Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business, I welcome Ballyhaunis Community School to the Gallery as guests of Deputy Paul Lawless. I met some people earlier and they mentioned to me that there is no homework for the rest of the week for any visiting school. That is an order of the Seanad.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I, too, welcome the ambassador and wish her well on her country's celebrations. I know Malta's national day was on Sunday. I am sure the celebrations are still going on. I had the pleasure of visiting Malta some years ago. It is a beautiful country and the ambassador is welcome here this morning.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of appointments of members of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on public expenditure, infrastructure, public service reform and digitalisation, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister will be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 3, Mental Health Bill 2024 - Second Stage, to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude at 6 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed 15 minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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I, too, want to be associated with the remarks to the Maltese ambassador.

Today, I am asking for statements on autism to be held. I ask for this due to misinformation in the past number of weeks. It is not wrong to want to understand autism. Research is good, curiosity is good, and we should always try to learn more about the human brain. However, where it goes wrong is when people pretend they have found a solution to autism, as if the problem is the person. That is not science. That is fear dressed up as fact and it is dangerous. The real issue here is not autism; it is the international leaders trying to win votes through falsehoods. This may seem trivial, but it will cost lives. Autism is not caused by the lack of vitamins or by any paracetamol. Out there, there are women who are silently making a pact with themselves to struggle through pregnancy, their pelvises expanding painfully inside them without pain relief. Another mother secretly decides to skip the MMR vaccine but not tell anyone. This will cost lives. I have no solution to the problem being created across the Atlantic but what I would urge is that Members of this House commit to sticking to facts and science rather than vague speculation on what might or might not be causing the autism crisis. Autism is not a crisis. The crisis is the lack of support. The crisis is the lack of respect and the crisis is the failure to listen to autistic people themselves. Last night, AsIAm, issued its second press release in recent days. It stated that such remarks are not grounded in credible, scientific evidence and risk promoting a deeply medicalised, stigmatising and ultimately harmful view of autistic people. Autism is not a disease to be cured. Neither Irish health advice nor international scientific evidence link autism to paracetamol. It has been definitively established that there is no link between autism and vaccination. There is no evidence of overdiagnosis in Ireland either. Staying silent and not speaking on it would be to condone what is going on. We need to have statements on this issue and it would be important to bring the Minister to the House for us to have a fair and open conversation, to reassure parents and the neurodiverse community that we are listening and we have their backs.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome a very special guest, or rather guests, to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Julie Lyons is here with all her family. If anyone has ever been to Leinster House and eaten food here, it has been made with the loving tender care of Julie and all her team. She looks after everyone in Leinster House as if they are one of her own. She is here with all of her own. There are two children, Miranda and Dan, son-in-law Ed, daughter-in-law Lorraine, grandchildren Ruby, Lily, Teddy and George, sister Deirdre and brother Eamon. Partner Brendan is away.

Since I came here in 2007, she has looked after me and everybody we have brought in here with special care. She makes every occasion an occasion. She has served under nine taoisigh and treated each one of them the same as she treats all Members. There are lots of jokes and she is not one to point out how people are doing but she has a great sense of humour. We will miss her when she is gone from us here as she heads off for happy retirement. She must make sure to visit us loads - she does not have to do any more of the cooking. We really enjoyed all our time with her when she wandered around the self-service restaurant or the Members’ dining room and made great conversation and great friends. I thank her for all her service down through the years. That deserves a big round of applause.

Far be it from me to give anyone life advice but in Kenmare when three brothers who had been running the bakery for 49 years retired, they put a lovely handwritten note on the window thanking all their customers, friends and neighbours and everyone in the town for their service to the bakery and support down through the years. They wrote on the note, “Now we must learn the art of how to spend time without spending money”. When Julie learns that art, will she come back and tell us all? I thank her very much for all her service to Leinster House down through the years. We really appreciate it.

Anois, Senator Maria Byrne.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I wish to be associated with the Cathaoirleach’s remarks about Julie and her retirement. I thank her for everything. I think she is with us for another week or two but I wish her all the best in her retirement. She has always been very kind and courteous and looked after everybody so well. The food and everything has never been a letdown. Julie really is fantastic not only in the job she does but also in how she chats to everybody and embraces life. I wish her and her family the best in her retirement.

