The Order of Business is No. 1, the Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026, changed from, Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026 - Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude no later than 2.15 p.m., with the time allocated to 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 no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 – Second Stage, to be taken at 2.15 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 1, whichever is earlier, and to be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes, with the time allocated to 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 no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, motion re the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, instruction to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed four minutes, all Senators not to exceed four minutes each and the Minister to be given no less than four minutes to reply to the debate; No. 4, the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 - Committee Stage, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 3 and to adjourn at 6 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 5, Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 6 p.m. and to conclude at 7.15 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes, all Senators not to exceed six minutes each and the Minister to be given no less than six minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 67, motion 3, Private Member's motion re visitor levy on paid overnight accommodation, to be taken at 7.15 p.m., with the time allocated to the debate not to exceed two hours.

I reiterate a call I made in the House last month for a dental tax credit to be made available in this year's budget to parents of primary school children. I propose a €200 dental tax credit for parents to help to cover the cost of routine dental treatment, because delays in the school dental screening programme are causing additional cost-of-living pressures for families. The report by colleagues on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health laid bare that just over half of eligible children nationwide received school dental screening in 2023. They are supposed to receive screening in second class, fourth class and sixth class, yet I have been contacted by parents in Limerick whose children are leaving the primary school system without ever having been seen by a dentist.

I acknowledge the significant steps that have been taken by the Government to improve the situation with dental care. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, has increased the number of third level dentistry places. In time and with the new intake of 70 students to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, in Sandyford last September, this will increase the number of practising dentists available to us. However, I have spoken to the Irish Dental Association. A number of challenges remain for dentists and the association is calling for reform of the medical card dental scheme, including measures to simplify it. It talks about the introduction of a voucher-based approach in its pre-budget submission, which I support. I ask the Leader to bring this call for a dental tax credit for working families who are dipping into their savings and their pockets to put their children's healthcare requirements first, as we all do as parents. We could introduce a practical, targeted measure to assist them as a cost-of-living measure in the upcoming budget in addition to the longer term reforms the Minister is making. She is bringing forward work on this.

Sticking with the theme of health, I sought an update from the Minister for Health two weeks ago on the appointment of a project board to oversee the delivery of something that is badly needed in the mid-west, namely, new acute model four hospital beds. I understand the Minister is still working on that. We eagerly await the appointment of that board. I reiterate calls by clinicians and consultants in the mid-west for a step to be taken in the meantime, that is, to increase the number of consultants in the mid-west. Unfortunately, in the mid-west, we have the lowest number of consultants per head of population, with just 59 consultants per 100,000 people versus the national average of 82 per 100,000 people. It is part of the ongoing problem in the mid-west and I urge the Minister to address that issue immediately.

I support Senator Ryan's call on dental care. I would go a step further. I have called in this House previously to expand the role of hygienist to potentially increase capacity in the system. I would appreciate it if we could have a further discussion on that in the House.

Today, I acknowledge the report just published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use. It put nine months of extensive work into the report and I look forward to reading the recommendations. From what I have read so far, the committee took a health-led approach to this. I heard Deputy Gannon on RTÉ this morning saying it was up to the Government to enact and fund this because the costings for implementing the report had not been done.

Quite often, I have spoken in this House about resourcing the services that we have at the moment. I have regularly called for more Garda resources in my own region, a region that has not got an allocation in the five previous passings out from Templemore. The right approach to this not a complete U-turn on how we deal with it, but an attempt to resource the gardaí that we have on the ground and give them the opportunity to enforce the law in this regard.

I have often spoken with constituents who feel that drug use is out of control in parts of rural Ireland. Everyone has heard stories that if drug tests were done in some sports clubs at weekends, we would be surprised at the findings. We have all heard stories of knocks on the door after bereavements in areas and people calling in debts that the particular individual who passed away supposedly owed to these individuals.

We have to take a closer look at resourcing the Garda to deal with this problem. We should go a step further and take a closer look at resourcing Customs and Excise as well. I was at a pier on the west coast recently enough. I saw that the drugs strategy on the pier was a sign stapled to the wall telling people to ring a number if they noticed any unusual activity. If that is the sum total of what we are trying to do to prevent drugs coming into some of these rural ports, we need to have a look at that.

I would welcome the opportunity for the House to discuss the current strategy and have a good, heated conversation about what we think could better resolve matters and resource what we have on the ground already.

I would like to reference a case we heard of over the weekend where an elected representative faces personal legal exposure arising from what was described as a routine constituency representation. I will not go into the specifics, but I highlight it because whatever the outcome of that specific case, it broadens the discussion to a more structural problem that we cannot ignore. Put simply, we have a situation where institutions are protected from certain legal actions but elected individuals are not. Local authorities have insurance and legal backing. County councillors have insurance for statutory roles, but not representational roles. The councillor or TD may be left personally exposed, even when they believe that they are acting in good faith. I do not believe that is in the public interest. The reality is that the job of a public representative is, by its very nature, highly blurred, confused and often opaque. Representatives deal daily with sensitive personal issues such as housing, welfare and planning, often on the basis of incomplete information and under significant time pressure. They are expected to navigate complex legal frameworks, including data protection law, without the benefit of legal training or consistent clarity. Without addressing this gap, we face a real danger. We risk chilling or even paralysing representatives from doing their job in advocating, intervening and assisting constituents for fear that one mistake could result in serious personal legal and financial consequences.

