Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Senator Dolan is looking for a debate with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on childcare places and investment in infrastructure. Senator Flynn is looking for a debate, probably with the Minister of State with responsibility for local government, on ensuring consistency in the provision of play equipment in all playgrounds in every county in the country to include all our children with all of their needs. I will try to organise that debate.

Senator Wilson supported Senator Wall's call for the resumption of the Life Saving Equipment Bill. To my mind, nothing focuses the Department as much as a date for Report Stage so we might try to schedule that and see if that focuses minds. I thank both Senators for raising that issue.

Senator Wilson also supported Senator McDowell's call for a debate on the Garda Reserve. It is a force that is much appreciated by the people of Ireland but maybe not so much by the politicians at the moment. I will certainly try to organise that as quickly as I possibly can.

Senator McGreehan is looking for a debate on the all-too-common occurrence of dog kills in rural Ireland. We will organise that debate.

With regard to Senator Maria Byrne, it is nice to see the city she is so proud of being recognised internationally. Limerick is now the top-ranked city of the future, particularly for investment and it is open for international business. I acknowledge that and congratulate everyone on it. She also welcomed the €50 million that was announced by the Minister for Education this week for the free schoolbook scheme for primary school children.

I am not sure who Senator Keogan is looking for a debate with. It might be with the Minister for Justice. I will check for her on the upholding of conscientious objections in all our employment legislation and other health Acts and come back to her. Whoever is the relevant Minister, we will make sure we organise that debate and make the request.

Senator Malcolm Byrne pointed out the glaring anomaly in the announcement by the CSO yesterday with regard to the publication date of 30 May for the 2022 census data and the misalignment with the expectations of the Electoral Commission. It is seeking applications and local input on the new boundaries from people, citizens and residents of communities by 10 May but we will not have the census information by then so something is going to have to give. We will either have to extend the deadline, which will disappoint many politicians who are looking for the information much quicker, or ask the CSO to publish the data more quickly. The Taoiseach is responsible for the CSO, for some reason. We will send a note to him on behalf of the Seanad and Senator Malcolm Byrne today.

Senator Black is looking for a debate on the somewhat enormous dividends announced by the ESB yesterday and how they are going to be returned to individual customers and citizens. I will ask the Minister to outline to us in a debate how that €847 million is going to be spent on supporting cost-of-living measures and the increased bills we have had recently.

A number of colleagues have sought a debate with regard to various aspects of housing, including the Croí Cónaithe scheme, the eviction debate in the Dáil last night and consistency around housing policy. Senators McGahon, Wall, Black, Davitt and Ó Donnghaile have sought a debate on housing.I am in the happy position to be able to tell him that the Minister will be here next Wednesday evening for a two-hour debate on housing, which was the quickest slot I could secure.

Both Senators Mark Daly and Ó Donnghaile very much welcomed the near-unanimous support for the Windsor Framework in Westminster yesterday. They are seeking a debate on the resumption of Stormont, obviously, and of the institutions to act on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland as speedily as possible. We will organise that debate.

Senator Ward asked for a debate on how the State can invest in Irish businesses and Irish advertising companies to ensure that our cultural norms are heard on our air waves and seen on our televisions. Senator Wall spoke about the lack of school places in his constituency and asked for a debate with the Minister. Senator Ó Donnghaile also looked at legislation that has just been passed and asked for statements on our offshore fisheries. He asked for the Minister to come in to have a conversation with us about that.

Senator Paddy Burke was supported by Senator McDowell in asking for a debate on the progress on the implementation of the minimum alcohol advertising Bill that was passed a number of years ago to see how it is actually working or, indeed, not working in the reality of Irish life.

I remind Members of a very important ceremony that is taking place this morning to plant our tree in commemoration of all the people who lost their lives and all those who were affected by that loss during the years of Covid-19. It will take place at 1 p.m. on the lawn.