Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I, too, welcome the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland. Funnily, I was actually talking this morning to a Finnish citizen who lives in Ireland. She came back from Finland only yesterday. We are lucky to have her. I wish the delegates well on their visit.

There was some very welcome news for my home county, Tipperary, this morning. Lonely Planet came out with its annual review of destinations to visit across the world and it recommended 25, including Botswana, Peru and Mexico. Tipperary was also on the list. This is a genuine success for us. It has not happened by accident. Incredible work has been done, particularly by the county council, led by Sinead Carr, and particularly in conjunction with the food producers of Tipperary. When people read the reasons Lonely Planet highlighted Tipperary, aside from its scenic views, mountains and lakes, they will see it refers to the quality of the food and locally produced food. This has not happened by accident; it is because an awful lot of work was done by volunteers to build up the reputation.

I am very conscious that I am talking to a Cathaoirleach from Kerry and a Leader from Galway, in which counties there is a tradition of tourism, but we in Tipperary have certainly noticed the number of tourists coming in. The numbers for Cahir and Cashel have been very positive, particularly last summer. This has a knock-on effect on the local economy, which brings a huge benefit. One reason Lonely Planet recommends Tipperary as a place to visit is that there is nothing fake about it. If you want authentic Ireland, Tipperary is the place to go. I encourage everyone, including those from Finland, to visit Tipperary if they are coming to Ireland because it presents an authentic view of the country. For a county that does not have the traditions of Kerry and Galway, this is very welcome. Does the Leader agree that when we talk about tourism and people coming to Dublin, Kerry and Galway, we should acknowledge that we also have some local gems? Now that Tipperary is on the list, will he encourage people to look beyond the traditional locations and go there as well?

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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As the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland will have heard, Senator Ahearn has invited him to Tipperary for his next visit. If the Speaker does not have time to go there on this visit, I am sure the Senator will put him up in his house on the next occasion. However, he will always be welcome in County Kerry and can stay with me there. We will make sure he enjoys the scenery. The food is quite good there as well.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I welcome the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament. He has an amazing ambassador representing his country in Ireland: Leena Gardemeister. She is very welcome here this morning.

I want to mention some sad news, which is the disturbing report of the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in Saggart. My thoughts and prayers are certainly with the child, her family and the people who were meant to be looking after her. The wider community is devastated by such news, and rightly so, but the incident certainly raises questions – they have been mentioned in this House this morning – about how a vulnerable child under the care of Tusla and who was meant to be protected was not adequately protected. We have to demand answers and accountability in this regard. On another note, we have to seek answers on the accused individual and the circumstances surrounding his presence in the community.

Equally troubling was the violent unrest last night in Citywest. Fireworks were thrown at Garda vans and blown up. The gardaí are doing their best to protect us all in the community. To see them attacked by our own is simply unacceptable. The behaviour was not only putting the public in danger but also members of the gardaí, who were simply doing their duty. Violence is never the answer. As with after the riots in Dublin, those held responsible for the events in Citywest must be held to account. I call for a full and transparent investigation into both incidents. The public deserves clarity and action. We must ensure our systems to deal with what happened in Citywest safeguard the vulnerable and that public order is upheld. I ask the Leader to schedule time with the Minister for justice to address these matters in this House as a matter of urgency.

There is an urgent need for increased cybersecurity across both public and private sectors in light of the disruption last weekend to Amazon’s Web services. My Duolingo crashed so I could not learn Irish. The disruption caused widespread outages, affecting businesses and services. We must remember what happened the HSE in 2021, which exposed serious vulnerabilities in the national infrastructure. Cyber threats are escalating, not just in frequency but also in sophistication. We have to act to protect our critical systems and that means investing as a country in robust digital defences, staff training and protocols. I call on the Leader to schedule a debate with the relevant Minister to outline Ireland's cybersecurity strategy and ensure we are not left exposed again, as we were with the HSE. The digital resilience of the country is surely a national priority.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise the issue of wind farms, most particularly in County Limerick. There are two action groups: Coolcappagh action group and the Bruff–Dromin–Athlacca action group. They are both in the process of putting in submissions to stop major wind farms from being located in their areas. There has been very little consultation with the communities on these wind farms. They are dividing communities. A landowner may be willing to give up their land for a massive wind farm near a community that does not want it. There are arguments at school gates and people not turning up for kids' parties because there is a complete divide in the community. Shannon Foynes Port Company has an amazing strategy and plan for offshore wind generation in the estuary to the extent that it would generate electricity for the entire island of Ireland and be a huge exporter of energy at the same time. If we could have the designated maritime area plans for this produced as soon as possible, it would mean the communities would not be fighting among themselves because of the massive wind farms proposed. It is not just about where wind farms go but also about future planning applications in the relevant areas. Rural Ireland will be decimated if we keep putting wind farms in areas where planning permission could be sought in the future.If a wind farm goes in and, two or three years down the line, people want to get planning permission to build on their parents' land, they will now be too close to a windmill and will not get permission. It will completely turn people off living in rural Ireland. I would like to see the report that was done and the new guidelines the Government have been sitting on for what feels like years. It has probably only been a year and a half but it feels like we have been calling for this for a long time. We need to see the new guidelines and have them published for the public and developers to see because if a developer puts in these 158 m turbines and the new guidelines say they cannot be that high, no developer will pull them out to put in new ones. I would like a debate in the House, although I would prefer these guidelines to be published as soon as possible.

