Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the Leader on the Order of Business, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, all the way from the state of Maryland, Delegate Ken Kerr. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Ken has represented his community with distinction in District 3 and served as an English professor in Frederick Community College. He was also involved in committees on health and government operation, so if he has any advice on government operations, we would be most appreciative for any of his thoughts. He was involved in establishing the Maryland-Ireland Trade Commission, which he lifted and carried on his back single-handedly. For that, we are forever grateful. Go raibh maith agat.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Delegate Kerr. I hope he has an enjoyable and productive stay.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements of the sitting of the House on Thursday, 16 October 2025, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025, referral to committee, to be taken upon the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, statements on budget 2026 - Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, to be taken at 4:30 p.m. and to conclude 6 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 each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 55(2), Private Members’ business in the names of Fianna Fáil Senators, motion regarding support for Ukraine, to be taken at 6 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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First, I extend the sympathies of the Fianna Fáil Party to our colleague, Senator Teresa Costello, on the sad passing of her father, John Francis, and to Teresa's mother, Marian, and sister, Eileen.

One of the issues I want to bring up today is in relation to an article I read over the weekend about the results of the autopsy of a young 14-year-old girl in County Clare. Her name was Sarah Mescall and by all accounts she was a lovely, bright, athletic individual. Very sadly, she passed away two years ago. That was five days after becoming unwell having sniffed the contents of an aerosol deodorant. Sarah suffered a devastating brain injury, which subsequently led to brainstem death, and also had a cardiac arrest because of inhaling the contents of the deodorant. There was a suggestion that there was a type of dare challenge on social media in relation to young people. It is important to send our sympathies to Sarah's parents, Deirdre and Joe, who very kindly donated Sarah's organs to others, but there is a really key lesson here for us.We can never give enough warnings in respect of this type of activity. It is very important that we draw attention to this matter and send out a message to ensure that proper labelling goes on all of these products. It is sad it has taken a death to alert us to it, but it is important we highlight the matter.

I also want to raise the issue of putting medicines in blister packs for elderly and vulnerable parents. Shane Ryan, a community pharmacist whom I respect greatly, brought this to my attention over the past day or so. Blister packs are a lifeline for those on multiple medications. Having to take multiple medications can lead to confusion and non-compliance, which, in turn, can lead to the need for an increasing number of hospital visits. Pharmacists are using an existing scheme, namely phased dispensing. Under that scheme, the utilisation of blister packs has given rise to a very high level of compliance. The scheme has been endorsed by GPs, hospitals, patients and families. Unfortunately, the HSE support for it will be discontinued from 1 January next, except for those who are on psychiatric medication. For a small investment, there seems to be a significant return. We should write to the Minister and ask her to continue with the scheme as is.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I first offer my sympathies to our colleague Senator Teresa Costello on the passing of her father, John Francis.

I wish to raise an issue that has been highlighted with me today and that has been publicised all over County Mayo by Michael Conroy of Conroy Motors, which is based in Belmullet, Erris, County Mayo. I refer to the lack of NCT facilities in Belmullet. There are currently two NCT facilities in the county, one in Ballina and one in Westport. If you are living in Belmullet or in the barony of Erris, if you are in Aghleam, Doohooma Head, Glenamoy or Ballycroy, you have to travel a seriously long distance just to get an NCT. It can take up to an hour and half for some people to drive to the nearest centre. That is a three-hour return journey just to head to Westport or Ballina. If the car fails the test, the person will have to return for a retest.

I spoke with Michael Conroy about this matter earlier. As a businessman, he has many examples of elderly customers in his area who are afraid to travel the roads, the R312 and the N59 in and out of Belmullet. Those roads are in a total state of disrepair in both directions. Belmullet, because of its size and geography, is almost the size of County Louth. It is a huge geographical area, and because of the nature of it, so many people have to use cars. Those who live in this sparsely populated area are dependent on their cars.

I have been in touch with the relevant Departments. In that context, I ask that consideration be given to putting in place an NCT testing centre in Belmullet. This would help with waiting times, which are between ten and 12 weeks in both Westport and Ballina. It would help to alleviate the pressures on those facilities while also improving the services and conditions in Belmullet.

I compliment Councillor Gerry Coyle, who has persistently advocated for this at Mayo County Council level, and Councillor Sean Carey, both of whom are based in Erris. This matter needs to be examined and a solution needs to be found. I would welcome a debate on it.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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I wish to mark this occasion by welcoming the release of the remaining hostages to their families in Israel. In this House - with the leadership shown by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and this Government and that which preceded it - we have had many dark moments recognising the loss of life in Gaza and the ongoing genocide, which has now come to what will hopefully be a permanent halt. At this current point, I really hope it will be a permanent ceasefire. I wish to raise the issue of the whistleblower, Mr. Noel McGree, a member of the Irish Prison Service who blew the whistle on wrongdoing in the Irish Prison Service, which was subsequently investigated by retired Judge William Early, who found that serious wrongdoing had taken place within the Prison Service to the tune of approximately €20 million of a cost to the taxpayer. Unfortunately, despite the protections contained within the whistleblower legislation and EU directives, which are supposed to protect whistleblowers against reprisal, by appointment this morning, Noel McGree and his wife, Antoinette McGree, were evicted from their family home at 10 a.m., and with them their sons Matthew and Harry, aged 22 and 17, respectively. To outline part of the reason they were evicted, due to the reprisal visited upon Noel McGree within the Prison Service, he felt he was in an unsafe work environment and took sick leave. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, his payment was compromised and he now finds himself in this situation. I remind the House that whistleblowers-----