There is also a deeper issue. If exposure to liability becomes too great, we risk politics, even local politics, becoming a rich man's game, where only those with the financial means to absorb that risk are willing to serve. In cases where the consequences of a mistake can be so severe, we risk something even more troubling - creating a situation where, if a representative finds themself already in breach of one rule, the incentive to fully comply going forward is weakened.

Of course, we must acknowledge limits. We cannot protect against everything, nor should we. There must be accountability where wrongdoing occurs. Otherwise, what is the point of fines or legal consequences? However, just because an issue is complex does not mean we should avoid it. It means that we should be willing to go in and bring clarity where confusion currently exists.

What is needed is a serious and structured conversation with the Minister about solutions. These may include a dedicated insurance product available to all elected representatives or a State-backed framework to support representatives acting in good faith within their role. At present, we have a patchwork system. That is evidenced by the fact that, even today, I could not find a central database on how much money the State has lost in legal actions from outside bodies regarding fines. Local authorities can be fined by outside bodies.

A lot of people may not be aware of this issues but it is important for all elected representatives. Currently, if a legal case is taken against a local authority or a member of a local authority, particularly with a local authority, their legal fees are paid but the fines in relation to that case must be met by the local authority or the public body. Our system is unclear, inconsistent and exposed. That must change and we must begin that work today. I just want to alert all representatives to this. It is a serious issue and the loophole needs to be closed.

I thank the Senator. She may submit it as a Commencement matter. Anois, an Seanadóir Maria McCormack.

What I have in my hand is the new Women's Aid report. It is fairly stark reading. I did not have a stapler big enough to staple it together. It is 160 pages long. This is just for 2025 and things are getting so much worse. I am calling for an urgent debate on domestic abuse and what we can do. This report is really frightening. It is the lived reality of women and children in Ireland today, but what is more frightening than what is in the report is that these are just the disclosed cases. We know that the statistics are much worse. Many more women do not feel safe to come forward or get to this stage.

Women's Aid's front-line services were contacted 37,790 times, the highest number ever recorded. A total of 62,275 closures of abuse against women and children were made. Women disclosed being assaulted, raped, stalked, strangled, inappropriately monitored, humiliated, controlled and terrorised. They disclosed financial abuse, coercive control, threats to kill, threats to take their children and abuse that continued even after relationships had ended. There were 1,321 threats to kill, 512 disclosures of non-fatal strangulation, 906 disclosures of stalking, 381 disclosures of rape and 1,500 disclosures of abuse during pregnancy or after giving birth. Women in Ireland in 2026 are being terrorised in their own homes by men who are supposed to love them. Children are growing up in homes where fear is normal, control is constant and safety does not exist.

I am asking for an urgent debate on violence against women because we cannot continue to treat this like a side issue. This is a national emergency. I say "national" because this is across the island of Ireland. Although this report is just for the Twenty-six Counties, this is an all-Ireland problem and we need an all-Ireland approach.

In that context, I welcome the important progress made yesterday by my colleague, Deputy Matt Carthy, when his Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill passed Committee Stage. This is important legislation because it will allow courts at the time of sentencing to put protection orders against abusers in place that remain in force after the sentence ends. A prison sentence does not automatically mean safety for these women. Survivors deserve protection that does not stop at the prison gate. They deserve not to live in fear of when their abusers will be released. I commend Deputy Carthy on driving his legislation forward. I also acknowledge the incredible women, survivors and campaigners, who have helped bring it to this point.

Their courage, advocacy and refusal to stay silent has pushed this onto the agenda.

I echo Senator McCormack's request for a full debate in this House on domestic and gender-based violence. Such a debate is long overdue.

I want to talk about a different issue. Last week, I had the privilege of welcoming a group of learners from the Sligo and Leitrim community training centres to Leinster House. There are more than 31 community training centres across the country. They cater for young people whose needs were not met in school or else school was unsuitable for their needs. These learners engaged actively when they came here on an educational tour. I commend the staff of Leinster House on the brilliant job they always do in making people feel so welcome. These young people, along with others, engage in different forms of education in training centres and via Youthreach and similar programmes. Traditional schools did not meet their needs, including their material needs. The payment of a training allowance of up to €250 a week, plus additional money for accommodation or travel, is a major incentive for young people who wish to continue with their education.

Upon graduation at level 3, which is equivalent to the junior certificate, or level 4, which is equivalent to the junior certificate applied, many students want to progress to a level 5 or level 6 qualification at a PLC college. However, because many of them are still under the age of 16, they find themselves cut off from this level of support and are unable to access social welfare supports such as jobseeker's allowance, which would alleviate their financial position. Instead, they find themselves reduced to an under-18 level of payment of around €45 a week or they have to apply for a SUSI grant, which is much less generous in its monetary value. Even at its highest rate, it is just €7,936 per year, which is €152 a week - a significant drop from a training allowance. Who would be able to cope with the loss of that income, especially in families where the parents might not be able to provide additional support to students at home?