I received an email from a young girl recently who has very severe Crohn's disease. She spends a great deal of time in hospital because of her immune system and how weak she is, but she is thinking of her future. Eventually she will be able to have an operation to help with her illness but she is thinking about down the road, whether she would get married, her fertility and if she was to become pregnant. She was looking to see if she could have some of her eggs frozen. This is not covered by the Department of Health. You can have eggs frozen because of many illnesses but not Crohn's disease. This young girl is distraught and upset about how sick she is and thinking about her future. She is only 18. There needs to be some sort of flexibility for people who have a debilitating illness now. There is a chance that down the road in the coming years she will have a more balanced life and will not be as ill as she is now. She has not been at school for two years because she has had to spend so much time in hospital. The Department needs to be flexible in its approach and look at how it can support people like this young girl into the future because this means a lot to her. I would welcome any support the Leader can give me, such as writing to the Department, highlighting this issue and saying that he supports it.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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First, I salute Julie Lyons in our Distinguished Visitors Gallery with her huge family. I do not think the Gallery can take any more. Well done, Julie. What can I say about Julie Lyons? She has wined and dined – I will stop there – world leaders. She has many a story she could tell but she is always discreet. She has a great sense of humour but she is always discreet, which is an important part of the job. She nourishes us and feeds us but more importantly she is a constant friend and colleague to us all and knows all our quirks and ways. We will really miss Julie. She is more than special. She went way beyond catering. She went on about hospitality, which should be at the heart of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the people’s house, as I always say. She has been at the very kernel and very core of that in receiving in a most gracious and generous way the first person to represent us in this House. I salute her and I say that on behalf of the Seanad Independent Group, which I lead. I offer Julie our best wishes and thank her very much.

On a more important issue, I have spent all of my career in Seanad Éireann as an advocate. I do not see myself as a politician. I am a politician, but my principal job is to be an advocate for the voiceless, the people who do not always have a say and who are frozen out from dialogue and political engagement and that is what I will always continue to be. Yes, people have rights and democracy is democracy, but let us all be respectful and give ourselves the space to articulate the views that we believe in. "Choice" is a word that is tossed all around the place, but we must respect everyone’s decision and everyone’s choice. That is really important.

Today I want to make another plea for the people who were in residential care in institutions in this State run by religious and by non-religious, by the State and by the private sector, in education or in care in any form. We know they were vulnerable people. We know through the redress scheme and dialogue, as many here have articulated, that many suffered at the hands of those who were entrusted to look after them. Many of them suffered mental abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse and torture. They were humiliated and undermined. Their connection with their families was cut. Today, there are people outside this House on a hunger strike seeking advocacy and an enhanced medical card. I simply ask that Members not walk by the gate today without stopping and talking to them and listening to them. They are real people with real lives but most of them do not have something that most of us have – partners, families or friends. They feel forgotten and marginalised. As long as I am here, for every day and hour I am here, I am committed to doing it because I lived that life myself. I walked that road and shared that experience. That is what empowers my gut and drives me. I will not be stopped, discouraged or dissuaded. I will be true to myself and I will not stand for something I do not believe in. I thank my colleagues. Many have been consistently supportive of me in this advocacy work and I hope I can continue for a long time to keep that work, that candle and that flame burning. We have a task – we have an honour and a privilege – to shine a light in a dark place, to give hope to people. I hope we will be united, as most of us are, to continue with that advocacy work.

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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First, I would like to mention the shocking attacks on the aid flotilla to Gaza today, which is yet another disgraceful breach of international law.This is a humanitarian fleet of over 500 civilian volunteers and it was subjected to co-ordinated attacks in European waters off Crete. Aid is so desperately needed for the starving people in Gaza and everything that can be done must be done to ensure the aid safely reaches its destination. Drones, explosives and chemical dispersals targeted unarmed vessels, damaging the ships and endangering lives. The crew on board The Spectre, including our colleague, Senator Andrews, said they believe they were struck four times by drones. I hope all personnel on board are safe, but the world is watching now. We must not turn a blind eye to the illegal attacks on these flotillas.