Laura Harmon (Labour)
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I also extend my sympathies to the family of the late Michael Calnan, a former Labour councillor and Senator. He was also a cousin and mentor to the former TD and Senator Michael McCarthy. I extend my condolences to his family, including his daughter, Julie, and his son, Michael.

I will also raise the issue of presidential voting rights. We have a very important election on Friday. We hope that there will be a high turnout in that election. The President of Ireland represents all Irish citizens across the world and those who identify as Irish, no matter where they live. It is a missed opportunity that citizens in Northern Ireland and those living across the world will not be able to cast their vote on Friday. We had a citizens' assembly on this issue and the vast majority of its members voted in favour of extending the franchise to citizens abroad. Over 150 countries around the world facilitate their citizens abroad to vote in elections. We are very much an outlier in that regard. This needs to be looked at and put in place before the next presidential election in seven years' time. It is a missed opportunity that it is not going to happen on Friday. As I have said, we hope there will be a high turnout for the election.

Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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I will bring up something I brought up last week and on which I had a Commencement matter yesterday. It is about donating blood. A colleague who is sitting here in the Chamber came up to me yesterday to tell me that, because of what I said, they have registered to donate blood. I really appreciate that. Another two people also said that to me. If today means I could get another three people to do so, I am going to use this time to do that. Something I did not mention the last couple of times is that I unfortunately lost my dad last year. I stopped counting the number of blood transfusions he received before he died at 55. Every time you see these transfusions, you think about how people gave up their time to give this blood to keep people going for another day. That is what happens. We can save lives by donating blood. The average age of a blood donor in Ireland is 46. We can do better in trying to get younger people to donate blood. You can donate blood from the age of 18. The maximum age is 65. Perhaps we should look at the older age category as well. I was talking to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and, as of yesterday, it had up to 5.8 days' supply. That is all. It does not have weeks' worth. We really need it. The service likes to have seven days' supply but it only had 5.8. The service is appealing for more people, particularly people from different communities and ethnicities, to donate blood. That is where education really comes in. I will now provide a staggering figure. Only 3% of the population donate blood. That is crazy. We really need to get more people on board with doing it. I will read out a little message I got when I donated blood. It says:

Linda, thanks for donating. Your donation has just made its way to Tallaght Hospital.

The message before that said that the donation had just made its way to Clonmel Hospital, while the previous one said Tallaght Hospital. You get a lovely little message like that. I really believe that it is lovelier to give a present than to receive one. It is amazing to give blood. That is my thing for today. If anyone here or anyone listening can sign up to donate blood, they will be saving a life.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I will address the presidential election and the growing campaign calling for people to spoil their votes. Some have said that spoiling your vote subverts our democracy. I ask such people to look around the Houses they find themselves in today and to look at the portraits on these walls. Was it a subversion of democracy when 73 Irish MPs refused their seats in the British-approved Parliament to become the first Dáil? Was it a subversion of democracy for Parnell to obstruct proceedings at Westminster or when Daniel O'Connell stood for election knowing he could not take his seat? No. Such people are not speaking about democracy but about bureaucratic proceduralism. While they fret over rules and mean language, what do we see on our streets? We see a nation reaching a dangerous boiling point, while politicians take selfies at campaign concerts. For the first time in decades, we have a campaign with only two candidates. Political parties ordered their members to obstruct candidates of all view and backgrounds that are not their own. We have an election that, for many people who are struggling to live and to be heard, seems to be happening in some parallel fantasy version of Ireland. I commend all Irish people who will exercise their democratic right on Friday and vote, as they are legally entitled to do, in the privacy of the ballot box, for whomever they like or however they like. They can even vote for Jim Gavin, if they want to. However, I ask all those who do not see anyone on the ballot paper whom they believe in not to sit at home. They can still make their voices heard. If they want to, they should go out and spoil their votes. It may be dissident, but it is peaceful. It may be controversial, but it will ultimately be constructive. It is their right and it is democracy.