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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In relation to naming people in the House - and I am sure the Senator has permission from the people in question but I am concerned that he is bringing other family members into it, children whose names will remain on the record - I advise caution.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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I appreciate that. I have the email from Noel McGree asking me to speak about this on behalf of his family. I appreciate the sensitivity and tragedy of young people losing their family home. Transparency International Ireland recognises that whistleblower reprisal is a feature internationally, but it is almost a universal feature of speaking truth to power in Ireland. As a House, we should do everything in our power to support those affected. If possible, we should have a debate at some point on whistleblower reprisal, a dynamic that should become a criminal offence.

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise serious concerns about the new rules in psychotherapy, put forward by CORU, which have caused alarm across the sector. A recent report in The Irish Times highlighted that CORU had refused to allow a derogation sought by the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board, a derogation that would include the requirement for personal therapy during training. That is the basic standard in most countries and is seen as an essential for both practitioner competence and client safety. What is worrying is that CORU's own head of strategy and policy has said there is insufficient evidence to show that personal therapy improves outcomes, yet the Irish Council for Psychotherapy, representing ten member organisations, has strongly refuted that and submitted detailed evidence to the Minister for Health. The ICP and all other professional bodies in this area are united in opposing these weak standards. They have said clearly that what CORU is proposing would put Ireland below the international norms, particularly those of other EU countries, and would pose a grave threat to public safety and the profession itself. It is not just a fringe concern by a couple of organisations as CORU has said. Rather, it is a collective voice of an entire profession saying that what is being proposed is not fit for service.

Given the vital role that psychotherapists play in mental health care, especially when services are already under severe strain, we cannot afford to undermine professional standards and public trust. This is incredibly dangerous. As a therapist, I cannot fathom how I am to help other people if I cannot help myself. If I do not go to therapy, it is incredibly dangerous. It opens doors for exploitation of people who are vulnerable and seeking help.

I ask that the Minister for Health come before the House to explain these standards, how they were approved, what consultation took place and how the Department intends to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by the ICP and others. This is about ensuring safety, quality and respect for the profession that supports some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely, that No.11 to be taken before No. 1, referring to the Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025. This Bill seeks to provide a three-month free travel pass to survivors of domestic violence. Today, I want to talk about the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, which is really welcome news after the two years of horror we have had. The scenes of relief, joy and families being reunited with each other we have witnessed over the past few days have been really heartwarming. These scenes have given us all a sense of relief, but we cannot and must not allow any complacency to set in because we know that peace is incredibly fragile. Days after the ceasefire, journalist Saleh Aljafarawi was killed. He was killed after we watched him celebrate with such joy following two years of reporting on this genocide. We have heard this morning that five Palestinian men have been killed in Gaza city. These killings represent a potentially very serious breach of the ceasefire. What we need now is a ceasefire monitor for ensuring this fragile peace is protected. The Government should actively lead within the international community on establishing this. It is vital for maintaining peace and accountability on the ground.

The suffering endured by the Palestinian people has been incredibly immense and we must not, as an international community, abandon them at this stage. The atrocities committed since October 2023 have violated countless human rights laws. There must be accountability for Israel's ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the levelling of Gaza. We all know the popular chant "no justice, no peace". Without justice, there can be no lasting peace. Accountability measures and access to justice are critical pieces for a lasting and just peace in Palestine and in the region more broadly.

I ask today that the Government bring the occupied territories Bill back to the Dáil and Seanad as soon as possible. This is actually a crucial element to establishing accountability for the Israeli state's illegal occupation on stolen land. It is time to show our true commitment to the Palestinian people. We need to have an immediate move by the Government to pass the occupied territories Bill in full, including goods and services, as recommended unanimously by the foreign affairs committee.

I also welcome the news today that the Government is committed to increasing funding for humanitarian aid to sustain this peace. That means we need to ensure humanitarian aid flows freely and safely to those who need it most. The funding the Government has announced must help scale up support for the likes of UNRWA and the WHO because these are the organisations with the infrastructure and capacity to deliver large-scale relief within Gaza today. We need to have a debate in the Chamber about what this ceasefire means for Gaza and Palestine and what opportunities lie ahead for Ireland in supporting accountability.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call Senator Black, I welcome Senator Andrews back. Senator Andrews, you are most welcome back to Seanad Éireann. We are glad you got back in one piece.

Frances Black (Independent)
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I second the amendment. I also welcome Senator Chris Andrews back to the Chamber as well. I, too, welcome the ceasefire today. I absolutely endorse everything Senator Patricia Stephenson said. On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, we send our condolences to Senator Teresa Costello and her family on the passing of her father recently.

