Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters – Seanad Éireann (27th Seanad) – Wednesday, 11 Jun 2025

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

An Cathaoirleach

Before I call the first Commencement matter, I welcome the ambassador from Palestine. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. I know you have a series of meetings and I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me this morning. We, as always, call for an immediate ceasefire and immediate access for aid into the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages and a pathway forward for peace in Palestine and Israel. Thank you, ambassador, for being here today.

We also have St. Pat's national school from Bray in County Wicklow in the Gallery. You are most welcome here to Seanad Éireann today. I saw you earlier on your tour and I am delighted you are able to be in Seanad Éireann today. I am also delighted to announce that, as is the protocol in Seanad Éireann, there is no homework for the rest of the week for any visiting school and no homework for the teachers either.

Sports Funding

Senator Garret Ahearn

I welcome the ambassador as well and acknowledge the work she has done over recent months and years. We had a productive meeting yesterday in the foreign affairs committee. It could have gone on for two or three more hours it was so impressive.

I am happy to see Senator Andrews in the Chair now because League of Ireland and grassroots soccer is something he and I are passionate about. The FAI has done excellent work over recent years, particularly in its 2022-2025 strategy, 80% of which is completed. This work has been led by the president, Mr. Paul Cooke, and by the CEO, Mr. David Courell. There has been a lot done on increasing participation. We now have 234,000 people in the country playing soccer, an increase of 7% in three years. In terms of female participation, we have seen an increase of 27% in participation. That goes back to the success of the women's game internationally when playing in the World Cup in Australia a number of years ago. Sponsorship has been increased, being doubled in recent years, and the ticketing from national games and League of Ireland has been increased. There has been a lot done.

What the FAI is putting together is a programme and plan for the next ten years which will transform the League of Ireland and the underage and academy levels. Essentially, it is planning to set up 26 centres of excellence academy locations across the country. Six of them will be in Dublin city - people will be familiar with the likes of Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Shelbourne - and there will be 19 around the country in the likes of Wexford, Waterford, Kerry, Cobh Ramblers, Cork, Galway United and Finn Harps. They will be almost everywhere in the country. The reason for this is to try to create an opportunity for young children throughout the country because one of the challenges the League of Ireland and the FAI have had is losing talent in certain areas because we do not have that centre of excellence. What the organisation is trying to do is to build that opportunity and build a pathway within those academy locations so as to have a pyramid system where there is an opportunity for young talented players to be able to progress to a level at which they can achieve, which could be at international level, League of Ireland level or a lower league level, and to have a more structured base to create those opportunities.

It also means there would be more sustainable success over the years. Instead of having one player here and there breaking through, there would be success right through.

This plan is over an 11-year period, with continuous investment from the FAI, but the hope is to get investment from the Government. At the moment, €8 million a year is put in. Under the plan, we are looking at €16 million a year, so there is an €8 million multiyear investment being sought from the Government, starting in this upcoming budget. What that essentially will do is close the gap from where Ireland is positioned from a grassroots level compared with other countries across the world.

We currently have a situation where players do not have the opportunity to get the top-quality level coaching they need to be able to get to the level they need to reach. The FAI is asking that we put that money forward. Some 81% of that funding will go right back into the clubs on the ground. It does not stay in Dublin. It goes right back into the ground to promote players.

I look forward to the Minister of State’s response.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I will give a bit of background information. The development of football is a matter for the FAI, which, like all national governing bodies of sport, is an independent, autonomous body that is responsible for the organisation and development of the sport. While the FAI has sought significant State funding to support its academic development plans, it is important to note the sizable financial support directed to the FAI and to football more generally over the past number of years. More than €75 million in State funding was allocated to the Football Association of Ireland between 2019 and 2024, including €30.2 million specifically to support development and aimed at promoting participation in football by young people, with the balance in funding comprising Covid-specific and energy supports to the FAI and the wider football association.

