The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (section 51(3)) and (section 60(6)) (Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Regulations 2026, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the opt-in to Council Decision (EU) 2023/1076 under Article 4 of Protocol 21 TFEU, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 - Order for Committee, Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 2.45 p.m., to adjourn at 4 p.m. and to resume at 6 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 70, motion 3, Private Members' business, regarding electricity supply, to be taken at 4 p.m., with the time allocated to the debate not to exceed two hours; and No. 4, Guardianship of Infants and Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2026 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 3, or at 6 p.m., whichever is the later.

It was wonderful to meet so many in Dublin at the Pride march on Saturday. It truly was a great reminder why community and visibility still matter. Showing up is always important and is a small way of saying that everyone deserves to belong.

As primary schools are winding down this week, I wish all of the students and, of course, their teachers, SNAs and support staff a very happy holiday. As we gear up towards September and the new budget, it is important that we support the INTO request for a reduction in class sizes. There is no doubt that this improves learning outcomes. It also helps to support inclusion and curriculum reform.

Class sizes here are among the highest in Europe. About 80% of our classes are above the EU average of 19.

We also need to look at better capitation grants, particularly for primary schools, and at leadership support. While many secondary schools benefit from additional deputy principals as their capacity and enrolment increases, and rightly so, primary schools remain limited in this regard. Many primary schools, particularly in areas of high population, have around 1,000 pupils or are heading there, yet they have a single principal and a single deputy principal to manage increasingly complex responsibilities. I would like a debate in the House on this.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland gave a thought-provoking presentation last week in Buswells Hotel that many of us attended. Wayne, Gerry and Yvonne spoke of their experience of getting a dementia diagnosis, how they coped afterwards and why an organisation like ASI is so important. It is important in many ways, including giving dignity to people living with dementia and reducing pressure on families. We need, at a minimum, eight more dementia advisers. There is quite a long waiting list and people who feel, or whose family feel, they may have dementia face a long wait for a dementia adviser to come to their homes, talk to them and signpost the supports that are available. There needs to be better access to respite care and dedicated dementia supports in the community. We need at least five and we need to expand four others that have the capacity for more.

It is good news that from tomorrow the income disregard for carers will increase to €1,000 for a single income and €2,000 for a double income. That is a great help but we need to do more to support carers. I would like a debate on that.

I congratulate our new Leader. I am sorry I was not here last week but it is great to see him here. There is a man in Bruckless delighted to see him in the chair. He and - God rest her - the Leader's mother were great friends and that friendship has kept up for years. He wanted to pass on his good wishes. That is my father, John Boyle. I wish the Leader the very best of luck.

I want to take up an issue I have raised on a couple of occasions. It is Dunkineely National School. The issue has been going on for the past three years. There have been near misses at the school. Cars have gone through the traffic lights. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, needs to step up and we need to find out what will be done. Are the traffic-calming measures going ahead this year? When will they be done? This is the time of year, when the school is off, to do them. We cannot wait until there is an accident. Our children coming and going from school have to be the priority. I cannot for the life of me understand why it is taking so long.

Keelogs national school is just off the N56. It is a very busy road. The children have no problem being picked up and dropped off. The issue is when the cars come back up to exit onto the N56, which is a very busy road. We need to get signage up there to slow traffic down. People are taking their life into their hands, trying to cross a busy road to turn right.

Frosses National School is on the R262. We have problems there with traffic going through the village. We need signage up. TII has to stand up and get this stuff done for us as soon as possible and before it is too late.

It is an honour for me to extend my congratulations to the 64th naval cadet class on their commissioning into the Naval Service. Their commissioning should be a moment of unambiguous pride for them, their families and the State they have chosen to serve. They have completed their demanding training, demonstrated discipline and leadership, and earned their place among the officers of Óglaigh na hÉireann. Each has joined the service with a proud and hard-earned reputation for professionalism, sacrifice and excellence in protecting Ireland's maritime interests.