I also thank Senator Nelson Murray for highlighting people who give blood because I benefit from that blood three times a year. I also benefit from people giving iron. I thank the Senator for highlighting those people because they are keeping me alive.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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A few weeks ago, I called for additional support in the telephone allowance for older people. I called for it to cover broadband and to potentially become a communications allowance. Following recent storms, a number of households all over the country have been without electricity or water. At the same time, our providers are still applying standing charges to these people's bills. I do not know any other sector in which you still have to pay for a service that is not provided. I am particularly defending and standing up for our older community. Could we have a debate in this House on older people, the supports available to them and how we can better provide supports to serve those people?

I also welcome and acknowledge the delegation from Finland that was here. Our international relationships are very important and we rely on them very much. In the coming months, when our country is going to be looking for support from our European partners in respect of CAP negotiations and our derogation, those relationships with our European partners are going to be very important. People's opinions on these countries and what they say about them matter. People need to be very cognisant of that. I call on people to think about that before they vote on Friday.

In addition to that, some previous speakers have spoken about spoiling votes. The only thing a spoiled vote does is remove someone's opportunity to have a say in who is elected. I would like to acknowledge that as well.

Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
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I wish to set the record straight regarding rural pursuits and fox hunting. I have watched a number of debates over the last number of weeks and I have listened to media reports of foxes in fields being torn apart. We have listened to all this negativity in the media regarding fox hunting, which is described as a sport.It is not a sport and it is not done as a sport. The media has portrayed it as a sport. It is not just for the gentry. I hunt. I shoot. I am not gentry. I am a farmer. Foxes can get out of control and there is no predator for foxes other than humans and the odd car going down the road. When foxes are out of control in this country and the numbers are high, we see the loss of lambs, fowl and livestock. When you have loss of fowl, lambs and livestock, you have loss of profits. Farmers are indebted to our gun clubs that control vermin, which includes foxes. They are not pets. They are vermin. They hunt for their young. People say it is a part of nature. It is, of course, but nature is unbalanced and the number of foxes is out of control. We will see it in this urban area shortly as fox numbers increase in the urban area of Dublin. Only then, when perhaps a child is taken out of a pram or a child is injured, will people understand what this is. This is not a sport. This is farmers protecting their livelihoods and what is theirs. We are not gentry and I do not like to be portrayed as gentry. It is not done as a sport. It is done to control a predator that affects our living. That is the message that needs to be sold. I do not like the portrayal of the people of the country as gentry. That is far from what we are.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I extend my condolences to the family of former Senator Michael Calnan and to the Labour Party.

Breaches under the Animal Health and Welfare Act area beyond disappointing. They are absolutely shocking. They are not a deterrent at all. Recent cases highlight how ineffective and lenient the courts and legislation are on animal abusers. Dog Law Ireland, a group of solicitors who are dog and animal welfare advocates, has made recommendations to address the leniency in sentencing for animal abusers. The first is that lifetime bans should be imposed by default unless the judge sees good reason not to do so. It also proposes the introduction of a specific ban on abusers keeping pets at their properties to prevent them saying that those pets belonged to family members. Some judges already do this but it is at their discretion and not set out in law. Dog Law Ireland believes, and I agree, that this needs to be changed. Another of the recommendations is that judges need to get some training in animal welfare issues to become familiar with the crisis and with dog, horse and pet welfare in general. Abusers of dogs and other pets should be given a lifetime ban from owning a pet.