In respect of State support for the development of facilities, more than €100 million in capital funding was allocated to Irish football in the second half of 2024. Under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, €54.4 million was allocated in November 2024 to football stadium projects at Finn Harps, Dalymount Park, Sligo Rovers and Wexford. An additional €50.6 million was allocated from the community sports and equipment fund in 2024 to support the development of grassroots club football facilities nationwide.

Considerable additional financial support has been provided by the State for the development of football in Ireland, particularly through the 2020-23 memorandum of understanding between the Government and the FAI. The memorandum of understanding provided for a package of funding of €5.8 million per annum to the FAI during that four-year period up to 2023 for football development. In return, it is important to recognise the FAI has made significant progress regarding governance reform, with 159 of the 163 memorandum of understanding recommendations and conditions either complied with or phase 1 completed.

A new memorandum was signed on 17 December last, which will increase State funding to the FAI to €6 million per annum for the 2024-27 period. The bulk of this funding will go towards the FAI’s youth field sports grants, which are aimed at developing the grassroots of the game, improving coaching and playing standards, growing participation numbers and embracing communities outside of the traditional base of the sport.

The Government is also providing significant support to the hosting of the Euro 2028 football championship, which will deliver a lasting legacy for football in Ireland. Specifically, legacy funding will help deliver increased participation and related health and social benefits, especially for communities from underrepresented groups and deprived areas. Social inclusion will be key in the delivery of the tournament to ensure that legacy benefits reach a diverse and wide-ranging group. We cannot overestimate that. It is hugely important that we go out into all communities and ensure that we are engaging with those communities and getting them greater participation in sport. As the House will know, it is a great enabler for people.

The programme for Government also includes a commitment to explore new mechanisms for the creation of football academies with the FAI and the League of Ireland. In this programme for Government, we will be working through the Department of sport and with all stakeholders to ensure that this commitment is delivered on and to ensure we are reaching into each and every community.

I will leave the answer at that, but I take the Senator's well-made point. I might respond to subsequent questions.

Senator Garret Ahearn

I thank the Minister of State for the response. He is right that there has been an awful lot of money given over the past number of years to support the FAI and grassroots level in terms of the €30 million.

It is important to note that the people leading the FAI now have, as the Minister of State said, delivered on the memorandum of understanding. Some 98% of that has been completed. They have shown they are willing to commit, once the funding is put in place, on Government suggestions.

There has been a big change since Brexit. Essentially, back in the day, the likes of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and people like them went to the UK when they were 14 or 15, became great players, played for Ireland and played for great clubs. They had coaching at Spurs, Liverpool and clubs like that – the top-quality, best-in-the-world-type coaching one could get. Now, because of Brexit, players cannot go to the UK until they are 18, which means we have players in Ireland who have been signed for record fees but are still playing in League of Ireland. We have players who are 16 and 17 going to the UK in a year or two but who are still in Ireland now, and they need the same quality of young-age coaching to be at that level when they go over to those clubs to achieve great things in the future for Ireland.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I take the point. It is clear from the prepared script from the Department, and the House will know, that there is serious investment. Much work has been done with the FAI over the past number of years and we will continue to do so. It is an important sport in our communities, and it is important that we engage and encourage more people. The Senator referenced women’s participation, which is as important in this sport as in others. We have to liaise with the FAI.

I also take the point on high performance and centres of excellence. We have to develop them in all communities so that it is spread right across the country. There is a great deal of work being done by football clubs the length and breadth of the country in challenging times in terms of raising funds and keeping the gates open. We acknowledge the work being done by them, and also the points the Senator made, to make sure that we have funding channelled in the best way possible to achieve the best results for the players, for the association and for Ireland Inc.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Senator Eileen Lynch

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. My Commencement matter is about a review of the widow’s pension and the payment of same. There is a massive anomaly in the system when it comes to the payment of the widow’s pension insofar as if someone is in receipt of the widow’s pension, that person cannot receive any sick pay or illness benefit should she need to go on sick leave from work. It is incredibly discriminatory and unfair. It needs to be addressed.

