I welcome to the Gallery our friend and colleague, the former Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives and now His Excellency the Ambassador of New Zealand to Ireland, Mr. Trevor Mallard. The ambassador is very welcome, and I thank him for being here this afternoon.
I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:
Senator Mary Seery Kearney - The need for the Minister for Justice to make a statement on the adequacy of the oversight of cash-for-gold outlets.
Senator Lynn Ruane - The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress of the refined DEIS programme, with specific regard to the types of and timelines for additional targeted supports and resources which will be offered to the schools captured within the new very disadvantaged DEIS category.
Senator Regina Doherty - The need of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the environmental damage being caused by abandoned cars in towns and villages across Ireland.
Senator Fiona O'Loughlin - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the new national fares strategy.
Senator Rónán Mullen - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the introduction of E10 petrol in Ireland, and to outline the position for vehicles that cannot operate on the E10 blend.Senator Seán Kyne - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the safeguarding of the environment and natural habitat of the Kilcaimin Bay area in light of the proposed development of a greenway in Maree, Oranmore, County Galway.Senator Garret Ahearn - The need for the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications to introduce grants for businesses to install solar or photovoltaic, PV panels.Senator Lynn Boylan - The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to provide that horses seized on welfare grounds can be rehomed.Senator Malcolm Byrne - The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on the use of artificial intelligence, AI, tools for education and training purposes.Senator Maria Byrne - The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the application for an extension by Catherine McAuley School, Limerick.
Senator Martin Conway - The need for the Minister for Health to provide an extra physiotherapist in each of the CMO areas to ensure MS Ireland can provide the necessary supports to service users with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease. The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion, and I have selected Senators Seery Kearney, Ruane, Doherty, O'Loughlin, Mullen and Kyne, and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.