Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the restoration of Bills to the Order Paper, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate, and No. 2, statements on Ireland's national plan under the Common Agricultural Policy, to be taken at 1.15 p.m., with the time allocated for the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, those of group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, with the possibility to share time, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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Many of us will be aware of the publication today of the report of the national claims information database, NCID. The establishment of the NCID was one of the recommendations made by the cost of insurance working group, which was established in 2016 by the then Minister for Finance. Today's NCID liability report may surprise you. Why? It states the average legal cost is less than €1,000 for cases finalised through the injuries board but in excess of €23,000 once cases enter litigation. Even more surprising is that the award for claimants – what they get or their payout – was €23,000 whether they went through the injuries board or litigation. The Government needs to encourage people to process their claims through the Injuries Resolution Board because, if we continue to see cases brought through the litigation process, it will continue to have an adverse effect on businesses, which could result in businesses closing and people losing their jobs.

The cost of insurance overheads for businesses and organisations is still a major problem. Today's report shows there has been a 17% increase from 2019 to 2023 in cases going through the litigation route. To add to that, the recommendation put before the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, to make an increase in respect of the personal injury guidelines, which commenced only in 2022, is a pure recipe for disaster. Our figures are still higher than those of many of our European counterparts, including our closest neighbour, the UK, and that is after the reductions of three years ago. To date, we have not seen the impact of the Government's substantial reforms from the past four years because insurance premiums are still not coming down and, in fact, have risen 17% since 2020. Insurance Ireland would lead you to believe this has all to do with inflation.

I call today for three very important tasks to be completed. First, we should encourage less litigation and more claims through the Injuries Resolution Board. Second, we should not increase the personal injury awards. Third, we should demand that insurers reduce premiums based on the many reforms they in fact requested years ago and are now completed. These three asks involve the Minister for Justice, the Minister responsible for insurance, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for enterprise. I call for a cohesive approach to ensure motorists, business owners, homeowners, sports clubs and local community organisations can obtain fair insurance.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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There is a need for a debate on the national swimming strategy for the period 2024 to 2027. This was launched last August by the then Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and aims to provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim. The strategy focuses on enhancing facilities, coaching, safety awareness and pathways for high-performance athletes. A key component is an allocation of €500,000 to Swim Ireland for hiring swimming activators within local authorities, promoting increased swimming participation.

Access, inclusion and disability form a really strong component of the strategy, ensuring people of all ages and abilities have access to swimming. Infrastructure and facilities comprise a huge part of the strategy also. I would like to raise this matter particularly in respect of my constituency in north County Dublin where we have no public swimming pool. There has been a campaign for many years to provide a public swimming pool in Balbriggan to serve the neighbouring communities of Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. There are 26,000 people living in Balbriggan, 12,000 in Skerries, 12,000 in Rush and 10,000 in Lusk. There are villages nearby, including Naul, Garristown, Ballyboughal, Oldtown and Loughshinny, with significant populations also, but there is no public swimming pool.

There is now a real divide in people's ability to access swimming facilities. Those who can afford to travel and have the time to travel a long distance can access a swimming pool and benefit from being able to swim whereas those who are not in this category simply cannot benefit. That is completely unacceptable. A site has been identified in Balbriggan to provide the swimming pool and Government funding is available but there seem to be roadblocks. We need to figure this out. If we had a debate on the national swimming strategy, we could tease these issues out with the Minister.

A cross-governmental committee was to be set up under the strategy. I would like an update on that. Education, lessons and coaching form part of the strategy, as does enhancing formal lessons within the education system. Many of our European counterparts have extremely high levels of swimming competency. Swimming is a core life skill we should all have being an island nation. Open-water swimming forms part of the strategy as well. It is a matter of improving open-water swimming facilities and promoting safety measures. We are an island nation. During Covid, many people took to sea swimming, so we need to encourage and facilitate this.