This occasion was overshadowed, avoidably and significantly, by a failure of leadership at the highest levels of the Government. It is simply unacceptable that not one Minister or Minister of State of the 38 available was present to officiate at the commissioning of new officers into the Naval Service. I remind colleagues that this is not a minor diary clash or an administrative oversight; it is a profound signal of disregard for the State's most loyal servants. The commissioning of officers is the cornerstone moment in the life of the Defence Forces. It represents the State formally entrusting its citizens with authority, responsibility and, if necessary, the use of force in its name. To treat such an occasion as unworthy of a ministerial presence is to diminish that trust.

Even more troubling is what replaced that absence. The decision to have the Secretary General of the Department of Defence, a civil servant, however reputable, take the salute from newly commissioned officers before handing them their commission represents a deeply inappropriate blurring of roles. Let us be clear. Civilian oversight of the military is essential in any democracy but oversight is not ceremony and governance is not command. Ceremonial acts, such as the receiving of a salute, carry profound symbolic meaning. The salute is an expression of the officer's respect for the State's authority, exercised through its elected leadership and its properly constituted military chain of command. For a civil servant, however senior, to assume the role is not just irregular; it is wrong. It sends a confused and troubling message about hierarchy, authority, respect and the place of the Defence Forces within our nation's life. This matters. It matters because symbols shape culture and men and women standing commissioned deserve to see clearly and without ambiguity that their service is recognised at the highest levels of the State. It further matters because erosion of standards, whether ceremonial or substantive, rarely stops where it begins.

Let me be absolutely clear. The failures that have occurred during the commissioning I am adverting to are not the responsibility of the newly commissioned officers. They belong entirely to those who should have known better and done better. Essentially, they rest with the Government and the responsible Minister.

I say to the 64th naval cadet class in their achievement that they remain significant, their commitment remains admirable and their future responsibilities remain vital. As commissioned officers of the Irish Naval Service, each will carry forward the honour of a proud Naval Service, regardless of its shortcomings, to which I have adverted. I call on each officer to serve with integrity, lead with courage, demand the standards from others that they have already demanded of themselves and, above all, never to forget the value of the uniform they now wear, even if others have failed to show that they understand its true value.

Perhaps we would have a Minister in at some stage to explain such a despicable snub.

Many of us often raise issues with and concerns about our health system. I for one do not have high expectations when it comes to certain areas in health. We raise concerns, whether it is about cancer care or medications for rare diseases. Last Thursday, I had first-hand experience of the health system. On my way back from Dublin, my dad rang me and said he was not feeling great, his blood pressure had been over 220 all day and he needed to ring an ambulance. I told him I was still on the road and would not get to him on time. He said that was fine and he would ring an ambulance. I arrived close to 7 p.m., thinking he would not still be at home. A community first responder was there and did an amazing job. He continued to take my dad's vitals and rang the ambulance service four times while I was there. The ambulance was first called at 6.10 p.m. and it arrived at 8.30 p.m. Amazing paramedics in the ambulance crew took really good care of my dad and decided he needed to go into the hospital to be monitored because his blood pressure was still not coming down.

The paramedic in the ambulance asked to speak to me for a moment because he recognised who I was. He told me not to worry, it was not a medical issue and he just needed to have a word. He told me the call came in at 6.10 p.m. and it was now 8.30 p.m. He said the crew was not allowed to leave the ambulance base until a shift change had been completed as the crew coming out to us had to be the night shift. He said my father was a category 1, meaning it should take a maximum of 19 minutes for an ambulance to get to him. He said that if it had been a stroke or heart attack, my father would either be going out in a body bag or with irreversible damage done. He said the system the staff work under is stopping them from doing their job correctly. That is what he asked me to raise - the systems staff are working under. The crew wanted to get to us and were ready to leave but they were not allowed to because of a shift change.

That is absolutely ridiculous. We were lucky that he was fine and it was not a heart attack or stroke, but what about the next person or neighbour down the road or somebody who is having a heart attack or stroke? To wait for more than two hours and 20 minutes for an ambulance is absolutely crazy when the ambulance station is 15 minutes away. People are sitting there, waiting. We need to have a serious conversation about what is happening and how the systems are preventing our paramedics and hospital staff from working. It is through no fault of their own. They are amazing workers. The treatment and care they give is out of this world, but the systems behind them are stopping them from doing the vital work they want to do.

