As I said, we have 25 contributions so I will try to keep it as brief as I can.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin spoke about the work the European Committee of the Regions does. It is led by Councillor Gillian Coughlan and we know members of that committee who are in our own party. I know Councillors Brídín Murphy, Jimmy McClearn and Neil Feighery do incredible work, but as a team they represent local authorities across the country incredibly well. It is great to see them acknowledged.

As the Senator said, the ploughing championship has been a real success and that brings pressure when it comes to Kildare next year. It is great to see good numbers and good weather for it. The Senator's main point was on solar farms and I think she is right. There is a need for a Government policy on this. I know the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, is doing a lot of work in his Department on it but it affects a number of Departments, including the Department of agriculture with the Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon. It is something a policy needs to be put together for because, as the Senator knows, it is being talked about an awful lot, particularly in rural areas where there is good land being used for solar farms.

Senator Nelson Murray spoke about the changes to the hot school meals programme. She has been pushing this for months and months and doing up her own survey and report on it. It is good to see the feedback has been taken on board and that changes are going to be made this time next year in having hot and cold meals. Anyone who, like me, has young children going to school knows children want a choice between hot and cold meals. It is important to say we will have a debate with the Minister responsible, Deputy Calleary, next Wednesday specifically on the programme and the changes that are going to be made.

Senator McDowell spoke about the "RTÉ Investigates" programme that aired last week. It has actually come down from the RTÉ Player. I was trying to watch it on the player but it was not available. An awful lot came out from that, which is very worrying and disturbing. Questions need to be answered in terms of An Garda Síochána. The Senator raised a number of issues. It is not for me to speak on them without having all the facts but he referred to responses from the Commissioner and An Garda Síochána. I think he said the former Leader of the House responded to him as well and that he was not satisfied with it. In relation to the then Leader's response, I have it here, and he spoke about this before it became a big issue. In fairness to the Leader he said he would request a debate on it. He said: "It is an important issue and he has obviously put a lot on the public record in this Chamber. In doing so, I hope it gains traction and that this is examined." That is what the former Leader of this House said, so he took it very seriously at the time.

Senator Conor Murphy spoke about Irish unity. This has been touched on in the past number of weeks because of the UK Prime Minister coming over here saying one thing and the US President coming here and saying another thing. As the Senator said, it is important to keep relationships going and to maintain relationships on both sides, irrespective of what one side or the other says. An awful lot is changing and we need to be real about the fact the conversations are now happening about what a united Ireland would be and what it would represent. We need to be open to that. It is always important to acknowledge as well that the president came over here and talked about a united Ireland. This was a visit some people did not want to have or they did not want to meet him. What I encourage, even in the contribution of the Senator, is having dialogue, being open and continuing relationships. I ask for that to happen during the St. Patrick's Day visit when Ministers and people who have influence and who have contact, especially with America, go and use that to benefit the progression of the united Ireland ambition.

Senator Stephenson spoke about the attack by the USA on the International Court of Justice. This has been an ongoing issue. The Taoiseach and many Ministers are in America this week at the UN and I have full confidence they will raise an awful lot of those issues the Senator has raised.

Senator Black spoke about the occupied territories Bill. She said other countries are now following, and it has been the Government's position from the very start that if we do this, other countries can follow. The biggest strength would be if there was a European-led movement on this. As the Senator said, Ursula von der Leyen's comments are not extremely helpful and there are a lot of countries that just are not willing to move but we still need to keep working. We have done an awful lot over the past year by convincing countries to come on board and we will continue to do that.

Senator Comyn spoke about vape shops. It is an incredibly frustrating situation. I have been speaking to Councillor Fergal Nealon in Sligo who has done an awful lot on it in his hometown. It is incredibly frustrating that shops are being done up to attract young kids in particular. By "young" I do not mean 15- or 16-year-olds but eight-, nine- and ten-year-olds. Something needs to be done about it. In fairness to the UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, he is doing an awful lot to make changes and give more responsibility to councillors. It is something I am working on via legislation to give power to councillors to say what can be in their town centres. We see four, five or six vape shops in a row on some main streets and that is not good for anyone. According to the police investigation report that was done in the UK, a lot of the vape shops are being used for money laundering.

I am not saying that is happening but I am saying that it would be helpful if we had some sort of investigation in this country.

Senator Boyle spoke about the fishing industry and frustration within the community. No one knows the fishing industry better than the Senator. He is constantly an advocate for the people in County Donegal and the people of Killybegs and the fishing community as a whole across the country. They need answers and they need reform and it is time, with a budget coming up in the next couple of weeks, when money is needed to support that sector. I know the Senator will work extremely hard to convince the Ministers to do that.

Senator Craughwell spoke about his late wife, Helen, which was very touching and very moving. It reminded me a lot of mam. When he was talking about Helen and the good times, even in her last couple of days - I said this to him last week in a private conversation - you have some of the funniest times two or three days before they pass and you know they are passing, but they are great memories in a really weird way. He spoke incredibly well. It was my mother's anniversary mass on Sunday - 26 years. Time heals but you still remember. I understand what he means in terms of those lovely moments you have.

Senator Flaherty spoke in relation to Horse Sport Ireland. I need to be careful in terms of anything I say on that because there is still a process in place in terms of the examinership. In fairness to the Senator, he outlined the concerns he has been raising in this Chamber for quite some time.

Senators Tully and O'Reilly spoke about the school bus transport system. This is something that comes up every year but it seems to be coming up a bit more. One of the issues many people know is that because it is free transport, a lot of kids are put on a school bus but they are not actually taking the seats. It is one of the reasons the price of the school bus increased previously. Certainly, more needs to be done because it is a huge worry for families and parents. As the Senator said, it is actually a really good thing for kids to get used to using public transport.