I refer to pathways and performance, boosting participation across all life stages, expanding club membership and developing pathways for potential high performers. Out of the seven Olympic medals Ireland won, three were for swimming. This is really significant, but without the facilities in all communities, I am afraid that young children in places like Balbriggan and Skerries cannot aspire to the heights of winning Olympic medals in the way they should. They cannot access a public swimming pool. I ask the Deputy Leader for a debate on the national swimming strategy. I would appreciate it.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I wish to speak about the issue of the rising consumption of energy drinks by young people and to speak about solutions. Energy drinks are widely available and aggressively marketed and contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants such as taurine. Research has shown that these drinks can have serious negative impacts on minors, including on their attention span, academic performance and physical and mental health, such as sleep disturbances, anxiety and even heart problems. Just last January, the HSE's lead expert on obesity spoke publicly about how the consumption of energy drinks has surged in recent years among under-18s in Ireland. He stated that a ban on children buying them would be very positive. From my experience of fostering more than 100 teenagers, I know they are already exploding with energy. Giving them energy leaves them crawling up the walls. To this end, I will introduce a Bill in the near future which will seek to prohibit the sale of stimulant drinks to individuals under the age of 18. It also includes provisions for clear warning labels on product packaging and a restriction on advertising targeted at minors. The aim is to protect children from the harmful effects of these beverages and to promote healthier choices. Work on this Bill sought expert opinions from children's advocacy groups, the Irish Heart Foundation, medical experts and teachers' unions. I believe this Bill will have popular support. Last summer, a public poll in TheJournal.ie found that 73% of people would support such an energy drink ban for under-18s while an additional 14% would be willing to support a ban for under-16s. We have a responsibility to safeguard the health and well-being of our children. By supporting this Bill, we can take a significant step to reducing the risks associated with energy drink consumption among minors. I look forward to hearing colleagues' views on the subject and kindly request their opinions and feedback.

While I have the floor, I remind everyone that there is a vote today to restore the Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill to Committee Stage. The Bill will be a decisive step towards recognising the exceptional contributions by many men and women all over the nation and the world to Ireland. I urge all Members to support it. I look forward to working with all Senators in advancing these initiatives.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I welcome people from St. Joseph's school, Rush, to the Gallery. They are most welcome. It is tradition in Seanad Éireann that there is no homework for the rest of the week. Always come on a Tuesday.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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I also welcome those from St. Joseph's in Rush. I am very familiar with it. It is great to see them all. They are all very welcome to Leinster House. Before they came in, I raised the issue of the need to develop a swimming pool for north County Dublin. It is an issue the guests have contacted me about through the years. I am working on it. I look forward to a trip to St. Joseph's in the near future.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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Surgical insemination of greyhounds is deeply disturbing and inhumane. It is a practice that continues to plague the greyhound industry in Ireland. It is a procedure where a female dog's uterus is removed, semen is injected into the uterus, the uterus is then returned to the greyhound and she is then sewn back up and expected to carry the litter of dogs for 60 days while recovering from this painful surgery. It is absolutely bizarre. Despite the Veterinary Council of Ireland saying it is unethical, this process is still allowed to continue in greyhounds. It is not only cruel but entirely unnecessary. It is a stark reminder of how the pursuit of profit can overshadow compassion and ethics. Surgical insemination is a painful and very risky procedure. The greyhound racing industry has long been criticised for its exploitation of these gentle and loyal animals, from overbreeding to abandonment and euthanasia. The industry's track record is riddled with cruelty. Enough is enough. Greyhounds, like all dogs and all sentient beings, deserve better. Last July, the Government closed a consultation on this barbaric process. Will the Minister come to the House and outline when there will be a ban on surgical insemination? It is an absolutely bizarre practice and should not be allowed in 2025.

I acknowledge the work Dog Law Ireland and WAG Rescue, My Lovely Horse and various rescue groups do around the country. They are amazing. They recently told me they have to turn away greyhounds because so many are being presented to them that they cannot take any more. It is heartbreaking. They are filled with compassion and empathy in their work. They do this for nothing other than the love of dogs and animals.

Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)
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I raise the issue of the tools available to councillors to enable them to effectively represent and advocate for their communities. South Dublin County Council has an online system called Membersnet. It allows public representatives - TDs and Senators can also use it - to put in queries and advocate for the people who need their assistance. This is an effective way for public representatives to communicate with the local authority and keep track of their queries. I was surprised to learn that not all local authorities have such a platform. During my time as a councillor, I found this an invaluable tool. I urge the Minister to roll it out to other local authorities, perhaps looking to South Dublin County Council as a benchmark of how this should work. The role of a councillor is a busy, demanding role. If there is a way of enabling councillors or any public representative to be more efficient, it should be explored and funded. As I said, it is a great resource. As politicians, we may differ in our beliefs but I would like to think our core value is the same - the betterment of our society. I am still in contact with my local community. It would be unjust if I was not. Access to this kind of platform is beneficial for representatives - not only councillors but also TDs and Senators - to ensure the best possible service to our communities. The role of a councillor is demanding. I acknowledge the hard work they carry out daily and call on the Minister to consider funding such a programme for all local authorities.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I have a question for the Department of Health. It is about the NowDoc out-of-hours service in Donegal. We appreciate it and it works well but I had a phone call over the weekend from a lady who went to the NowDoc service. She told me no patient records are shared with the NowDoc service in any part of the country for the out of hours service. It is great if you go and your local doctor is there and he knows you and your records, but 90% of the time when you go, there is a doctor you do not know. They have no digital records. Are there plans to digitalise these records so they can be shared with NowDoc? That lady was 80 years of age and hard of hearing. She did not know what medication she was on. She found it very frustrating. It might not take much to sort out. Will the Department answer if it will be digitalised soon?

