Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)

I thank all Senators for their contributions, the majority of which raised the untimely passing of Dr. Martin Mansergh. We will have an opportunity to agree a motion later expressing condolences and sympathy with his family and with our colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee, on the passing of her mother, Mary. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.

Senator O'Loughlin raised the 20-point peace plan between the United States and Israel. I certainly hope it will yield the results we all desperately want. I have stated often that there is only one person Prime Minister Netanyahu will listen to, ultimately, and that is President Trump. I hope agreement can be reached for all citizens of Gaza and indeed the wider area. The Senator also commented on her recent trip to Ukraine and expressed solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people. We can all agree to that.

Senator P.J. Murphy as a commercial beekeeper raised the issue of the Asian hornets' nests located in Cork and explained the delays and problems that will arise if there are discoveries of hornets next year. He called for a retrospective derogation for the use of technology to track and monitor hornets' flights to their mother colony. I suggest he table a Commencement matter on that to get a fuller response from the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Deputy O'Sullivan, because it is an important issue.

Senators Tully and Black raised the flotilla to Gaza. Our colleague, Senator Andrews, is on that and has called for strong public support for it. I have no doubt the Minister, Deputy Harris, and his Department are monitoring the situation and will liaise with relevant individuals. We hope the flotilla is allowed to pass through and deliver its much-needed aid to the people of Gaza.

D'ardaigh an Seanadóir Ní Chuilinn seirbhísí nuachta TG4 agus tá sí ag lorg go mbeidh téarmaí tagartha agus feidhmeanna TG4 neamhspleách. Aontaím go hiomlán lena tuairimí. Molaim go n-ardaíonn sí an cheist mar ní i dtosach suíonna chun freagra níos iomláine a fháil.

Luaigh an Seanadóir Flynn an easpa díospóireachta sa toghchán uachtaránachta. Le bheith féaráilte do TG4 agus RTÉ, tá muid i lár phróiseas uachtaránachta. Is próiseas dlíthiúil é. Níl Gaeilge líofa ag an triúr iarrthóir atá ag seasamh sa toghchán. Luaigh sí freisin go raibh díospóireacht as Gaeilge san olltoghchán in 2021 ach bhí Gaeilge ag an am sin ag Enda Kenny, Micheál Martin agus Eamon Gilmore. Is é sin an fáth go rabhthas in ann dul ar aghaidh le díospóireacht ag an am sin. Nil Gaeilge líofa ag Heather Humphries ná Jim Gavin. Is é sin an fáth nach mbeidh díospóireacht ann. Beidh siad in ann ceisteanna a fhreagairt faoi chúrsaí Gaeilge as Béarla. Sin a mbeidh siad in ann a dhéanamh.

Senator Keogan raised the NOAC report - NOAC is the oversight body for local authorities - on vacancies in social housing and the costs and delays associated with that. Unfortunately, there are delays that are too long. Many local authorities, when there is a vacancy, take the opportunity to do deep retrofit and that takes a long time. It is not a case of one person leaving, getting the house ready and handing over the keys. In many cases, that retrofitting piece is responsible for the delays. I will request a debate on housing, to include retrofitting.

Senator Comyn raised the tragedy in Drumgowna and Tallanstown yesterday in the O'Connor family. Obviously, there is a Garda investigation. The Senator painted a picture of a family that was well known, liked and respected. It was an absolute tragedy and our thoughts go out to all involved, the extended family, neighbours and friends in the area.

Senator Boyle raised the case of a young girl with type 1 diabetes. I have asked him to table a Commencement debate on the matter or to speak directly with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on the assessments needed. Senators Dee Ryan, Maria Byrne and Martin Conway raised the situation in the mid-west. Unfortunately, it is a hospital that has suffered a lot of publicity for overcrowding over the years. When I was a member of the health committee, there was a special meeting of that committee during the previous Oireachtas on this. I welcome the publication of the report. All three Senators talked of the recommendations that have been expressed. It is important that the Minister, obviously, and the Government agree on a path forward as quickly as possible in the interests of people in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and the extended area. I will request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, because it is of importance and a number of Senators from the general area would like feed into that debate. I will request that debate as soon as possible.

Senator Scahill raised the issue of apps for older people, particularly in relation to technologies and vending machines. I will certainly raise that. The Senator is on the Committee on Artificial Intelligence. I am sure he will continue his work in relation to whatever recommendations will come from that. If he puts down a Commencement matter or talks directly to Iarnród Éireann about the situation, it might improve, but he talked about technology that is 20 years old.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised the matter of men's health, particularly mental health supports, facilities for men and out-of-hours supports. Again, I will request a debate on mental health services at the earliest opportunity. It is a very important area. Unfortunately, there is such a high rate of suicide among men, particularly young men, that there certainly needs to be concerted effort by Government and by us all.

Senator Flaherty raised a matter that is - or was, I am not sure - before the courts and the outcome of the verdict. There is a process in relation to school places and the reporting of information, so I am not sure what happened in that case. I dealt with cases, as I am sure we all have, where schools have lost teachers based on the data they provided, including that there was not enough or it was insufficient. A case was in the news this week in County Clare where a school is one pupil short of keeping the school open. Rules are laid down. I am not sure exactly what happened in this case but I will speak to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and draw her attention to Senator Flaherty raising this matter.

Senator McCarthy raised the issue of voluntary return allowances for asylum seekers. The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, was before the House last week so I am not sure we will be able to get him in again, but if the Senator raises this matter in a Commencement debate, he might be able to get a fuller response on the Government's plans in this whole area. This is part of a package of measures the Government is initiating in respect of asylum.