The second item I want to raise is to call for a debate in this House on the cost of living and energy prices in particular. As families are struggling having just got kids back to school and the costs that go with that, they are now facing a winter of even higher energy bills. I hear from people in my area in Laois how they are really struggling. It is not just families but also single-income households that are struggling to pay bills and missing out on meals because they run out of money halfway through the week. We heard that four separate energy companies are raising their prices despite the fact that Ireland already has the highest electricity prices in Europe. This Government needs to start holding these companies to account. I would like a debate in this House not just on energy prices but also on the general cost of living.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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As I am sure all Senators know and as we heard from Senator McCormack, last night there was once again a breach of international law while the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful humanitarian mission sailing in international waters, was attacked by drones. These boats are a threat to absolutely no one. They carry baby formula, water and the most basic forms of aid. The people on board represent hope and huge amounts of courage. Our own colleague, Senator Andrews, is on board as well as 21 other Irish citizens. They find themselves under attack simply for standing up for the concepts of human dignity and human rights. For the Irish citizens and all of the global citizens on board, we must say enough is enough. We have always said Ireland has a proud history of defending those under siege, defending international law and championing human rights. Today, we have to live up to that truth and the expectation people have of us as representatives. I call on every Member of this House, in particular Senators in Government parties, to speak to their ministerial colleagues urgently and the Tánaiste and Minister for foreign affairs without delay to demand full accountability for this attack and insist on the safety of all of the Irish citizens on board. This is not about party politics; it is about our shared commitment to international law, the right of safe passage and the protection of civilians. If this attack on Irish citizens in international waters does not move us to act, then what will? Let us send a clear and united message from Seanad Éireann that Ireland will not tolerate attacks on our citizens or the targeting of humanitarian missions and will continue to stand up for justice, peace and human rights.

I also lend my support to what Senator Boyhan said regarding the women on hunger strike who have been camping outside Leinster House since Sunday night. They are women in their 60s and 70s who feel completely forgotten and isolated by the State. They have come into this Chamber and pleaded with us to stand up for their rights to healthcare, dignity and respect, having been systematically mistreated by the Irish State since the day they were born. It should not take women on hunger strike outside the Houses of the people for us to take action. I have written a letter to the Taoiseach asking that their demands be acknowledged and acted upon. I hope others will go out and meet them today as well.

Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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I join my colleagues in relation to what happened to the Global Sumud. It is really concerning that there is not more uproar about the targeting of civilian boats in European waters off the coast of Crete. We are meant to be part of a European Union that is supposed to be underpinned by the principles not only of peace but also international law. It is not acceptable that we would allow and accept in international waters, especially in European waters, that drones can target and damage boats and drop chemicals on 500 civilians who have put their lives at risk to continue to draw attention to the atrocities in Gaza. As a country, we need be strong in the moment it is happening. There needs to be a statement from the Department of foreign affairs now, today, in relation to what is happening to the Global Sumud Flotilla not only because there are 22 Irish citizens on it but because it is wrong. On every level, we are bowing down to the violation of international law by Israel day after day.

I want to draw attention to the appalling comments by Deputy Troy that when it comes to housing, we should house those who have a job first. I could not believe in 2025 that we would have a parliamentarian who does not understand the idea of supporting the most vulnerable in our society, those with the least. Saying we should make sure they are housed last is so unintelligent, not even to understand an analysis of class and why people end up homeless or unemployed in the first place.

We come back to a new term with a new level of energy but to come in to Commencement matters on the first day of term and have no appropriate Minister to take a single one is not something we should not stand for as Senators. On the first day of term, I am asking myself why I would bother tabling any Commencement matter going forward if we did not even have one Minister with the appropriate brief come in today. That is not with any disrespect to the Minister of State who came in to take the Commencement matters but it completely undermines our role and dismisses us as a Chamber. An important function we have is that we can have a Minister in front of us who has a brief and can engage with us authentically on an issue in the moment. We should not start off a new term like this. I would like this House to take a stand on that and communicate that clearly to the respective Departments.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Hear, hear. Well said.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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We will bring the issue the Senator raised to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight. It is an issue in the Dáil is as well where Members are having questions answered but not always by the line Minister. I call Senator Daly.

Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I attended the National Ploughing Championships last week, which were a fantastic success. I congratulate the National Ploughing Association on the fantastic annual event it holds, in particular its well-known managing director Anna May McHugh. With the season that is in it as we approach a presidential election, one could nearly say Anna May is the best president we never had. The success last week was a testament to that great organisation. When you attend that event in the role I have as spokesperson for agriculture, you can gauge how things are on the ground by the mood of the farmers and others who attend. Things were very good, positive and upbeat last week, which indicates things are good out there, but with one exception. The rising tide does not lift all boats. There is a serious crisis in our tillage sector. It is ironic that ploughing is the foundation of the seedbed for the crop. It was very evident last week that our tillage sector is in crisis and needs immediate aid. I would like a debate with the Minister for agriculture but it would need to be before the budget so I doubt very much that will happen. Perhaps we could relate it to him. We need support for the tillage sector. It is under pressure with input costs and fertiliser prices. World grain prices are almost at an all-time low. It is the sector that is probably most dependent on the weather. Even if we get the prices right, there can be a bad spring when they put in their crops and they are goosed, or a bad harvest. It is a vulnerable sector and needs so much help. I would also like to see the inclusion of gene editing in that debate. The time has come. I am not talking about gene modification; I am talking about gene editing. We need to strengthen those crops to handle the new climate and the wet conditions climate change has brought.It is a debate we need to have on gene editing. I want to make very clear that I am not talking about gene modification but gene editing.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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I want to be associated with the kind remarks the Cathaoirleach and others have made about Julie Lyons on the occasion of her impending retirement, which we are marking. She is a wonderful woman and very kind to all of us. I definitely agree with what was said by Senator Boyle, that hospitality is slightly different to catering and that she managed to crown one with the other.

At the end of the last session of the House we were speaking about the refugee crisis, asylum-seeking and the like. There is an Oireachtas joint committee on justice, and yesterday it was graced by the presence of the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, who answered the questions put to him very forthrightly, honestly and truthfully. It emerged from this discussion that it appears at least 87%, and probably more, of asylum seekers in Ireland have transited through the United Kingdom to come here. He surmised, and I suppose it is a reasonable surmise, that they are coming across an open border. This is a huge number of people claiming protection whom we receive via a safe country into our own country. By the way, there is traffic the other way.

Several other points also emerged from the answers he gave, and I will put two propositions before the House. The first is that anybody given refugee status in Ireland is, thereafter, free to go backwards and forwards between Ireland and wherever they claimed they were in danger of persecution, as often as they like on travel documents supplied to them. In effect, people can go back to wherever they came from originally and participate in the ordinary life of that country, and keep transiting backwards and forwards to Ireland. This is the law. The final point the Minister made, and this is important from the point of view of resources, even though we have Apple money and corporate tax money, was that he pointed out that we spend €1 billion per annum housing Ukrainian displaced persons under a special scheme, and €1.2 billion housing other asylum applicants who have come to our shores. This is €2.2 billion.

The reason I mention these three questions, and the Minister answered many other interesting questions, is that we have to have a serious debate in the House about how we tackle the asylum-seeking activity in Ireland. It is not sustainable in its present shape or form. The costs are too vast. We have to have a serious debate about how the Irish Government at European level begins to deal with what I call, and I do not apologise for saying it, a racket which has emerged in describing migration as asylum-seeking.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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Today I want to raise an issue that happened last July. A town in County Limerick had severe rainfall within a very short space of time and flooding occurred. The local residents and businesses had been raising the potential for flooding for three or four years with the council and through their local TDs' offices. I do not know whether it fell on deaf ears or was just put on the long finger but nothing was done to the drainage system in the town.