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy Leader to call the Minister for sport to the Chamber. I wish to discuss the outcomes of the sports capital grant which has been allocated for the past five years, with an emphasis on whether the Department has audited the outcomes of the huge investment of nearly €500 million.This investment was made under the pillars of what the sports capital funding was set up for, which were inclusion, diversity, women in sport, the environment and impacts on the community.

The reason I am asking for this to be given consideration is that I want all sports organisations in receipt of these moneys to ensure people with additional needs are able to access the facilities and that the facilities are able to cater for people with additional needs. I do not want the past five years of sports capital funding to have been a tick-the-box exercise. I want every club which signed service level agreements with organisations, whereby those organisations willing to participate enabled the clubs to make a wholesome application, to have delivered that wholesome application to the very end. Community played a large part in the previous round of sports capital funding with a new tier of up to €500,000. What impact did this have in communities that worked with education? Are there lessons we could take from this for the next round of sports capital funding so that other communities could get on board? I ask the Deputy Leader to ensure the Minister for sport comes before the House so that we can see the outcomes of the sports capital funding.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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I request that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, come to the House to debate the standing of a driving test centre for Drogheda in County Louth. We had a temporary driving test centre between 2021 and 2023, which had the longest waiting list in the country. A total of 14 different locations were checked by the RSA when looking for a suitable location to relocate the centre. It did not find anything and we lost the driving test centre. At the time, the centre had a waiting list of 2,200 people. They were moved to nearby locations in Dundalk and Navan where, unfortunately, the waiting times are some of the longest in the country. I understand the Department and the RSA would like waiting times of between ten and 12 weeks for people to be invited to get a driving test. At present Navan has a waiting time of eight months and Dundalk has a five-month waiting time. Some of the reasons given for locations in Drogheda, County Louth, not being suitable were heavy traffic and speed ramps. I respectfully suggest these are the ideal conditions to carry out a driving test. We now have young drivers and learner drivers having to travel to various towns in the area where they have not taken lessons and they are not familiar with the routes. I would love to find out whether we have an update on the RSA finding a suitable location for a driving test centre in Drogheda, County Louth.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I want to address the issue of housing and the homeless crisis. I ask the Deputy Leader to call on the Minister for housing to come before the House and debate the ongoing housing crisis. Yesterday we saw a number of articles on CSO figures that paint a deeply concerning picture which demands immediate attention. We see that planning permissions for apartments plummeted by 39%, with a drop of more than 55% in the Dublin area alone. This means the number of new homes approved has fallen by more than 21%. This has reversed the positive completions mentioned for the previous year. The Government missed its targets last year and it looks like they will be missed again this year by 6,000. If approvals in the planning process dictate construction in the years ahead, it looks like we are heading for an even bigger crisis.

An article by the Oireachtas Library and Research Service on tackling homelessness shows that, except for the period of Covid, the number of people living in emergency accommodation has risen substantially year on year since 2015. These figures are not just numbers; they are homes for families, they mean increased pressure on renters and they mean prolonged hardship. We see this every day at the Lighthouse Cafe. The industry has said time and again that planning bottlenecks, expiring permissions and rental regulation uncertainty are blocking development. We need to discuss solutions such as extending existing permissions, reviewing the rent pressure legislation and ensuring the national planning framework facilitates and does not hinder development. I urge the Minister for housing to come before the House urgently. We need a full debate on the alarming trends mentioned in so many of the articles yesterday. We need to hear what steps the Government is taking to deal with these. I have been involved in our housing system for many years and I believe it is at breaking point and we cannot stand idly by.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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We are eight weeks out from Storm Éowyn and we still have many difficulties in my area in Cavan. To date, the Department of Social Protection has received 66,000 applications for the humanitarian assistance scheme with only one third of them approved. Many people have been in touch in recent days to say their applications for support have been rejected. In fact, some people have not received any response, not even an acknowledgement letter. All of the rejection letters read the same. They state lost freezer or fridge contents or damaged clothing are not covered under the scheme. I took the liberty of bringing the application form with me to the Chamber today. The first line on the form explains the humanitarian assistance scheme is designed to meet the costs of essential needs such as food, clothing and personal items. People are confused about being refused compensation for the very items the scheme is set out to cover. I ask that the Minister for Social Protection clarify what the scheme is for. We need to get immediate clarity when it comes to the scheme. While I welcome the Taoiseach's comments yesterday that the scheme will be extended, I ask him to review urgently how the scheme is being delivered and why people's requests for help are being rejected.

