Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Their Excellencies, the UK and Belgian ambassadors, and their teams. I spoke yesterday of the Windsor Framework and am strongly in favour of it. I am delighted with it, as are our colleagues. It merits our support in every practical way. I believe and hope the ordinary people of Northern of Ireland will come out in support of it and that political leadership will too. I know a number of them have, but it is to be hoped all will eventually. We have to work with the situation until that happens. I commend the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste on their work. I spoke yesterday at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence specifically about the Tánaiste's role and the work of the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, in the background.

I also commend my colleague, Senator Keogan, on the great initiative she took this morning to help with the dreadful situation in Türkiye and Syria. I am very proud of what she did and was proud to be associated with it. I also wish to state that our hearts go out to the people of Greece after the horrible train crash there.

I want to address two issues that I raise perennially in the Chamber. As the Leader well knows, as an experienced politician, repetition is important in this context. I have always consistently spoken on the gambling Bill and the need to appoint a gambling regulator. Indeed, I salute the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, in this area. There is no question he is proactive. Perhaps the Leader would outline where we are with that and what progress has been made. When can we have a review of that progress?

There are two new issues I have raised latterly, but the second issue I perennially raise in the Chamber is that of child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. In a civilised society, we cannot and should not have children waiting for CAMHS. It is an unthinkable concept. Even if one had to trim one's sails in other areas, any society with correct values would not want a CAMHS waiting list. I ask the Leader where we are with that. I humbly suggest that if it has not been rectified, it should be debated and a report be laid before this House on where those waiting lists are. It is a very serious matter.

Chun deireadh a chur le mo chúpla focal, tréaslaím go mór leis an Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile ar labhairt na teanga sa Teach seo. Ba chóir dúinn go léir iarracht a dhéanamh Gaeilge a labhairt go nádúrtha, fiú amháin abairt nó dhó gach lá nó uaireanta. Is fiú é a dhéanamh. Tá an Ghaeilge mar chuid lárnach dár n-oidhreacht agus dár stair, agus tá litríocht iontach bunaithe uirthi. Ba chóir go ndéanfaimid sin.