Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I too extend my voice of welcome to the Austrian ambassador. I also extend condolences to the Calnan family and to the Labour Party.

Tomorrow is an important day, not just in Brussels but across Europe, for an Irishman Séamus Boland who is the first Irish person to take the presidency of the European Economic and Social Committee, EESC. Many of us got to know Séamus through Irish Rural Link. He is an Irish community leader and a farmer. He is to be inaugurated tomorrow as president of a very significant organisation. Séamus has been a lifelong advocate for civil society and for rural communities. He attributes a lot of his success in life to his involvement with Macra na Feirme and through learning speech and drama, about which I had a very interesting conversation with him only recently. This is a very powerful example of grassroots activism and how it can absolutely influence European policy. It is important that we wish Séamus well and that we possibly look at some type of engagement down the line because he is taking a very important role.

Yesterday was a milestone day for Jennie's law. I absolutely so appreciate that in December 2023 the Members of this House gave their full support to the Second Stage of Jennies' law when I brought that Bill forward. We are now in a very significant space in this regard and I want to pay a huge tribute to Jason who has advocated relentlessly since the very sad and tragic passing of his sister Jennifer in April 2021. I thank the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. From day one when we examined proposals that would introduce a Jennie's law, he has been a very firm supporter. Now he has brought action to those words.

The last issue I want to raise is workforce planning. I understand that local authorities around the country are in the process of doing that now.Workplace planning is very important. It means a strategic approach to ensuring the right people with the right skills are in place to deliver public services effectively and sustainably. It is vital for improving service delivery and, of course, economic and community development under any of our local authorities. Staffing levels are currently being assessed. In Kildare in particular, which has two constituencies but only one council, and which has one of the fastest-growing populations, we urgently need more staff to meet the rising demand for services and support strategic growth in housing, community and infrastructure. We need to have a debate in this House on local government staffing because, all too often, the answers and replies that councillors, other public representatives and the public receive state that, due to decreased staffing levels, projects are not being delivered. We need to deliver them.