I thank Senators for their sizeable contributions and attendance here this morning. It is greatly appreciated.

Senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony spoke about sport and the values of sport. When we think about sport, not all of it is professional. There are a lot of amateur sports, particularly our national games. Nobody sets out to lose a game and everybody goes to participate. At the same time, we should be mindful that they are community men and women who are putting on their county or parish colours to represent their parishes, counties and in some cases their country. Social media is no made for anybody to be taking short jibes at people whatsoever. I completely agree with the Senator.

She also went on to speak about water safety, as did a lot of other Senators. We are all conscious that we have good weather but we also sometimes, as the Senator said, lose the run of ourselves and maybe forget our safety checks. Senator Martin Conway spoke about including on the curriculum a course on how respond in an emergency. Whether that is a course delivered by Water Safety Ireland or learning first aid, it is so important.

I also thank Senator Murphy O'Mahony for her contribution on Skyclarys. Next Tuesday is decision day and hopefully a positive decision will be made for the 200 patients waiting for positive news on that drug.

Senator McDowell spoke about the guillotine and individual items. We have the guillotine every day, but on those days, we would perhaps like to have more time to have more opportunities to speak on items. He then went on to talk about an honest, decent, hard-working gentleman, the late Martin Naughton from Dundalk. He set up his Glen Dimplex factory in Dunleer and provided so much employment and opportunity. He was a leader in innovation through many years. As he made his money, he continued to share opportunities for young learners, innovators, educators and researchers. He did not keep it to the engineering side of the house. He allowed Carmel to spread a little bit of it as well in the fields of arts and culture. I know a little bit about the Naughton family. My late husband came from Dunleer and my late father-in-law worked in Glen Dimplex. The Naughtons, as the Senator said, are good, honest and decent people. Martin left a great example in how to support young people coming forward in research and innovation. The Senator also said, as did Senator Murphy O'Mahony, that if we can be anything in this world, we should be kind, and that is one thing Martin Naughton was, and it is one thing we should always remember. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. We think of him today.

Senator McCormack raised the issue of active travel. She is not present to hear my response but it would be fitting for a Commencement matter to be raised on that because it is a specific issue in Graiguecullen that she wishes to discuss. She asked specific questions that are for Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority to answer. She should puts down a Commencement matter with the Minister to get answers to those important questions.

She also mentioned the tragic loss of Ms Constantin, who is one of many victims of violence against women this week. It is a sad reflection on society that the first thing I saw on my paper's headline this morning was the news from the National Women's Council that more women have died by femicide so far this year than in the whole of 2025. It is staggering. I am glad to announce, and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for sharing it with me, that when we return in September we will have an Oireachtas committee to discuss and address domestic violence as a stand-alone item. I welcome that news but there is still so much to be done in that area.

Senator Joe Flaherty raised the issue of sports capital grants and the instruction of the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois to schools that he is responsible for to not participate in the community element of the scheme. That is unfortunate. Where we have rural depopulation - and there are great reports coming from the GAA - the one thing we want to do is ensure a sense of community. That sense of community circles around a few things. It can be the church, school, post office or the pub. That is what we have in rural Ireland and if we remove one of those centres, it leaves the young people, as well as the families coming into those communities, wondering how we can support our young people, particularly when there are so many distractions when it comes to online safety, and when we think about how young people need other diversions. The sports capital fund has been one of our best resources. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, has travelled the country, as has the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to ensure that the best opportunities are taken for our sports capital. It is unfortunate, and I would not like to think that contagion would take place in relation to that.

Senator Flaherty remembered Ms Lillis, as did Senator Brady. I did not know the lady, but they both spoke so fondly of her and about the huge contribution she made. I think of her and her family who are grieving her loss. We hope the fond memories they carry will give them the strength to go forward.