I acknowledge that since the flooding Limerick City and County Council has responded. It has dredged the rivers and opened up the eyes of the bridge again. Last week it confirmed to a newspaper that it has made an application for minor works, through the OPW, and for an overall survey. This is great but the worrying part is that it wants funding to carry out quick-fix works to alleviate short-term flooding events. What is needed for the town of Dromcolliher is a commitment for permanent solutions that will protect homes and businesses if this were ever to happen again. When we look over the past couple of years we see we have had spot flooding. We had it in Youghal the year before. I think it was Youghal; it was somewhere in Cork. It seems to be happening more often. If the drainage is not looked at correctly, and a permanent solution is not put into these towns, they are at risk of being flooded again. Businesses and homes will be ruined. A couple of homes in Dromcolliher were evacuated in July. These homes are still under construction to try to deal with the flood water. It was not only water from the river as there was sewage also coming up. These houses are uninhabitable at present and people are privately renting on top of paying a mortgage. The cost to these families and businesses is very high and a permanent solution needs to be put in place. I call on the Department to liaise with Limerick City and County Council to ensure funding for permanent solutions rather than quick fixes is put in place.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I stand today to speak about social media and a number of stories that presented themselves over the summer. There was the spreading of misinformation and threats. Social media policy seems to protect the protagonists in these situations more than the victims. It is affecting every area of life at present but, specifically at this moment in time, it is affecting Oireachtas Members. It is affecting presidential candidates. It is also definitely prevalent among the general public and the general population. It is a real threat to democracy and a threat to the future of people getting into public life. I call for a debate in the House. It would be great if we could call on the social media companies to get involved. Generally, it seems accepted that people in public life take this on board and accept it as the done thing but our family members and friends are threatened and it extends beyond this. I am sure that Members of the House have often been accused of things or things have been said about them at various stages that are completely untrue but we have no mechanism to correct it. As soon as we answer any of these things we give them more fuel. I am sure we have full cross-party support for starting this conversation. I would welcome the opportunity, if it could be included on the schedule in the very near future.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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The tragic case of young Daniel Aruebose has shaken the nation. A little boy, once in Tusla's care, vanished from sight for years without anyone raising the alarm. Only when a welfare irregularity was noticed did questions emerge, far too late. This is not simply an individual tragedy, it is a systemic failure. Tusla had Daniel on its radar and engaged with his family, and then closed the case in 2020. From then on, no one in the State noticed he was not in school, not attending health services and not visible in the community. The question we must ask is how many other children once known to Tusla have slipped through the cracks in this way.

Today I call for a full investigation into Tusla's record. We must establish year by year how many children known to Tusla have been reported missing, and how many have remained unaccounted for. Beyond investigation, we must act. Case closure protocols must be tightened. Data sharing between Tusla, schools, health services and the Department of Social Protection must be strengthened. A statutory mechanism for the independent review of child deaths and disappearances must be established. Re-examining pandemic case closures is a good start but we must go further to ensure no child has been left invisible. Without this transparency and these reforms, the public cannot have confidence in the child protection system. Families cannot trust that their children will be safeguarded. The House must press for answers.Tusla must provide the figures and the Minister must ensure that every child is treated as with the highest priority, not as a line in a closed file. Daniel's case must be the last time a child disappears in silence. Nothing less than a full independent investigation into Tusla's practices will suffice.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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I attended a pre-budget submission presentation by Rehab yesterday in the audiovisual room. I commend the work it does through its various entities: Rehab Enterprises, RehabCare and the National Learning Network. The speaker who was due to deliver the first speech, Padraig, is a wheelchair user. He was taking the train from Cork, where he lives. He had booked a wheelchair-accessible taxi from the train station to Leinster House. The taxi arrived on time and was wheelchair accessible but when he saw that the wheelchair was a larger motorised model, the taxi driver said his ramp was not working and that Padraig would have to call for another taxi. He called for another taxi and the same thing happened. The second taxi came but he was told the ramp was not working and he had to call for a third taxi. The third taxi came and the ramp was working but the driver did not know how to use it. Padraig and his PA instructed him on how to use it safely and Padraig managed to get to Leinster House and make his presentation before the session was over. The issue of transport overall was highlighted by many of the people at the session, as were the cost of disability and the many other issues covered in the pre-budget submission. As those speakers pointed out, if transport is not accessible, people cannot get to education or work, go shopping or partake in social activities. They have to depend on family all of the time, which is totally unfair. I would like a debate with either the Minister for disability or the Minister for Transport, because it crosses the two Departments, on the issue of accessible transport. We have wheelchair-accessible taxis but I do not know what the issue is with taxi drivers. They may be just too lazy to get the ramp out and help the person to get into the taxi. That also has to be addressed. That is totally unfair. This man had done everything right to get here on time and ended up being let down by two taxi drivers. We can be thankful that, with a little bit of help, the third was able to get him here.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I will follow on from my colleague who spoke about social media. It has become an extremely toxic environment. We are all now used to the whipping-up of mass emails to us to support this, that or the other. The senders do not even do us the courtesy of referring to us by our names. They address us as "Dear Deputy" or "Dear Oireachtas Member". I am not a Deputy; I am a Senator and I am Gerard or you can call me Craughwell if you want. I throw the gauntlet down to the Cathaoirleach because he has done some pretty good work on public consultation. Our colleagues have said that perhaps we should get in the social media companies, because God knows it is impossible to contact them. Perhaps we should get them in here for a face-to-face meeting in the full glare of the public view. I think the Cathaoirleach is the one who can actually lead that. I ask him to consider it over the coming days. He would have 100% of any support that I or any other Member of the House could give.