Unfortunately, when it comes to bereavement, it does not discriminate in terms of age. Many younger people who lose their spouses or partners continue working and raising a family. They are in receipt of widow’s pension, which is based off the stamps of their deceased spouses. However, should they require sick benefit, illness benefit and time off work, they cannot receive the second social welfare payment. I understand the double jeopardy rule insofar as people cannot claim two payments, but this is based off their own stamps. Essentially, the current situation is preventing people who are paying PRSI from accessing their own stamps, should they need to. Surely, the whole point of the system is that people can access it should they need illness benefit and time off work. We are making things incredibly difficult for these people. It is unfair, and it is a matter that is not raised enough. It is an anomaly in the system. It is not the claiming of double stamps. Widow’s pension comes from the stamps of one’s deceased spouse whereas illness benefit comes from one’s own stamps that one has been contributing to.

I refer to the argument that people cannot receive two social welfare payments.

That is not always strictly true insofar as you can be in receipt of a social welfare payment and receive a half-rate carer's payment. There are certain social welfare payments to which that rule applies. I get that this is up to a limited period. However, it would help if those who have to go on sick leave could even access illness benefit at half the rate, which, as I said, we see in terms of carers. There has to be a way to address this. The system is incredibly unfair. Those who are dealing with bereavement and trying to raise a family are dealing with it on their own. They are dealing with enough without the worry that they are working full time. These people literally cannot afford to go on sick leave.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

It is great that we are discussing Cork North-West and these issues in general. I congratulate the Senator on her election and wish her every success.

The Department has outlined the various schemes and payments - the pension payments and social welfare payments - the double jeopardy issues and so forth. Everybody understands what social welfare payments entail.

All of us will have come across very genuine cases. The point the Senator made in relation to bereavement can come at any age. The Taoiseach recently stated that this would be looked at – he did not make any commitments - to see whether there is an anomaly in the system and if there is, how best we can work through it.

On the half-rate carer's payment, this was an issue over 20 years ago. At that time, Joe Callanan, a former Deputy from Galway, and I proposed a motion to the effect that there should be a second payment for carers. That is how the half-rate carer's payment came in the noughties. We did a body of work in relation to it because many people were getting State pensions or social welfare payments and caring for loved ones such as siblings or children. The Government brought in the half-rate carer's payment at that stage.

The point the Senator made in that context needs to be explored. If we are looking at the widow’s or widower's pension being paid on the basis of the PRSI contributions of a deceased spouse or partner, then we must consider what is involved. We made amendments to this pension, which were welcome. We all know of couples who have been in committed partnerships for 20 or 25 years. Previously, there was a discrepancy or an element of victimisation there. We are trying to put that right.

The Senator’s point relates to the precedent involved. She asked whether something can be done if a spouse or partner dies and the pension is claimed on the basis of his or her PRSI contributions. In such circumstances, the surviving partner will continue to pay PRSI because they are working. If they have an accident or illness, they still have the same commitments. The Senator inquired if we might explore this matter in the context of social welfare legislation. I will take that back to the Department and ask that it be reviewed. There may be something we can do. We all come across these cases in our constituency work. They are challenging. I am not giving any carte blanche commitments, but I take the point the Senator made. There is work to be done. We will work on the points she made and respond accordingly.

Senator Eileen Lynch

I appreciate the Minister of State’s engagement on this matter and, indeed, the many valid points he made. We are very much on the same page on this. It must be recognised that an anomaly exists. In that context, I refer to the unfairness of the situation whereby a person who is still working and paying PRSI cannot access illness benefit. I commend the Minister of State on the work he said he did in this area previously in terms of the half-rate carer's payment. I do not see why that logic could not be applied to this in the event that we cannot get the full payment. There are so many options that could be looked at to level this up. In the context of the widow's pension, a sliding scale, based on the number of PRSI contributions that the deceased spouse has paid, is used. It is not a fixed rate. I am concerned about the unfairness of it all. I appreciate the Minister of State’s reply.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I will take the point that Senator Lynch made back to the Department. The challenge here is that relating to one person one payment. In 2000 or 2001, the half-rate carer’s payment was introduced. If memory serves, Seamus Brennan, who was the Minister at the time, brought it in. We will explore that.

