I have received notice from Senator Frances Black that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the progress being made to provide equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for Palestinians under the €50 million global public health initiatives, including the COVAX mechanism.
I have also received notice from Senator Eugene Murphy of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for land use and biodiversity to outline the supports to be put in place for plantations affected by the fungal disease, ash dieback.
I have also received notice from Senator Seán Kyne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the progress being made by his Department, and agencies under his remit, in ensuring essential improvements in infrastructure to enable the growth of Galway city and county under Project Ireland 2040.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Gavan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the income thresholds for social housing currently being applied by local authorities.
I have also received notice from Senator Emer Currie of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an equal level of support to all families under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019.
I have also received notice from Senators Mary Fitzpatrick and Mary Seary Kearney of the following matter:
The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on the working conditions and status of Deliveroo workers in light of the UK Supreme Court decision that found that Uber contractors are employees; and whether he will introduce third employment status into employment law so as to assist these workers.
I have also received notice from Senator Barry Ward of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide funding to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for harbours that were transferred to it under the Harbours Act 2015.
I have also received notice from Senator Garret Ahearn of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the proposed new Garda station in Clonmel, County Tipperary.
I have also received notice from Senator Malcolm Byrne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the commitment made in the programme for Government to end direct provision; and the measures being taken to integrate refugees and those seeking asylum into our society.
I have also received notice from Senator Fiona O’Loughlin of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice to fast-track citizenship applications by immigrant workers and asylum seekers working in front-line healthcare services.
I have also received notice from Senator Aidan Davitt of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the closure of passport services under level 5 restrictions.
I have also received notice from Senator Marie Sherlock of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to make a statement on the distribution of the €50 million live entertainment fund announced in Budget 2021.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the delivery of a permanent extension for the Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, County Cork.
I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on the timeframe for the establishment of the office of food ombudsman as set out in the programme for Government.
I have also received notice from Senator Gerard Craughwell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the provision of an overseas allowance for Irish citizens who represent Ireland as secondees in the OCSE special monitoring mission to Ukraine.
I have also received notice from Senator Timmy Dooley of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to consider developing sector-specific support packages for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
I have also received notice from Senator Aisling Dolan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the status of the new school building project proposed for Scoil an Chroí Naofa, Ballinasloe National School, County Galway.
The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Black, Murphy, Kyne, Gavan, Currie, Fitzpatrick and Seery Kearney, who are sharing their time, and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.