What often happens is that when students finish their level 3 or level 4 qualification they want to stay in education because they are getting the training allowance but they are not able to progress to level 5 because they would lose a significant amount of money. It is hard for young people to get meaningful work at the moment. We want to keep people in education for as long as we can.

The Sligo Community Training Centre has recommended that a different option would be available that is also available in the Cavan Institute. I refer to a PLC access programme. Instead of going around in circles doing a level 3 course and then a level 4 course within the same training centre, they could do an access course for one or two years that would help them to transition to a PLC course. That would not only address their learning needs and be specifically tailored to them but it would also help with their financial situation.

I want to draw the attention of the House to a significant report that was published earlier. I refer to the final report of the Joint Committee on Drugs Use. This is a landmark piece of work. I acknowledge the outstanding contribution of all the Senators who are on the committee, namely Senators Ruane, Fitzpatrick, Ní Chuilinn, Costello and Nicole Ryan. I also commend Deputy Gannon, the chair, and all the other members of the committee. The briefing earlier this morning was wonderful. I want to say a special word about my colleague and good friend Senator Ruane. She has dedicated her life to this issue. It is the reason she came into politics in the first place. Her passion, lived experience and moral clarity have been a driving force in bringing us to this point. This report bears her fingerprints, and the people most affected by addiction in the country are better served because of her work. I just wanted to say that.

As founder and CEO of the RISE Foundation, which has spent more than 17 years supporting families impacted by loved ones' addictions, I have first-hand knowledge of how devastating and isolating it can be for families to watch a loved one struggle with substance misuse disorders. Families often feel completely alone and without support. They are forgotten in the conversation. They often frequently carry enormous anxiety and worry. They are without adequate support and have nowhere to turn. Therefore, I am particularly heartened that the committee's final report devotes such serious attention to family and community supports in particular. It recognises that substance misuse rarely exists in isolation, that it is bound up with the huge trauma and poverty, mental health and housing issues people experience and that our response must address all of these together.

What strikes me most about the report is how deeply person-centred it is. It places the individual at the heart of everything, recognising that people living with substance misuse problems are not individuals to be managed or criminals to be punished. That is really important. They are human beings who deserve dignity, compassion and access to the right supports at the right time. That is a crucial shift in how we think about this issue. It is long overdue. No child grows up saying that they want to be somebody with a substance misuse disorder.

The report also calls for the establishment of a permanent Oireachtas joint committee on drugs use and for its recommendations to be incorporated into the forthcoming national drugs strategy. Both of these asks are crucial. I call on the Government to take this report seriously and to act on its recommendations without delay. For too long, Ireland's response to addiction has been shaped by stigma and a criminal justice lens that has not reduced harm and has caused enormous damage to individuals, families and communities. This report offers a clear evidence-based and humane path forward. This is a report on which we should have a debate. I would like to see a debate on this issue. I again commend the committee on its report and my colleague Senator Ruane on the great work she has done.

I support what Senator McCormack said about the horrific Women's Aid statistics published earlier. Domestic violence in this country has reached epidemic proportions. I remind the House that we had an extensive debate on the matter with the Minister for justice on 12 May but I agree with the Senator that we must do anything we can to stop the violence.

Last week, I made an impassioned plea regarding the proposed closure of the 14 step-down beds at the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda, saying that it must not happen. Following extensive meetings with management over the week and intervention by the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and others, we have a stay of execution in respect of those beds. I cannot overstate how vital this service is. It frees up beds in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which is already under severe pressure. This is a service for elderly and vulnerable people and to remove it from the town is unthinkable.

I attended a very busy protest rally on Monday. There were so many people there. I started a petition, and we have almost 1,100 signatures on it. This is not going to happen, but at the same time it is only just a review that is taking place at the moment so I have to keep the pressure on. We have to make sure that HSE management and the Minister for Health are aware of this. This is not just happening in Drogheda but right across the country. Our smaller grassroots healthcare is being downgraded when we need it to be upgraded, especially in large towns and emerging cities like Drogheda.

If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me, I want to comment on the fact that we have what I suppose passes for a heatwave in Ireland at the moment. We are experiencing very high temperatures, and young people want to go out, swim and have fun. Without wanting to spoil any fun and games, I urge Members to please speak to their children. Let them know that if they are not particularly strong swimmers or if they are swimming in a dangerous area where there are no lifeguards, they should take care. We do not want to have any more statistics with regard to the loss of young people.

Before I call on the next speaker I welcome guests of Deputy Lahart to the Gallery. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

I want to share in what my colleagues have said and welcome the report of the drugs committee. Our colleagues in the Seanad have put such vital work into it. I agree with the call that it should be a permanent committee. We should have a debate in this House on drugs use, drugs policy and what we are doing as a State. I honestly admit that I have reservations about the decriminalisation of drug use, but that is my personal view. It obviously cannot just be the criminal justice system that is involved in this issue because it has to be about much more than that. We must support family resource centres and youth centres, which we are not supporting well enough. I visit many of them and they do not know where to go for funding. They are not getting a solid line of funding.