Today, I want to speak on voting rights for those abroad. Before I do, I pay tribute to the late former Senator for the diaspora, Billy Lawless from Galway. Billy was the chair of the executive committee of VotingRights.ie and one of several cofounders. As we all know, he emigrated to Chicago in 1998 and created a very successful restaurant business. There, he became a leader in immigration reform. I have to pay tribute to him but I call for a debate on this issue. We have the most restrictive voting rights policies in the world here in Ireland. Allowing emigrant citizens to retain their right to vote is established in most nations, including many of our fellow EU countries. There are 800,000 citizens living in the North of Ireland and more than 1 million emigrants living around the world. That is an awful lot of Irish people being excluded and deprived of their right to be heard in their own home country.

Even our own Constitution states, "It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born on the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation." Some of the restrictions in our voting policies include the requirement to be on the island to vote on election day and the amount of time emigrants can be away from Ireland. Once a citizen leaves Ireland for only 18 months, they are dropped from the voting roll. It is important to look at both of these policies and ask whether, in the times we are living in, especially with the type of digital flexibility we have now, it still makes sense to hold these restrictions over our citizens or whether it is time now for change. As we are ten days away from voting for the future President of Ireland, at the very least we need to be opening up these conversations to discuss and explore what options we have and what in direction we as a country can take our voting rights.I will be co-hosting a briefing on voting rights tomorrow in the audiovisual room at 4 p.m. in conjunction with VotingRights.ie. I have invited a number of experts in this area to share their knowledge with Oireachtas Members and allow us to have that extremely important discussion. I hope Members will come along tomorrow. I would also like to have a debate on the issue in this House if possible.

Shane Curley (Fianna Fail)
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I would like to be associated with the condolences to Senator Costello on the loss of her dad. It is a very sad time for her. I would also like to say my own hello to Mr. Ken Kerr. As someone who lived for quite a while in Maryland, it is great to have him here today.

I wish to raise the issue of critical skills visas for drivers coming into this country to drive trucks for road haulage companies. The Garda National Immigration Bureau carries out the initial background check on these licences before people come into the country. The RSA then duplicates that process. Why are two State bodies operating in silos and not communicating with each other? The RSA process can take up to six months. Drivers are left sitting in yards unable to get into the cabs of trucks for a full six months while the RSA carries out a process that has already been done by the immigration bureau. I do not understand that. It takes 12 weeks on average but can take up to six months in Ireland while it takes the department of transport in Poland an average of one month. Why are we, in some cases, six times slower than Poland? Can we eradicate the RSA duplication all together?

I would also like to welcome Senator Andrews back. What he did was very brave, fair play to him. What has gone on over the last two years is so sad. I echo the sentiments of Senator Stephenson that Ireland could play a very key role in both establishing and maintaining peace in Palestine. We have a very comparable history on this island when it comes to peace and we could play a very key role in the peace process over there. I hope that they can have a future of peace in the Middle East.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I rise today to express serious concern regarding the effectiveness of the 2025 Department of justice public awareness campaign on the dangers of illegal fireworks, which was launched in September by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. While the campaign rightly highlights the severe penalties, with fines of up to €10,000 and prison terms of up to five years, it is clear that the message is not reaching all communities with the urgency and clarity required. In particular, I must draw attention to ongoing incidents in Kerry, where the Garda is currently investigating multiple reports of fireworks misuse in the Listowel and Kenmare areas as well as other areas. Despite the campaign's national roll-out in collaboration with An Garda Síochána, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA, and the Dublin Fire Brigade, the continued disruption and danger posed by illegal fireworks in my constituency suggests a breakdown in local communication and enforcement.

Today, I am calling on the Minister to review the campaign's reach and effectiveness in all counties in Ireland, to increase targeted messaging through local radio, schools and community groups, and to ensure that the Garda is adequately resourced to respond swiftly to these incidents. I spoke on this issue twice previously in the Seanad as far back as last March and April and was delighted to see the official launch of this public awareness campaign on the severity of the misuse of fireworks. I am calling on the Minister for justice to urgently resource An Garda Síochána in the run in to Hallowe'en to address this antisocial behaviour, which has, in my opinion, severely escalated since last year. Over the weekend, for example, over fireworks were being dropped through residents' letterboxes and people were being aimed at with fireworks. It is going to finish up ugly. We had an incident in north Kerry last year where 50 youths wearing balaclavas had an on-street fight with fireworks, which is why I am calling on the Minister to resource the Garda straight away. This is not just an issue for Kerry; it is a national issue. Someone is going to get badly hurt unless we resource the Garda for the next three weeks to stop this antisocial behaviour.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I encourage Members to be on their best behaviour because members of the Claremorris Kickboxing Club are in the Gallery today as guests of Deputy Paul Lawless. It is nice to have a bit of enforcement in and around the House. Thanks for coming, lads.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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Before I begin my speech today, I would like to first send my congratulations to President Trump for the successful ceasefire in Gaza and this week's peace summit in Egypt. There is a long way to go in this peace process, but I hope everyone will join me in expressing our support for its success and for bringing an end to the horrendous suffering caused by this war.

