Cara sounds like a remarkable young lady. The example she is setting is phenomenal. I welcome her and wish her every success in her exams in the next couple of weeks and in the task she will be taking on next year. We talk a lot here about the stress that our leaving and junior certificate students go through. From the smile on her face since she arrived into the Chamber this morning, it seems that Cara does not need to be stressed at all. I congratulate her and her mum and dad, who are incredibly proud of her for the example she is setting. I send her every good wish. She is very welcome here this morning.
It is very clear that Senator Ahern has pull that the rest of us do not have. I congratulate him on his success this week.
Senator Kyne spoke about the capital plan and called for a debate. The email that came into all of our inboxes this week was very welcome. There is a need for a debate on the projects that will be advanced. We can all champion them, but we should have a chat about those that are not on the list.
Senator Carrigy welcomed visitors from his local school in Balinalee. I congratulate Mrs. Farrelly and wish her a happy, healthy and long retirement. I am sure all Senators will agree that the teachers who paid an extra bit of attention to us in school, whether that was in respect of hockey, basketball, music or rounders, remain in our minds for years to come. Mrs. Farrelly probably had thousands of children through her good hands over the years. I wish her a healthy and happy retirement, and thank her for her commitment to her community.
I read and heard the reports on the matter mentioned by Senator Boyhan. It is shocking that something so dangerous is lurking in practically all of our communities and nobody knew anything about it. I will certainly arrange a debate on that. It is very informative of him to raise the matter because while the EPA posted information, all of those who did not read a newspaper or listen to RTÉ this morning will still be blissfully ignorant of what is happening. A national and local authority campaign would be very welcome. Let us see if we can follow up on that.
Senator Lombard spoke about the inconsistencies around how we test young children with dyslexia in primary school. I will write to the Minister for Education and her Department to seek clarity on the use of IT equipment in order to give those children the aids they need and to provide them with the best opportunity possible when they go into secondary school. We will send that letter today.
Senator Fitzpatrick asked that we send a letter to the chair of the HSE requesting information on the support he is providing to GP and maternity services around the country. I can certainly do that. I very much welcome the review of the legislation that is due to happen in the coming weeks. We will debate the review once it has been issued.
Senator Gavan gave us a shocking statistic, namely, that 80 eviction notices were issued in the confines of Limerick alone last Monday. I will try to organise a debate because if his officials are telling him that - I have no doubt it is true - it is something that is not unique to Limerick and we will have to examine the issue. I will come back to him on a date for such a debate as soon as I can.
Senator Conway wished Councillor Noel Collins a very successful, happy and long requirement, which is something we can all echo. We all seem obsessed with communication and have so many ways to communicate with people who come to us with issues. Yet, a gentleman sitting on a wall on a Saturday can top the poll every time there is an election. I and others may be a bit OCD about that. I wish him very well.
The Senator also spoke about AsIAm and the autistic register with regard to the deficits in the provision of services. He is correct; we should not need a charity to do that. It should be something that is done by the State. I will raise the issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan.
Senator Horkan wished all of our sixth year leaving certificate students every success in the weeks ahead. He is right; I have one at home. He is finishing school tomorrow and could not be happier about it. I look forward to the sunshine we will get once the exams start, please God, because we have not had much of it in the past couple of weeks. On a serious note, I wish them all well. They have had a very difficult number of years. Some children did not do the junior certificate and have had a difficult time. I hope the stress levels are as minimal as they can be and that they enjoy a very long, happy and sunny summer. Please God it will work out for them.
Senator Maria Byrne's comments were echoed by Senator Gavan. She asked me to write a letter to the Minister with regard to the prospective closure of a post office. I have heard all week about the financial supports on the way for our post offices, but we need to make sure that happens before there are closures. The Senator referred to small rural communities, and Senator Gavan pointed out that these communities are growing. Post offices are vitally important for communities. People from larger towns and cities do not really appreciate how important post offices are in smaller communities. We need to support them and ensure they maintain their businesses.
Senator Keogan raised the issue of planning permission for 569 houses in south County Meath. As is the case for me, a number of people have contacted her. I have made inquiries with the Minister regarding the nature and type of, as well as the infrastructural amenities required for, such a community. Once I have that information, I will come back to the Senator. I take her point about Thornton Hall. It is a site I pass every single day. It has the best roads, light, facilities, water and sewerage, yet it is a town waiting to be built. I am not sure what we are waiting on. That is another days work.
Senator Buttimer asked for a debate on the road traffic Bill, in particular with regard to e-scooters. I will organise that as soon as I can.
Senator Wilson spoke about Independence Day in Georgia. I wish the Georgians well.
The Senator also mentioned the inclusion of RACO in ICTU negotiations and the upcoming public sector talks. It needs to be included and I hope the issue is resolved today because I am quite aware that the Minister's intention is to include it. We should do that today. He also suggested that we have a passport office in the north west, something echoed by other colleagues in recent days.
Senator Black is looking for a debate on an incredibly important issue. It is one that is somehow slipping between two stools, namely, pre-legislative scrutiny of the mental health legislation and the capacity Bill that is currently being drafted by the Minister. We have to ensure that people's civil and human rights are upheld. Anybody who makes his or her expressed wishes known for medical treatment, whether it be mental or physical health, when in the whole of his or her health, and had the capacity to do so, has to have his or her wished honoured. That should be enshrined in legislation. We will organise that debate as quickly as we can.
Senator Ó Donnghaile welcomed the coverage, albeit negative, regarding passports in the past couple of days. He asked for clarity on the information people receive when applying for passports in order to ensure that they will not be obliged to wait weeks. That is a view we all share.
We have talked in the last couple of weeks about how successful it can be, with people making applications and receiving a passport in the post three or four days later. Other really unfortunate people have waited for months, which is far too long, and the Minister needs to address it as quickly as he can.
Senator Craughwell mentioned two issues. The first was about RACO, which he has spoken about all week. He received more information from freedom of information requests about the search and rescue tender, which he is going to publish. He is seeking a debate on Derrybrien in Galway, which I will organise as soon as I can.
Senator Ward spoke about Owen Stubbs and the bizarre reinstatement of a public right of way that does not actually give a right of way to people in his constituency.
Senator O'Loughlin opened this morning by seeking a debate on the new special educational regional centres announced by the Minister this week. She welcomed a new organisation for early educators called PEMI.