We are not doing enough at a societal level for a health-led approach to prevent drug use. Senator Scahill outlined that An Garda Síochána was not being resourced. We have talked time after time about putting more gardaí into rural Ireland. We need more there. We need more drug units in rural Ireland to prevent the criminals in the system who are bringing illegal substances in for sale and supply. We are not doing enough to deter and catch these people, and we need more resources there. Revenue definitely needs more. I welcome the work of the committee. We need a debate on this matter and we need action, because this is affecting every townland, parish and part of our society. We need change.

Ironically, the next matter I want to talk about is supporting our rural pubs, which I would see as a vital asset in rural Ireland. These are community centres, not just places where they sell alcohol and other substances, which I suppose can cause desperate effects. We need to support rural pubs, which provide a vital service in our countryside. Over 2,000 pubs have closed in recent years. The Vintners Federation of Ireland has a solid proposal of a tax rebate scheme from the Government. We need to act before it is too late and we lose our pubs. I see that the incoming British Prime Minister is talking about supporting pubs in the UK. I am not saying we need to look across the water for best practice, but we need to act before it is too late for our rural pubs.

Ní raibh mé anseo inné. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Ahearn as a bheith ceaptha ina Cheannaire ar an Seanad.

I want to raise the issue of dental services. My colleagues in the Dáil had a motion on this yesterday and discussed it in detail. I welcome the fact that the Government did not oppose it. Senator Ryan has raised the matter today as well. However, there needs to be more done than just not opposing a motion. There needs to be actual planning and investment in services.

We have 11,000 people on waiting lists for some form of dental care, be it orthodontics, including braces, or routine surgery, and 8,000 of those have been waiting over a year. Some 40% of our children are waiting more than two years for services. One parent was in contact with me. She has 11-year-old twins who have never had any sort of access to a dentist within the public system. She cannot afford to pay privately. She had to for an emergency once for one of her children, but she is working part-time, her husband is unwell and they are depending on the working family payment, so it is not possible for them to afford proper dental care.

Another parent told me hat her daughter had been called for a hygienist appointment but was sick on the day and could not attend. She sent her apologies, but the child has been waiting 18 months to get another appointment with the hygienist.

A third person told me that her son had been on a list for years for orthodontic treatment. He has now turned 18 and has been told he will be taken off the list. He does not know where he is going to go to get this orthodontic treatment. There needs to be a pathway from child to adult services.

We need to hear a plan from the Minister on the Government is going to address this. We have the lowest number of dentists per head of population in all of the EU, at nearly half the EU average. Only one third of dentists are providing care under the public dental treatment services scheme, which is quite outdated and needs to be updated. Only one in ten dentists works for the HSE. We need to look at some way of tying in dental services with the GP visit card, for example, so that people can get dental care based on need rather than ability to pay.

I welcome Ms Aileen Whelan from Play Activity and Leisure Ireland to the Public Gallery. She is a guest of Senator Linda Nelson Murray.

I wish the very best of luck and good wishes to Senator Ahearn in his role as Leader of the Seanad.

Today, I remember the heavenly birthday of Rory Coady, the son of Craig Coady, who has been a campaigner on Friedreich's ataxia. He, along with 200 other families, are campaigning for a drug approval. They have now been waiting over 840 days for that drug to come through the assessment criteria. The drug company has submitted all of the most up-to-date information required by the HSE.

The Minister for Health has done phenomenal work in engaging in the launch of the review into the drug reimbursement scheme, as well as the review of the whole process. We are total laggards when it comes to how long it takes for a drug to be approved. It should be 180 days, but these families have waited 840 days so far. Time is muscle. Every day we are waiting, families can see their loved ones, their most precious, deteriorate. They do not know what the next day brings.

While it might not be perfect, we know that this drug has a 55% success rate and can hold the condition where it is at. It can prevent that child, who currently has the ability to walk, from progressing to a wheelchair. It means that the person who is in college can continue to live an independent life.

I know that people met the Taoiseach and that there was a commitment to have a decision at the end of June or the first week of July. I am calling for those dates to be held to and for the HSE to be put under pressure to deliver on this drug. A success rate of 55% is a hell of a lot better than no success.

Sometimes, I believe that things happen for a reason. On my way to Leinster House today, I spoke to a friend of mine who talked about the struggles of dealing with a parent with Alzheimer's disease and how difficult it was for the family and, obviously, the person with dementia, who had worked all their lives, to adjust to the situation.

This morning, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland gave a fantastic presentation over in Buswell's Hotel on what it was looking for in the budget. I was drawn to the fact it was looking to expand capacity at existing day care centres. One such centre that badly needs extra resources and money is the Alzheimer's day care centre in Navan, in Whistlemount on the Kells Road. An increase of just €100,000 in the budget will help three day care centres across Ireland. These are the centres in Cork, Navan and Carlow, which are seeing the biggest increases in Alzheimer's cases. Senator Rabbitte would know all about this from her time working in disability services.