I thank Senator Collins for raising that issue which happened to her father but is obviously something that can happen to anyone at any time, particularly in relation to a shift change issue. Time might be limited in terms of having a debate but the Senator may wish to put in a Commencement matter, work with the Seanad Office on the phrasing of it and ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to come to the Seanad for that particular topic.

I do not want it to dominate my time but I cannot let today go by without congratulating the County Louth football team. We had an incredible 70 minutes of high-octane drama against County Monaghan in Croke Park on Sunday. We are now through to the all-Ireland semi-final. I cannot believe I am saying it. It is the first time since 1957, 69 years ago. I offer my congratulations to Gavin Devlin. It is hard to mention just one man but I will name Dara McDonnell, man of the match. I urge everyone in County Louth to paint the entire county red and white for 11 July. I have to give my condolences in advance to my colleague, Deputy Calleary. His county has waited 75 years to win an all-Ireland final but I am hoping the County Mayo curse will last one more year. I am sorry about that.

I was contacted by a member of the public in Drogheda about the hidden cost of getting older. There is room for a debate here about the hidden costs of getting older. This woman is renewing her driving licence. She is 75 years of age, going on 76. It is billed as a free service but it is only free until one has to provide a GP report and an eye test. It can cost between €65 and €100 for a free service and that might only cover one to three years. It might have to be renewed after that. I ask that we invite the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy O’Donnell, to the House to look at any other potential hidden costs that may exist. I noticed in the past couple of days that Louth County Council has had to put a freeze on housing adaptation grants for older and vulnerable people. It is oversubscribed for 2026 which means nobody else will get a grant until 2027. We really have to look to see if there are other hidden costs and have a debate on that.

For now, my final words are that, as I said, I hope the entirety of County Louth will be painted red and white and we will hopefully break our own curse ahead of the County Mayo curse.

Glaoim ar an Seanadóir Murphy. I make the point to the Senator that in relation to the Commencement matter this morning, we will be dealing with that issue. I apologise; that should never happen in the Seanad. Unfortunately, it will happen twice this year.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I wish to raise the matter of a fantastic email I got from a local group in my own hometown of Gort. Four campaigners, namely, Pat Flaherty, Ryan Smyth, Thomas Nash and Anne Mahon, facilitated by their supporting staff officer, Carol Arcos, call themselves the Gort Advocacy Corlann. They contacted me asking for my support in calling for the removal of online booking and seat reservation fees for free travel pass holders using Bus Éireann services. They mentioned that although many people are entitled to free travel, they are still being charged additional fees when booking seats online, particularly on busy or long-distance routes. For older people, passengers with disabilities, and those travelling for medical appointments or essential journeys, these charges are unnecessary financial accessibility barriers. The campaign is calling for Bus Éireann and the Government to remove all online booking and and seat reservation fees for free travel pass holders and to ensure free travel is genuinely free on all services.

It is also calling on the Government to make sure that everyone, including people who do not use computers, smartphones or online bookings, can use the service easily. This practical and achievable change would improve fairness, accessibility and dignity for many people who rely on public transport every day.

I call on the Bus Éireann CEO and the Minister for Transport to read carefully the email they will receive from the Gort Advocacy Corlann, to pay heed to it and to implement what these people are requesting.

I rise today to express my deep alarm at the legislative direction being pursued by this Government regarding reproductive leave and the eager applause it has received from the Opposition, including the Labour Party. While this conversation touches on areas of genuine human heartbreak, we are witnessing a highly cynical bipartisan race to the edge that completely abandons common sense. The primary responsibility of this misdirection lies squarely with the Government. In its rushed reported proposals it has chosen to intentionally intertwine two completely different human realities: the profound, devastating grief of a natural miscarriage and the provision of paid leave explicitly encompassing elective abortions.