I wish to call for a discussion on what appears to be a concerning footprint of the Muslim Brotherhood in our nation and, even more worrying, the failure of our Government to acknowledge it, let alone address it. The cause of my concern was last spring's closure of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland at Clonskeagh. What appears to be a management dispute bears the hallmarks of a struggle between a leadership accused of brotherhood ties and their financial backers from the United Arab Emirates, which banned the organisation in 2013 following accusations of a coup plot. Indeed, the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council has raised concerns about brotherhood ties at Clonskeagh. Let me be clear that this is not about religion. This is about transparency, governance and the ideological influence of a movement that has been banned in many eastern countries, most recently Jordan where it was outlawed following a sabotage plot. Across Europe it is heavily restricted and monitored, yet here in Ireland we face the serious danger that our Government has allowed this ideological network to flourish unchecked.

Before we can discuss proscribing or even restricting this organisation and its affiliates, we must know the truth and currently we are operating blind. I therefore call on the Government and the Minister for justice to initiate a full investigation into the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in Ireland. We cannot afford to be naive. The safety, cohesion and even the sovereignty of our republic depends on it.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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May I add my condolences to my colleague, Senator Teresa Costello, on the loss of her father.

When I was driving up from Drogheda today I heard the really sad news that the Dunnes Stores premises on West Street, Drogheda's main street, is to close in a matter of weeks. I am not certain if there will be job losses or whether people will be redeployed, but it will be devastating for those workers and their families. Some of them have worked there for decades. It an important store because it is on the main street and is used by elderly people and vulnerable customers, so it will be a great loss to them. There are two others on the outskirts of the town. The irony is that Ben Dunne himself trained as a draper on West Street in Drogheda in the 1920s, where he first worked in Anderson's. The store on West Street has been there since the 1960s and, as I said, its closure will decimate the main street. Another irony is that we have just received funding from the living city initiative in Drogheda and in Dundalk. This is designed to encourage the use of town centre stores, town centre locations, living over the shop and all those kinds of things that will breathe life into our town centres. I want to try to promote a wider discussion for the likes of retailers to please have a look and see what the removal of such a vital store will do to a town centre. There are stores on the outskirts, but not everybody has a car or other means of transport to and from those larger stores. We are trying to breathe life into our town centres, so for this to happen is devastating. My first thoughts, of course, are with the staff, but second are to the customers and residents in the town centres. It is another conversation we need to have about protecting our town centres.

Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)
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I want to raise the issue of the serious challenges facing the fishing community. On Saturday I spent some time in Castletownbere with a friend of the Cathaoirleach's, and a former Deputy, Noel Harrington. We engaged with many in the fishing community. To say that there is a sense of shock and fear about what lies on the horizon is an understatement.

We Senators speak passionately in this Chamber on issues and inequality as we see it in society on the national and international stage. The fishing community is sick to death of what it has had to face in generations and years gone by and this needs to be rectified. I speak quite frequently about our farming community and putting on the green jersey, as we do to hold derogation. It is time that we stand up at a national level and fight for our fishing community on an international level.We know full well the quotas and the stock that we have around our coast, but our quotas and what we can catch is not reflected in what we are given. I was talking to a fisherman over the weekend. He gave the figures quite rightly. Before Brexit, he was allowed to catch 600 tonnes of mackerel. After Brexit, this was reduced to 263 tonnes. This will be down to 78 tonnes if the proposed cuts come in. Fishing communities are going to be wiped out across west Cork - in Castletownbere, Baltimore, Unionhall and Kinsale. We can forget about a fishing community in Ireland. There have been positive lights in the programme for Government. We have a Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries. However, we now need to stand up at an EU level. I commend my colleague, Senator Manus Boyle, for the work he has put in to fight for the fishing community. We now need to see action at an EU level and a national level. There will not be a fishing community unless we see improvements and proper fair access to quotas.

I ask for a proper debate in this Chamber with the Minister of State. We need a conversation quite urgently on it.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to start on a positive note. We had the announcement over the weekend of Ireland and, more important, Clare and Limerick winning the bid for EuroPride 2028. I congratulate those who went forward with the bid, including Limerick Pride, QuareClare and The Outing Festival, with the help of Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, UL Events, Mayor John Moran, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. This is fantastic to get for the region. Not only will we have the Ryder Cup in 2027, they reckon that this event in 2028 is going to be even bigger than the Ryder Cup, with more than 200,000 travelling to Barcelona last week for this year's event.

I have some props with me. This is a box of cigarettes. I was smoking for 25 years. I gave them up about seven years ago. It was not for health reasons, but because of the cost as they increased in price every year. I discovered the vape, which helped me to get off cigarettes. I had tried to get off them for many years. I could not do it cold turkey. I found the vape, which I find really good to keep me off cigarettes but, more importantly in terms of the cost of living, it is unbelievable to be able to afford and still have that little luxury in my life. Not many would call it a luxury but I hold my hand up - I do call it a luxury because I quite enjoy my vape. However, from 1 November the juice for vapes is going up by €5. To buy a bottle of juice today is €5. It is going to be €10 on 1 November. I have never in my life seen a tax put on something to double the price of it in one go. It is absolutely crazy to double the price of something just for the sake of taxing it. It is going to be unfair on people who are trying to get off cigarettes, rely on a vape and cannot afford to go through other measures. I do not agree with the tax going on them.

Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)
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I send my condolences to Senator Teresa Costello on the passing of her dad. I also offer my condolences to Independent councillor in Kerry, Niall O'Callaghan, and his family on the passing of his brother Paudie at the weekend.

I rise on an issue that was raised with me by my local shopkeeper. George Lee, a third generation family grocer, holds the corner shop in my village of Castleconnell in County Limerick. He brought this to my attention, and I have spoken to others since. It is an issue that will affect many retailers, including independent retailers, up and down the length of country. That is the introduction of the new annual licence next February for the sale of tobacco and vape products. For all retailers who sell tobacco and vape products, there will be a licence fee of €1,000 for tobacco and €800 for vape products, payable no matter what their turnover, square footage, location or footfall is. This is grossly unfair on the independent retailers around the country who are the fabric of our societies, and indeed akin to the independent coffee shops and restaurants that we heard so much about from the Minister, Deputy Burke, in the lead-up to the budget. They were forgotten.I ask that the Minister come into the House to discuss the supports he will introduce for these independent retailers, who effectively face a tax on a footfall driver and loss-leading product in their premises. It is very important to them and to a huge proportion of their profit margin. Those independent retailers, I remind Senators, are paying 23% VAT on what they sell.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I raise the urgent issue of a boil water notice that has been in operation since 15 September in the Glenties-Ardara area. Uisce Éireann has assured me and the public that everything has been done to get this boil water notice out. The reality is 3,500 residents, as well as businesses, have to endure daily disruption. Families have to boil water for drinking, brushing teeth and food preparation. Local businesses, cafés, shops and community centres are affected. This is an ongoing issue. It seems that every time there is a storm or heavy rain, this kicks up. The infrastructure needs to be changed. There needs to be a massive improvement and new infrastructure put into the Glenties-Ardara area. It seems to have been left behind. It is the old way of doing things. Can we get the Minister in here for a debate?

This is the third or fourth issue with Uisce Éireann I have brought up in the past couple of weeks. There was another issue in Clonmany, north Donegal. It is something we need to look at. Rural communities are being left behind by Uisce Éireann. We need to get a plan together to tell people where it will be done next and where the infrastructure will be put in.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Glaoim ar an Seanadóir Costello - Seanadóir Cosgrove, sorry. I cannot even read my own handwriting.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
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That is all right. I know the feeling well.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business by Senator Stephenson.

I request that the Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, provide a breakdown of the €8 million allocated for youth work in the budget. As a former youth worker who worked for many years in the youth sector, I know first-hand how youth work changes lives. It has to be recognised that there is an €8 million increase on last year's budget, but it is only 13% of the increase the youth services being delivered across the country need to be sustainable. I would like to ask the Minister how this investment allows for the sustainability and expansion of youth services. They need €17.2 million to protect existing services. They want to expand services and get more young people involved. We know all the benefits of that, from friendships to developing confidence and social skills.

The National Youth Council of Ireland, NYCI, has been looking for an extra €2.1 million and for an extra €2 million for existing capital infrastructure to upgrade facilities. It is unfortunate that, for youth services and other services on the ground, capital expenditure is very scarce and they are often just about making ends meet in the delivery of capital infrastructure. How will the increase in the budget support this? Under Project Ireland 2040, €7.55 billion will be invested in education. How much of that will be allocated to youth services? Can the Minister provide information on the uplift that youth organisations, both universal and targeted, can be expected to receive as a result of budget 2026?

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)
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I was listening to "Morning Ireland" this morning. I think I should write to the director general of RTÉ and ask that, when EPA spokespersons are on, a health warning be given to the farming community. It was the EPA's latest dispatch on its water quality report for 2019 to 2024.If you were to listen to the radio, you would think that farmers are doing absolutely nothing in terms of water quality. Yet, from digging into the detail of the figure, particularly in relation to nitrate levels, they have reduced significantly, down 25% over that five-year period and 39% of rivers showing reduced nitrate concentration. Nitrate levels in our rivers overall are trending in the right direction. That is testament to the work done by farmers.

In the lifetime of the previous Government, I spent many frustrating hours in the agriculture committee. Every time the EPA came before the committee, it berated us and said the farming community was indeed the devil incarnate. Again, it trotted out that message this morning, saying that the lead perpetrator of this is the farming community. Everyone in the House knows how critical agriculture is to this country but, more importantly, how critical the nitrates derogation is and how important it is that we hold on to it. Discussions on that are imminent. I am perplexed that these latest water finding reports will be feeding into that. When the EPA was last before the committee during the previous Government, we asked it to do more contemporaneous reports. We are relying on figures from 2024 which do not take account of the work farmers have done over the past year. Alas, that ask fell on deaf ears.

