at the time. I was the person who the station would break to when there was breaking news. Unfortunately, the breaking news that day was her murder at Newlands Cross. There was pandemonium and stunned silence at the same time. You would have to think that her death was not in vain when, only four months later, the Criminal Assets Bureau was established. The bureau has gone on to do incredible work. There were 34 journalists killed around the world in 1996. Veronica's was not an isolated case. We are only halfway through this year and 21 journalists have already been killed around the world. Being a journalist is still a very dangerous job. We have never seen a more divisive and polarised media right across the world. An independent and trustworthy media is something we really need to value and hold on to. As media spokesperson in the Seanad and as a member of the arts committee, I want to see a debate on how we can protect and make sure that our media is both independent and trustworthy. That is probably a worthy debate to have here. For now, we should think back to Veronica. We will think of her family this Friday. We hope that when they look back, they will see that her passing was not in vain.

I have just heard the good news about Senator Ahearn. I congratulate him. I am delighted for him. All of his family are very welcome. It is great news. No better man. He deserves it. Well done.

I want to raise the recent welcome news about having repeat contraception prescriptions for women. I would urge repeat prescriptions would happen for people who use HRT. This is something I am affected by, which is why I wanted to bring it up. The people in my local pharmacy in Sligo asked me to raise the fact that between 15% and 30% of Irish women, including me, use HRT in order to manage symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. I and many others have welcomed the free scheme the Minister for Health brought in. She is to be commended on the proactive nature of what she did in that regard. Even before the free scheme was introduced, there were a lot of indications to the effect that there was not enough availability of HRT products within the market. This shortage is due to matters relating to supply chains. This is not just an Irish issue. Trade unions and the Irish Pharmacy Union have raised concerns in respect of it. If this was any other medication, there would be absolute uproar about what is happening. Our attitude to female reproductive health is not what it should be. In light of the impact weather like this has on people's symptoms, I know how important HRT is. It should be prioritised as an the area of medical healthcare. I wish we could have a conversation about women's health in the Seanad, specifically on this matter. There have been positive moves, and the Minister has to be commended on them. Again, we are looking for repeat prescriptions. HRT is a prescribed medicine, and the lack of availability is not getting the attention it deserves. It is not okay that it is women's health that is affected by the lack of availability. If we could have a debate with the Minister, it would be very welcome.

I, too, would like to be associated with the congratulations to Senator Ahearn. I congratulated him on Thursday in his absence. We met Liam, his father, last week. He was here a day early prior to the announcement. It is great to have Laura, Daniel and Jamie here. I must shake hands with Jamie and Daniel. From what I have heard, one if not both of them will be future soccer stars. We want to get the photographs in early.

I would also like to congratulate Councillor Domnick Connolly, who was elected cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council yesterday. He is supported by Councillor Laurence Fallon. I also want to say a big congratulations to Councillor Liam Callaghan following his year as cathaoirleach.

It is coincidental that I am congratulating the Leader, because when I was a young councillor, I met Senator Ahearn on my first visit to Leinster House in July 2024. We spoke about the safe routes to school scheme. He raised the matter that particular week, and I have raised it repeatedly since coming here.

A few weeks ago, I tabled a Commencement matter relating to the money that we are spending on safe routes to schools and how immediate measures are needed outside most of our rural schools to try to reduce speed, with speed ramps being the ideal solution and a more cost-effective use of money as opposed to waiting for the big safe routes to schools scheme. A big debate on the topic was held in the Roscommon County Council chamber yesterday. Councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice from my hometown tabled a motion on it in the context of Threen National School, a school with which I am very familiar. I have done a road safety survey with the parents and staff of that particular school. We are looking at measures whereby the speed limit nationally will be reduced to 30 km/h outside schools. We need enforcement. If we cannot enforce such a speed limit, we need measures such as speed ramps. It is a matter that I think we definitely need a conversation about in this House.

I support Senator Cosgrove's call for a discussion on women's health. We represent all people, and an open discussion is required. We are all free to talk about that particular topic. It was an issue I raised after the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition last year, and I followed up on it.

I congratulate the new Leader. I welcome Laura, Daniel and Jamie, his father and his siblings, to the Gallery. He will do a great job in the future.

I wish to raise the issue of the handling of the aftermath of the Creeslough tragedy, which, I believe, warrants serious examination by this House. Last week, I attended a meeting in the audiovisual room at which I heard directly from victims' families. What they had to say was, quite frankly, appalling and compels me to speak not just about the tragedy itself but also about how those affected have been treated in the years since. As we know, ten people, including three children, lost their lives in that devastating explosion in October 2022. Beyond the immediate loss, what followed has in many respects compounded the trauma experienced by those left behind.

