Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023 – Report Stage and Final Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m.

Imelda Goldsboro (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise a matter concerning the Department of Education in respect of an increase in funding applications to schools for the next National Psychological Education Service programme. This is not just a county-level issue but a national one to address the lack of funding for students who have disability issues, including mobility, visual impairment and hearing, just to name a few. Students can apply for this funding, but, unfortunately, schools are only allocated a limited amount of funding where necessary. There should be funding for the needs of all students and an increase in funding. Usually, it is one child per school. This is not good enough due to the significant increase in demands. It is causing added stress to parents because private psychological assessments cost €700 and upwards.

Great work is being done by the resource departments in schools but, unfortunately, it is the students who are suffering. Students are not being allowed to be educated in the manner in which they should be. They are coming to the end of primary school without having had an assessment. As we are all aware, the State examinations are coming up in two months, so some of these students will sit their leaving certificate or junior certificate and they will not have the necessary equipment they should be entitled to without any obstacles or barriers being in their way. Parents are very limited and constrained in what they can by their financial resources. They have other students and family members to look after as well. I am looking to see if there is the funding the Department needs to increase the funding allocations to the schools as a matter of priority. I also wish to highlight another issue. After the storms and bad weather we had in recent months, all our county councils have applied to the Department of Transport for extra funding for the damage done to the roads. We can see the fantastic weather throughout Ireland this week. In recent weeks, the works programme for roads has commenced throughout the country, especially in County Tipperary, ahead of schedule. If the Department releases the funding in the coming weeks, these works can be done while the weather is good. A number of roads in Tipperary need to take priority, including the N62 at Horse and Jockey.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I raise an issue I also raised several weeks ago, which is benefit-in-kind for the National Ambulance Service. I spoke to the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, about it. She told me it comes under the remit of the Minister for Finance and involves the Revenue Commissioners. That was nearly a month ago. Will the Leader give me an update from Revenue on where the issue is at? It is a vital issue for people in rural County Donegal, which he will appreciate coming from rural county himself. These people turn out at a moment's notice to help and try to save lives. For me this is non-issue. It should not even be spoken about. We need people in rural communities to know there is support for them and that they are being looked after. I urge the Leader to try to get in contact with the Minister and update us on what is going on and see whether we can get it over the line. People's lives depend on it. As the Leader knows, coming from a rural area, it is the phone call we do not want to get. These are the people who turn up first. By having the vehicles at home at their houses, they can get to calls quicker.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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I advert to something we have all come to notice, I am sure, in our peregrinations around the country, which is the diminishing standard of driver behaviour on the roads. It is all too frequent that I see hazardous and dangerous behaviour. I cannot help but notice, and this may be an ageist thing, that a lot of the people taking unnecessary chances on the road and putting other motorists in danger are younger drivers. I was reading statistics on the way up this morning on the train. Approximately 80% of the people involved fatalities are young males. This tells its own story. I wonder whether we could get the message through to the Department of Justice that there is a serious case to be made for having a broad and, hopefully, effective education policy for motorists. It was done in the past. I do not see much advertising or education for the public on road safety, good road manners and courtesy, which can save lives. Something I have noticed, and I know the Minister will say it is an operational matter for the Garda, is that when people are pulled in off the highways, they are pulled in by unmarked Garda cars. I know it is an operational matter but we really should put a massive investment into unmarked patrol cars. If they are known to be active, motorists will be much more cautious in their use of the roads and considerate of other people. I wish everyone a lovely recess.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Before I move to the next speaker I welcome Aoife Kennelly, daughter of esteemed Senator Mike Kennelly. I welcome her back from Australia, from where she has just returned. I hope she enjoys her time back in Ireland.

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I raise the urgent concerns about the state of the National Ambulance Service, particularly in County Laois. There are concerns about response times, patient safety and the well-being of front-line staff. Paramedics in Laois are doing heroic work in impossible conditions. Despite significant population growth in Laois, 8% since 2016 and a 25% rise in those aged over 65 years, the county still has only one ambulance station. By comparison, Offaly, which has a much smaller population, has three stations. The current dispatch protocol is to send the nearest available ambulance regardless of where it is based. This often leaves Laois uncovered for long periods, with ambulances responding from as far away as 100 km. This is not just inefficient; it is putting lives at risk.