I would like the Minister for agriculture to come in to update us on where we are. I know he was in the House last week, but I would like him to come in specifically regarding the nitrates directive and holding on to our derogation. It is critical not only for the farming community but for Ireland Inc. that we hold on to it. As a matter of urgency, I ask the Minister to come to the House to address that one specific point.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I mention a particular issue, namely, a report that was published earlier today which ranks Roscommon as the highest tallied scorer, making it statistically the safest place in Ireland to raise a family in 2025. Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Kilkenny, Longford and Galway all follow in the top ten. This is something that I have personally known about for years and something I have promoted for years, which is all the positive things we have in Roscommon. On the other side, however, when it comes to renewing my car and house insurance every year, I am hit with rising costs. I am told it is because of where I am living and that there are all of these impacts affecting my home and car insurance. Great work has been done by this Government in the area of insurance reform. I would like to see some of these reports that are published annually being used to help bring down the cost of people’s insurance. I call for a debate on that, if we get the chance.

Reports like this should not be used as a stick to prevent counties like Roscommon and Longford from getting additional gardaí. We have one of the oldest populations in the country. Although we have a low crime rate, those people like to see feet on the ground and someone on the street. They like to know there is someone in the local station at the end of the phone when they make that call. I ask for a debate with the Minister with regard to the allocation of gardaí and the figures and reports people are using for that particular allocation.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Anois, an Seanadóir Andrews. Again, Senator, welcome back.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I very much welcome the respite for Palestinians in Gaza. However, I most definitely do not want to be associated with the congratulations to Donald Trump, who is a genocide enabler and a psychopath, in my view.

I also extend my sympathies to Senator Teresa Costello on the loss of her father. We are thinking of her.

Today, a group of TDs, Senators and MEPs visited Dublin city dog pound in Newcastle. I thank Dublin City Council's Richard Herlihy and Barbara Jackson, who work in the pound and, clearly, care for the dogs. The pound is really good and clean and, clearly, the dogs are, like I said, cared for. I understand this pound is one of the better ones compared with many across the country. Certainly, if all pounds were like this, it would be positive.

It is clear from our visit that there is a real stress and pressure on pounds and rescues. I know from speaking to rescues that they are being overwhelmed by the number of dogs coming into them.I did not realise it, but Sweden and Florida in the United States take many of Ireland’s abandoned and rescue dogs. Those working in rescue centres are at breaking point. The stress, anxiety and emotional distress for these people are intense. They should not have to put up with any of that; they are picking up the tab for Government’s failure to address the crisis in dog welfare here.

Some measures that could be taken by the Government, which are desperately needed, are a neutering and chip programme and the establishment of a single database. It is beyond me how, in 2025, we cannot have a single database for the registering of dogs. Such a database would improve the management and the welfare of dogs so much. It would make a huge difference, and it is very achievable. There also needs to be a national euthanasia policy. Given that some local authorities do not have a policy at all, it would make sense to have a national policy in relation to the euthanising of dogs.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I also offer my condolences to our Seanad colleague on the very sad passing of her father. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I welcome the peace that has come to the people of Gaza. I hope it will be a long-lasting peace. We in this country know how difficult it can be to sustain a peace and the work that is required by those on all sides, both internal and external, to ensure it lasts. We have all been horrified by the scenes we witnessed over the past number of years in Gaza as a result of the bombing and the devastation, the starvation and the famine to which it gave rise. What we have seen has been utterly disgusting. I really hope we are now closer than we have been in the past to a long-lasting two-state solution.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I want to raise a concerning development regarding the hormone replacement therapy, HRT, scheme. Recently, the Chair of the Oireachtas health committee has been pushing to expand the free HRT scheme to include trans women. This totally ignores the difficulties and struggles of biological women who are going through the menopause. It is deeply misleading to suggest that excluding trans women is discrimination. The medical purpose of this scheme is to support menopausal women. Our healthcare resources should be directed where there is a need, not where ideology demands they should go. There is a question of when and where this constant pushing of ideology will end. What is next? Are we going to fight for biological men to have access to free smear tests?

The whole purpose of the HRT scheme was a recognition of the difficulties women face as they go through menopause. We currently have 740 waiting lists for endometriosis surgery. We have women across the country on waiting lists who are desperate to see gynaecologists. Worryingly, there is a 12% negative difference in the five-year survival chances for women diagnosed with breast cancer in public hospitals versus those diagnosed in private hospitals. This is life-threatening to people around the country, and it is disappointing that the focus by other parties is not on these issues. They prefer to campaign to abolish the Dáil prayer or for HRT to be prioritised for trans women or for legislation relating to non-binary people. This push goes hand in hand with the replacement of terms like "breastfeeding" with "chestfeeding" and "mothers" with "pregnant people". We are told again and again that this is inclusion. In truth, however, it is a total erasure of women, of who we are and of what we are as women.

This is not about excluding anyone from compassionate care. It is about ensuring that our policies protect the most vulnerable and that decisions are guided by facts, not by pressure from activist organisations. Women deserve dignity, respect and healthcare that acknowledges who we are, not language and legislation that seek to erase us.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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There is a woman in County Cavan whom I know quite well and whose dream for some time has been to join the Garda.She applied a number of years ago, but due to a bad car accident, she did not pass her fitness and medical examinations. However, she completed the vetting process a number of years ago. She has now passed the medical and fitness examinations but there have been months of delay, with her not being called up to Templemore. She cannot understand this. She has been vetted on a number of occasions, both when she applied to the Garda but also when she applied for her citizenship, which she received in recent years. She is also vetted on an ongoing basis through the Department of justice because of her current employment.

