Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I formally second Senator McDowell's amendment to the Order of Business today. It relates to the Health (Scoliosis Treatment Services) Bill 2024. The Bill, which will not be outlined today, seeks to impose on the Health Service Executive certain special duties and powers in relation to the establishment of a specialised treatment service for the inpatient and outpatient treatment of children and adults of spinal scoliosis who are resident in the State and to confer certain duties and powers on the Minister for Health in relation to the service to be established and to provide for related matters. Hopefully, we will have the support of the House on that matter today.

I would like to flag that Bord Bia Bloom is on this weekend, starting tomorrow. It is a major showcase for the horticultural sector and, indeed, the agricultural sector. I was briefly on-site last night. Visitors will see a showcase of over 100 Irish artisan food producers. I particularly thank the Department of agriculture, Bord Bia, Teagasc and others who are staging this event on 70 acres in the Phoenix Park. It is a wonderful showcase of our sector and it needs to be supported. Linked in all of this, of course, is the vibrance of rural communities, particularly artisan food production that is so amazingly fantastic in terms of micro-enterprises that have grown to be big, serious enterprises in Ireland. I thank Enterprise Ireland and, indeed, the local enterprise offices, LEOs. Many of these little businesses started with LEO support. It is a great showcase for agriculture, food and horticulture. All the State Departments are taking stands there. It is worthy of support. Hopefully, we will have support. Maybe the Senators might spread the word.