Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleagues. James Cawley is a person I know well. It is a long time since I have seen him so I want to send him our best regards. I acknowledge the asks. If there was ever an organisation that amplifies the "nothing about us without us" ethos, it is certainly something for Mr. Cawley's organisation to be credited with.

I know Senator Carrigy raised the cost of fuel and VAT reclamation with the Minister for Finance. I wish him well, in particular in regard to that industry, as it is going to become a very big issue in regard to losing business to our Northern Ireland colleagues and customers.

Senator Ahearn talked about the roll-out of broadband. I very much welcome the all-party consensus on the fact it was a good and right investment to make. To be honest, I do not think there is anything wrong with us clamouring to improve the speed at which it delivers on behalf of the people we serve. I will certainly organise a debate because it seems to have slipped just a little bit. To expect people to wait until 2027 is not on. I will organise that as quickly as I can.

With regard to Senator Lombard’s point, I am reminded that when my children were small, although this is probably not the most politically correct thing to say, the only time we would get to go out for a pint was on a Sunday, when we went down to watch the match in the local GAA club. I take on board the merits of what the Senator is saying and that it is not and should not have to be a necessity. We did it for pleasure and to get out, but the fact families are being forced to do it, in particular to go to pubs in our villages, is just not on. They certainly should not have to do it. It is a debate that we definitely should have. We all cherish different sports and I do not think any sport that is in the national interest, and certainly one that has a national team, not least of which is the GAA, should have to be paid for to be watched. I will certainly raise that and ask for a debate.

Senators Ward and Ahearn extolled the virtues of women in business. I would say that this is something us women knew, long before National Women's Enterprise Day. I do not think this can be overemphasised and, although we have been talking a lot about women's issues, it is probably new to me, as a Member of the Seanad, because it is certainly not something we ever did very much of in the Dáil for the last ten years. It is to be commended from the perspective of the Seanad. Women do not just run businesses; they run homes, communities, families, school libraries and they are involved in every single facet and asset that we call this great country of ours. I have to tell the House that I am sorry that they are not recognised a fraction enough, given what they contribute to our society. I thank both Senators for raising National Women's Enterprise Day.

The coolest place in the world to live is a pretty high accolade, so congratulations to Dublin 8 and to all of the people who represent Dublin 8 here today.

Senator Seery Kearney is right that the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, as an organisation and as a committee, is certainly the right place to highlight what are injustices in the delivery of services and the provision of income supports for people with disabilities. Although this is probably bold and cheeky, when I was Minister with responsibility for social welfare, I obtained some €60,000 in the budget of 2019, I think, and Senator Boyhan might remember this-----