A worrying development since the storm has very become noticeable in my area. This is the number of elderly people who have been pressing their panic buttons seeking assistance only to find the panic buttons are not working and nobody has come to their aid. Recently in my area three people passed away because nobody was able to come to their assistance. The Minister for communications needs to address this as soon as possible.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Justice to introduce legislative protections for retailers to protect them from spurious and vexatious defamation claims. The Deputy Leader and I are aware that shopkeepers are up early in the morning, providing essential front-line services in all of our communities. A recent survey of retailers found that 94% of them have been impacted by shoplifting in the past year alone. This will not come as any surprise to anybody looking at the CSO crime statistics which recorded an 8% increase in thefts. In the Dublin metropolitan area where I live, there was a 13% increase. Half of all of these thefts were shoplifting offences but we have the ridiculous situation today that if a retailer asks someone whether they have paid for goods in their shops, they can face a defamation claim. They can face a court ordeal of being sued for defamation. It is absolutely farcical that these people, who provide an essential front-line service, provide employment and support our communities, are being hindered in this way. Their businesses are being undermined. The provision of the service they offer to our communities is being undermined. The employment they provide is being undermined. I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Justice that, when bringing forward the defamation Bill commenced last year, he makes amendments to it to protect retailers from vexatious and spurious defamation claims.

Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail)
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As I rise today, I thank the Cathaoirleach and commend him on the great work he has been doing with the Irish diaspora, strengthening our links through all our different established elected bodies and caucuses throughout America. Well done; it certainly does not go unnoticed.

There are a couple of little issues I wish to raise. I agree with Senator Aubrey McCarthy with regard to bringing the Minister for housing to the House. It would be good to have a debate on housing and the general direction we are going in that regard. It is something the previous Minister did on a couple of occasions. It would be useful, and I would certainly like to second that proposal.

Tomorrow is World Down Syndrome Day and, as the theme for this year, they are seeking more supports and help with care and care initiatives. I said I would be delighted to air that in the House. I know it is an issue that is very close to the heart of the Deputy Leader as well.

With regard to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, there has been no feedback or follow-through to the councils for national roads and money for national roads. There usually is at this time of year. It would usually be in the mix and the councils would have a greater oversight of what is going on with different national roads. I ask that the new Minister for Transport come to the House and discuss the plans for TII, the roll-out with councils and the plan for different national roads going forward.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I join with others in commending the Cathaoirleach on his round of engagements in the US. As always, he did us very proud there. He is fiercely committed to it and that special relationship with the United States of America. That prompted me as I was coming up the stairs where we now have a collection of photographs to consider again the John F. Kennedy battle flag that was on display for many years at the bottom of the stairs. It is the item that is most sought after and prized in these Houses. That and the Proclamation are perhaps the most significant symbols within these Houses, and I would like the Deputy Leader, in liaison with the Cathaoirleach, to organise for a report to be done on that. Of course, John F. Kennedy came in 1963 and presented the flag, which is well documented, and it should be displayed. I will leave that with the Deputy Leader. I want a report on it. There would usually be other channels but they are not available at the moment. The commission is in abeyance and I do not want to go out of here this summer or Easter and not know what is happening. When the next American or anyone else comes to this House, I want to bring them to that flag.

