Katherine Zappone (Independent)

I am about to get to a serious moment now.

I thank the Leader for his agreement to sponsor my request that a loop system to support those with a hearing disability be installed in the Seanad Chamber. For those Members who may be unfamiliar with the expression, a loop system effectively is a technological system installed in a closed environment that enables those with digital hearing aids to access the sound of a human voice in a highly effective manner, which is considerably more effective than the microphone system in use at present, and many public buildings are installed with such systems. To be honest, although I wear hearing aids, my severe hearing loss means I have only been able to hear approximately between 50% and 75% of what goes on within the Chamber during a debate. Some Members might think this is not such a bad thing-----