Puppy farms are, in effect, a form of fast fashion. People pick out their designer puppies and go home happy. The devastation they come from is unseen to the buyer. It is horrendous and wide open for abuse. Puppy farms are a lucrative business for those who operate them. A journalist, John Mooney, indicated that at one stage puppy farms and puppy breeding were more lucrative than drug dealing and transporting drugs. As we get closer to Christmas, we must ask people to rescue a dog. If you look among the huge number of rescues, you will definitely find a dog that is perfect for you. I visited a number of pounds recently and have absolutely no doubt that there is a dog out there for every family. Whatever you do, do not support puppy farms that are abusing breeding dogs and puppies this Christmas.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I call for a debate on a matter that goes to the very heart of child protection in our schools: the recognition of special needs assistants, SNAs, as mandated persons under the Children First Act. There is mandatory reporting for certain professions, including doctors, nurses, social workers and teachers. Every day, SNAs across Ireland work on the front line of care. They are the constant support for our most vulnerable children, those with additional and complex needs. They see what teachers or principals may not always see - the quiet withdrawal, the unexplained bruises, the sudden change in mood - and they are trusted by the children and, crucially, by their parents. Despite this central role, SNAs are not listed as mandated persons in the legislation that governs child protection reporting. This is an unacceptable gap in our system. It leaves dedicated professionals uncertain about their legal responsibilities and risks delays in identifying and reporting abuse or neglect. If we are serious about a culture of vigilance and care, every adult who has direct and sustained contact with children, especially those in intimate care roles, must be empowered and required to act. To leave SNAs outside the mandated framework is to underestimate their importance in the life of a child. I call on the Minister to come forward for a full debate in this House and to update the relevant Schedules to the Children First Act to ensure that special needs assistants are formally recognised as mandated persons.

Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)
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We had statements on higher education yesterday evening. We have a lot of debate here. The franchise for the presidential election and allowing people in Northern Ireland to vote was mentioned this morning. We have heard a lot of talk of the shared island and unity polls down the line. What went somewhat under the radar, even during yesterday evening's discussions, was the announcement by the Irish and Northern Irish Governments of a joint, North-South, all-Ireland apprenticeship programme for the first time. When we have issues or problems in society, education can often be blamed as the root cause. However, it is certainly always rolled out as a solution to the problem. The argument is that education will eventually solve all problems. This is a major move that needs to be recognised and acknowledged. Both Governments need to be complimented. It is the way forward. Education will play a major role in the unification of our island. I formally welcome the announcement.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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We could do with some nuanced thinking about the whole question of spoiling one's vote. To be clear, if one can make a clear choice between candidates and express a clear preference, it is entirely reasonable to express that. If on the other hand you are unhappy that you have been left with a bad choice and if your feeling of indignation is so strong that you choose, American style, to write in the name of somebody you would like to see on the ballot paper, that is a reasonable thing to do, too. The voter is sovereign. The only thing I would ever discourage is resorting to obscenity or otherwise. We must respect the voter and what he or she decides to do. Some will decide to vote because they have a clear preference. Some are annoyed, perhaps justly, about the way that the parties, in particular, have acted, even in the nomination of their own candidates. They may choose to express that. If we are democrats, we will respect that and will not try to denigrate other people's choices in that matter.

I commend Senator Nelson Murray on what she said about blood donation. I am a recent addition to the pool of people who donate blood because a loved one needed blood transfusions and found herself no longer in a position to donate blood herself as a result. That was a reminder to me to start doing what I should have started to do long ago. We can and should use our positions and contacts to encourage people who are in a position to do so to give blood. It reminds me of a strange event that occurred once upon a time when a priest, an imam and a rabbit went in to donate blood. The rabbit commented, "I think I must be a typo."

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I raise the issue of home repossessions, which has re-entered public debate recently. For a huge number of families, the issue has never gone away. I have been contacted by constituents who have had their mortgages sold out from under them to vulture funds. One woman in her 70s, who was a founding co-ordinator of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, and a lifelong community worker, has spent 12 years fighting to save her home. Her mortgage was sold without her consent and she has since lived in constant fear of eviction while the financial institutions act with impunity.She did everything right. She worked hard, paid her taxes and helped others to save their own homes. Sadly, her story is not unique. Thousands of people are still caught in the same nightmare. Families are being financially crushed by interest rates of between 6% and 8.5%, even as the European Central Bank's lending rate has fallen to 2.15%.

In a response to a parliamentary question submitted by Aontú, the Minister for Finance dismissed this as a commercial matter between two parties. The response shows a shocking lack of empathy and a complete disconnect from the real cost-of-living crisis and the real lived experiences of our citizens. We must not forget that these vulture funds were invited into the country by members of the Government. The Minister also claimed that vulture funds cannot stand in a better position than the original lender. While they cannot rewrite the loan terms, however, many contracts already give the lender the power to change the interest rate. When a vulture fund takes over, it inherits that power and uses it to drag rates far higher than the banks would ever do. Vulture funds would not exist only for this. The Government needs to intervene in the sale of mortgages without consent to these predatory vulture funds. We need real protections for mortgage holders and families and fair access to switching and refinancing.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Will the Leader use his good offices to write to the Minister for Transport to ask him if he could ensure the long-awaited funding for the N85 realignment project between Ennis and Inagh in County Clare is included in the 2026 funding programme? This stretch of road has been on the agenda for a long time - many years. Clare County Council recently passed a motion calling for this funding to be made available, bearing in mind that thousands of cars use the road every day. It is the main access point to the Cliffs of Moher, which is the second busiest tourist attraction in the country. This stretch of road has needed an upgrade for a long time to deal with the level of traffic using it.