I heard that the counselling services provided in the community were minimal. People indicated that a single counsellor was made available in a local chemist shop to provide therapy and that individuals had to queue on the street for access. The service was effectively only advertised online. Many people were not even aware of it. More worryingly, the supports provided were temporary in nature. We know that the initial drop-in counselling service was withdrawn after one month. In many cases, people were left with no option but to pay out of their own pockets for ongoing therapy. Even now, concerns remain about the longer term availability of counselling, with services under serious strain. This is simply unacceptable.

There are also serious and unanswered questions about the level of oversight and regulation prior to this incident. Families are still waiting for answers as to how such a tragedy could occur. Multiple investigations remain ongoing, with calls for a full public inquiry continuing to this day. The Government should be absolutely ashamed of how those affected by this appalling tragedy have been handled. These families and their communities deserve a long-term, visible and properly resourced response. What they got instead was a Band-Aid. That is not good enough. I demand accountability from this Government.

Déanaim comhghairdeas to the Leader. I wish him well in his new role. I know he will do great. I congratulate his family, who are very welcome. I am sure it is a proud moment for them. It is very well deserved. I look forward to working with the Leader in his new role.

As my party's spokesperson for Dublin and the Dublin city task force, I welcome the decision taken by the Government this morning to transfer the ownership of the GPO from the Department of culture to the Office of Public Works, OPW. This is another step in the process to reopen the GPO. We pass by the GPO, which is a historic building. It is a post office, but it is also the birthplace of our Republic. It is a public building. With this move, the building is going to be open to the public. It is going to be made available for meanwhile use. The public are going to have an opportunity to have their say as part of a public consultation. It is planned that the building will become a cultural, civic and community space.

This is welcome news. A State-funded project, the national development plan, has allowed for up to €500 million to be invested not only in protecting and preserving it, but also in ensuring its future. I welcome that news and encourage everybody to have their say when the public consultation opens.

I would also like to join in the comments to the new Leader of the House, Senator Ahearn, and to congratulate him and say that I very much look forward to working with him. It is a very nice moment to be joined in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery by a distinguished set of visitors. I congratulate the entire Ahearn family, a family with deep roots in public service and with a proud tradition of serving both in this building and also in council chambers in the past. It very much is appreciated, in particular, by those of us on the Fine Gael side of the House, that we have the opportunity to have them join us here for our new Leader's first Order of Business.

Today, on the Order of Business, I want to commemorate and reflect on the legacy of the Battle of Vinegar Hill which took place on 21 June 1798. The 228th anniversary was commemorated in my home town, on Vinegar Hill, in Enniscorthy, only last weekend. I very much welcome the Tánaiste's comments that Fine Gael will shortly be undertaking a discussion document, a blueprint for what a united Ireland would look like. I am a very proud republican. I believe passionately in a united Ireland. I believe that the institutions of our Republic must and are compelled to fundamentally participate in making sure that in my lifetime, as somebody who is 35, we will have a united Ireland. In the context of 1798, a tradition that united all sides of the divide, I call on us in this Chamber to have discussion on a united Ireland, particularly as it relates to the Presidency of the EU and reflecting on the fact that the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, secured a commitment that were the North of Ireland to rejoin the South of Ireland and we have a united Ireland, it would automatically be part of the EU. There is a wider discussion to be had, as our Presidency approaches.

In relation to that particular topic, we were discussing it earlier with the President of the European Parliament. It was one of the two elected topics: one is agriculture and the other one is the issue around the Good Friday Agreement, part of which is the discussion about the constitutional future of the island of Ireland. We look forward to everybody's engagement on that particular topic.

I congratulate the Leader. For the last couple of weeks, we were not able to do that from this side of House. It was not going to help him or anything. I really wish the Leader well. Obviously, we have our political differences but we have a lot of shared interests. I wish the Leader and his family well. It is a great honour for Senator Ahearn and I know that he has the qualities that are needed to maintain this role.

In 2023, Gary Ward, a young man, died by suicide. That is three years ago. Last March, I raised his case. He had a lot of mental health issues. He was a loving son. He studied politics in UCD and he was failed by the mental health system. Three years later, the family still have no sight of the inquest. The coroner has literally blanked the family. Obviously, this is very distressing for the family. It does not give them any sense of closure. As I say, they have had radio silence from the coroner's office and that just is not acceptable. The family and Gary were failed by the mental health system and now they are being failed, once again, by the coroner's office. Clearly, the coroner's office is not fit for purpose. To wait three years for an inquest seems completely unacceptable. The family need answers. They need some sort of peace and closure.

I ask that the Minister come in here to explain how he plans to address the crisis in the coroner’s office. It is very unfair on families, not just families like Gary’s, but families across the country.

I join other Members of the House in congratulating my friend and colleague Garret Ahearn on his promotion to becoming Leader of Seanad Éireann. I know it is a great honour and privilege for him and all his family. I acknowledge and welcome them all here this afternoon, Laura, Daniel and Jamie in particular. While it is not my job, I would like to suggest if there is homework this week that with a bit of support from colleagues it might be dismissed on this special occasion.