Yesterday, my colleague Senator Ruane spoke about the absence of Ministers for Commencement matters. Yesterday, I raised a Commencement matter on the extremely important issue of the RSV vaccine for people over the age of 65. I am aware that the Minister has laid on the RSV vaccine for babies. Thousands of people die every year through RSV. The Department provided an answer for the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. In fairness to him, all he could do was read out the answer he was given because he is not in that Department, as far as I am aware. I was talking about over-65s and the answer I got was about babies. The last paragraph dealt with the fact that there is a technical group looking into the benefits of this vaccine. Why is it looking into it? Scotland, England and Wales have got it. If you are over 70, you get the vaccine. It is once every three years and you can get it up to the age of 80. It reduces the level of morbidity and the number of hospital beds used. The international evidence is clear. Why can we not just adopt the evidence from abroad and bring this in? I ask the Leader to raise this matter again through his party. It may be unfair to do that to him but I ask him to raise it in party rooms and ask whether we could just look at the international evidence and make the RSV vaccine available to those over 65. I do not want to get hit with RSV. It might not seem like it, but I am over 65. I do not want it. I have to pay €235 to get that vaccine. I am in a fortunate position in that, at the age I am, I have fewer responsibilities to my family and can afford €235 but people living on the old age pension cannot.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator is most correct; he certainly does not look a day over 50.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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First, I commend the incredible work done by Maria Steen, her team and the various TDs and Senators who committed to signing her nomination papers. A huge range of Oireachtas Members had pledged their support to another candidate but recognised the importance of protecting and amplifying democracy by lending their signatures to her nomination papers. I thank them for that. There was demand from the public and across the political spectrum to see Maria Steen's name on the presidential ballot. It was impressive to see over 100 independent councillors sign a petition to nominate Maria. They had to work across the country to do that. It is truly a huge blow to me and to people who think like me that, despite this support, she has missed out on getting onto the ballot by only two signatures. Up until the last minute, people were contacting Senators and TDs to plead with them to ensure there was a candidate present at those debates who represents them and their views. I am heartened by the vast number of people who truly appreciate and support a candidate who stands for dignity and truth. Sadly, we have a political class who have ignored their electorate by dismissing the very councillors who voted for them. Having Maria Steen on the ballot would have allowed a large portion of society who feel unheard and unseen to be represented. We have lost an opportunity for respectful debate where ideas and opinions could be tested. Now that part of society will not have their voices heard throughout the presidential debates. It is sad for me to stand here today and see an entire section of society going unheard and ignored. The establishment was afraid of Maria Steen getting onto the ballot paper. They wanted a three-way race to limit the chances of a candidate other than their own succeeding. Their will has been done. If you believe that your candidate is accomplished enough to be the President of Ireland, you should not shy away from their positions being tested by an alternative viewpoint. Maria Steen would have been a truly formidable addition to the presidential ballot and I can only presume that is the exact reason she was kept off it. The phrase "death by a thousand cuts" comes to mind.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions here this morning. We started with Senator Anne Rabbitte, who rightly raised the issue of misinformation regarding autism, paracetamol and vaccinations. It is deplorable. I am not qualified to say what vaccines or drugs anyone should take for any illness. That is why we have the Irish medical agency, the European Medicines Agency and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. They are the ones that provide expert advice to our GPs and other medical professionals across the country. They are the ones that should be listened to and give advice in relation to this. I acknowledge the hurt this misinformation has caused and the concerns of expectant mothers and those who have children with autism who feel their lives have been questioned. I feel strongly about this and I will request a debate with the Minister on this matter.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the matter of a young girl with Crohn's disease who is looking to get her eggs frozen. That is not something I had thought about before. Perhaps the Senator could raise this is a Commencement matter. That might result in a more direct response. I will certainly raise the matter with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, as well. Senators Boyhan and Stephenson raised the matter of the protest by survivors of residential care. Senator Boyhan has been a strong advocate of survivors of residential care during my time in these Houses. I will certainly raise that again with Ministers and the Tánaiste.