Also, will the Leader establish exactly what the situation is with the long-awaited project at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon? This is an inner relief road that requires a new bridge and the demolition of some buildings. Again, this is part of the N85 main thoroughfare and the access point for the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Lahinch, all of north County Clare and the Wild Atlantic Way. This summer, there were again huge traffic delays in the Ennistymon and Lahinch area because of the hundreds of buses every week trying to negotiate a bridge that was built decades ago and that clearly is unable to deal with the volume of traffic. The adjoining properties and the current access point are being regularly damaged and businesses in that immediate area are suffering greatly because of the amount of traffic. While Ennistymon as a town is doing exceptionally well in spite of all of this, were this project to be concluded, Ennistymon as a town and all of north County Clare would benefit enormously.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I had intended to speak on housing, but I will defer that until 4 November because of two things. First, I congratulate the Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, for turning up at Citywest last night and supporting his people on the ground. What we saw was a despicable act of thuggery, the likes of which I thought we would never see in this country again. People were firing rockets at members of the Garda, setting Garda vehicles on fire, etc.

In speaking about that, though, I must also speak about what takes place in this House and the other House. Comments made, for whatever purpose, are frequently misused and interpreted on social media to drive the sort of thing we saw last night. Today, we heard about the spoil the vote campaign. We heard a democrat in this House speaking about spoiling your vote and writing whatever you want on the bottom of the ballot paper, which is the American style of things. Anybody who has been at an election count will tell you nobody is going to read what is written on the bottom of the ballot paper. It either has a one, two or three marked on it or it has nothing. They will all be thrown into the same pile of rubbish and nothing will be achieved by it.

People like me were accused of not supporting a candidate. I gave Declan Ganley my assurance that I would support him, because he asked me in plenty of time. He chose not to run, and that is his problem. To say we would not support people, though, is a factual lie. He had to admit on Virgin Media and Newstalk that in fact he had an undertaking from me. Now, for democrats to come in here and advocate for people to spoil their votes is, for me, an affront to the democracy I live in. Everyone in this House knows how difficult it is to go out on the hustings and get votes. To be advocating that we would spoil votes is, for me, anti-democratic and totally and utterly irresponsible.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Anois, before I call the Leader, I welcome the ambassador of Georgia to the House. He is a guest of Senator Joe Conway and Senator Aubrey McCarthy. We also welcome the ambassador of Barbados, who is a friend of Senator Joe Flaherty. They are both welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for being here. I call the Leader to respond on the Order of Business.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Go raibh maith agat. I also welcome the ambassadors to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery.

I thank all the Senators for their contributions this morning. Senator O’Loughlin acknowledged the new role for Séamus Boland of Irish Rural Link and Macra na Feirme. We wish him well in his new role with the European Economic and Social Committee. I have no doubt that he will do a tremendous job. She also welcomed the advocacy of and progress made by Jason Poole and his sister regarding Jennie’s Law. I wish that undertaking well too. The Senator called for a debate about local government staffing, which I request from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Senator called for additional staff for County Kildare. I have no doubt that many other local authorities have needs as well.

Senator Ahearn acknowledged the inclusion of County Tipperary in Lonely Planet’s annual review of 25 top destinations. We obviously know of the beauty of County Tipperary. Food producers were a key issue raised. The Senator spoke about the increasing number of tourists in Cahir and Cashel, where we have the Rock of Cashel, of course, which is phenomenal. When tourists fly into Shannon Airport and Ireland Airport West Knock on the way to Galway, we can send them on to County Tipperary after they leave.

Senator McCarthy, supported by Senator Craughwell, raised the issue of what took place at Citywest and the protest that happened after a man appeared in court after being charged with the sexual assault of a girl. Our sympathies go to her and her family on what she has gone through. I understand that the Garda public order unit in full riot gear, the mounted police unit, the dog unit, the air support unit and water cannon were deployed at those events yesterday and that the Garda had intelligence that violence was being planned. A call had issued to a number of divisions outside Dublin, and members of the force from Kildare, Laois and Waterford responded and travelled to Dublin to support the policing operations. There has been a call for a debate on this matter and I will request it from the Minister for justice. Senator McCarthy also raised the issue of cybersecurity and called for a debate on this matter. I will request that as well.