Schools finish on Friday.

Better again.

I also acknowledge Senator Ahearn’s father Liam. I know that his late mother, Theresa, would be immensely proud and I am sure she is looking down on him with pride. Senator Cathal Byrne spoke of the public service within the Ahearn family, through council chambers and both Houses of the Oireachtas. I know they all hold those values with great pride. I look forward to supporting Senator Ahearn in every way I can throughout his term as Leader.

My colleague Mike Kennelly has done a lot of advocacy on the coverage of GAA games as we enter the business end of the season. Obviously, Mayo had a great win against Meath over the weekend and will play Cork this coming weekend. Unfortunately, both of these games will end up being broadcast on GAA+. As Senator Kennelly has outlined before, the GAA is based on volunteerism. The people who fundraise, the waterboys, the managers, the coaches and everyone else have kept together these rural clubs which were and are such a beacon for community and society across County Mayo and elsewhere. Many elderly Mayo supporters will not have access to view the game. They will not be able to travel up to Dublin for the game and do not have the technology or the devices in their houses to watch and enjoy the game. It is very disappointing for them to be excluded from this. Given the volunteerism and the social good within the GAA, there needs to be a broader discussion in this House to make sure there is access for viewers across the country.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge Emma Rose Browne from the Sylvan Kelly School of Irish Dancing who won the under-nine national championship this weekend. It is a great honour and we are all very proud of her.

When the Senator is in injury time, he should not bring up another topic.

It had to be done.

In a personal capacity, I congratulate the Leader along with his wife Laura, sons Jamie and Daniel, his father, Liam, and his brothers. I had the privilege of knowing his late mother, Theresa, and I know she would have been very proud of him today. The contribution the Ahearn family have made, both in local authority life and here in the Houses of the Oireachtas, has been referred to here already. I wish him all the very best of luck in his new role. I know he had a good training ground in recent weeks and he will be fantastic in the job.

Last week the Limerick Post carried an interview with the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke. It dealt with collaboration between industry and education and how that is encouraging some large companies to locate in the mid-west. On the 50th anniversary of Analog Devices being in Limerick, which has had a recent expansion, it is great to see that collaboration between education and industry. We are very lucky to have three third level institutes in the region. UL collaborates with over 400 companies. TUS collaborates with 200 companies. Mary I also has collaboration, as do the ETBs. It has been fantastic in bringing companies from across the water to locate in the mid-west.

There is a report on the Shannon Estuary task force which was commissioned back when Leo Varadkar was Taoiseach.

There was input from industry and the chamber of commerce and many people had input into it. There is a tourism piece and an industry piece in it. The report still has not been initiated or brought forward. There is so much opportunity, especially with the River Shannon in terms of wind energy. There is so much in that report that needs to be looked at. Will the Leader contact the Minister, Deputy Burke, on supporting the bringing forward of that report for the mid-west?

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an gCeannaire. I am delighted to see Laura, his beautiful family and his dad here. While we differ on a lot of things, we have one small thing in common. His late mum and my late father both served the people of Cahir in different ways, my dad as a member of An Garda Síochána. I know his mum is proud of him and I ask him to go easy on me for the next couple of years.

I raise the increasing levels of misinformation and, I am sorry to say, disinformation about the triple lock. As legislation on the triple lock approaches the Houses, that level of misinformation is accelerating. I want to be very clear about this. If we get rid of the triple lock, we will not have peacekeeping any more. By definition, it is not a blue helmet mission without a UN mandate. Think about that. We will be sending our troops away on missions no longer wearing the blue beret we are proud of or the blue helmet. They will not be peacekeeping missions; they will be peace enforcement missions. Even peace enforcement missions with a UN mandate - for example, the war in Korea, the Balkans, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and, more recently, Afghanistan - developed into full fighting missions. Without the triple lock, we will not be sending our people on blue-helmeted missions. We will be sending them to fight. If you are fighting, by definition you are not neutral.

The myth we can only send 12 personnel overseas at the moment and need to get rid of the triple lock is completely untrue, as was confirmed to the defence and national security committee last May by the Department of Defence. The idea Trump, Putin or Xi Jinping has a say in where we send our troops is a false narrative. It is a choice of the Irish people by sovereign decision of the Oireachtas and solemn declarations given in Europe that we would be bound - this is what the Irish people want - by the multilateral principles of the United Nations. A time when we are having illegal wars, for example, the strikes on Iran - reprehensible as that regime is - and the invasion of Lebanon, is not the time to walk away from the UN.

I ask my colleagues in Fianna Fáil to, when they are at their parliamentary meeting tonight talking about this issue, ask where our troops will be sent. To suggest there is no link between neutrality and the triple lock is like saying there is no link between the steering wheel and the brakes on a car.