Senators McCormack, Stephenson and Ruane raised the issue of the flotilla that was attacked off Crete. I acknowledge that our colleague, Senator Andrews, is on that flotilla. There will be a debate on Gaza tomorrow in Fianna Fáil Private Members' time and it will be an opportunity to discuss this further. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is in New York so I presume the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, will address us tomorrow on that. I will certainly raise the matter with the Tánaiste when I see him when he is back from New York.

Senator McCormack also called for a debate on the cost of living and energy. I will request that. I am not sure it will be possible in advance of the budget but I will certainly request it.

Senators Ruane and Craughwell also raised the subject of Commencement matters. I agree there are issues. I have raised them in my party room. It has become a habit for a Minister or Minister of State who is on front-line duty to be given four or five scripts to read out in some cases. It is not best practice. I have asked that, certainly where Departments have two or three Ministers of State, that they provide one to answer questions. I do not have an answer, except that I will keep raising the issue. It happens in both Houses. It is not just in this House. That does not make it right.

Senator Ruane also questioned comments by the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, regarding the housing list. I hope we will have statements on housing at some stage in the future. She can raise the matter then.

Senator Paul Daly complimented Anna May McHugh and all involved in the National Ploughing Championships. They were a great success, as they generally are. If the weather holds up at all, it is a pleasant day or three days out. The Senator called for a debate on the tillage sector. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, will be here next week for a Fine Gael Private Member's Bill on agriculture so there will be an opportunity to raise the matter then. I will certainly discuss it with him in the meantime as well.

Senator McDowell raised the issue of the cost of asylum seekers. The Government is looking at pursuing State delivery of services, but a figure floated by the previous Minister as well was that up to 70%, 80% or now approaching 90% of asylum seekers are coming through the UK. As we head towards the next general election in the UK, if Reform UK gets in, I can see that number increasing as people avoid that possible change of Government. We are a long way off that, but I will certainly continue to raise that with the relevant Ministers.

Senator Collins raised the matter of the flooding in Dromcolliher. I ask her to table a Commencement matter on that with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. I will also see whether, under the capital plan, there will be an opportunity for him to come in to discuss his plans under the NDP review.

Senator Scahill and Senator Craughwell raised the matter of social media spreading misinformation affecting present and future elections and called for a debate. Senator Craughwell suggested that the Cathaoirleach could take this up. I am not sure what work the committee has done on this matter lately. It comes up here quite often. Many Members are the subject of online misinformation or abuse, so I will raise that with the Minister as well to see what can be done.

Senator Keogan raised the tragic disappearance and death of Daniel Aruebose whose remains were found in Donabate. She called for a debate on Tusla regarding child disappearance. I will request that from the Minister, Deputy Foley.

Senator Tully spoke about the issue of a young child getting access to accessible taxis. They turn up and are not able to take a child. I have requested statements with the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, on the disability strategy, which was launched a number of weeks ago. It is an all-of-government approach. It is not only in her Department. Transport issues fall under the Department of Transport. I will certainly request a debate with her on that matter.

Senator Craughwell spoke about international evidence on the RSV vaccines. He made a fair point. That is why we are in the European Union and there is commonality across that. I will raise it with the Minister for Health.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly mentioned Maria Steen missing out by two votes on a nomination to be a presidential candidate. She mentioned dignity and truth. I would like to think all candidates who are selected have dignity and truth.

Senators:

Hear, hear.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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They will advocate for themselves in the coming weeks and the Irish people will decide. The processes are laid down in the 1937 Constitution, as I said yesterday, which was voted on by the people. People are free to make up their own minds about who they choose they nominate. A lot of pressure was brought to bear on certain individuals. At least that pressure now ends as the nomination process has now closed. I wish all three candidates the best of luck over the coming weeks. I hope it will be a respectful debate online and in the physical debate that will take place.