Hers is not an isolated case. I have been contacted before by people who have applied to join the Garda but have been left waiting for months or sometimes longer before being called up, yet people who applied after them were called up before them. We have a shortage of gardaí and we know from the budget that the target is 1,000 recruits a year. That has not been reached. It was not reached in 2023 when there were only 750 recruits. There were only 631 in 2024. According to the evidence, large numbers apply but they are not being called up on time, they lose interest, etc. There are various reasons. We need to look at why people are not joining. Part of it could have to do with the fact that the Garda training allowance is only €354 per week, which is not even minimum wage. In its alternative budget, Sinn Féin proposed increasing it to the minimum wage, which would have brought it up to €579. That increase would recognise that people can join the Garda at a much older age now and may often have families to support.

Senator Kennelly talked about needing gardaí at Hallowe'en to address the antisocial behaviour and dangers involved with fireworks. We do not have gardaí on the ground and in our communities where we need them. We need to take serious measures to address this. The delays in calling up people who are interested in joining just do not make sense. I ask that this be raised with the Minister for justice.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I am out of breath, a Chathaoirligh. I rise to highlight an innovative child-centred proposal that deserves attention. It is called a peer-to-peer well-being digital licence. It builds on the success of the It Takes A Village project in Greystones and Delgany and offers a way for kids to have digital literacy and online safety in schools. It empowers secondary students to mentor young peers in primary schools, not only to upskill our youth but to also foster leadership in our communities. It is an intergenerational approach that strengthens transitions between school levels and creates a culture of shared responsibility in navigating the digital world.

The stairs are very tough to get up after the committee room.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Does the Senator want me to talk for 30 seconds while he gathers his breath?

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I was looking at the Seanad on TV and wondered if I would make this.

Online safety is not just a technical issue for young people, it is also a well-being one. Young people are already dealing with cyberbullying, misinformation and data privacy issues. They must be part of the solution. This peer education initiative respects their lived experience and aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I call on the Minister for education to support the development of this infrastructure for a national pilot programme modelled on It Takes A Village, which was led by a school principal in Greystones, Ms Rachel Harper, who is a pioneer. We need to invest in young digital citizens who can lead with knowledge, compassion and resilience.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the Leader, I join our colleagues in extending our sympathies to the family of Senator Teresa Costello and to Senator Costello herself on the sad passing of her father, John Francis. I extend my sympathies to Councillor Niall "Botty" O'Callaghan from the Fáilte Hotel in Killarney, the home of hospitality in the kingdom, on the passing of his brother, Paudie, and also to my cousin, Councillor Fionnán Fitzgerald, on the death of his dad, Bob, who served as a garda and a teacher but was a farmer first and foremost. My sympathies to all of the Fitzgerald family on their sad bereavement.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions this afternoon. Senator O'Loughlin, who was joined by many other colleagues, expressed sympathies to our colleague Senator Teresa Costello on her dad's passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Senator O'Loughlin also raised the tragic case of Sarah and the autopsy in relation to inhaling deodorants. She commended Sarah's parents, Deirdre and Joe, who donated her organs to save others, and the Senator called for this very important issue to be highlighted and for there to be engagement on it. I will certainly raise that with the Minister. The Senator also raised the matter of blister packs and multiple medications. I confess I am not particularly au fait with that, but I will engage with her afterwards on that matter.

Senator Duffy raised the lack of NCT facilities in the Belmullet, County Mayo, area. He joined with Councillor Gerry Coyle in recommending an NCT centre for Belmullet. I ask him to put down a Commencement matter on that with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to see if he can get progress on that matter.

Senator Clonan and many others raised the peace deal in Gaza. We will come to that in a while. He also raised the case of Noel McGree and wrongdoing in relation to the Irish Prison Service. I have engaged with Noel on numerous occasions and I am due to give him a call again on that. I will request a debate on whistleblowing. I know he has gone through a lot. Obviously, he is presently going through even more with his eviction. I will engage with Noel on that matter as well.

Senator Dee Ryan raised CORU and the derogations in public service safety and has called for the Minister of Health. I ask her to put down a Commencement matter on that issue. It might get more of a direct response as it is quite specific.

Senator Stephenson has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 11, which is the Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025 - First Stage, be taken before No. 1. I am happy to agree to that. The Senator also spoke, as did Senators Andrews, Black and others, about the peace deal in Gaza. Obviously, this is the first phase of the peace deal, which is the release of the hostages, and that Israel would withdraw the troops to an agreed line. There is certainly a long way to go. I certainly hope that the 20-point peace plan can be put into being and that we can have a full and permanent cessation of violence and move towards a two-state solution in that area.

Senator Black talked of voting rights, and I acknowledge she is having an event later in the audiovisual room. She acknowledged the work of Billy Lawless, a former Member of this House. I will request a debate on this matter. Obviously, we have a huge diaspora around the world, which means that if change were to be enacted, there would be possibly more people outside of the island with a vote than inside. It depends how broad you make it. I will request a debate, and obviously that will be a matter for the people to decide by referendum at a later date if that were to be the case.