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Ahearn. He said to me when I first came into the Seanad that he hoped his mam would be proud. I think it is fair to say she always was and definitely is. I congratulate him on his new role. It is great to have his family here to celebrate.

I raise something that was brought to my attention on Saturday night - four nights after it actually happened, which in itself is shocking. There is a national school in Cherry Orchard called St. Ultans. It is an integrated care and education setting, one of very few in Europe. It is not just a school but also a care centre. It has a preschool and an after-school but also has many therapies available on-site for needs in the area.

Because it is not just a school, it has a general manager. Sue Menton did a brilliant job over a number of years but she has retired. A new general manager came in and is fantastic. She is not an Irish person. Last Wednesday night after a concert at the school, she was surrounded by people on scramblers and on foot. She was dragged from her car and assaulted. She has what has been described as a significant laceration to her face. She is only a couple of weeks into this job. It is an exciting job and she is well qualified but she does not feel welcome in Cherry Orchard.

I cannot believe I found out about this on Saturday night, four days after it happened, through the chair of the school. I did not see it in any media or discussed anywhere. If it was anywhere other than Cherry Orchard, it would be everywhere. I have reached out to the Minister. I want to know what the justice Minister is doing.

I want to know what senior gardaí are doing - not just local gardaí, who are firefighting, frankly - in terms of the strategy and what extra funding is going in for youth engagement and youth work in Cherry Orchard, not just from a criminal point of view.

I wish Senator Ahearn massive congratulations. I was delighted to speak to him over the weekend. As Senator Ní Chuilinn said, we have heard so much about his mam and his beautiful family. I am sure they are all so proud. I wish him the best of luck for the next year and a half.

There are a couple of things about which I want to speak. I was very proud to be in Navan over the weekend. We had the Midsummer Festival until 21 June, which was fantastic. It is the first time we have grabbed a festival and ran with it really well. I would like to thank Meath County Council for that and for helping with the funding and, obviously, the organisers, who are amazing people. It was wonderful to go around. NeuroFest was another massive festival, with 700 tickets sold. It is a festival for people with neurodivergence. It was really great to see that.

I have just come from a meeting this morning with my colleague, Senator Ní Chuilinn. We met with representatives from FirstLight and Féileacáin. I would like to highlight the work done by both. I am familiar with Féileacáin, its memory boxes and the support it gives to bereaved families because of the death of a baby during or after pregnancy. It is amazing. It comes with first-hand experience of this. One of the ladies we met today, Mairie Cregan, was one of the seven people who set up Féileacáin. It was amazing to listen to her story.

People would have known FirstLight as the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association in the past. The representatives spoke about the fact that FirstLight had 293 cases last year and had seen a 20% increase year on year in its services. It offers one-to-one counselling. FirstLight gets its funding from Tusla, the HSE and Pobal. Last year, it had to deal with five suicides of children under the age of 15. It is an organisation that helps people with the loss of children up to the age of 18. Suicide has become a big part of that. A figure of 64% of what FirstLight deals with is neonatal while the rest is sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, suicide and loss of babies.

What FirstLight is struggling with is that it does not have multi-annual funding. It does not know from year to year whether funding is going to be there to continue the service, which is obviously vital. I want to encourage this. I have hooked up with the Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and her adviser to get a meeting between FirstLight and the Minister. I want to highlight how important the service is, and if people like it could get multi-annual funding, that would be fantastic.

I congratulate the Leader on his appointment. I am sure that it is a really proud day for his family, who are in the Gallery. He has a long tradition of public service in his family and I am sure that his late mum is very proud watching him today. I also want to acknowledge Scott Ahearn in the Gallery. I knew Scott through student politics back in the day. I would say that the Leader has been involved in politics at all levels in Ireland at this point and I wish him well in his role. I congratulate Senator Cathal Byrne as well on his appointment as Whip today.

Cork public transport is what I want to discuss. We need to have a discussion in this Chamber on it specifically. I say that because Cork is widely regarded as the fastest growing city in Ireland. The population of Cork is expected to rise by between 50% and 60% by 2040. For that reason, we need to prioritise investment and increase the pace of public transport development within the city. We have serious issues in the city in terms of bus reliability - buses not arriving on time and ghost buses disappearing - and the fact that we do not have a modern ticketing system. People cannot just tap on and tap off the bus. That is ridiculous in a modern city. There are well-known routes that are constantly delayed, namely, the 215, the 220, the 214 and the 208. These buses need to be reviewed.

We need our Luas. In the Labour Party, we have called for shovels in the ground by 2030, but we need to make sure that it is delivered on time and on budget for the people of Cork. For too long, we have been left behind. At times, I become sick and tired of hearing consistently about public transport in Dublin when Cork is the fastest growing city. We need real action in relation to it. I would dedicate a specific time slot, if possible, in the Seanad to discuss public transport issues within Cork, which is the second city but, of course, the real capital.

