Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)

Yes, I will certainly ask for that again in September.

Senators Ruane and Andrews raised the issue of GAA Palestine. I acknowledge the coverage this is getting, and rightly so. The Minister for justice has made his comments. I know there are appeals going on. The Department stated:

Each visa application is decided on its own merits. However, it is the case that the organisation of an event, no matter how good the intention, does not guarantee that a visa will be subsequently granted. Applications made [particularly] on behalf of minors who are not travelling in the company of their parents must be supported with evidence that appropriate child protection measures are in place during the visit. In all cases, evidence of financial means, employment or other ties that indicate a person intends to return home are important criteria.

This is under appeal. I acknowledge the sentiments expressed here and, indeed, in the emails we have received to our offices on these matters. I certainly hope that a resolution can be gotten on this very important matter.

Senator Comyn raised the ambulances, and an interesting case in terms of the overtriaging of calls, which means that more urgent calls are not being dealt with. I will certainly request a debate with the Minister for Health on the ambulance service.

Senator Boyle raised Glenveagh National Park. I will maybe ask him to table a Commencement matter on this matter because I would not have up-to-date information. It is a staffing matter. I am not sure if there is an inability to get staff or if there is a funding issue but certainly our national parks are important. I will request a debate on our national parks with the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, in the autumn.

Senator McCarthy raised issues regarding small businesses, small firms associations and restaurant associations. Again, he listed a number of budgetary issues that could be looked at, including a temporary PRSI rebate, cuts in rates and, of course, the VAT rate, which is mentioned in the programme for Government. We will have opportunities over the coming weeks to raise budgetary matters.

Senator Duffy raised the issue of the Newport sewerage scheme. I will ask him to table a Commencement matter or raise it through the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Senator Brady raised the issue of sheep and lamb prices and called for a debate on the sector. I am sure he is also raising this at the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, which could call in representatives from MII to debate this issue. We know the quality product that is produced by sheep farmers in this country. They have had a lot of difficult years. They have the odd good year and it is not right that they have seen a 20 cent cut just like that over the last short period.

Senator Noonan raised the EU multiannual financial framework. There are initial proposals from the European Commission that indicate that from the start of the next EU budgetary cycle in 2028, the Commission plans to pool dedicated agricultural and rural financial supports into a single national and regional partnership fund. This has caused concerns, particularly in LEADER companies, due to the impact that would have on funding and processing and everything else like that. It is looking at amalgamating or merging the CAP with EU cohesion, migration and infrastructure funding. I am not sure of the rationale behind that, but I am sure there will be an opportunity to debate that when we come back. Obviously, the MEPs will have a critical role in that as well.

Senator Conway raised the tragic case of a young man who was beaten to death by settlers. I acknowledge that and give our sympathies to his family.

Senator O'Reilly raised the issue of scams. ComReg has started dealing with that with regard to text scams that are coming through. I have gotten a few of them, which come up as being a likely scam. He has called on groups and organisations to register with ComReg to prove they are legitimate and the numbers they are using for text messages are legitimate. However, there is a wider issue here with regard to vulnerable people - older people in the main, but not exclusively - who are taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals. I will certainly raise that with the Minister and request a debate on the matter.

Senator Harmon raised the issue of the Palestinian GAA team. I apologise; I should have referenced her earlier.She talked about the occupied territories Bill, or the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill 2025, which is the Government proposal. That will obviously have to come through the Houses as quickly as possible once we come back. The pre-legislative scrutiny is being dealt with at the moment and a report should be published and agreed before the recess to allow that to be drafted.

Senator Flaherty raised the public participation networks and funding for those. I will request a debate on that. However, if he can start a Commencement debate with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, he may get a direct response.

Senator Keogan put forward issues relating to budgetary matters, household benefits and free broadband packages for the elderly. She also highlighted CSO statistics on the population getting older, which raise a lot of issues about care of the elderly and all of that. I acknowledge the importance of that and again that is something to engage with the Minister for Finance on with regard to budget 2026.

Senator Higgins raised the EU Council meeting and requested that the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, come to the House in September. I will request that. It is normal that there would be EU Council meeting statements in the other House. I will request on this occasion that he come here to talk about this particular Council meeting and what plans Ireland has, and the informal feedback from other countries regarding these matters.

Senator Boyhan talked of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill. I acknowledge that we unfortunately had a guillotine yesterday. The Bill is scheduled for debate in the Dáil today, so it was out of my hands. It had to get through this House to allow for the turnaround, amendments, reprinting and all of that for the other House today. He also requested that the new national housing policy be published. I know that people are working on that, and it is important they get it right. Whatever proposals are in it, if there are budgetary matters, they will be funded as part of the budget in that agreement. It is important that be got right rather than rushed, whether it is published next week or the week after. I will certainly request, once it is published, that we have a debate in this House on the matter.