I want to put on the record the fact that the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025, concluded Second Stage in the Dáil on 27 March. Committee Stage is due to be taken on 25 June next. It is extremely important that Bill is passed because a huge number of families will benefit from it. They face the same challenges and difficulties, and it is important that we make sure the Bill is passed. I will to take the points made back to the Department and obtain a suitable response.

Military Aircraft

Senator Chris Andrews

Late last year, it was announced that the State would be purchasing four German-built multi-use Airbus helicopters for use by the Defence Forces at a cost of €92 million. In January, The Journal reported that these helicopters contained flight system components manufactured by the Israeli arms company, Elbit Systems, despite the Government stating at an earlier stage that its position was to avoid purchasing Israeli military technology.

These helicopters are built with the capability to fire Israeli-built Spike anti-tank missiles. In response to parliamentary questions about these missiles, the Department informed me that these helicopters are future-proofed to allow the integration of guided missiles if the State chooses to have that capability. The Department also said that the State does not currently, and that is the key word, intend to purchase Israeli military technology. However, given that the State is already acquiring Israeli military technology through the avionics systems of these helicopters, I cannot help but doubt the strength of this commitment. In particular, the word “currently” suggests to me that the Government could, at its convenience, decide to buy Israeli weapons if it saw a good deal or if it thought it could get away with doing so because the public was not going to make a big fuss about it.

I would be gravely concerned if a single cent from Ireland went to the Israeli state, much less the Israeli armaments industry.

While Israel is in the middle of committing a genocide against the civilian population of Gaza, the idea that Ireland would be actively supporting the Israeli armaments industry, or even leaving the door open to purchasing Israeli weapons in the future, is completely unacceptable. Israel has been killing thousands of men, women and children across Gaza and the West Bank, committing crimes on an unimaginable scale. The Irish Government must do everything it can to help the Palestinian people and to build political and economic pressure on Israel to stop the genocide. The absolute most basic and very obvious step in this regard is simply not to buy Israeli weapons or military technology. We need an ironclad commitment from the Government that we will not have any links - commercial, scientific or otherwise – to the Israeli military industrial machine as long as the genocide of the Palestinians continues.

The Minister of State needs to clarify this issue and commit, without reservation, that Ireland will not continue to be complicit in what the Israeli war machine is doing. That will not be done by purchasing Israeli arms as long as the State of Israel continues to deny the Palestinian people their human rights and dignity.

Additionally, in relation to these specific helicopters, I would appreciate if the Minister of State would confirm whether any of the components were manufactured or designed in Israel or by Israeli companies. If they were, why was the State's procurement process not adequately followed?

There is clearly something amiss here. Ireland has been complicit in the genocide in Gaza. It has facilitated the flights of military equipment through Irish airspace.

Now, the Government is talking about the occupied territories Bill as if it is the same Bill that Senator Black proposed. It will be so watered down that it will not look anything like that occupied territories Bill.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be present. I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter and I thank Senator Andrews for his question.

In December 2024, the Department of Defence signed a contract for the delivery of four German-made Airbus H145M helicopters, which will provide a modern light utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps. They will replace the present aging fleet of two EC135s, which have reached the end of their useful service life. The value of the contract is €91.7 million, excluding VAT, and it is anticipated that delivery of the helicopters will begin on a phased basis in quarter 1 of 2027.

The Airbus H145Ms represent a vast modernisation and expansion of light utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps over the present ageing fleet. Their multirole capability means that the H145Ms will be equipped to satisfy a wide range of missions, including maritime security missions, utility missions, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, ISTAR, missions, and light attack missions. As well as enhancing the Defence Forces' current ISTAR capabilities, the aircraft will also provide enhanced electro-optical and thermal imagery features not available in the current rotary wing fleet. They will greatly improve the operational support provided to special operations forces - the Army Ranger wing - as well as provide broader support and utility across the Defence Forces' training and operations.