I too would like to be associated with the comments regarding our new Leader. It is a huge achievement for Senator Ahearn and his family. I hope he will really enjoy the post, and I am sure that he will. He has been very fair to us all.

Today, I am raising the issue of the Irish Farm Film Producers Group, IFFPG. This is a group that collects all the plastic recycled from baled silage all over Ireland. I acknowledge, first of all, that the IFFPG did ring me back this morning regarding collection points in the north Longford area, which is my area. Two points will not be collecting plastic this year. It was disappointing to see that information this morning. It raised concern that farmers would have to travel long distances to recycling points. I received a phone call from the group this morning and I thank it for that. I hope that we can find a point in the Drumlish, Dromard and Aughnacliffe area. There were two collection points there last year. If we can get at least one collection point this year, that will be good.

Farmers all over Ireland are paying for the plastic to be collected and recycled every time they buy a roll of wrap, silage covers and all the rest of it. This is a facility that has been put in and supported by our Government. If we do not get these facilities up and running and have plastic collected, this will cause huge concern on farms. I hope there are no other areas in the country that have this problem. If there are, I am here to help. Hopefully, we can get the plastic picked up in these areas.

I would also like to be associated with the expressions of congratulation to my colleague, Senator Ahearn, on his appointment as the Leader of the House. He has been a fantastic Acting Leader over the past few weeks. In case there was any doubt, he has really proven himself. I am looking forward to the remainder of his term as the Leader. I acknowledge Senator Ahearn’s family members who are here with him today. It is also an incredibly proud day for them. They are proud of him all the time in light of his political achievements and those of his late mum, but it is particularly the case today. It is such a special day for Senator Ahearn and all his family. I really hope they all enjoy it.

I want to speak about the findings of the European Commission’s latest state of the digital decade report. It was published last week. In particular, I mention its assessment of the digital transition of Irish small and medium enterprises, SMEs. While Ireland continues to perform strongly in many areas of digital skills and online commerce, the report does highlight some concerns. This is mainly about the growing gap between digitally advanced firms and those falling behind. This could impact Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.

SMEs are the backbone of our economy. They employ thousands of people across towns and villages in County Cork and the rest of Ireland. They are central to job creation, innovation and, of course, regional development. The report also points out that while the adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, AI, cloud computing and data analytics is increasing, many SMEs continue to face barriers in accessing and implementing these technologies. Only 20% of Irish businesses are using AI on a productive level. We need to ensure that the digital transfer of information is not something just associated with multinationals and large companies, and that family businesses, retailers, farms and tourism enterprises are all able to embrace new technologies and improve productivity. I am seeking a debate with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on how Ireland intends to respond to the report's recommendation to accelerate digital growth, how best we can work with our SMEs to achieve this goal and ensure that all existing supports are accessible.

I also wish to be associated with the expressions of congratulations to Senator Ahearn. If the last two weeks have been anything to go on, he will do a really good job.

Last Thursday, I attended a meeting of the Cavan and Monaghan Hospital Campaign Group, where people gathered to share stories of their experiences of hospitals in the Cavan-Monaghan area. It seems to me that a pattern is emerging across all the hospitals in the country. I say this after having listened to people recount stories in here. We are hearing stories about people being left in hospital beds, being discharged when they needed care, waiting a long time in accident and emergency departments, issues with diagnoses and, sadly, people who have had family members dying in cold, crowded wards.

I was recently in Castlebar hospital with a family member who was receiving critical care. They were placed in a ward with somebody who was actively dying. That person had the death rattle for nearly two days. The other people in the ward were extremely upset. It is so distressing for the family, for the patient, and for everybody else in the place. At that time, I contacted a friend whose mother had passed away to apologise that I would not be able to make it to the funeral. That person had a similar experience in Cavan hospital, where the parent was in the ward, surrounded by people who were coming and going from a busy ward with visitors, and all there was to protect their privacy was a hospital curtain. We all know that nurses and doctors give great care and do their best, but that those situations would not happen if there was another option. Our services are overrun. They are way beyond capacity and staff are overwhelmed. We need to hear these stories so that we can try to fix what is wrong in our hospital system. We are one of the wealthiest countries in the world and this should not be happening.

I congratulate the Leader. Since I came into this House, he has certainly been a friendly face and shown the rest of us how it is done. Judging by the remarks of our colleagues today, he deserves canonisation rather than election to leadership.

I want to mention a good friend of mine, Ann Lane, who was on the hantavirus ship. She got out of quarantine yesterday. We are all delighted with that. She is coming into the House today with Senator Michael McDowell and me. It shows how public events thousands of miles away can impact us here at home. It showed the very best of our public services working together, with her being brought home by our health professionals and Defence Forces. It really showed that when we work well, we work very well.

