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.