While the Department does not comment on systems fitted to Air Corps aircraft for operational reasons, the H145M rotary wing aircraft comes fitted with the Helionix avionics suite, an avionics solution that is proprietary to Airbus. These systems are fitted on all modern civil and military aircraft to assist pilots to fly the aircraft safely and are not military specific. No missile capability is included in the contract to procure the four aircraft. No consideration is being given to such capability at the present time. However, the aircraft are future-proofed and capable of being upgraded to becoming missile-capable. Future missile capability is one of the elements considered within the enhanced Defence Forces capability level of ambition 3, LOA 3, as defined in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Any future upgrade of equipment to achieve LOA 3 capability will be subject to a comprehensive review and a future Government decision.

Specifically on the procurement of Israeli military technology, I can confirm that there is no intention to purchase military equipment from Israel. Since the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, wherein the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, concluded that "the State of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful" and that "the State of Israel is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible", the Department has included provisions in its tender documentation regarding the right to reject offers from third countries, which include Israel, on defence and security grounds in line with the Commission's guidance on the procurement of defensive equipment under Directive 2009/18/EU.

I will address further issues in my closing remarks.

Senator Chris Andrews

I thank the Minister of State. The first half of that reply was exactly the same as the reply I got to a parliamentary question. There was nothing new in it. The Minister of State did not confirm whether the helicopters purchased would have Israeli components in them. I did not hear that. The whole thing is very vague. It is couched in language that is open, yet it is not clear to me. The Minister of State might follow that up. It is not surprising. The Government is saying one thing about how horrifying the situation is, but on the other hand it has consistently been complicit in the genocide. It seems like this is a replica of that.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

The specific line in the reply is "there is no intention to purchase military equipment from Israel". This is an issue the Senator has been passionate about, not just for the past 18 or 20 months, but for a long time. Like him, we are horrified by what has happened. We have been to the forefront in the European Union in condemning what is happening in Israel for quite some time, and we are quite shocked by it. Where international politics are concerned, it is something we take very seriously. There is no intention to collaborate with Israel in what is happening, good, bad or indifferent. We have always been to the forefront in terms of the Israeli people as well, as has the Senator's family going back generations. For my party, going back to the late Brian Lenihan Snr., it is something we are very serious about. We are all horrified with what is happening across the region at the moment. "Horrified" does not even describe the revulsion that we feel on it.

I take the points the Senator has made on the issue and I will certainly endeavour to get more up-to-date information for him.

School Transport

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin

This is my first opportunity to have a debate in this House with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, since his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for special education and school transport. We could not have a more committed, compassionate, empathetic person in this role than him. I say that from previous experience on the disability matters committee and in other areas. It does not surprise me at all that he is taking this matter. In so many scenarios, other Ministers are sent to deal with sensitive issues, so I really appreciate him taking the time to be here.

South Kildare is a growing area. We have excellent schools in Newbridge and Kildare town, but with the population growing, there are not enough places. We are practically at capacity at primary school level and over capacity at second level. A commitment was made by the previous education Minister that we would have a new school at McGee barracks, on the edge of Kildare town, close to the Curragh, and that it would be where the children who did not have places in current schools in Newbridge and Kildare would go. We are still waiting for the shovel to go into the ground, even though that is happening at pace. What we do in the interim is important to the pupils, who deserve, need and expect a secondary school place, as do their families.

Curragh Community College is an excellent school under the auspices of the ETB. The principal, Ms Nessa Doyle, and her staff are second to none in terms of the work they do in a very outdated building and with the support of the Department of Defence, which is also the patron of the school. They have opened their facilities and got extra accommodation to deal with the extra numbers, bringing the school to more than twice the number it had physically been able to take. I commend them.

The problem is transport. The Curragh camp was originally a thriving community. It is not now. Sadly, the focus has not been on continuing to have families live there. There is a natural hinterland for families from the Curragh area but now we have students coming from Newbridge and Kildare town.