I also raise an important issue regarding the impact that alcohol can have on mental health and suicide in Ireland. We know that most people in this country can enjoy alcohol socially and responsibly, but there is also a significant number of people for whom alcohol becomes devastating, and we need to speak honestly about that reality. I recently read a heartbreaking article in The Times about a man called Dan, whose family spoke openly about how alcohol contributed to his death by suicide. On the night he died, his alcohol levels were described as staggering. Many families across Ireland can identify with that. Alcohol can intensify depression, increase impulsivity, and deepen feelings of helplessness. I see at first hand, in my work with Tiglin, how alcohol can slowly dismantle a person's mental health, damage relationships and damage families. We need a more joined-up approach that includes early intervention, counselling, addiction treatment, family support, and better dual-diagnosis services. More importantly, we need to get rid of the stigma so that people know, when they want to ask for help, that there is no stigma surrounding it.

I warmly congratulate Senator Ahearn on assuming the position of Leader. He was doing it anyway, so now he is doing it officially. There is no better man, and Tipperary will be very well represented here, with his position as Leader. I think of the 1990s, when I was in college in Dublin. He and I have often spoke about this. When I travelled down on the train from college to Ennis, the Leader's late mother would be going back from the Dáil. I got much advice from her during those periods in those conversations. It is great to see former Councillor Liam Ahearn, the Leader's dad, and his two brothers. I missed Laura, but I am sure I will meet her and the two boys later on. It is great to have Liam here. I sat in his kitchen in 2011 and he did not let me down back then.

It is just an amazing day. It is fantastic. I am sure Theresa is looking down from those great blue skies with a smile and a bit of guidance for the Leader. He always remembers where he came from and he is always very proud of his political history, which is with absolute justification, having had two parents as public representatives. Now, he is continuing the tradition. I have no doubt his two brothers are very proud of him as well.

There is just one issue I would like a debate on, namely, healthcare in the mid-west. The Leader is fully aware from his own advocacy work in Tipperary that there are serious challenges. We very much welcome the Minister's announcement of a new hospital in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, but the Ennis Hospital action committee has a very detailed budget submission on a consultant-led air ambulance facility to be based in west Clare. There is merit in that because west Clare is unique in terms of its distance from the accident and emergency facilities in UHL. Even with a new hospital, one cannot change the geographical challenges that arise. Perhaps in due course, ahead of the budget, we could have a debate on improving access to accident and emergency services in the mid-west.

I thank everyone for the lovely comments today. I have definitely got a big head after the past hour of kind words. I am not sure they were all true, but they were really appreciated. I am very grateful. I thank in particular my Fine Gael colleagues for their support over the last number of weeks and in general. We have a great bunch here in the Seanad and it is a privilege to work with all of them. I also thank the Opposition Members for their comments, but particularly for their restraint before I was appointed. I am aware that one or two struggled with that, and I was very fearful that it would have an impact on the decision-making by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, but thankfully it worked out.

It is a real honour today. A number of Senators mentioned my family. I had the privilege of growing up in a family where there were two passions in life. One was farming and the other was public service. Both my parents were public servants - councillors and a TD. I did not get the grá for the farming but I certainly got the grá for public service. It is a real privilege to have my family here.

I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy John Cummins, because in politics, as we all know, you need one or two friends you can rely on through the good times and particularly through the bad. When I came into this House six years ago, I sat beside Deputy Cummins. We have been very good friends since.

I also acknowledge my wife – my patient wife – and thank her for being here because it is an important day for our family. Most people here understand that when you get elected to any office or position, local or national, it is a huge day for your family. It is a real privilege to have mine here. My two boys were here for about 40 or 45 minutes and did not say a word, which is amazing. I believe they will go into politics in the future because that is not how they act in private at all. They are my pride and joy and I was delighted to have them here.

I thank the 20 Senators who contributed on the Order of Business today. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin spoke about the ONE study, which relates to the 140,000 veterans of the Defence Forces. It presents a good opportunity to have a debate on the matter, particularly when we are talking about changes in defence, and to acknowledge the work and service the veterans provided over many years. A lot of other countries take so much pride in their defence forces and retired defence forces, and sometimes we do not do so as much as we probably should. Therefore, there is a good opportunity to have a debate here.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about Cuan Mhuire, the voluntary addiction service. All such providers need extra funding. We will have a budget in a number of months, but this is a very good opportunity to highlight the work the providers do.

Senator Kennelly spoke about wet bars in traditional pubs. They are vital to our communities, whether in Kerry or Tipperary. We are, unfortunately, seeing a change in society and in how people live their lives.

People want to support their local pubs but there are real challenges in terms of high costs, as the Senator said, and in terms of energy and water. Decisions made have had an impact on staffing whether it is the higher rate of the minimum wage, increased holidays, sick leave or auto-enrolment. There are so many elements that have put a lot of costs on businesses. Although we are bringing in the 9% VAT, which is hugely welcome, we need to make sure to prioritise pubs in rural Ireland, as the Senator said, and the role they play for local communities.