Senator Brady complimented the shows in his area. Longford show took place last week and Ballinamuck fair day takes place this Sunday. We wish them all the best down in Drumlish. I want to compliment the Senator on his contribution in relation to the roof-top solar farms. It is time that we had a check of ourselves in this country as to how we are using arable land. We cannot be using good, arable land for solar farms. I come from Galway - some Members might not have realised that - and we have marginal land in a lot of it.

To put solar farms on good, arable land is absolutely disgraceful. We need to look at the alternative. The alternative needs to be - as the Senator put forward, and I would heartily support whatever debate or legislation we need to bring forward - to look to the UK. The UK is using grade 2 land. I thank the OPLA for helping me to draft legislation in this regard because we cannot compromise good, arable land for the sake of solar farms that will have 15 years of a lifespan. Food security needs to be our number one priority at all times. We need to be food secure. That would be a good discussion with whichever Minister wants to take responsibility and come here to talk to us. We certainly would welcome it.

Senator Stephenson has left but like Senator McCormack and all of us, also spoke on the amount of violence against women that has taken place since the start of the year, since the loss of Ashling Murphy but also in this particular week. We can all feel it. She asked whether we are going forward or backwards. It is very hard to feel as though we are making progress on this particular matter. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the welcome announcement that we will have an Oireachtas committee to address this. The Senator also spoke about Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya who has been held for 559 days as a medical prisoner of war. The Senator has asked the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to intervene and bring assistance. We will liaise and bring her words to the Minister.

I was wondering where Senator Scahill was going when he talked about Dublin Airport coming from Roscommon but I see exactly where he landed on that in respect of the €2.3 million that was put into regional airports and what has happened at Ireland West. His point that the skills of our retained firefighters - because there are very few professional firefighters in the entire country and we predominantly work with retained firemen - are equally as important and need to be upgraded on a regular basis is valid. Why would we not call for them to have access to what is the new intervention at Ireland West Airport? This would ensure that their skills are upgraded at all times. The Senator talked about investment, and he was right to talk about our fire stations such as Ballinasloe and Castlerea. They are finding it very hard to get up that ladder of elevation for support and intervention. They are the first line of defence when there is a fire that runs on oil or the hay-shed that could take off, God forbid, at this time of year. We are dependent on them having the best equipment so they can do their job.

When we look at some of our fire stations, women cannot be recruited as retained fire officers because there are no changing facilities for them. It is time we have a proper root and branch review of where our retained fire officers and fire services can work from. In Ballinasloe, we could not recruit a woman because the fire station there does not have changing facilities, and it is the same in Portumna. Those are only two places either side of where I live.

On the greyhound industry, Senator Andrews talked about the greyhounds and care homes and the industry not having what it signed up to, that is, a minimum of four care homes. He talked about adequacy in relation to what they provide for the greyhounds and of the industry's value being overestimated. I have no notes or anything else on it but it is a worthwhile debate. We saw last night there was a vote on hare coursing in the Dáil. At all times, when it comes to animal welfare, whether in relation to horse racing or other aspects, it is important that we have debates. We should respect both sides of the debate to have those conversations. If we do not have a conversation, we do not have awareness and we do not have an intervention. I thoroughly support the Senator on that.

Senator Blaney talked about the upcoming championships and Horse Sport Ireland. I wish all of the participants all the best in the various levels of equine sport. The championships are taking place in Germany. I compliment the fact that it is an all-Ireland body and Horse Sport Ireland works with equestrian sport North and South. It is hard to believe the organisation is on its first leg of the road to the Los Angeles summer games. We know the proud culture we have when it comes to equine affairs and the breeding and training of animals. We also know the investment that families have had. Senator Brady is aware of equine sports, as his young children participate a lot in them. The commitment that families instill in their children from an early age, through dressage for example, and the skill it takes is admirable.

The Senator mentioned the names of the people involved; they are recorded. I concur in thanking them for the work they do. I look forward to the various assemblies taking place under the European Presidency in September and October. If the Senator can organise that, some of us with a keen interest in equine matters could attend it. It would be absolutely fantastic because it is a really good part of our heritage and culture and for the various generations. I thank Senator Blaney for that.