Intermediate care vehicles should be in place for hospital transfers that are not emergencies. Currently, our emergency crews are tied up doing these runs meaning they are unavailable for critical calls. Paramedics are also being sent on non-emergency calls due to flaws in the AMPDS triage system, one which, in my opinion, prioritises box-ticking over real-world judgment. While the national emergency operations centre prides itself on mobilising within 90 seconds, that means little if the responding ambulance is located over an hour away. It is a system designed for stats rather than saving lives.

I know the real-world consequences of these failings. In December 2023 my father suffered a stroke. It took 45 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and that cost him his life. I carry that pain every day. I will not stand by and let another family go through that same heartbreak.

Paramedics are being burnt out and demoralised by a system that offers no continuity or predictability. They are being pulled from one region to another and are unable to serve the communities they are based in. They are often left without adequate rest or support. Today, we - the paramedics on the ground, the families left waiting in crisis and those of us raising the alarm – are telling the Minister for Health that we need: a second ambulance service in Laois; intermediate care vehicles based locally and a reform of the dispatch protocol that keeps resources in the region; an updated triage system that reflects clinical urgency not centre scripts and real investment in our paramedic teams who are stretched to their limits. This is a matter of life and death. The people of Laois deserve better.

Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)
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I rise to highlight an event coming up in Limerick next week which is of tremendous community pride, which I believe should be brought to the attention of the relevant Minister, perhaps the Minister for local government, and which could be replicated throughout the country. I refer, of course, to Team Limerick Clean-up. This is a one-day clean-up that is in its tenth year. Last year, 22,000 people participated on a voluntary basis. They signed up with the organisation and were provided in advance with clean-up kits comprising a rubbish picker, a bag and, very importantly, a high-vis vest and were encouraged to get together with their family, friends and groups of schoolchildren - I know of businesses which have had their employees doing it - and clean up their local areas. The objectives of the project are to promote civic pride, foster relationships within communities and protect the environment. It is an event that we are very proud of in Limerick and the organisers hope that in this, its tenth year, a record number of people will participate . It is something I believe could and should be looked at and examined to be replicated around the country to help instil a sense of pride in our local environment and help bring communities together.

Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
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I want to raise an issue that is very local and very personal not only to myself but to the people of Longford. St. Joseph’s Daycare Centre has just received its HIQA report. It is a damning report of how the service has been run into the ground. Our local councillor Peggy Nolan and other councillors in the area have highlighted this matter at local level. We lost our cathedral some years ago when it burned to the ground. It was rebuilt from the ashes. People call it the phoenix. This is our daycare centre, where the most vulnerable people in society and our elderly have been looked after for some years. There is great pride in this service in Longford. It has a huge facility and has been wonderful for people down through the years. The report was compiled. It was an anonymous call-in by HIQA to see how the service was being run. There were eight areas of non-compliance. This is very damning and it is hurtful to see patients are not receiving the same care and attention that was there previously. I am asking for a root-and-branch investigation into the full report. I also ask that the service be returned to the standard it was at a number of years ago. It is going to take a little investment and a lot of pain to the people who are there and the families and staff in order to get it back to the previous standard.

The report is damning, probably one of the worst that has ever been compiled. I hope this matter will be resolved sooner rather than later.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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The Leader will be aware that I have spent the past five years concerned about the search and rescue service that operates in this country. The award of a contract recently to Bristow was to bring with it all sorts of additional services. We have heard colleagues this morning talking about the lack of ambulance services. The legal battle between CHC and Bristow has been resolved, but part of that resolution is absolutely unbelievable. We awarded a contract to Bristow for €800 million. They were supposed to be live in Sligo on 14 February last. This has been put back to 15 December next. That is ten months further on before they will be able to take over.