The problem is that no school transport has been laid on. As the Minister of State will know, the policy is that, where there are more than ten students travelling, Bus Éireann, which has the contract, is to put on a bus for those young people but it never has. It is simply not good enough. There is some type of public transport system from Newbridge but it is not consistent. Sometimes the bus takes a different and varying route so pupils are often not able to get it or end up late coming into school. It is not their fault that there is not a school place for them in Newbridge or Kildare. The Department of Education is saying that, because they are outside the catchment area for this school, they are not entitled to school transport. I brought this up approximately two years ago and was told that it would be sorted. That was the pinch point, when the extra students were starting to go to Curragh Community College. Sadly, it is still not rectified. While we are waiting for this new school, it is really important that school transport is put in place for the students who have to travel from Newbridge and from Kildare town. The Department of Education has that responsibility and owes it to the students and their families.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Senator her very kind remarks. I will endeavour to live up to them. I will give it my best shot. It is a role I eagerly look forward to. I thank the Senator for her engagement on the Joint Committee on Disability Matters. She was extremely informed and extremely forthright in her views. I appreciate that and I appreciate her comments.

I will go through the scheme first of all. Under the current terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary school. Distance is determined by the Department and Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and languages. Bus Éireann has advised that children residing in Kildare town are not eligible for transport to the Curragh Community College as they are not attending their nearest post-primary school. It further advises that there is no existing service from Kildare town to this school. In cases where families have applied to attend their nearest school, with regard to ethos and language, and have been advised by the school authorities that these schools are full, the Department will consider if the pupil is eligible for transport to the next nearest school. While the closest school may be full to capacity at present, each family must supply to the school transport section of the Department of Education and Youth an application for enrolment made within the deadline dates specified by the school and a letter from each of the school authorities confirming that the school was full. Contact details for the section can be found on the Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/school-transport.

A minimum number of ten eligible children residing in a district locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, who have applied and paid or entered their medical card details are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits. Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a bus service if such a service is available. Children who are not eligible for school transport but who complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats. These are known as concessionary seats.

In the few minutes I have available to me, I will just say this. From the school of dear experience, I know that we should encourage people to make applications. I have been following this in my own local area since being appointed to this role. Even if there is no service available, we should encourage people to make an application. If that threshold of ten pupils is then met, we are obliged to put a service in place. We can then see what type of service to put in place. It is very important that applications are made. The challenge we have is that applications for this year concluded last Friday. Over the next three weeks, we will be correlating the information and figures to determine how to roll out the system over the next two months, by the last week of August. There is a lot of work going on between the Department and Bus Éireann. We have had regular meetings. We had a briefing in the audiovisual room a number of weeks ago that was very well attended by Members of the Houses from across the parties and their teams. This service is very important for all families and students around the country. I will just say that in this instance. I might reply further in my final statement.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Regarding this instance, prior to the closing date last Friday, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, stated that there would not be a school service provided. The issue is that Bus Éireann has advised that these children are not attending their nearest post-primary school. We know they are not but that is because there are no places. It further advises that there is no existing service so concessionary places cannot be applied for. Some 12 children from one particular estate in Kildare town are going to the Curragh. I would really appreciate it if the Minister of State would take a personal interest in this and try to help resolve the problem. We are aware that Bus Éireann has provided temporary transport measures to other schools under the school transport scheme. This is not always going to be the case because we will have the new school up and running. There will be issues regarding transport to that particular school, particularly from Newbridge, but we need a temporary transport scheme to be put in place at this point in time.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

We are currently looking at all the information we got by the end of April and the information regarding payment and where we will need to put on buses that we got by last Friday. That work between the Department and Bus Éireann is proceeding at pace because we need to get it done in the next three weeks. We will be talking about it.

I will endeavour to work with the Senator to try to find a resolution to the specific issue she has asked me about. Her points are well made. We will go back under the bonnet to see what the issues with it are. We will work on the figures we have. It will be a number of weeks before everything is in place but we will work to find a satisfactory solution to the challenges and issues the Senator has found. If she liaises with me and my team over the coming weeks, we will work with her to find a solution. If we can find one, we will be very much to the fore in trying to bring it to fruition.

Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 11.17 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 11.35 a.m.

Sitting suspended at 11.17 a.m. and resumed at 11.35 a.m.

Seanad Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 11 Jun 2025