The organisation has big asks in what it is looking for in the budget, and I encourage the Leader to write to the Minister to express that the amount of cases each year is growing by 3%. In many cases, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are linked to Parkinson's, in which respect we spoke last week about the need for an increased budget. Will the Leader write a letter to the Minister for Health about this matter to see what we can do to help, particularly the Whistlemount Day Care Centre in Navan, County Meath?

I agree with the comments on the Committee on Drugs Use's report. I acknowledge the work that everyone has done on that. As Senator Black said, Senator Ruane's fingerprints are all over it, and it is the better for that. It is important to ensure that we have a health-led drugs policy.

On Monday, the housing Minister, Deputy Browne, made particularly bleak commentary on the housing issue. He said he had no idea when homeless numbers might finally begin to fall. He also said that he did not know if the Government's housing policies were doing anything to get people out of homelessness. That was a pretty bleak statement to make. He also admitted that the number of people was still increasing and, at best, would only stagnate in the near future rather than decrease. This is an acknowledgement of failure by the Government, yet there is no sense that there will be any change to the plan and process. In many ways, it is normalising failure around housing and effectively throwing in the towel. When you think about it, there are 18,000 people on the homeless list in what is a wealthy country. That is shameful, and we need to do better. How many times have Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael claimed that they will solve the housing crisis? The Minister has effectively thrown in the towel and acknowledged that he will not be able to solve the housing crisis. How many times have Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing Ministers stood up and said that they will make progress on ending homelessness and bring down housing waiting lists? There are nearly 18,000 homeless people in this State, and that number is increasing every single month.

It is shameful. We need the Minister to come to the House and explain how he is going to change policy in order to make a difference to people's lives and end homelessness.

I will take the opportunity to highlight the commemoration celebrations of the birth of Admiral William Brown from Foxford, County Mayo. Members may be interested to know that he was the founder of the Argentinian navy. He was born in 1777 in Foxford and led an incredible life. He was very much inspired by the opportunity to help to achieve independence for Argentina, having left Ireland, which was under much oppression and political, economical and societal strife at the time. The impact he made is incredible. The weekend celebration was the 249th anniversary of his birth. There was a Mass in Foxford church and a march through the street by the Foxford Brass Band, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary. This was followed by speeches at the walkway by the River Moy and a get-together in the Admiral Brown Memorial Hall.

The committee is gearing up for the 250th celebrations next year. I am asking for the support of the House to make sure that the Government and all key stakeholders in the Irish Embassy in Argentina and indeed the Argentinian Embassy here support the committee's efforts to make sure we put on a show and a real celebration of the ties that link both countries, in particular the Admiral William Brown connection in Foxford. A play is being launched later this year called Liam. I met some of its producers at the weekend. They are enthusiastic. It was great to see the number of Argentinians, members of their diaspora here, celebrating the exploits of the Argentinian team over the past two games in the World Cup. They are passionate about the strong values and ties that connect both countries. I acknowledge Margaret Reilly, chair of the committee, who is doing brilliant work. We want as much support as possible for the committee ahead of the 250th celebrations next year, including the naval ship from Argentina, the Libertad . Hopefully, it will dock in Dublin and around Kilcummin Bay.

I thank my colleagues from across the House who were part of the Committee on Drugs Use. We will get into a more detailed debate when the report comes before the Houses. This week has been quite emotional for me as we acknowledge the work of citizens' assemblies, politicians and Departments. The only reason I am in politics is to achieve decriminalisation. If anybody wants to get rid of me from politics just give me decriminalisation and I will be gone. Decriminalisation of the person who uses drugs is not about a substance. A substance does not go to a jail cell, a substance does not die or sit in its room lonely. People do that. It is not about substances; it is about the person. When decriminalising drugs, we should consider not the drugs but the person. We are decriminalising the person for something that they are experiencing.

The weather is warm at the moment. One of the reasons I have my full arms on display today is to remind myself that every flower on my arms represents a friend of mine who has gone, either directly from overdose or from drug-related issues. Every flower represents the month they died, with the month that flower blooms. While we recognise the international evidence, I acknowledge the promise I made each and every time I kissed each one of them goodbye on the head as they lay in the funeral home, that one day they will not be a criminal purely because they experienced addiction or because they used drugs. I ask as we move forward to consider that report, that we remember it is not about substances, it is about people. It is about how we treat people and how we create every opportunity not to compound that harm for people who are already experiencing some of the greatest vulnerabilities and complexities in their lives. I want to remember my friends today and to mark their lives as being part of the journey that I will continue on, as this report is given more life. I thank everyone here who has supported the work to date.

I thank Senator Ruane for her work in championing that committee and the report and for bringing the experience of people she knew to the Seanad and to the committee.

In just over three weeks' time TDs and Ministers will go on holiday. They will not be back in the Chamber until the middle of September. That is not news to anyone but what will surprise people is that on 31 July, while they are all away and the Dáil is in recess, the Government will restore excise duties on petrol and diesel. Last week the Government voted to increase the cost of fuel by 27 cent on petrol and 32 cent on diesel. This will place immense pressure on households that are already struggling to get by. Prices in Ireland are 36% above the EU average and the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland has warned that the inflation shock will worsen in the coming months because of the war in Iran.