Senator Boyhan spoke in relation to the guardianship legislation and acknowledged the Minister, Deputy Foley’s, work on that. He noted that it will be independent and that it always has supporting children at the heart of it. That was welcomed by the Minister this morning.

Senator Murphy spoke in relation to the ten-year anniversary of Brexit, which happened today. We spoke about that this morning as well with President Metsola and if there is ever an example how one decision can change how politics works in a country, it is certainly Brexit. It looks like the UK is going to have its seventh Prime Minister in ten years, which is incredibly frustrating. Senator Murphy talked about how the Good Friday Agreement was hardly discussed during Brexit. I remember that James O’Brien used to do a radio interview every day on LBC Radio, and I think that he was only reporter who used to talk about the implications it would have on Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. Ten years later, we still have the same issues to deal with. However, as the Senator said, it is a good opportunity to have a serious engagement with the new Prime Minister when he or she takes office in September. We have to continue that engagement because it has improved since Keir Starmer took office. It is important that it continues and develops even further.

Senator Comyn spoke about the 30th anniversary of Veronica Guerin’s murder. It is amazing that it is 30 years. Most people were shocked and outraged by what happened on that day. To think that someone would be killed in broad daylight in front of people but as the Senator said, positive things have happened from it. The establishment of CAB has had a huge impact on criminal organisations in this country and that would not have happened only for Veronica Guerin. There are, as the Senator said, many journalists across the world who go into danger and sadly lose their lives. We do a lot of work on the media committee on this, but we need to highlight this more and we can in this Chamber.

Senator Nessa Cosgrove spoke about the HRT scheme. It is a good thing to raise, as it is a free scheme but there is no point in having a free scheme if it is not available or in low supply. When the Senator talks about women’s health, it is almost like the Government or the two Houses of the Oireachtas are catching up on women’s health. One of the reasons is probably because in years gone by, people in either Chamber did not speak up about it. When 40% of the representatives in the Seanad are women, it just shows that these important issues can be highlighted, and things can be changed for the better. I will ask the Minister for a debate on that.

Senator Gareth Scahill spoke in relation to the appointment of Councillor Domnick Connolly to the role of Cathaoirleach. It is a great honour for him, and I have no doubt that he will do a good job. He is replacing Councillor Liam Callaghan who did a fantastic job and we wish them both well. We have spoken numerous times in the Seanad about safe routes to school and what we can do in relation to rural schools in particular and making them safer. I know that myself. We have kids the same age, so we know the dangers that are there in rural communities. It is more about getting funding in the next budget as well, not necessarily for big projects, but small things that can reduce speed on roads.

Senator Sharon Keogan spoke in relation to the Creeslough tragedy. If what the Senator is saying is the case - I have no reason to doubt it - it just seems terrible that the supports are not there for the victims, their families and people who are struggling on the back of one of the worst atrocities that ever happened in Ireland. Ten people died, including three kids, in a tiny village on the northern tip of our island. It was a terrible thing to happen. As Leader of the Seanad, I will write to the Tánaiste to outline the Senator’s concerns, which are genuine.

You would like to think that sort of support would be in place for those people still.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the GPO and the transfer of ownership to the OPW, which is significant because it opens up the opportunity to re-open it for the public good. A consultation period will happen or will open soon. I am not sure what the dates are, but I encourage people to engage in that consultation process, because the GPO plays a vital role in the city centre of Dublin. We have had many debates here about how much more funding needs to go into promoting the city centre. It is a tourist attraction. People judge the whole country based on how they see the city centre and the GPO plays a vital role in that.

Senator Cathal Byrne spoke about the Battle of Vinegar Hill in 1798. He has educated me many times in his office on that historic event. As he said, he is a true republican. We all strive for a united Ireland. That is why the Tánaiste raised it two weeks ago although there is sometimes criticism of that, but then there is criticism if people do not raise it. Senator Murphy has spoken about it numerous times. The more people who raise it, the better. As was said, we should all be striving for it. We spoke about it this morning with President Metsola, about using our Presidency to promote the vision we all have for a united Ireland.

Senator Andrews spoke about the sad passing of Gary Ward a number of years ago. What is sadder is that there is no closure for families. For someone to wait three years to get some sort of facts or findings about what happened from the coroner's office is not acceptable. Families have enough to deal with in the tragedy itself, without having to try to get answers. I will write to the Minister to see if he will come in to debate this, because that is hardly the only example. I suspect people around the country have been waiting more than the time they should be.