I will finish up by asking the Deputy Leader if we could have a debate on rural housing. I thank her and the Leader's office for organising a debate with the Minister for agriculture on the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, today. We can talk about all the common agricultural policies we like but if we do not have young farmers and families living in rural communities in houses on land that they own or their families own, we will not sustain and support small farm enterprises across this country. We have had successive Governments promise us draft planning guidelines. At one point it was suggested that the Green Party was an impediment to progress here. We now have a new Government and a new Administration, and it is important that we have the Minister for housing come to this House and tell us what the plans are. How can we take away the obstacles faced by people in the Deputy Leader's area of Kildare, or those in Galway, Kerry or wherever it may be? People want to live on the land of their heritage and their forebears. It is important, particularly in the context of developing rural communities and sustainable agriculture under CAP.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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As there are no other Senators offering, I ask the Deputy Leader to respond on the Order of Business.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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On International Day of Happiness, I wish everybody a very happy weekend.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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We are happy too.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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We started off the Order of Business this morning with Senator Linda Nelson Murray, who spoke about the report that showed that a lot of people who are making claims are going towards litigation, rather than going for mediation. There has been a 17% increase in the number of cases going through litigation. Basically, the insurance claims that are being paid out are higher than those in England and our other neighbours across the water. Senator Nelson Murray has asked for a debate. There are four different Ministers involved on this issue, and this is what the problem is. It involves the Ministers with responsibility for justice, insurance, enterprise and finance. It is an important issue. We certainly want to encourage less litigation and we do not want to see increases in payments. We want to ensure that insurance companies do not charge more than we are already being charged. We will take a look at who we can bring in to discuss this but, as I said, it is across four different Departments.

Senator Clifford-Lee spoke about the need for a debate on the national swimming strategy, which was launched last September by the then Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne. The Senator is absolutely correct regarding access and how important it is for people to be able to go to swimming lessons and to swim. It is an awful shame that the Senator's constituency does not have any public swimming pool. She referred to various areas, such as Balbriggan, Skerries and Rush. It is interesting that there was a group of young people from Rush here while she was speaking. There absolutely is a divide. I see the same in my constituency, where we only have one public swimming pool, which is right down the far end of the constituency. The Senator referred to the site in Balbriggan that has been identified and for which money has been put in place. It is ridiculous at this point in time that there are blockages there. We will certainly look for a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, who now has responsibility for sport, as the Senator is aware. As the Senator pointed out, the fact that swimming accounted for three of the seven medals Ireland won at the last Olympics shows that swimming is an area where we excel, and we need to help develop and support it. That is something I am happy to look for.

Senator Keogan spoke about the rise in the consumption of energy drinks, the high levels of caffeine and other substances they contain, and the surge in consumption referred to by the HSE's lead expert on obesity. The Senator spoke about a Bill she is introducing. I wish the Senator well with that and we look forward to it being presented here and going through the different Stages. The Senator also spoke about the Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill being restored to the Order Paper.

Senator Andrews spoke about something I had not heard about before, namely, surgical insemination, which is used for greyhounds. I looked it up while the Senator was speaking. There is a greyhound track near me in Newbridge and, having grown up in a rural community, I am well aware of and know many greyhound owners and trainers, who look after their greyhounds very well, I may add. I saw that the success rate can only be 11.7%. I cannot understand why anyone would go through with such a barbaric type of intervention when the success rate is so low. The Senator rightly said that veterinary practitioners announced in April 2024 that they had updated their code to state that veterinarians should not practise this. I agree with the Senator; it absolutely should be banned, and we will certainly have a conversation with the Minister for agriculture on that. We have to support all the wonderful volunteers who work in the animal welfare sector, who put so much work into supporting the victims of violence against animals.

Senator Costello spoke about the need to support public representatives, particularly councillors, and the fact that South Dublin County Council has a very good method for getting, assessing and responding to queries. I am conscious that each local authority has its own way of dealing with this but it is important that we look at best practices around the country and try to share those. We will be looking for a debate with the Minister for local government with regard to how we can support local councillors, and I suggest this is something we will discuss at that time.

Senator Manus Boyle spoke about the NowDoc service in Donegal and the fact that there are no digital records shared. My understanding from a similar scheme we have in Kildare is that the doctors who are partners and part of that scheme allow access to records relating to their patients.I appreciate it is very difficult for somebody who is not a patient of one of the partners or participants in the scheme. I know there are GDPR issues, but I understand that the Department are looking at the digitisation of records. I do not have an update at this point but it is something we will certainly look for. Anything we can do to help support vulnerable patients and older patients in particular is important, as the Senator pointed out.

Senator Rabbitte spoke about the need for the Minister for sport to do an assessment and audit of the outcomes of the sports capital grant over the past five years. Senator Rabbitte is absolutely right. Over recent years we have focused on grants going to clubs that focus on inclusion, diversity, the impact on the community and on women's sports. It is important an assessment is done in order that we can see the impact. That is something we will ask the Minister to do and to give us a report on.