Senator Curley talked of the critical skills visa and why two State bodies are duplicating work, the immigration bureau and the RSA. I suggest he puts down a Commencement matter on that. He also raised the matter of the ceasefire and welcomed what has been done.

Senator Kennelly raised the issue of illegal fireworks. He has commended that there is an awareness campaign but that An Garda needs additional resourcing. There is the criminal justice Act 2016, which allows for hefty fines and imprisonment for those who are engaging illegally in fireworks. Obviously, properly organised fireworks displays look well and are part of many different festivals and whatever else, but illegal use of fireworks is dangerous. A constituent in my area lost their sight in one eye last year as a result of illegal fireworks. I will certainly raise it with the Minister. I raised it on behalf of that person over the summer. There are stiff penalties under existing law, but it is about ensuring those laws are enforced and that illegal fireworks are seized. There is also the issue of cross-Border trade and sale.

Senator Keogan raised the matter of the Muslim Brotherhood. I confess I am not au fait with that matter. Perhaps if she puts down a Commencement matter for the Department of justice, she may get a direct response.

Senator Comyn raised the announced closure of Dunnes Stores in Drogheda, County Louth, and talked about the renewal of our town centres.I welcome the addition, in the budget last week, of Drogheda to the living cities initiative, which has been extended to five towns. I hope that all those staff are redeployed and that good use is made of facilities in the centre of the town.

Senator O'Donovan talked about fishing communities and the threatened impact of cuts in the mackerel quota, which is our most valuable source. It is worrying for fishing communities across the country. I know the Minister will be engaging as part of the Commission proposals over Christmas. I know he will have much engagement with his officials in ensuring the best deal for Irish fishermen and sustainability for the stock. Sustainability is important for mackerel and, indeed, all stocks to ensure that we have an industry going forward.

Senator Collins welcomed the announcement of EuroPride 2028 for Limerick and Clare. I agree and congratulate all involved in that. She also raised matters regarding the cost of cigarettes and vaping, and that there will be a 100% increase in the cost of vape juice. I had not heard the term "vape juice" before. The Senator said it is increasing by 100%. Senator Dee Ryan also raised the matter of taxes on tobacco and vapes for independent grocers. The Minister, Deputy Burke, will be in to speak on budget matters later today, so it may be an opportunity for both Senators to raise that matter with him.

Senator Boyle raised the boil water notice for communities in Ardara. It might be an idea to table a Commencement matter or engage directly with Irish Water. There is commitment to additional funding by Irish Water for a range of projects around the country.

Senator Cosgrove spoke about the need for a breakdown of the allocation of the €8 million for youth work in the recent budget. I know it is stipulated to be for current and capital increases and will support the sustainability and development of youth services, providing tailored supports and spaces for young people. I will ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to come into the House, or perhaps the Senator can table a Commencement matter. We will try to get Ministers in, if possible, to talk about their budgets. The Minister, Deputy Burke, will be in today to talk about business.

Senator Flaherty raised the EPA results and called for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on water quality, particularly the nitrates derogation. I will request a debate on that matter. As the Senator knows, there is a Cabinet committee on water quality which will hopefully assist in retaining our derogation. Obviously, we have to ensure that the results regarding water pollution improve across all sectors of society. I agree that there has been huge investment in the farming community over the years. That needs to continue and the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, has an important role in that.

Senator Scahill raised the matter of Roscommon being the safest place to raise a family, yet there are rising costs of car and home insurance. These are valid points. He also said there is an older population and that may, unfortunately, be reflected in insurance premiums. He also mentioned Garda resources and is concerned that this would result in lower levels of gardaí being allocated. Garda resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner but the Senator can certainly continue to raise and highlight that in these Houses and with the Minister for justice directly.

Senator Andrews welcomed again the deal and respite for Palestinians. He raised matters regarding Dublin city dog pound and the need for investment and a change in policy, including a neutering and chip programme and a national euthanasia policy. I ask him to table a Commencement matter.

Senator Cathal Byrne raised Gaza and the need for a two-state solution, which is not part of the 20-point plan, but is something we have to move and aspire to.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised her concerns about a free HRT team for trans women. I do not have information on that and perhaps the Senator should table a Commencement matter for the Department of Health. She may get a direct response but I will raise it with the Minister anyway.

Senator Tully raised Garda recruitment and a specific case. Perhaps she might engage directly with the Minister for justice or the Garda Commissioner about a specific case. She can raise the larger issue of the timeline in a Commencement debate, but if she wishes to go into a specific case, I suggest she engage directly with the Minister or Garda Commissioner.

Senator McCarthy talked about the innovative child peer-to-peer online safety initiative, which mirrors the "it takes a village" policy. He talked about digital literacy and empowering students. He called for the Minister for education to fund this as part of a national programme. If I get the Minister in to debate the budget, the Senator can raise it at that stage or he can table a Commencement matter.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Stephenson has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 11 be taken before No. 1". The amendment was seconded by Senator Frances Black. The Leader has indicated that he is prepared to accept this amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.