The Leader will be concerned about this because it is smack bang on his doorstep. The service from Shannon cannot provide a helicopter emergency medical service. The personnel involved cannot take a stretcher on board the aircraft. If you have a heart attack and need to be airlifted from one hospital to another, you are going to have to sit in the back of the aircraft. If you suffer a head injury in Donegal and need to be brought to Beaumont Hospital, you will have to sit. There is no lying down on stretchers. If you have a stroke and you have to be brought to Beaumont Hospital from a hospital in the west, you will have to sit. There is no facility to use a stretcher on the helicopter.

What are we at? The Secretary General of the Department five times refused to come before a joint Oireachtas committee. In the end, that individual stated that only the Minister is answerable to the committee. This is one unholy mess, and we need a public inquiry as to how we got here. We have a service that is not fit for purpose and we are paying €800 million for it. I would like to know who is paying for CHC to run the service until December of next year.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise the matter of school transport. The return to school for young people, particularly those who are transitioning from primary to secondary school, can be a very difficult time. Year after year, we see the mess that school transport ends up being. People are not sure whether they are getting tickets, particularly with concessionary tickets. The applications are open now and are closing at the end of the month. The payments have to be made by 6 June. Anyone who goes to the bother of paying is a genuine applicant. It is very hard to understand why people have to wait until the end of August or the start of September to find out if they are getting a school transport place. Also, this idea of Bus Éireann drivers having to retire at 70 is ridiculous. Obviously, we all want health and safety for our children, but surely a medical will show whether a 71-year-old is fit to drive a bus. I suggest that we ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee to come before the House for a debate on school transport and the fact that we should try to improve it this year in order that people will find out on time whether they will be catered for.

Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the issue of apprenticeships in the furniture industry. Some say that the great wind of 1839 was the start of the furniture industry in Navan, County Meath. The big wind occurred on the afternoon of 6 January and swept across Europe causing major damage and resulting in several hundred deaths. We had a plentiful supply of trees, the tools were there on the ground and we were ready to go. Fast forward to the 1960s and 1990s and furniture in Navan was huge. Upholsterers and cabinet makers were members of almost every family with 70 to 100 furniture makers in the town. Navan is only an hour from Dublin so people came in their droves to buy furniture. My dad was one of those manufacturers. My dad left school at 12 and had a choice of being an apprentice to be a cabinet maker or an upholsterer. His mam said he should be an upholsterer. The apprentices of the 1950s became the factory owners of the 1960s and the cycle repeated itself. At one stage out of a population of 6,500 in Navan, 1,000 to 1,200 people were employed in the furniture industry. These days, there are probably ten to 15 places still manufacturing, which is a far cry from the glory days. We see thousands of imports, particularly from Asia, coming into the country and it i very hard to get your favourite suite re-upholstered. Years ago, people invested in a suite and got it re-upholstered but sadly, we do not see much of that anymore. It is a dying trade, which is unfortunate. We all have to admit that is nothing as nice as getting furniture made locally so I call on the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to reintroduce an apprenticeship scheme for upholsterers before the trade dies completely. As a child, I recall the smell of the glue, the noise of the staple guns, the rolls of material and watching the craft of people at the upholstery benches and sewing machines and I would love to see that come back.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I draw the House's attention to the publication yesterday of the 2025 quarter 1 business outlook report from Dublin Chamber of Commerce. This body represents more than 200 businesses in the capital. Being a Dub, I am always looking for an opportunity to champion our great capital but it is really important for everybody in the House to recognise that by 2040, more than 54% of the country's population will live in the city. A total of 1 million people live in Dublin and 50% of the gross value added in the country is generated in Dublin along with 55% of all tax returns. It is really important that we acknowledge the achievement of enterprise in the capital and the contribution enterprise is making in the capital not just in raw terms of creating employment and providing services but by the State and the Government in particular supporting these enterprises. The chamber members are calling for an acceleration of investment in infrastructure and services and for them, housing is the number one priority. They are also asking for help in tackling rising costs and economic uncertainty. I ask that at some point in the schedule the House take times to debate the future of our capital because it is home to our great academic institutions from the National College of Ireland to Trinity College, TUI Dublin, DCU and UCD. I also acknowledge all the culture that exists here and all of the enterprise and employment that is created here not just for those of us who have privilege of living in the capital but for everyone who visits as well.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I am raising a very serious issue today that has blighted Knock in west Limerick and the lives of vulnerable people. Door-to-door scammers acting as bogus traders are scamming vulnerable people out of extortionate amounts of money. They are acting as tradesmen doing jobs like power hosing, painting or a tar job. One guy in the Knock area was caught for up to €4,000.Another job was up to €1,100. An elderly lady was charged €600 for a ten-minute job. They are posing as handymen but they are parasites in our area. The Minister for Justice was here for Commencement matters. This is a crime being committed right now. I was on Radio Kerry yesterday making people in my area aware that these scammers are operating. As Senator Brady said last week regarding foot and mouth, they have no borders. They are not just in my area but across the country. I want the Minister for Justice or whoever it is to call on the gardaí for a public awareness campaign and for gardaí to step up their efforts to stop these people. They are taking in innocent, vulnerable people and it needs to be stopped straight away.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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Last week on World Autism Awareness Day, families, parents and children stood together to demand access to education. Children with autism throughout the country are being locked out of a system that claims to be inclusive. The right to education is not conditional and should not depend on where you live or how loudly you shout. Nowhere is this clearer than in County Donegal, where children with autism are being failed. Nine families received notification that they were unsuccessful in getting a place for their children in Little Angels School in Letterkenny next September. How can this happen? Where was the forward planning and future-proofing in the new build? It is a shameful reflection of the disconnect between policy and reality on the ground. My colleague, Mary T. Sweeney, has worked with some of these families in the past and has raised the issue with Aontú. These families are heartbroken, frustrated and exhausted from the never-ending battles to uphold this constitutional right for their loved ones. Their children deserve a place in that school. They deserve to be seen, supported and given the chance to learn and thrive without chaos.