Senator Blaney spoke in relation to the late Enda Bonner. I am more than happy to allocate time to have an opportunity to speak about the late Senator's contribution in the Seanad and his contribution as a councillor at a time that might be suitable for when the family could be here as well. I will speak to the Cathaoirleach and the Deputy Leader to see what would be possible.

Senator Curley spoke about a school in Carrabane in his own constituency, which just needs a letter of intent. I will speak to the Minister on that. That really should be done. I cannot see why there should be a hold-up on that. I hope that can be done as soon as possible. In relation to his contribution on wind energy guidelines, there has been no update on those guidelines in 20 years. People need to know what the new rules will be. I suggest that the Senator tables a Commencement matter on that issue.

Senator Cosgrove spoke about poverty and particularly child poverty. That is a challenge and it is a focus of every budget that is done every year to try to minimise child poverty. In her contribution, the Senator spoke an awful lot about certain issues but did not talk about the actual changes that have helped child poverty, including simple changes such as free transport to school, free books, hot school meals and reduced fees in colleges. An awful lot has been done to try to tackle that issue. It is not enough and more needs to be done but the Government will not be found wanting in terms of supporting children.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about small retailers and the representation RGDATA engages in on the cost of business. She asked for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Burke, which I will try to facilitate. I will contact his office to have a debate on the report on the cost of doing business. There were 63 recommendations in that. It is a good opportunity when businesses are struggling to have that debate in this House.

Senator Conway spoke about assaults on politicians from all levels; we all know councillors. There was a long conversation - I was going to say on the Joe Duffy show but it is now the Joe Duffy replacement show - about women in politics and how challenging it is for them. Then, we had the awful assault that happened to Deputy Michael Healy-Rae last week. The Senator brought up an issue that is critically important in terms of councillors, however. There was a situation during the summer where councillors who had security allowances to protect their homes or offices were named and they should not have been named.

Every Member in this building, be it a TD or a Senator, can avail of security allowances to protect them and their staff. They cannot be named for security reasons. It should be no different in all councils.

FOI requests are done by councils on an individual basis, as is the case with Departments. It is not up to the Minister to say how a council should manage FOI requests; that is up to the council. It seems to me to be blindingly obvious that no council should give out the addresses of councillors. Tipperary County Council has taken down all addresses of councillors from its website.

As we know, when an FOI request is submitted for a councillor, the councillor should be informed before the FOI request goes out in order that if there are any issues like this, the councillor can go to the council and say he or she does not think his or her address should be given or that something should be stated. The council can then make an informed decision based on what a councillor said and the FOI request. We struggle to get people to run for local office. If people are named and supposedly shamed for trying to protect themselves and their families, that is wrong and needs to be changed. I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, about this and he is of the same view.

Senator Andrews spoke about a boxing match where a young boxer, Lee Reeves, was terribly injured. He needs help and support, which I am sure he is getting from the hospital. I do not know why the operation has been cancelled twice. It is obviously a clinical matter for the doctors. I will speak to the Senator after the Order of Business to try to get the details and contact the hospital to see what can be done. It seems to be a terrible case and incredibly worrying for the family.

Senator Keogan spoke about the comments from the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association on fuel prices, which Senator McCormack also mentioned. Prices have increased dramatically over the past number of months. That is why the measures were extended until November. We will have a budget and decisions will be made in a number of weeks but the Government has not been found wanting when it comes to supporting people during the fuel crisis. Some €750 million was allocated only a couple of months ago to try to support farms, businesses and citizens. If more support is required, it will be provided. I note the Senator said we need to scrap all taxes on fuel and to fund public transport. I am not sure how we pay for putting additional funds into public transport if we cut taxes on fuel. There is an opportunity to have a debate on that. I am sure that when the budget is announced in a couple of weeks, one of the topics in this Chamber later that day will be fuel support.

Senator Harmon spoke about Bessborough, Cork. I believe she was one of the first people to raise the matter in this House and it is now getting traction due to the comments of Siobhán McSweeney and others. It is in the Taoiseach's constituency and he is very conscious of it. Decisions will have to be made, as the Senator said, being conscious of survivors at the heart. I hope that will be the case.

Senator Higgins asked for a debate on school transport, which we will try to have. She also raised difficulties faced by students in Gaza, something which has been raised in the Seanad on previous occasions.

Senator McCarthy raised a very interesting point on the number of students across the country having increased over the past two or three years and the added financial burden that places on colleges. There is a request for an extra €190 million in the budget and he has advocated for that. We will try to have a debate with the Minister for higher education on funding and support for third level colleges.

Senator Conway spoke about Lahinch Beach, a beach I know very well. I was there during the summer for a couple of days with my family. It is a fantastic area, beach and town. It is another prime example of where infrastructure is critically important. He spoke about wastewater treatment. We need to provide significant investment for and speed up the provision of infrastructure. He asked me to contact the Minister for housing to get Irish Water to set up a public consultation.

I will do that. It is only right that Irish Water should be available and open to consultation with members of the public from Lahinch.

Regarding Senator Duffy's remarks, I have clarified that already. Everyone has congratulated the Senator. The one thing that I forgot to say is that when the Mayo team was lifting the trophy, I thought they were going to hand it to Senator Duffy, who was literally behind the captain.

I do not know about the football field, but Senator Duffy always had great positional sense in politics.

He is now going to be in a photo that will be seen for hundreds of years.