Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to be associated with the comments about the former Cathaoirleach, Tras Honan. She was a trailblazer in her own right and had connections to my home town, Clonmel and Tipperary. Her sister Carrie Acheson was also a T.D. for a period. I offer my condolences to her family and her extended family, including the Barlows in Clonmel, on her very sad passing. She was inspirational to so many people right across the country but in particular in Tipperary. In my own family, my mother was young starting in politics. While Tras and Carrie were obviously in an Opposition party, as women they were a huge inspiration for her to get into politics. I pass on my condolences to all her family.

I welcome the announcements this week from the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humphreys regarding the once-off payments, in particular, the €400 carer support grant, the €200 living alone lump sum, and €100 qualified child lump sum. This is another tranche of once-off payments that were agreed in the budget by the Government. They are payments in recognition of the challenges that particular groups are going through with the cost of living through the winter period. Most importantly, these are payments that seemingly the Opposition did not think were worthwhile for these groups of people.It will be very welcome coming on the back of what has already been announced in the budget. It will go a long way to cushioning the challenges the cost-of-living crisis has created for those groups. Does the Leader agree that these payments, between now and Christmas and afterwards for the first time ever, are very important? I welcome that.

I agree with most of my colleagues who have spoken about the incident on Thursday in Dublin. Most people were horrified by what happened but have been inspired by some of our citizens and some of our non-national residents who stood up to defend people against the most atrocious of crimes that we never thought would take place here.

Since then there has been much commentary. As yet, An Garda Síochána has not published a report or conclusions as to what happened. Unfortunately, many people, particularly politicians, seem to come up with their own conclusions very quickly. Obviously, that is understandable from the Opposition, but there has been commentary from this side of the House regarding the Garda Commissioner and his appointment being a political one by a political party. It is important that the Senator in question clarifies those comments. Tomorrow would be a good platform to do so because the public needs to be reassured that such an important appointment as that of the Garda Commissioner is done independently and is not a political appointment.