Another issue I would like to raise is summer support for children with autism for single parents. The current schemes are utterly unworkable. The Government continues to point to the summer programme as a solution but many schools do not participate in it. This leaves families in limbo for most of the summer. Parents are left stressed, isolated and without the respite and resources they need. Some have reported putting off essential medical appointments because they have no support in place for their children. I have a solution for that. A tax credit could be introduced for teachers and SNAs who work in summer school programmes. At present, many educators avoid the work because it can push them into a higher tax bracket, effectively cancelling out the benefit of taking part. If we want to expand summer support for children with autism, we must ensure we have staff to deliver it.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I call for the immediate reversal of the Government's decision to impose a new stand-alone labelling requirement on alcohol bottles sold in Ireland. Every Member supports the responsible consumption of alcohol and wants to reduce alcohol harm but this policy will do nothing to achieve that goal. It is a misguided solo run that puts Irish jobs and producers and our international reputation at risk, all for no proven public health gain.

The first point is simple: the labels will not work. That is not just my opinion; it is backed by decades of research. Numerous peer review studies show health warning labels on alcohol have, at best, marginal impact on drinking behaviour. Consumers are already well aware alcohol should be consumed in moderation.

Ireland has taken this step alone. We are now completely at odds with EU policy and the principles of the Single Market. The Assembly of European Wine Regions has publicly called for EU opposition to Ireland's labelling law. In short, we are shouting into the void while our European partners look on in disbelief and disapproval.

In addition to this, we face an imminent trade war with the US, to whom we export more than €1 billion worth of alcohol. We just fought to have the EU exclude liquor from its retaliatory tariffs, yet we plan to undo that work with these labels, which the US market does not want and will not accept. I call on this House to act. We need to support Irish producers, use common sense and scrap this damaging, costly and ineffective labelling policy before the damage becomes permanent.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I raise the issue of the shared island forum. It is 11 o'clock. At 11.05 a.m. the Taoiseach will take to the floor of St. Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle where he will give an address to the shared island forum. It is significantly important in the context of the shared island initiative. Everyone in this House knows it has been an enormous commitment by him, shared by the Tánaiste. He is fiercely proud of that achievement and initiative and he needs all the support he can muster for it. There is great potential and there are great opportunities. This has all come off the back of the Government's commitment to the Good Friday Agreement. Peace and prosperity must yield results and the Taoiseach's commitment to this dedicated focus on the all-island initiative is good. There is also the Government's commitment. The current Government has reaffirmed and recommitted itself to its ambitious agenda for this area in building on the vision of our shared island but also the potential. There is a great old expression, "you win the hearts and you win the minds". Geography and boundaries do not divide people. If we find the common thread, common denominator and the humanity, we will see this island prosper and realise its full potential.

