I have received notice from Senator Fintan Warfield that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to provide an update on the proposed HIV and AIDS national monument.
I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher:
The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the provision and possible extension of services at the Monaghan Hospital minor injuries unit.
I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Rural and Community Development to make a statement on the funding for the next LEADER Programme.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education to provide temporary school accommodation at Beara Community School, County Cork, for special needs education.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Gavan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline Government policy on the waiver regarding the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS, having regard to discussions at the current WTO ministerial conference.
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 provision of therapeutic services as outlined in the programme for Government.
I have also received notice from Senator Denis O’Donovan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the provision of additional neurology nurses in Cork University Hospital for the south-west region.
I have also received notice from Senator Sharon Keogan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the Government’s re-examination of the role of the Shannon liquefied natural gas, LNG, plant in advancing energy security in Ireland, in particular by incorporating the production of green hydrogen.
I have also received notice from Senator Maria Byrne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on the progress of the SUSI grant reform to include eligibility of part-time courses.
I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the establishment of a standardised fare structure across the public transport network.
I have also received notice from Senator Barry Ward of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the timeline for the allocation of a permanent site, including any interim site, for Gaelscoil Laighean, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin.
I have also received notice from Senator Emer Currie of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the requirement for a direct bus route from west Dublin to Dublin Airport.
Of the matters raised by the Senators suitable for discussion, I have selected Senators Warfield, Gallagher, Boyhan and Lombard and they will be taken now. I regret I had to rule out of order the matters raised by Senators Conway and Currie as the relevant Minister has no official responsibility for the matters raised. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.
I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the House who will take all the Commencement Matter items today.
Before I call on the Minister of State and the Senator Warfield, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery our guests from Los Angeles, Houston and Washington DC, friends of Michael P. O'Neill, a great friend of Ireland.