Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

Before I read out the Commencement matters, I note that Senator Ahearn has guests in the Visitors Gallery who got married on Thursday. Congratulations to John and Mairead Casey. As a honeymoon visit of all visits, I question their choice of location. I hope she likes politics. I thank them for coming to the House and I thank Senator Ahearn for bringing in the Caseys. I congratulate them and wish them long life and happiness. We have guests of Deputy Cormac Devlin visiting. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. We also have some county councillors from Tipperary. I thank them for attending. John O'Heney and Liam Browne are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Senator Keogan had coffee with them earlier and we had a bite to eat. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:

Senator Victor Boyhan - the need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on engagement with Dublin City Council on the regeneration of the Pearse House residential complex.

Senator Gareth Scahill - the need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to conduct a review of the fire brigade service areas nationally to ensure the provision of services and response times reflect the most recent census data.

Senator Mark Duffy - the need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the mechanisms to shorten the planning process to deliver critical infrastructure, including amending legislation to allow Uisce Éireann to avail of the Part 8 planning process in partnership with local authorities.

Senator Dee Ryan - the need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the provision of additional funding for the expansion of metropolitan bus services in east Limerick.

Senator Nessa Cosgrove - the need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to suspend implementation of GAEC 2 until 2026 to allow time for the identification of all peatlands and wetlands impacted and to inform affected farmers.

Senator Chris Andrews - the need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on An Post services in south Dublin city.

Senator Aubrey McCarthy - the need for the Minister for Justice to make a statement on the online booking system for immigration appointments at Burgh Quay, Dublin 2; and to assist a person who has issues making a booking.

The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion. I have selected Senators Boyhan, Scahill, Duffy and Ryan and they will be taken now. I regret I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Andrews on the ground that the Minister has no official responsibility in that area. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.