I am always conscious of agriculture. We are on an island and the potential for agriculture, food and innovation is enormous. It is a multifaceted approach and one I admire greatly. We all support it. A substantial amount of money has been committed to it for the foreseeable future. I ask that either the Taoiseach or Tánaiste come to the House at an appropriate time when they have time in their schedules to tease it out and give further momentum to this. I commend the Taoiseach and wish him well today as he embarks on this meaningful forum that will go on all day today in St. Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions on today's Order of Business, starting with Senator Goldsboro who raised matters pertaining to the Department of Education. I will ask the Minister to come in for a debate on matters of special education. A lot of progress has been made by her and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. They have made a good start and I hope they will continue that work. I will ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to come to the House to talk about funding for the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. This year's budget was set last year, so starting a debate now about the next budget is important.

Senator Goldsboro also requested funding for storm damage for local authorities. She mentioned the N62 at Horse and Jockey. The Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, funding was announced a few weeks ago by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I am not sure whether there will be any supplementary roads funding, but I think we would all support additional funding for local authorities for roads maintenance. There are always projects that need to be done and I certainly support the call for additional funding.

Senator Boyle spoke about the National Ambulance Service, NAS. It is an important and worthy topic. Paramedics do amazing work. They are the first point of contact for illness and tragedies. It is a matter for the Department of Finance. I have invited the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to the Chamber to talk about matters of tax and the economy and the Senator should continue to apply pressure as we advance towards the next budget. It is a worthy thing to do in advance of next year's budget.

Senator Joe Conway spoke about driver behaviour and I absolutely agree. We see it every day on our roads. We had a discussion a number of weeks ago about road safety. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, was here at that time. One of the main topics raised when I am out canvassing and knocking on doors is speed through villages, on country roads and everywhere. It is a real concern people have. There is always a call for traffic cameras, speed bumps, rumble strips and those kinds of matters. It is an important issue. I will ask the Minister to come to the House to talk about crime and such matters and I hope to include something on Garda enforcement and the role of local authorities. Senator McCormack talked about the National Ambulance Service, and I extend my sympathies to her and her family. She talked about the ambulance service in County Laois. There has been investment in different areas to increase the number of paramedic training places for the National Ambulance Service. There has also been an increased investment in different parts of the country. I know that western areas have the lowest response times, but new bases have been established over recent years in Belmullet, Tuam and Galway. As needs are requested, there is investment, for example, an additional team in Galway. A number of issues have been raised, such as response times, deployment bases and benefit-in-kind, so I will request a debate on the National Ambulance Service.

Senator Dee Ryan talked about the Team Limerick Clean-up. I wish its members well in their tenth year and it is to be hoped they match the number of 22,000 people who volunteered last year. Such groups and Tidy Towns groups do very important work throughout the country. I certainly wish Team Limerick Clean-up well. If there is something that can be learned from them, then it is an important lesson for the rest of the country.

Senator Brady mentioned St. Joseph's Daycare Centre and a damning HIQA report. I can only imagine what is in the report. We have seen similar issues in other parts of the country. Our loved ones, the most vulnerable, are in these places so we want and expect them to be treated well and that people, services and conditions are good. Whatever issues are highlighted in the HIQA report must be resolved. If it is investment or management decisions, I hope the HSE is on top of this and, on behalf of all families in Longford, is dealing with the issues that have been raised. If the Senator tables a Commencement matter, he may get an update directly from the Minister on what they are doing on it.

Senator Craughwell has again raised the issue of search and rescue and the Bristow contract, and the delay in the full takeover of that contract from CHC. He asked who will pay for the gap in service between now and the end of November. I presume Bristow is paying CHC. I cannot imagine the State is paying in addition to what has been agreed under the contract. The Senator may wish to table a Commencement matter on the issue.