Budget 2027 must be revolutionary because every time the Government talks about disability support, fuel price reduction or the cost of living it tells us to wait and see what the budget will bring. From what I can see, the Government likes to get a nice headline for introducing temporary financial support and then when people have received the tiniest bit of breathing space, it pulls the rug from under them. This cannot be allowed to happen. It is not a coincidence that ahead of the vote on excise duties and increasing carbon taxes in October, both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste came out in support of removing the three-day wait. I feel it was a "look over there" move while they do this. The story on fuel prices being increased was buried under articles of backbenchers being unhappy with the Taoiseach and speculation on who in Fine Gael would follow the Tánaiste's lead. The timing of the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach having this epiphany is questionable. It is insincere of the Government to impose an increase in fuel prices while they are off on holidays and cannot be held to account by the public. Restoring excise duties and increasing carbon tax is wrong. I ask that we have statements in this House on that matter.

I commend my colleague, Senator Ruane, on the work she has done in the area and on the report that was launched today. She was also talking from personal experience. I know, even in my own family, what addiction can be like.

I also want to speak today about a place I visited that is inspiring young people to engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics called Explorium, which is in Sandyford. I visited it recently and was impressed not only by the scale but the vision and the innovation behind it.

For over 20 years the Government has discussed creating a national children's science campus. Reports have been written, proposals developed and great plans made but yet today, that ambition remains unrealised. What struck me on my visit to Sandyford was that we may already have what we are looking for. I never came across it before. I saw an email on LinkedIn and said I would visit this place. It is a discovery centre with hundreds of interactive exhibits, where children learn by doing. They are not simply reading about science. They are experimenting, discovering and developing curiosity in a way that brings the learning to life.

We pride ourselves on being global leaders in technology, engineering and innovation but the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators are sitting in the classrooms today. If we want to remain competitive then we need to nurture them at a young age. From what I was shown I believe it is a value for money question that deserves consideration. We hear discussions about investing tens of millions of euro in a national centre, but perhaps we already have one within 10 km of Dublin. As legislators, we have a responsibility to ask whether it makes more sense to build something new or actually to develop an existing national asset.

I commend the team at Explorium on what has been achieved. It demonstrates what is possible when you put your mind to it. If we are serious about preparing an Ireland for the future, we must not only invest in buildings but in curiosity, opportunity and young minds.

Explorium is exactly that.

First, I thank Senator Ruane for her contribution here today regarding her own experience and that of her friends, colleagues and associates in relation to addiction. One of the great things about Seanad Éireann is the intimacy of this place as a Chamber and how each and every Member on all sides of this House brings their personal experience to their parliamentary work. There is nothing to beat personal experience, the lived experience. I acknowledge and thank Senator Ruane for sharing. It is never easy to talk about your own personal sets of circumstances. Politicians are great at talking about everybody else and the problem here, there and yonder, but when it comes right to the core of the person, it exposes a vulnerability about him or her. When we are vulnerable, I think we are at our strongest. I really believe that in connection with anything important. That authenticity makes us real and makes us connect emotionally. That is really important. Few people have that gift and Senator Ruane is one of them and I thank her for that. I thank her for that openness that she brings and that empathy about her own life experience in her parliamentary business. It makes her a very special person. I am so glad, and I think we all are, that Senator Ruane is a Member of this diverse House. That is the other great thing; we are diverse.

I have only one question to ask the Leader. Tonight there will be a very interesting Private Members' motion before us, which I do not intend to go into now, in the name of Fianna Fáil. I welcome that healthy debate about it, but it occurred to me that it all goes back to that issue of core funding for local government. We have in this country, at best, local administration. We do not have a comprehensive local government model such as there is across Europe. Today I looked at the chamber of commerce's submission to the local democracy task force consultation, dated August 2025. Will the Leader facilitate a letter to or communication with the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the principal Minister, Deputy James Browne, on when the Government intends to publish the local government task force final report and recommendations? I ask that that would happen before the summer recess. It is important. The councillors of all parties and none now expect its publication. It is timely, essential and important. Will the Leader facilitate the request? That is all I am asking.

I wish all the Senators a happy St. John's Day. St. John's Day is a religious festival which we celebrate quite strongly at home in Aghinagh. There will be a mass celebrated at St. John's Well tonight at 8 p.m. and following that, there will be a platform dance on the Mushera platform on Mushera mountain between Aghinagh and Millstreet at 8.45 p.m. RTÉ will be there also, briefly, to do a clip, because it is doing a piece on traditions in the area. I wish well everyone who is attending it and the group behind the Mushera Platform dance and the maintenance of St. John's Well.

I want to speak about another local issue, but one which I am sure affects constituencies all across the country, and that is the rise we are seeing in rural crime. Over the past few weeks, in my own area of mid-Cork, across Dripsey, Aghabullogue and Rylane, we are seeing a spate of car thefts late at night in rural country yards but also in village housing estates. We need, I believe, a cross-departmental approach to dealing with this. It is a Department of justice issue but it is also a Department of rural affairs and community development issue. There is a rural safety plan, which was published in 2025, but we need to take more measures. We need to give more supports to groups, such as Muintir na Tíre and Community Alert. We need to provide more information and awareness to residents in rural areas as to how they can make their property more safe at night and how they can protect themselves.