To place these on the exact same statutory footing is profoundly insensitive to grieving families. A miscarriage is a tragic, unchosen bereavement. It leaves families shattered and our laws absolutely should offer them distinct compassionate support. Instead of protecting the unique nature of that grief, however, the Government has folded abortion provisions into the text. Rather than acting as a mature check on this extreme position, we see the Labour Party chide the Minister from the sidelines, not for blurring these moral lines but simply for not doing this fast enough. What we are witnessing is an echo chamber where the Government and the Opposition egg each other on into increasingly extreme positions. They are using the raw, universally understood pain of pregnancy loss as an emotional shield to normalise the State-subsidised ending of unborn life under the guise of workplace wellness. Straightforward laws should derive from common sense and respect for human dignity. This Bill does neither. It blurs lines that should be treated with the utmost care. I urge the House to reject this cynical conflation and to protect the distinct, sacred nature of bereavement support.

I congratulate the new Leader of this House on his appointment by the Government as its representative in the House. I know he will do an excellent job and be balanced and fair at all times. I had the pleasure of meeting his family last week and I could see that his father, his wife and their two beautiful children were bursting with pride on his appointment. It is a great honour not only for him but for them and his supporters throughout the country. I wish him very well.

Senator Craughwell raised a very important issue that should not be ignored in relation to the 64th naval cadet class that graduated last Thursday, 25 June. Colleagues in this House are aware that all Defence Forces officers have their commissions signed by the President of this country. While the President is not available on all occasions to present those commissions to the graduating cadet classes, a Minister normally presides over such an event. While I appreciate the fact that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, may not have been available to take part in this very important ceremony for these cadets and their families, and for the Defence Forces because the graduation ceremony is a day of pride, it should have been ensured that some Minister or Minister of State was available. These were not certificates of attendance; they were hard-earned commissions.

These cadets should have been afforded the courtesy of a representative of the Government being present for their graduation rather than the Secretary General of the Department of Defence, who is a civil servant.

I will read a quote I have read here before: "There is a unique pain that comes from preparing a place in your heart for a child that never comes." I am chair of the cross-party group on pregnancy and infant loss, having taken over from Senator Nicole Ryan, who is on maternity leave. The cross-party group is made up of people from various parties who have come together because they appreciate the ache felt by the thousands of women across Ireland who experience miscarriage. Senators Tom Clonan and Evanne Ní Chuilinn are members of the group, along with Senator Ryan and myself.

Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, is often not openly discussed due to a combination of factors, including societal discomfort, lack of language to express grief, fear of saying the wrong thing and the belief that sharing the news will somehow lessen the pain. One in four pregnancies ends in loss. The grieving process is completely different for everybody and affects people in completely different ways. At present, no leave is provided for under Irish law for those who suffer miscarriage. Instead, people use sick leave to take time off work. The Irish Government published a report on pregnancy loss in January 2024. This highlighted the prevalence of pregnancy loss under 24 weeks and noted that, as I said, pregnancy loss affects approximately one in four. It also noted that the majority of women of reproductive age are in paid employment. The report therefore emphasised the importance of the workplace in pregnancy loss experiences.

Over the last year, our cross-party group has worked really hard with organisations like the Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin, and with the Department of enterprise and the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, to try to introduce pregnancy loss leave in the workplace. On behalf of our cross-party group, particularly Senator Nicole Ryan and myself, I am absolutely thrilled to be able to say that the Minister is bringing to Cabinet proposals on miscarriage leave for the women in Ireland who suffer miscarriages. Believe me, this has not come a day too soon. In fact, many women in Ireland have been looking for it for a very long time. It is very positive and welcome news. I really look forward to hearing how the proposals will proceed after being presented to Cabinet.

I will raise an issue regarding a census of women's refuges in Ireland. This showed that in the first six months of this year, approximately 1,900 women fleeing domestic abuse, and their children, were turned away from safe places because there was no room. That is 1,900 women who had the courage to flee violence only to be told to go back because there was no room for them. I have spoken about this issue in the House before because it is personal to me. I have spoken about my own childhood and my father. He was a respected businessman but when alcohol took hold, the home became a different place - a place of fear. I still remember his car pulling up on the gravel. My mother would gather the four of us, my siblings and I, into her car and bring us to Punchestown Racecourse, where we would wait until the early hours of the morning until it was safe to return home. In that case, the car became our refuge.

