I welcome an Aire Stáit, Deputy Colm Brophy, to the House. I know he is under pressure but I must begin proceedings by reading out the Commencement matters that have been submitted by Senators.
I have received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to engage with the Banking Federation of Ireland and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to provide supports for homeowners in counties Mayo and Donegal affected by pyrite.
I have also received notice from Senator Garret Ahearn of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for heritage and electoral reform to provide supports for the restoration and preservation of Knocklofty House, Grange, County Tipperary.
I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the human papillomavirus, HPV, schools vaccination programme and the plans being put in place to address the current backlog.
I have also received notice from Senator Erin McGreehan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the BreastCheck cancer screening programme.
I have also received notice from Senator Mary Fitzpatrick of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the MetroLink project, specifically on the location of a station in Albert College Park, and if consideration will be given to the provision of independent expert advice to homeowners who wish to engage in the planning process.
I have also received notice from Senator Alice-Mary Higgins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on whether Ireland is supporting the call from many countries and the World Health Organization for a waiver of intellectual property rights under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS agreement, to allow a scaling up of global manufacture and access to Covid-19 vaccines.
I have also received notice from Senator Sharon Keogan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the remedial works required for Duleek boys' and girls' national schools, County Meath.
I have also received notice from Senator Rónán Mullen of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the authentication and apostilling of documents by his Department.
I have also received notice from Senator Lynn Boylan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice to make a statement on the failure to waive financial eligibility criteria when providing legal aid to the families of the Stardust fire victims in the ongoing inquest.
I have also received notice from Senator John McGahon of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the supports being put in place to protect diabetes patients given the risk to them of serious health complications from Covid-19.
I have also received notice from Senator Malcolm Byrne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the development of an overall plan for social and affordable housing in Gorey and the wider north Wexford area.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide clarification on the statutory timeframes pertaining to aquaculture licensing.
I have also received notice from Senator Marie Sherlock of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to conduct a review of the national childcare scheme.
I have also received notice from Senator Seán Kyne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the Sláintecare proposals regarding elective hospital plans for counties Galway, Cork and Dublin.
I have also received notice from Senator Fiona O'Loughlin of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to consider lifting the restrictions on partners attending at maternity hospitals for appointments and childbirth.
The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Boyhan, Ahearn, Conway, McGreehan, Fitzpatrick and Higgins, and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.