Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)

I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator O'Loughlin raised the recent annual report by Women's Aid and the concerning details disclosed within it. She was supported by Senators Nelson Murray and McCarthy on matters pertaining to Women's Aid. Senator O'Loughlin welcomed the targeted implementation plan and the 985 different actions. She also called for a special Oireachtas committee on gender-based violence. I would be supportive of that. I know the Senator can work through the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight to try to push that forward. I believe it would be a worthy committee that would have a lot of work to do. It would be widely supported.

The Senator also raised issues in respect of the ASI lobby and dementia advisers and suggested that their requests were in line with the programme for Government commitments. That topic was also raised by Senator Sarah O'Reilly, who welcomed the signing of the national dementia registry and called for engagement in the House with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. I will request a debate on the whole issue of dementia. It is a worthy issue.

Senator Nelson Murray also commended the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, on the launch and work of Cuan. I certainly agree with that.

Senator Clonan raised the horrific and ongoing atrocities, including forced starvation, in Gaza and the fact there are children dying of thirst. No words that I have can adequately express what is going on in that part of the world. The Minister was in the House recently. I will request a further debate, or indeed ongoing debates, in respect of the topic. It is something we are witnessing.As I have said, I do not have a solution, but I condemn what is going on. I hope the United Nations and European Union can take a firmer hand and that Israel allows much-needed aid to be available to the citizens of Gaza.

Senator Andrews mentioned the sustainable living initiative and the students who were there earlier, and I wish them well in their endeavours. He also raised issues regarding XL bullies and the regulations and mandatory training for wardens. I will request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on this. There is divergence regarding who is in charge but what is now the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht was involved in the initial regulations. We will request a debate.

Senator Stephenson spoke about freedom of speech and called for a debate on the matter. She spoke about the overreach of the US Administration on J1 visas. I have commented on this a number of times and said it is that Administration's country and rules, which, to a degree, is correct. The Tánaiste has undertaken to engage with the ambassador on these matters. We certainly hope that Irish students can continue to avail of the J1 experience in the coming years. It is important that it be available. We will await further updates from the Tánaiste and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Senator Daly raised the tractor driving test for 16-year-olds and recent commentary and some opposition from the RSA. He is right, of course, that these are very large machines that 16-year-olds can get up on. He has called for training at an earlier age at 15-and-a-half or 15 to make them better able to drive such machines. He also spoke about the number of deaths on Irish farms involving tractors and said there were 28 such deaths between 2020 and 2024. I look forward to engagement with the RSA on this matter. I am sure the committee on agriculture will also be involved in this in the coming months.

Senator Boyle spoke about hedge cutting and hedge trimming. He has even taken action himself. I will not condemn him because if he is improving road safety at junctions, it is within the law. It is within the law for local authorities to trim roadsides in the off season if it improves road safety and is necessary. Some local authorities do and some do not. There may be an issue of funding or there may not be. Transport Infrastructure Ireland is in charge of trimming and verge cutting on national roads but county roads and regional roads are matters for the local authority. Senator Boyle is right that they will say it is the responsibility of farmers, but at the end of the day, various local authorities operate in various fashions. In most cases, it is a matter for the local authority to go out and spend money on doing this job. In Galway, some of the local councillors have used some of their discretionary funding to support this work, which improves safety on our roads.

Senator Boyhan called for a debate on the diaspora, which I will try to organise. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, came before the House a number of months ago on this matter.

Senator Fitzpatrick welcomed the approval by the Government of the Dublin city task force, which has three objectives. These are to have more people living in the city, cleaner and safer communities, and a vibrant city. In my view, she quite wrongly tried to suggest that Fine Gael was against this, or tried to stop it, a number of years ago. The then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, was involved in initiating the north east inner city initiative back in 2016. One of his final engagements as Taoiseach was to visit the initiative. It could be argued this was a precursor to a larger task force for the city.

Senator Brady gave a very eloquent contribution on homegrown talent and Irish bands. I concur with everything he said, as would most people. We have seen in the past homegrown talent in larger acts such as U2 and also in lesser known ones. They make a valuable contribution to Irish culture and have become known on a worldwide stage. I wish him well on continuing to promote Irish talent.

Senator Craughwell spoke of yesterday's committee meeting with the Department of Defence. He is well able to put questions, which he did. He had three rounds of questions to the Secretary General of the Department of Defence and to the Chief of Staff. I am sure he will be able to follow up on some of the points at the committee.

Senator Costello thanked everybody involved in the Bohernabreena vintage car show. Certainly from her description, it sounded like a wonderful day. I wish them well in their future endeavours.

Senator Duffy wished well all those involved in climbing the five peaks, ending at Croagh Patrick in Mayo, for the James McNeive Foundation. I certainly join him in this. He also spoke about CCTV in our towns and villages. I know there were issues in the past about the legality of these, which have been sorted, and now it is a case of funding. He can table a Commencement matter to the Department of justice on what funding is available or might be available. Perhaps it might be to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

Senator Blaney raised the A5 road, which was also raised yesterday by Senators Boyle and O'Reilly. I put on record again that the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland has confirmed she will consider the judgment in full and remains committed to delivering the A5 upgrade. The Minister for Transport and the Department here will continue to engage with their Northern Ireland Executive counterparts on this, with a view to seeing the project move forward as soon as possible. I concur. We have asked the Taoiseach to come to the House, which he has said will not happen before the recess. This is an issue that I am sure Senators can raise with him. Senator Fitzpatrick can also raise the issue of the city task force with him, and other Senators have raised issues such as the shared island fund.