Senator Nelson Murray proposed an older person passport. That is common sense when we think about it. GPs would be delighted. The local authority would be more efficient and most importantly, the older person would be at the centre of the proposal. Older people do not want to be going into the GP in October, November, January, or February, when the flu season is at its worst, but that is perhaps when their need is at its most. There are two relevant Departments here. The Minister for Health will certainly do her bit and I have no doubt but that the Minister for housing will do his. There has to be that recognition. We must tell the Departments this is how we are doing it going forward. A person will have a passport for 12 months or whatever time until change. We should certainly recommend that. As a nation that is getting older, we have to find more efficient ways of doing this. This cuts through some of that red tape that badly needs to be cut.

As Senator Harmon spoke, I absolutely could feel from her the upset that she is feeling about the granting of planning permission. When she compared it with Tuam, I knew exactly what she meant. No concrete is going to go on Tuam. It is going to be a memorial site and we will know our history. Painful as it might be, it is fitting. My father used to always say, "You never touch the dead”, and in these instances, sometimes that is what we need to think of. I am not taking either side in relation to the local authority’s decision but I would welcome commentary from our leaders on that. At the same time, it is a very sensitive subject and issue for Senator Harmon and for a lot of people who have family who went through Bessborough or are living in that area.

Senator Joe Conway spoke about e-scooters and Deputy Shane Moynihan. What would have been the Joe Duffy show that has been taken over by Kieran Cuddihy, spoke a lot about e-scooters as well this week. It is hard to believe that one e-scooter a commentator spoke about was going at 70 km/h. What chance do we have if we are buying e-scooters for kids and not regulating them? It is hard to believe 50% of the beds below on Temple Street are made up from the result of either a scrambler or e-scooter accident. These are not minor accidents. This is not a broken finger or elbow. They cause really life-altering conditions when a person comes off one of these scooters and has an accident. I also think of the poor, unfortunate person who is driving a car or is on another bike and who has that collision. They have to live with that accident as well. There is a comprehensive need for a debate when it comes to road safety. There is a deeper conversation around e-scooters and legislation, guidance and the filing and purchasing of them.

Senator O'Reilly spoke in relation to abortion and the 10,600 abortions which took place in 2025. She spoke as well on the recent vote that took place in the Dáil on the three-day waiting period, as well as the role of motherhood and the roles of mothers. Her viewpoint is there is an intertwined language concerning mums who lose their babies due to miscarriage, as opposed to the choice of an abortion. She does not view it as being equal.

I hope I am reflecting the Senator's viewpoint correctly.

Senator McCarthy spoke about St. Corban's National School. I recommend that the Senator put down a Commencement matter on that. We have a week left before the Seanad rises. If we were to have a Commencement debate with the Minister, the Senator could perhaps get a more direct response than I am able to provide today and would not be obliged to wait for the Minister to come before the House for a debate on education. A ratio of 1:40 is not what the INTO speaks about or what is in our programme for Government. I encourage the Senator to table a Commencement matter.

Senator Conway spoke about water safety. I covered that comprehensively already. The Senator also spoke about training for first aid. There is merit in that. There was a time when we did a lot of that in our education system. I believe that a lot of it is done as part of transition year programmes, but swimming also has to happen in national schools. There is no doubt about that.

Senator Boyhan raised a number or issues in relation to the running order for today. However, he also stated that he will be supporting today's proceedings.

Senator Boyle spoke about Irish Water. The Senator and Senator Blaney come from Donegal, which is surrounded by beautiful seas. Senator Boyle is dead right to raise this issue. Anybody with access to a lake, a river or the sea should be vigilant. The issue relating to ring buoys is quite specific. In Galway, we lost a lot of ring buoys. We do need to have them. They are essential as a first means of intervention. Anybody who notices them missing, even a person out walking, should report it instantly. I fully concur with the Senator on that.