When women have the courage to seek professional help, they are far too often told that there is no space. In 2026, that is just unacceptable. Having worked in homelessness and housing for almost 20 years, I have learned that you cannot ask someone to leave an unsafe place unless you can offer them somewhere safer to go. This is no longer just an issue of domestic violence. It is an issue of housing, justice and health. Families remain in refuges longer because there is nowhere for them to transition to. People who are trying to flee violence do not have a place to go.

I acknowledge the remarkable work of the different refuges, including Women's Aid, Safe Ireland and countless front-line organisations. They are doing extraordinary work but, unfortunately, that does not create beds. As legislators, it should be our clear ambition for no woman or child seeking safety from violence to ever be turned away because Ireland has run out of refuge space. That is the standard we should look for.

I also congratulate the Leader on his appointment. I wish him every success. I have no doubt that he will excel in the role. I also support the comments of Senators Craughwell and Wilson on the non-attendance of a Government Minister at the commissioning event last Thursday.

I think that sends out totally the wrong message. Whatever error occurred in this particular instance, I sincerely hope that we learn from it and ensure this never happens again.

I am sure many of my colleagues present have often heard tell of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. It is a truly remarkable organisation set up by back in 2013 by Colin and Eithne Bell. Over the past 13 years they have helped more than 2,500 families repatriate their loved ones who have passed away abroad. It really is a truly remarkable organisation.

It was established by Colin and Eithne Bell in 2013 after the tragic passing of their son, Kevin, in New York in tragic circumstances. From that experience they realised the cost and logistics of bringing Kevin's body home. They turned that incredible tragedy and the loss of their son, Kevin, into such a powerful resource that many other unfortunate families have benefited from over the past 13 years. They assisted grieving loved ones, thereby providing compassion and support in the darkest of times.

I have learnt this week that both Colin and Eithne are to step back from the day-to-day running of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust but am heartened to hear they will still be there and involved in the organisation. They have truly left an amazing legacy in their wake and can be proud of their achievements. I would be grateful if a few lines could be written to them on behalf, I am sure, of all Members of this House, to thank them sincerely for the huge work they have done, the legacy they have left in their wake and that the organisation will continue to help families in the darkest of hours.

Hear, hear.

I am sure the Leader and myself would be honoured on behalf of the Seanad to write to the Bell family who turned tragedy into something positive and have helped thousands of families in their darkest hours. Many Members of Seanad Éireann have turned to them at those times of tragedy in our own communities, when people have lost loved ones overseas and do not know who to turn to. Those in the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust have been those people and have done extraordinary work. Their service was for the people of the whole island and another extraordinary aspect is that they served everybody with great distinction and great compassion. I call on Senator Tully.

I was contacted recently by a person I have known for a long time but had not spoken to in some time. She was telling me how her husband has been diagnosed with dementia. It is progressing quite rapidly to the stage where she has realised she needs additional help to care for him. In the midst of this, her GP advised her to apply for the long-term illness card, which she did. However, she was refused because dementia is not included on the long-term illness scheme. It really should be. It is a life-long lasting condition, there is not cure and it is progressive. It can develop a quite an early age. People can develop early onset dementia even in their 50s.

We should contact the Minister and ask for this to be looked at. I do not think the list or scheme has been updated in some time and maybe it should be. While looking at this issue I came across something that says that in some circumstances, a person diagnosed with dementia may qualify for the long-term illness scheme. I cannot understand why it applies in some instances. It is either on the scheme or is not; we must not pick and choose between people. It should be clear-cut that it is included in the scheme so people can apply for it with the diagnosis and are given it.

I ask that we have a discussion on this and health in general in this Chamber, because we have not had one in a while. There is the issue of the long-term illness card, the issue Senator Collins raised around the ambulance service and other issues I raised around acute healthcare. There is a long list of issues on health we should debate.

I join Senators Wilson and Gallagher in congratulating our new Leader and wishing him all the very best.

I wish him very well. I have no doubt he will do extraordinary work for the effectiveness of the House.

Cuirfidh mé leis an méid a bhí á rá ag na Seanadóirí Gallagher agus Wilson faoi na coimisiúin a bhí a dtabhairt amach le déanaí don slua muirí. Ní mór dom a rá go bhfuil sé scannalach gan Aire a bheith ann chun an dualgas sin a chomhlíonadh. Tá drochbhail ar an scéal sin faoi na coimisiúin. Ba mhaith geallúint ón Rialtas nach dtarlódh an méid sin arís.