Senator Duffy raised GAA coverage and GAA+. One of the requests I might have as Leader, particularly for this year, is that people do not talk about the GAA. Tipperary is out of it. People come to the Seanad giving out they cannot watch their teams play. My team is not even playing. They are small issues. On a serious note, I can see why, when there are many games at the start of the season, all of them cannot be shown on RTÉ. However, certainly when we get to the latter end, when there are three or four matches per weekend, I do not see any reason RTÉ cannot show them all, particularly as it is an organisation founded on volunteerism.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the Limerick Post interview with the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke and how we want to do more to promote big businesses coming to rural Ireland. A lot of that has been done in recent years. As the Senator said, the interaction between colleges and companies can improve an area or town. That is happening with the University of Limerick, the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS, and Mary Immaculate College. The Shannon Estuary task force report was published and it would be good to have a debate here. We have a lot of representatives from the region and just outside it, which could benefit massively. I will contact the Minister's office to see if we can have a debate. The Minister, Deputy Burke, will get a lot of requests from me from today.

Senator Clonan spoke about the triple lock. He is passionate about it. There are differing views on all sides of the House but he is knowledgeable about the Defence Forces and defence protocol. The Oireachtas joint committee on defence will go through pre-legislative scrutiny of it. It will come to this House and I have no doubt we will have a detailed debate on it. When that happens, we can speak about it in more detail.

Senator Ní Chuilinn spoke about something awful and the fact it was not even mentioned that this happened. It was the new general manager of St. Ultans school who was attacked, essentially. I suspect a Garda investigation is happening at the moment and these people need to be dealt with at the highest level.

I hope that is happening. I am sure the Senator knows whether it is. It is just not acceptable that someone who has come into this country and is giving incredible service by supporting vulnerable people - children - here is attacked like that by thugs, essentially. I will write to the Minister's office to ask what the Minister is doing. As the Senator said, it is not just about having gardaí on the street because they are dealing with an awful lot - it is also about senior gardaí in terms of policy and what they are doing in the area.

Senator Nelson Murray told the House that the Navan Midsummer Festival was a huge success. Those things always have a massive impact on a town. The knock-on financial benefit to businesses right across the area is hugely important. The Senator also spoke about her meeting with representatives of FirstLight - I did not realise it has been renamed from the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association - which deals with many tragic cases. One of the real challenges for all of these organisations is that they are fighting for money every single year and, as the Senator said, there is no multi-annual funding. I know the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is very focused on getting multi-annual funding at HSE level for the future. There are organisations that need such funding. I know that because it is not just organisations like this one that are affected. My brother Scott, who works in the mental health sector, is very familiar with trying to fight for funding every single year in order to support people. If there was multi-annual funding, it would give certainty to people who work in that sector.

Senator Harmon called for a debate on Cork, basically. I am in support of that. I lived in Cork for ten years, as she knows. On a serious note, transport is a critical part of how a city can develop. If a city is increasing its population by 50% or 60% by 2040, we need to have the means to be able to support that. There will be challenges with the Luas development across the city, which was welcome news when she raised it two or three months ago, and it will take some time but that needs to progress as quickly as possible. There are always difficulties in it. The greater scheme is to connect both sides of the city. If that can happen, it will be really positive for the area. I am familiar with one or two of the bus routes where buses used to be late. I will write to the Minister to see if we can have a debate on transport around Cork city.

Senator Brady spoke about the plastic collection points, which are there to encourage farmers to bring their waste plastic back so it is not just left on a farm, left idle or disposed of independently. It is about recycling and reusing that plastic. Those sites need to be close to farmers so they can avail of them. Obviously that is very important.

Senator Lynch raised the digital decade report and said that, predominantly, people think it is about big firms and big companies but small businesses need to start to move with the times as well. That is a real challenge. We brought in a number of initiatives during Covid to try to encourage people to go online for simple things like online shopping or online promotion of their businesses. The world has changed and how people interact with businesses and firms is changing. Many companies in my local area are small to medium-sized companies. We need to be able to make sure they can focus on and improve their services online. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Burke, for a debate on that.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about Cavan hospital. During the past couple of weeks, while I have been here, Senator Tully has raised a number of examples in respect of Cavan hospital. All of those examples can be very distressing for the families. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, about the services of some hospitals around the country. Cavan has come up in this Chamber quite a lot so I will ask if we can have a debate on that.

Senator McCarthy spoke about the connection between alcohol, mental health and suicide. Essentially, dual diagnosis has always been the challenge here. I know the Senator does an awful lot of work with Tiglin so he knows it well. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Butler, introduced a Bill a number of months ago. She is very passionate on the subject and wants to improve the area and get more funding for it. I will see if she can come into this House for a debate.

I know about healthcare in the mid-west, which Senator Martin Conway spoke about, because Tipperary is connected to that. There has been the very positive announcement of a new hospital as part of UHL.

There has, however, been some disappointment regarding Ennis. If Ennis is looking for an air ambulance, we certainly could call in the Minister. I suspect that tabling a Commencement matter might be the best option for Senator Conway. I am more than happy to support him on it.

I thank the Leader and congratulate him on his first official Order of Business as Leader of Seanad Éireann. I join with him in welcoming former Senator Cummins and the Minister of State. Both are most welcome to Seanad Éireann, as are all his family and the two young fellows who, like all the Senators normally are, were impeccably well behaved.