Senator Murphy O'Mahony talked about school transport, an ongoing issue that has been discussed for a long number of years. We know the benefit of cheaper tickets. We also saw in recent years, however, where tickets were effectively free, there was a huge demand from people who were not actually using the service but got the tickets. There is always a balance to be struck to ensure the people who get tickets actually use them because they are denying other people a ticket. There are a number of possible solutions, including monitoring usage of a ticket by some sort of app, whereby you could buzz in, as it were. The Minister is very conscious of this matter.

I agree with what the Senator said about bus drivers retiring at 70 years of age. It is an issue we have raised in the House. I know that the issue is raised within my parliamentary party and I am sure it is the same within the Senator's party. The Minister is engaging with Bus Éireann on this matter. A solution must be found because it makes perfect sense to use this valuable cohort of drivers. If drivers have reached 70, 71, 72 or 73 years, are medically fit and their eyesight and whatever else is good, they should be able to drive a school bus.

Senator Nelson Murray called for apprenticeships in furniture and upholstery, with which I agree. I suggest she contact the Minister directly on the matter as consideration is given to needs every so often. There is a wonderful furniture college in Letterfrack in County Galway. Our colleague, Senator P. J. Murphy, is a past pupil of the college and he went on to do good things in the sector as well. I am not sure whether upholstery is included there but I know that there is a proud tradition of it in Navan so I think the industry has a future. I urge the Senator to contact the Minister directly or table a Commencement matter. Senator Fitzpatrick sought a debate on the future of Dublin. I absolutely agree with her because it is important to have a strong capital city. That is not to take away from the rest of the country, but there is always a balance. I will request a debate on the future of Dublin. I expect that will be with the Minister for local government, but I am not sure which Minister would be involved. I will put out a request on the matter.

Senator Kennelly raised the important issue of scammers and the targeting of vulnerable people. It is something I have come across in my time. People come in and tell an elderly person they will cut down a tree or something like that and are paid a lot of money. They even pretend they are somebody else, like a worker for a State company. There are vulnerable people. I would advise anyone who is approached like that to say they will contact their son, daughter or neighbour and take the phone up and ring somebody. We could instil in people that if somebody arrives, they tell them they have to talk to their son, daughter or neighbour before they can engage. It is deplorable that people are taken advantage of. I am not sure what is the exact solution. It is something on which An Garda may be better placed to give advice, but I will ask the Minister for Justice to come to the House to debate that important issue and to see if he can offer any solution.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised issues of autism and the Little Angels special school in Letterkenny. It is an important issue and she spoke about a teacher’s tax credit for the summer programme, which I like. It is a very good idea and I ask her to pursue that. It would make perfect sense if it assists in encouraging more people to come as part of the summer programme. She could perhaps also table a Commencement matter on that. I will certainly also raise it with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe.

Senator Keogan raised the issue of labels on alcohol bottles and that we have taken steps alone ahead of, or in isolation from, the EU. I do not know the latest on it. I know concerns have been expressed. I will engage with the Minister on this matter. We obviously do not want to do anything that will jeopardise markets and cause upset to trading partners and colleagues. We led on smoking, through the now Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. He led, and this country led, on that matter. Whether this is a road we need to go down, I do not know. We all know that alcohol has harmful effects. Whether that needs to be on labels on bottles, I do not know, but I will certainly seek an update on that matter.

Senator Boyhan has talked of the shared island forum, and I wish the Taoiseach well on that. I have written to him on my behalf and on behalf of the Deputy Leader, Senator O'Loughlin, requesting the Taoiseach to come to the Chamber, if possible before the recess, to talk about the shared island forum and our all-island economy. We are awaiting a response to that letter, and it is to be hoped he will be able to facilitate us on that before the summer recess or when his schedule allows.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Deputy Dempsey, who is accompanied by people from St. Oliver Post Primary School from Oldcastle, County Meath. I hope they enjoy their visit.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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When I made a contribution earlier, I made an error and said that close to 80% of fatalities on Irish roads were young males. I should of course have said “males”.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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That will be noted.