In my remaining time, I want to ask if it is possible to have laid before the House or presented to Members a response from the Government, and the Department of Finance in particular, to the details of the recent report by the European Court of Auditors, which stated that there are deep concerns about the way Ireland is responding to illegal and worrying cross-border action in tax avoidance schemes, money laundering and so on. Five states were indicated and, unfortunately, we are listed among the five laggards. I think it is less than we deserve, when people are up to all sorts of skulduggery and criminality in the border areas and around the country, that, through lack of diligence, we may be facilitating their profiteering at the risk of the goodwill of our society. Can we have a response? Can it be made available to all Members?

I raise the ongoing refusal of the National Driver Licence Service to accept cash payments from people. I simply cannot understand how a State agency can continue to ignore clear Government policy on this issue. Successive Ministers for Finance have made their position clear. Michael McGrath called on the NDLS to reverse its policy, and the national payment strategy of the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, reaffirmed that essential public services provided by the State, or on its behalf, should accept cash. Yet here we are, and nothing has changed.

The reality is that this is causing unnecessary inconvenience and discrimination. Some 350,000 people in Ireland do not have a bank account. Many more rely on cash because it helps them to budget, because they are not comfortable using digital technology or simply because that is what they choose to do with their money. Cash is the most inclusive form of payment that we have. It does not depend on having a smartphone, Internet access or even electricity. The Central Bank itself has pointed out that cash provides freedom and autonomy because it can be used without relying on a third party. We only have to remember the global IT outages of recent years to see how quickly digital payment systems can fail. Cash provides certainty for people. Elderly people find that cash helps them to maintain their independence and dignity. For victims of domestic abuse, it can provide a degree of financial privacy and security that electronic payments cannot.

If we are serious about protecting consumer choice, then that choice must include cash. Whether someone pays by card or cash should be their decision, not one that is imposed, in particular by a State agency. We should have a debate on the matter in the Chamber.

I raise the issue of learning to drive and supporting approved driving instructors in this country. I was on the phone this morning to a driver instructor in Cork. His name is Michael Kenrick, and he runs a page, Get Your Licence. He was updating me on some of the challenges that instructors are facing. First, they are not entitled to any grants for electric vehicles, whereas taxi drivers, for example, can avail of a grant of up to €25,000. I believe this needs to be reviewed. Driving instructors are often the first port of call when educating anyone on driving, and also introducing them to different vehicles. This is particularly important if it is a priority for the Government to promote electric vehicles. Driving instructors should also be supported to move in that direction. This needs to be reviewed.

Second, it was quite alarming to hear that approved driving instructors in Ireland, who have a stakeholder forum elected by them, have not been invited to the Road Safety Authority, RSA, conference. They do not get invited to the RSA conference on an annual basis. I would like to get clarity on that from the Minister because it is important they are involved in any discussions in relation to road safety.

We also need to look at further reducing the waiting times for driving tests in this country. Currently, in the Cork-Kerry area, you are looking at waiting anywhere between ten and 13 weeks for a driving test. That is still quite a long wait. We also need to look at the policies that are in place if you do not show up to your driving test or cancel it. You can currently cancel within ten days. You do not even have to inform them you are cancelling, and you will be put back to the start of the list again. That window should be closed to 72 hours, potentially, to put more impetus on people to give notice when they are cancelling. It is a common communication best practice that should be in place.

There are a number of areas that need to be looked at. I would welcome further discussion in this House on that whole area of learning to drive and supporting driving instructors and road safety. Writing to the Minister in relation to this issue would be appreciated.

I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin spoke about the Pride event last weekend. It was a very positive event that has garnered support through the years in increased numbers, which is very good to see. She also spoke about primary schools and the fact that the class size of 80% of our classrooms across this country is higher than the EU average. I know that something the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, did when she was Minister for Education was reduce the numbers. We need to do more on that and it is a good opportunity to have a debate on it because the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, is doing an awful lot of work. There are huge challenges for principals, year on year, that keep increasing. We will try to have a debate on that in the future. The Senator also spoke about Alzheimer's and the long waiting list for support, particularly for families who have a member with Alzheimer's, and more support for carers. There is a lot more we could do on that because whether it impacts family members or people close to us, we all know someone or some family dealing with that impact.

