Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Malcolm Byrne's motion to invite President Zelenskiy to address this House and the Lower House. It would be a very useful exercise. I wish everyone a very happy International Women's Day. Last year, as colleagues might remember, we were in the Dáil Chamber and I had an opportunity to read an extract from a book published last year that had a speech my mother gave in the Dáil. I read it with great pride.

This year, when we talk about women and International Women's Day, I cannot help but think about the women in Ukraine who are leaving their country, partners and families to bring their kids to freedom and safety. When we talk about women in this country and around the world, it just shows immense courage and bravery that those decisions to split up families are made so quickly to just look for safety. It takes immense bravery to be able to do that and recognise that.

I was on a roll last week to compliment Ministers, as opposed to calling for or giving out about something. I will keep going on this roll. I thank the Minister for Transport. I have brought up the issue of the N24, almost on a weekly basis, for the past couple of months because it was taken off the list of priorities. In fairness to the Minister, he has listened to the concerns that I and colleagues have raised over the past number of months, especially councillors.

I commend Councillor Marie Murphy in Tipperary and the cathaoirleach, Councillor Pat Dunphy, in Kilkenny and a range of councillors who have all come together as part of our first citizens' forum in the south east. They have used this issue, together, to fight to get it back on the list. I thank the Minister for listening to all of us make that case. It was stopping housing projects, as well. The one thing the Minister understood was that we did not want to do so while this project was going ahead.