Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today is an important milestone. From today, individuals who receive care as patients in public hospitals will be exempt from paying any fee. It is important that we note that.

As leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe, other Members and I work quite closely with a number of senior Department of Foreign Affairs officials and the Irish ambassadors to Europe. I speak for all of us when I say how shocked I was this morning to hear of the assault on Irish diplomat, Aidan O’Hara, the European Union’s ambassador to Sudan. He was assaulted in his own residence in Khartoum. The incident constitutes absolutely a gross violation of the Vienna Convention. From this Seanad, we should wish him and his consulate well. I know the Tánaiste is engaging proactively to support the ambassador and his officials. I support the Tánaiste’s call for an urgent cessation of violence in Sudan and resumption of dialogue.

I wish to speak briefly about the school transport situation. While we all acknowledge the investment in school transport to bring down the cost to parents and families, we also acknowledge that, around this time of the year, looking for a place begins. We wish and hope things will be resolved earlier than they normally are. We need to start looking at widening the criteria and allowing common sense to prevail in certain situations. I appreciate that no matter how eligibility is structured, there will always be issues. That is a reality of life. Bus Éireann and the Department of Education need to be more flexible in how they approach the issue, especially in light of school place shortages in places such as south Kildare. I am dealing with a number of parents who cannot get their child into the local school and are lucky if they can find a place in another school. However, in respect of transport, if they find that place, they are told they have to take a section 29 appeal against the school that is nearest to them.This is an adversarial approach and takes a great deal of time for the school and its board of management and principal, all just to get a simple letter that says the child has been refused. It makes no sense and needs to be resolved.

This evening sees the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying. I look forward to an informed debate at the committee. Recently, I welcomed representatives from St. Joseph's in Shankill to Leinster House to launch their report on upholding the human rights of those living with dementia. Safeguarding for adults and vulnerable people is key and we need to ensure the best possible safeguards are in place to protect the elderly. We need to see progress on adult safeguarding.

The Cathaoirleach will bear with me on this final point. Our esteemed Leader is getting married on Saturday. I wish her, Jarlath and – I will not say "baby Louis" – toddler Louis the very best of good health and happiness in their future together. I have no doubt they will have a wonderful day on Saturday. All our wishes go with her.