I thank Senator Manus Boyle for his congratulations. I thank him for his father's well wishes as well. They talk about the Boyle machine up in Donegal. They think it is the Senator and Michael but it is really John Boyle who is running that machine in Donegal. He was a real friend to my mother when she was a TD and that friendship has moved down another generation, which I am really delighted with. The Senator spoke about Dunkineely National School and traffic-calming measures. You would think this time of year would be the right time to do it before school starts again in September. Those traffic-calming measures are really important, particularly in rural areas. I see it in Tipperary. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, needs to step up and we, as the Senator does, need to highlight it more to make sure it does that.

Senator Gerard Craughwell spoke about the 64th naval cadet class. Senators Diarmuid Wilson and Robbie Gallagher also spoke in relation to it. It does seem unacceptable that there was not a Minister there, to be perfectly honest. I remember when I worked for Simon Coveney, the former Minister for Defence, that he was at almost every one of those graduations of navy officers. It is a really proud day for them and their families. I will try to find out the reason that happened. It would be very unusual, I suspect. I do not remember it happening when I was working with the former Minister Coveney. It is a proud day and as the Senator said himself, it is something the President signs off on. On behalf of the President, a member of Government needs to be there. I know it is a difficult time at the moment with us taking over the EU Presidency but, that said, we have a lot of Ministers. I will try to find out what happened.

Senator Joanne Collins spoke in relation to a very personal event that happened at the weekend, and she spoke so well on it. One could be emotional speaking about it but she held back fairly well.

It is unacceptable if an ambulance that is called at 6.10 p.m. does not arrive until 8.30 p.m., as it is to then find out that it is an administration issue, not even a problem but just an issue in terms of administration. It is utterly unacceptable that this can impact someone who is in a category one emergency when, as the Senator said, the ambulance should be there within 19 minutes. I canvassed in Galway for the by-election, and I came to the door of a young guy who worked in the ambulance service. He talked to me about issues like this; simple issues that can be solved. I know there have been discussions between the Minister and the ambulance service on pay, remuneration and service, but common sense also needs to be applied. Thankfully, the Senator's father is fine and healthy, but that might not be the case for someone else. We need to make sure we do everything we can to ensure that measures are put in place to prevent that as much as possible.

Senator Comyn spoke in relation to Louth GAA. Last week, I said that we should ban talk of the GAA as Tipperary are out of it, but that has not happened. I congratulate Louth GAA. Most people in the country will be supporting whoever comes through the Louth-Mayo game, considering they have waited so long for an all-Ireland. She also spoke about the hidden costs for older people, which is a real thing that people are challenged with, whether it is driving tests, housing grants or simple things like heating and the cost of living. These are a lot more challenging for older people, particularly those who live on their own. I will try to organise a debate on that.

Senator P.J. Murphy spoke about the advocacy of Corlann in Gort. It is a simple thing but it is really important. If we are talking about free travel, it should be fully free. It benefits Bus Éireann and every transport organisation if they know people are getting transport. If people book online it is much easier for that company to accommodate travel for them, but why should there be a cost for them to do that? That is something simple that Bus Éireann and others should be able to accommodate. It is a good suggestion and a good email that the advocates from Corlann in Gort will send to the Minister and the CEO of Bus Éireann.

Senator Keogan spoke about the reproductive leave Bill that will come to both Houses and be discussed. People have different views on these issues. Obviously, for people who have had miscarriages, it is very tragic and they grieve. As the Senator said, there are also people who have abortions that can be tragic and they grieve too for different reasons. It is not always the case that they do not. We will have a good opportunity to discuss it when the Bill comes before this House. There will be differing views, but it will be important that we do it. I know the Senator will certainly do that as well. However, the essence of it relates to bereavement leave for people who are struggling.

Senator Wilson spoke about the 64th national cadet class; I have responded to that. He also congratulated me and I thank him for that. He trained me well in his own way. I appreciate that.

