Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Leader for outlining the Order of Business with which I am in agreement. I welcome Mr. Vurm and Mr. Brennan from the Czech Embassy and wish them a very happy national day, as the Acting Leader and Leas-Chathaoirleach have done. I wish all Czechs living in Ireland a very happy national day and hope all the Irish people living in the Czech Republic enjoy the day also. I know they had a very successful event recently in the Czech Embassy. I was given the privilege of speaking at the embassy's national day function last year to wish the outgoing ambassador the very best on his retirement and the new ambassador, who is coming in early January if I am right, the very best.

I attended an event yesterday evening and I wish to pay a small tribute to the honorary consul of Ireland to New Zealand who held that role for more than 40 years. He is back in Ireland at the moment visiting from New Zealand. At 88 years of age, Mr. Rodney Walshe was one of the first recipients of the President's award for outstanding service that Irish people have given abroad. Our own Billy Lawless got the award at a later date. Mr. Walshe has done amazing work. He went to New Zealand in 1959 and in the 1960s started a family and set up businesses there. He was actually the Irish, if you like, agent for Bord Fáilte, which became Tourism Ireland, promoting Ireland in New Zealand. He was also the agent for Butlers Chocolates and had many other interests. He is still hale and hearty. Last night, there was a gathering in Buswells Hotel to celebrate his visit to Ireland. He attended the rugby game and regardless of who won he was going to be happy, although he would have preferred if Ireland had beaten new Zealand. Many of us will wish New Zealand well at the weekend, while wishing it was Ireland in the final, of course.

On a more serious note, we have an upcoming bank holiday weekend. I ask all Senators to make an appeal to our followers and supporters and those who look at our social media content. There always seem to be more road fatalities, injuries and accidents on bank holiday weekends. There are obviously more people travelling on the roads and people may be distracted and tired. While enforcement and education play a part, it is up to all of us to be vigilant. I was cycling this morning and a lady nearly walked out onto the bike lane while listening to headphones. She was very apologetic and we were both happy that nothing happened but accidents are caused in a split second. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, will appear before the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, of which I am Chair, this afternoon to discuss road safety and his upcoming road safety Bill.We have had a very difficult year this year, particularly at weekends. The RSA came before the committee. The points it made related in particular to evenings, weekends, younger males, intoxication and speed. Those are the issues that feature over and over again. I am not trying to target anybody. I am trying to warn people so they can be safe. Let us have a bank holiday weekend where there are no accidents and no fatalities. That would be helpful to all of us.

I welcome Daniel Cline and Councillor Maguire, who I know very well, along with her mother May McKeon, who was a wonderful councillor for many years and with whom I served on the regional authority.

A story in today's edition of The Irish Timesrefers to Dublin Airport. We need a debate about the longer-term development of Dublin Airport. We are talking about having to cap numbers at Christmas so we need that debate.