Senator Collins raised the issue of wind farms and two action groups in her area. This topic has come up on a number of occasions. There is no easy answer to it. As I said before, pretty much every political party in their manifestos for the last decade and more has referred to the need to increase renewable energy generation in this country. Whether this involves wind farms or solar arrays, there are certainly issues in terms of local communities, and this is understandable. The Senator has called for a possible offshore wind installation at Foynes. There is nothing to suggest that such turbines would not also be objected to, as they have been in my area of Connemara. These are tricky issues, but I will again request a debate on the whole area of renewables with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien. Senator Collins also called for the publication of the new guidelines on wind farms. Again, these have been knocking about for quite a while, so I will again request them from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Senator Harmon expressed sympathies to the family of Michael Calnan, may he rest in peace. She also called for an extension of presidential voting rights to Irish citizens abroad. This would obviously require Government decisions, debate and a referendum for it to happen. It does raise the question, of course, of the numbers of voters who would be involved, how far we would extend such a right and if we would have more people outside the island with a vote than on the island in certain elections.That would have to be considered.

Senator Nelson Murray, supported by Senator Mullen, encouraged people to donate blood. Some 3% of Irish people donate blood and there currently is only about 5.8 days' supply at the moment. We would like to get the supply to seven days' worth. I acknowledge both Senators for their donations. It does save lives. That is food for thought for everybody here.

Senators Keogan, Mullan and Craughwell discussed the issues of presidential elections and expressed differing views on the rights and wrongs of spoiling one's ballot. There are spoiled ballots in every election. Some people do not know they are spoiling their vote because with our single transferable vote system they may be doing things wrong. There are also people who spoil their ballots deliberately. There are also things written on ballot papers such as "None of the above" or whatever. People sometimes use the opportunity to make a statement or to write something funny that, and I disagree with Senator Craughwell, often can get reported in the media, with a photo taken and put up. That is everyone's choice but I would encourage people to come out and vote. I will request a debate on this matter in the future. I know there was a motion in the other House about franchise and the future so I will request a debate on this as well.

Senator Scahill raised the matter of the telephone and broadband allowance and called for a debate in regard to older persons and their supports, and I will request that. We are always very conscious in every budget of ensuring our older citizens are looked after, whether it be through increases in pensions or different allowances, the reduction in the VAT on gas and electricity or the changes to the means test for carers, which is hugely important as well. The Senator also welcomed the Finnish delegation. I acknowledge the presence of the Finnish delegation earlier, which included the speaker of the house and a number of MPs, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Galway on Monday along with the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish.

Senator Brady raised the matter of fox hunting and quite rightly stated it is not a sport. We are a long time from "The Irish R.M.", which was set during the time of the gentry. We are long gone from that. Fox hunting is necessary to control foxes. On many farms, foxes take hens and lambs and I think they have even taken kittens. They are a problem. Senator Brady will join with me in not wanting to see the cruelty that sometimes is displayed in illegal activities. No one would condone that. However, fox hunting is a necessary part of the control of foxes, which can cause damage and a loss of earnings to farmers.

Senator Andrews spoke about the issues of animal welfare legislation in relation to puppies and dog ownership and called for specific bans for those who are acknowledged to have abused their pets. I will request a debate on the issue of animal cruelty and welfare legislation in that regard as well.

Senator Kennelly has called for specific recognition of SNAs as mandated persons and called for an update to the schedules. If he tables a Commencement matter, he might get a direct response to that. It is a very worthy and important issue to raise.

Senator Paul Daly raised the first North-South apprenticeships and commended the Government. I agree with that. I know there are statements on apprenticeships with the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, in the week after the recess and he will have an opportunity to raise that matter further as well.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised the issue of home repossessions and the selling-on of loans. We appreciate the human toll that home repossessions take. As to what can be done legally, or the legal issues here, perhaps a specific Commencement debate on this matter would be most appropriate.

Senator Martin Conway raised the issue of Blake's Corner and his time on the road to Lahinch. I agree it is not fit for purpose in this day and age. He also called for an update on the realignment of the N85 between Ennis and Inagh. Again, it is a very specific issue so he might put it down for a debate with the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Canney, who might be able to come to the House to discuss that very important issue.