Senator Nelson Murray also spoke about pregnancy loss, miscarriages and the announcement today. As I said, there will be differing views on this, but this about supporting people who are suffering from grief and have had challenges. It is also really important that there is a cross-party group working on this. Senator Nicole Ryan is the chair and Senator Nelson Murray is covering for her while she is on maternity leave. We look forward to Senator Ryan coming back. However, it is important that there is a cross-party group to work on how to do this and get it right. As Senator Nelson Murray said, people use sick leave and that is not a problem for a man. It is a problem for a woman in that she has to stay quiet about it. People have traditionally always stayed quiet about these things. We would be surprised at the number of people who have gone through this and never talked about it. They may be extremely close to someone but they do not feel that they can talk about it. If we can open up that debate and have it in this House, it will be welcomed, although I have no doubt that people will be on different sides.

Senator McCarthy spoke about the 1,900 women. It is terrible that when they looked for support, there was no room available for domestic violence victims. We had a debate about domestic violence in this House about six weeks ago and a number of people raised that issue. I have seen it in Tipperary in Cuan Saor where for the last four, five or six years, the number of people coming in looking for support, guidance and help has increased dramatically both during and after Covid-19.

The services just are not there. An awful lot of funding has been put in place and great work has been done by organisations, but women should not be refused space. Senator McCarthy knows that very well.

Senator Gallagher also spoke about the 64th naval cadet class, on which I have touched already. He spoke also of the amazing service the Bell family provide this country and the 2,500 people who have had the traumatic experience of someone passing away abroad, normally in tragic circumstances, and dealing with that process of repatriation to bring them home. The Bell family is stepping back and, as the Cathaoirleach said, it would appropriate if we wrote to them to thank them, on behalf of the people of Ireland, for the good work they have done.

Senator Tully spoke about dementia and long-time illness. I find that when the Senator brings up issues she always has constructive and good ideas about things that have just been missed. Certainly, when reviews have not been done for a long time, this is something we could do. I was going to suggest she submit a Commencement matter but a number of Commencement matters have been submitted and Ministers from the Department of Health have not come in to the House to answer them. There is an opportunity to have an all-round debate on health but it will be difficult to have one before the recess because we have so much legislation coming through. I will try to have a debate at the earliest opportunity because there are a number of issues that the Senator and many other Senators have raised. As I said, Senator Tully made a very constructive suggestion, as she always does.

I thank Senator Joe Conway for his congratulations. He knows my wife is from Waterford, so he did well in congratulating me. On the European Court of Auditors and the report on cross-border tax avoidance, we have always known it has been happening to a certain extent. It has increased in recent years. I will speak with the Minister for Finance and see if we can get a reply from the Government to see what can be done or if it is possible to have a debate on the matter in the House.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about the driver's licence, noting that the NDLS does not accept cash. It seems strange that it is still not doing so given that former Ministers for Finance and the current Minister for public expenditure have called on it to do so. It should do it. As we said earlier, a lot of people who use the NDLA service are elderly people who usually deal in cash. By law, State agencies used to have to accept cash, or I always thought that was the case, but it seems it does not want to do it, probably because of the hassle of it. That is not acceptable.

Senator Harmon spoke about driving instructor challenges and had, again, a very good suggestion in terms of grants for electric vehicles. As an EV driver, I am convinced that, in time, everyone will be and EV dirver, even those who are reluctantly denying they will end up being EV drivers. If we are going to have a lot of EV drivers. one would certainly think driving instructors would have the opportunity to buy EV cars and we would incentivise a few of them to so. We should certainly try to incentivise the whole country to do it, including driving instructors. I will talk to the Minister about that.

Regarding driving instructors not being invited to the RSA conference, I do not see why they would not be. It seems very strange. It is certainly not for this House to decide who the RSA does or does not invite to its conference. The Committee on Transport is doing an awful lot of work on road safety, and Deputy Michael Murphy is being very vocal on it, but if the RSA wants to be serious about it, you would think, at the very least, driving instructors should be invited to that conference. I will organise a debate on the road safety as well because that is an important issue, but it will probably be after the recess.