Senator Comyn spoke about the driving test centre in Drogheda that is no longer there. They obviously did a lot of work there between 2021 and 2023. That the centre had the longest waiting time shows there was a real need for it. Now young people and, indeed, older people doing their driving test have to go to Dundalk and to Navan. The reopening of that centre is certainly something that should be encouraged and supported. We will do that from here but I suggest Senator Comyn put in a Commencement matter on the much-needed reopening of the Drogheda centre.

Senator McCarthy spoke about housing and homelessness. I thank him for all the work that he has done over recent years. I have joined him on a visit to some of the centres that he has opened and I have witnessed the work he does for the homeless. He asked for a debate with the Minister for housing. I am pleased to tell him we will be having that debate with the Minister for housing on 2 April on a number of different issues, homelessness being one of them. Affordable housing is another key area we need to focus on. There is a commitment within the programme for Government that all Departments would focus on this, not just the Minister and Department for housing in isolation. We look forward to 2 April.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about Storm Éowyn and mentioned the fact that only a third of those who have contacted her had been approved for the assistance scheme, with some having been rejected and some not even having been acknowledged. There should always be an acknowledgment. It is regrettable that people did not get an acknowledgment. Obviously, there have to be criteria. I did a quick check while she was speaking about it. I understand that, as of last week, 66,887 claims were received, with a total of 23,000 having been awarded to the value of €5.2 million. It is still ongoing. Food is included, but anything covered by home insurance is not because that should be the first call. The Senator also raised the issue of panic buttons not working. In my experience there is always a community scheme that looks after panic buttons. It is normally a community alert scheme. I work with a number of them. The LBDC scheme checks twice yearly with members. I suggest that as the first port of call.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Without interruption, please.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I am responding that, to the best of my knowledge, that is the way that works. It is very regrettable when we have a situation like that. If there is something that can be done at a national level, certainly that should be done. The Senator might bring that to our attention.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the issues of vexatious claims impacting on retail workers. It is shocking. We see from reports and surveys that the level of shoplifting has increased year on year. The fact that 94% of retailers are impacted is shocking. It is very difficult when there are vexatious claims. It is important the Minister for Justice would look at the defamation laws to make sure those in retail, particularly the owners, cannot be sued for defamation. I agree an amendment should be put in place. That is something we will bring forward from this House to the Minister for Justice.

Senator Davitt and Senator Boyhan praised the Cathaoirleach. I acknowledge that and support and endorse the work the Cathaoirleach has been doing and that has been done all of those who have represented the Oireachtas right across the world.

Senator Davitt spoke about tomorrow being World Down Syndrome Day. It is a day when we celebrate and support those who have been born with an extra chromosome. My brother will be 50 next week. We are having all his birthday celebrations, together with my ten other siblings, on Saturday for a whole day of celebrations and enjoyment.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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A month of celebrations.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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He wants a year of celebrations. We could have that as well. In fact, his birthday is on Thursday so we are having lunch in Leinster House because this is the place he felt he would want to be to celebrate. All here are welcome to come in and sing “Happy Birthday”.

Senator Davitt also spoke about national roads and that we need a debate on TII. When it comes to roads and transport, we are in a difficult situation because we have TII and we have the NTA, which, to a certain extent, operate at a remove from the Department of Transport. We need to have a strong debate about the Department and the linkages to TII and the NTA to make sure Government policy is rolled out as intended because, unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the Gettysburg flag. I agree with him 100%. For visitors to Leinster House, and not just delegations from the USA or VIPs but also the schools we bring in, and for friends, supporters and others from our communities, being able to witness that was really something special. It is important we have it reinstated. We will send a formal request from the Leader's office to ensure it is reinstated. I understand there were restoration works going on with it.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Yes.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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We will get an update on that. The Senator is right about rural housing. It is hugely important in my own county and throughout the country. We need to see rural communities survive and thrive. We cannot do that at the moment with the stringent conditions there are on rural housing. I acknowledge former Deputy, Eamon Ó Cuív, who did a lot of good work and put a lot of good policies in place. I understand there is a big celebration in Galway on Saturday night of his many years of service to Leinster House, to the people of his constituency, and to the people of the country while he was a Minister. I wish him well with that. Developing rural communities has to be a priority for us all. I support the call and we will look for that debate.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I wish the Deputy Leader's brother a happy birthday. I also welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the guests of Deputy John Connolly, who are here from the Irish Wheelchair Association.