Before I read out the Commencement matters, I would like to apologise to Members that there are only two Commencement matters this morning, yet there were in excess of four submitted. It is not good enough that Members have to withdraw Commencement matters because the Minister in a particular Department is not available. The Department tells the Member the Minister is not available and that is not good enough. I apologise to the Members whose matters were not picked-----
Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad
A Chathaoirligh, I do not think you can say this if you do not have the full details of what has gone on.
I have the full details.
It might have been appropriate for you to have spoken to the people concerned beforehand-----
I did that.
Not to me.
I was not referring to you. I am apologising that you were not picked.
I was picked, but I swapped.
I was apologising that we could not add you as you swapped. I was not referring to you. Let me finish-----
Thank you. Apologies.
The Commencement matters are very important. They are Members' opportunity to raise a matter with a Minister in the House. It is not good enough for a Government Department to tell a Member, at whatever hour of the day, that there is no Minister available. I want to thank Senator Ardagh for her co-operation yesterday in that matter.
The Member would not be picked again for a good while, a Chathaoirligh.
I will have a meeting about it and a review. Only two Members have been picked this morning for the Commencement matters when there should be four. I ask all Members to remember that Commencement matters are their opportunity to raise a matter with the Minister. We should not allow a Government Department to say there is no Minister available when there are 30 odd Ministers in government.
I have received notices from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:
Senator Tom Clonan - the need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on fees reimbursed to the Irish Aviation Authority for exempted fees for en route air traffic control services supplied to US and foreign military aircraft passing through Irish airspace, under Eurocontrol, over the last five years.
Senator Robbie Gallagher - the need for the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the reports due to be published in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which occurred 50 years ago this month.
Senator Maria Byrne - the need for the Minister for Transport to allocate funding for Limerick City and County Council for national, regional and local road improvement schemes and for the sound barriers and protection of the 2 km stretch on the Limerick to Foynes railway line.
Senator Míchéal Carrigy - the need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the provision of specialised special needs dentists to deliver treatment within the public system.
Senator Malcolm Byrne - the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Tánaiste to make a statement on the ongoing protests in Georgia and to reiterate Ireland's support for Georgia's path to accession to EU membership.
Senator Tim Lombard - the need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement and plans to begin the process of having a directly elected mayor for Cork city and county.
Senator Eugene Murphy - the need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the need to establish a primary care centre in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon.
Senator Regina Doherty - the need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to make a statement on technological barriers arising since the introduction of the new enduring power of attorney process in 2023.
Senator Timmy Dooley - the need for the Minister for Education to outline the current status of plans for the new secondary school in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare.
The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Tom Clonan and Robbie Gallagher and they will be taken now. Senators Doherty and Dooley have withdrawn their Commencement matters, which I had originally selected. All other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.