A larger problem in this regard is rural isolation, that communities are probably not as strong or as close as they once were and, therefore, it is difficult for communities to work together against these kind of things. We are seeing that Community Alert groups and Muintir na Tíre groups, while still a big part of rural life and rural Ireland, are not as strong as they once were. I am calling for us to have the Minister for justice in here to discuss this issue, not so much for statements but on how we tackle it and what we can do to prevent it, for example, whether we need to look at stronger sentencing and better community awareness and to discuss the rural safety plan of 2025.

I thank the 18 Senators for their contributions. Senator Dee Ryan spoke about the dental scheme and simplifying it. As well as outlining an issue with dental care and access for children needing dental care, the Senator outlined a solution or a measure that could possibly help, which is the €200 tax credit. Obviously, we have a budget in September. I know the Senator will use her powers of persuasion within her own party - I am sure we will too - to try to convince the Minister. We have done a lot in the health service, particularly for children and young children under the age of eight, especially, but dental care is critical. It is not something we have done as much as we have done in other areas. When you are talking about targeted costs for cost of living, dental care is key to someone's health for life and particularly at an early stage.

The Senator also spoke about the new acute model for beds but, obviously, an increase in consultants across the mid-west is something that has been called for for quite some time by the Senator and many others. It is one of the reasons healthcare in the mid-west has been on the news and has been criticised or people in this Chamber and the Lower Chamber have been critical of it. I will ask the Minister to respond to that.

Senators Scahill, O'Donovan, Black, Andrews and Ruane spoke about the report from the drugs committee. This is one of the reasons it is positive we set up a drugs committee for people who have very different political views but who can come together to a consensus on what needs to be done. Taking all the contributions into account today, obviously, if we knew it was that easy to get Senator Ruane out of this Chamber, she has strengthened the case for doing it - I am only joking. On a serious note, people come with experience and have different perspectives on it. We all respect that. We obviously respect the Senator's view that this needs to be a health-led approach, but also we have people, such as Senator O'Donovan, who comes from the other side of it in terms of gardaí and the lack of resources they have. There are different perspectives on it. We have seen successes in other countries where a health-led approach has been beneficial, and not taking away from the fact that we certainly need to invest more in the Garda, resources and education on that, this report starts that conversation. It it is to be hoped it will come to this House to be fully debated. I commend the Members on that committee, as Senator Black said, on the work they have done. Senator Scahill also called for a debate in the House. I will write to the Minister to see if we can have a debate on that in the House. I suspect it will come anyway but I will write to the Minister to see if that is possible.

Senator Keogan spoke about legal costs for public representatives. It would be a huge barrier for people to being able to do their jobs if they feared that the costs would come back on them. It is not something that I am aware has happened to anyone I know, but if it happens to one, it gets talked about and it puts fear into other public representatives about what they can and cannot do for fear of a financial impact on them. It is worth having that discussion on it. I do not know if a Commencement matter is the best way to approach it with the Minister. Certainly we need to make sure, if we want to encourage people, especially local representatives, to get in politics and play a role, that they need not be fearful of repercussions when they are simply trying to work with, as the Senator said, complex issues. I will talk to the Minister on that.

Senator McCormack spoke about the Women's Aid report. Senator Comyn raised it as well. We had a debate on this last month. Even though it is an incredibly important issue, I am not sure it is credible to go to the Minister to say that we need to have another debate within three or four weeks of having had a debate. I will look at doing something on it, perhaps some time in the future, because it is a very serious issue. The Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, has done a lot of work on it. I know the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has been criticised by the other side of the House for a lot of things but certainly, I refer to the issue of domestic violence.

On foot of the spike in domestic violence, particularly during and after Covid, the funding for community groups that deal with the consequences of such violence increased dramatically, but the number of people seeking support has also increased dramatically. We will see if we can have a debate on the matter. Sinn Féin Members have a Private Members' slot before the end of term. If they want to do so, they could table a motion. It is not for me to tell them what to do.

Senator Nessa Cosgrove spoke about the really good work that community training centres do. She spoke about the challenge of going from level 3 to level 5 and the drop in financial support. I suspect that a Commencement matter is the best way for the Senator to go on that one. It is important to acknowledge that they do incredible work.

Senator Frances Black spoke about the final report of the drugs committee. We will try to get an opportunity to speak about it in this House.

Senator Alison Comyn spoke about the 14 step-down beds in Drogheda. It is very welcome that there has been a stay of execution in that regard. I know the Senator has done an awful lot of work in highlighting this matter. Sometimes when you highlight things, you get a stay of execution. That is a win, but you have to make sure that stay of execution becomes permanent. The first win is actually stopping those beds being taken away. It is one of the hurdles crossed, and I know the Senator will continue to work hard to ensure that those beds are retained, particularly as they are vital for towns such as Drogheda.

Senator Noel O'Donovan also spoke about the report of the drugs committee. The Senator raised the issue of rural pubs. Senator Mike Kennelly spoke about that as well. It is hugely important that those pubs are supported. Yesterday, the vintners made a submission outlining the kinds of supports they need and the challenges they face. The Senator's area in west Cork is a very popular destination during the summer months. There are awful lot of wet pubs there that do extremely well in summertime but that need supports for the rest of the year.

