I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:
Senator Malcolm Byrne - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the use of schools as the primary venues for polling centres in elections and referendums and if alternatives could be considered.
Senator John Cummins - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to extend the waiver on development contributions and water and wastewater connection charges for a further year and to apply the waiver scheme to vacant and derelict properties.
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins - The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the importation of coal into the State from the Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia and the associated human rights and environmental implications of this policy.
Senator Róisín Garvey - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on progress under the programme for Government commitment to ensure that underused building stock in urban centres is brought into use; and the progress under the town centres first initiative to bring about the live above the shop measures.
Senator Mark Wall - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the allocation of resources for the carrying out of clinical reassessment of assessment of needs cases in the CHO 7 area.
Senator Paul Daly - The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme grant reference costs, given the differential between the reference costs and actual costings.
Senator Victor Boyhan - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement confirming the official polling date for the forthcoming local elections.
Senator Garret Ahearn - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the application by Tipperary County Council for the redevelopment of the town centre and public realms; and the reasons for the delay in this project.
Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the actions taken to ensure that fire services in cities across the country undertake pre-fire intelligence surveys of the buildings for which they have responsibility.
Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Finance to ensure that all homeowners have the same rights and protections, including those whose loans are with vulture funds.
The matters raised by Senators are suitable for discussion. Senators Malcolm Byrne, John Cummins, Alice-Mary Higgins and Róisín Garvey have been selected and will be taken now. Other Senators may give notice another day of the matters which they have raised.
I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He is most welcome. The first Commencement matter is from Senator Malcolm Byrne.