Like Senator Dee Ryan, Senator Pauline Tully referred to dental services. Senator Tully outlined some of the challenges involved. Senator Ryan made a very good proposal. It would be good to a debate on the matter. I will try to contact the Minister to see if that would be possible.

Senator Anne Rabbitte referred to Rory Coady's birthday. The wait for approval for the medication relating to Friedreich's ataxia is very frustrating for families. The Minister has outlined the challenges with getting approval. Sometimes the drug companies do not contact the Government to get approval. They go to other countries first, and sometimes Ireland has to reach out to these drug companies to tell them to submit applications. Sometimes that takes longer than people might think. Once an application is in, the HSE tries to make a decision as quickly as possible. If it has committed to the end of June or the first week in July, that commitment needs to be followed through on for these families.

Senator Linda Nelson Murray raised the issue of Alzheimer's disease and the capacity in daycare centres. Most people here would have some family connection in that regard. I know someone who suffered with Alzheimer's. I have a number of aunts and uncles who were affected by it. Daycare centres provide a major service for those suffering with the disease. Senator Nelson Murray particularly asked about Navan daycare centre. Because of the increase in the number of cases in that Navan and in other areas across the country, there is a need for them to be prioritised. I will write to the Minister on the Senator's behalf. I know she will work on it herself, as she always does for services in Navan.

Senator Chris Andrews spoke about the report of the drugs committee. He also referred to James Browne and the homeless figures. Obviously, those figures are not where we wanted them to be. We have taken a lot of measures in housing which have been successful. We can only solve this problem by building more houses and the figures have been good for 2025. The figures for the first quarter of 2026 are exceptionally good and we need that to continue. That is because of measures introduced by this Government and because of increased funding brought in by this Government. That does not take away from the fact that we still have people, including families with young kids, who are homeless. Those families need to be prioritised. I respect the Senator's view that. We can always have a debate on the matter in the House if needs be.

Senator Mark Duffy spoke about events in Foxford and the celebrations relating to the 249th anniversary of Admiral Brown's birth. He acknowledged the work of Margaret Reilly, chair of the committee. It is important to connect various towns to other areas across the world. In Tipperary, we have a connection with Argentina. In the 1900s, Paddy McCarthy from Cashel went over and started a small football team with a few people who were living there. That club became Boca Juniors. Cashel has a huge connection with the Boca Juniors club. We always say that is why that club's players wear the blue and yellow of Tipperary. It is important especially when it will celebrate the 250th anniversary next year. I suggest the Senator should work with the embassy. It should be possible to get some high-level government people to come over to celebrate that. Mayo is used to welcoming high-level government people. I have no doubt that Senator Duffy can bring a high-level person from Argentina to Mayo.

Senator Lynn Ruane also referred to the final report of the drugs committee. I acknowledge her powerful and emotional contribution. She has an awful lot of qualities, and certainly knows and is passionate about this matter in particular.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about the excise duty on petrol and diesel. I would be more than happy to have a debate on that. I think most people on this side of the House would welcome a debate on that. We immediately brought in a package of €750 million when the war in Iran started. That has been hugely beneficial to people right across the country. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have always said that these measures are flexible in terms of decisions that can be made. We know the winter has the potential to be difficult and we need to keep money aside for that. That is what a reasonable Government would do. When we see that a deal has not been agreed on Iran, even though it was promised last Friday, we know that there will be challenges for us later in the year. As a result of decisions made in recent years, the Government has funding in place to allow it to support our people through the winter period. That is what we will do. If the Senator wants a debate on the matter, I am sure everyone in this House, particularly on the Government side, would be more than happy to have it.

Senator Aubrey McCarthy referred to Explorium in Sandyford. I have been looking to bring my kids to it but have not done so yet. It looks amazing. When talking about the national science centre, this is exactly what they have been talking about. I know what he is saying about not doubling up. I am hoping to bring my kids up during the summer months. It is a great facility that opens up the minds of young kids into science and the world of wonder.

And old people-----

And old people as well.

-----like me.

I am sure the Senator is talking about himself, not me. The facility is wonderful. It would be great for the Senators to go and see what has been done out in Sandyford.

Senator Victor Boyhan spoke about the Fianna Fáil Private Members' motion. The local government task force has been brought up a number of times by Senators Davitt and Boyhan. I have contacted the Minister's office to make sure that the task force's final report is published. When it is, it is important that the House has a debate on it. We speak to councillors quite regularly and they are concerned. They want it published and they want to know what is going to be in it so we will make sure that is done.

Senator Eileen Lynch raised the issue of rural crime, which is a real challenge and which has increased in recent years. She is probably right that it is not just a justice issue and the Department of rural affairs can play a role in terms of working with local communities. We obviously need more gardaí, particularly in rural areas, but we cannot just rely on that. The communities that need support need to play their part as well. They want to do so, and that is what we will do. I will ask for a debate with the Minister for justice on that. We will see if it will be possible to have such a debate.