Before I announce the Commencement matters, I welcome the Erasmus exchange students from Germany. They are all very welcome and I thank them for being here this afternoon. I hope they have a pleasant and enjoyable visit to Leinster House.
I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:
Senator Tim Lombard - The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to allocate funding to complete the new track facility at Bandon Athletic Club.
Senator Tom Clonan - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the reason funding for personal assistants working with private agencies in some HSE CHOs, in particular CHO 6, is not allowed.
Senator Annie Hoey - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the timeline for the introduction of legislative changes to support the implementation of the independent abortion review.
Senator Micheál Carrigy - The need for the Minister for Health to provide funding for primary care centres in Ballymahon, Granard and Edgeworthstown, County Longford.
Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on supports to be made available to the farming community in light of ongoing adverse weather conditions.
Senator Vincent P. Martin - The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to provide an update on the ongoing issue concerning Castletown House and lands in Celbridge, County Kildare and to outline the progress made to date in respect of the State purchasing the lands at Castletown.
Senator Erin McGreehan - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on the inclusion of children with specific dietary requirements in the hot school meals programme.
Senator Gerard P. Craughwell - The need for the Minister for Defence to make a statement on the protocols, terms and conditions of the recent memorandum of understanding on defence co-operation signed between Ireland and Romania.
Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the State’s target of 2040 to adopt the WHO's air quality guidelines given the evidence to suggest air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health, and the potential impact of Bus Connects changes in the deterioration of air quality.
Senator Malcolm Byrne - The need for the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the development of the Rosslare rail line.
The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Lombard, Clonan, Hoey, Carrigy, Gallagher and Martin and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.
Before I call the first Commencement matter in the name of Senator Lombard, as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, it gives me great pleasure to welcome to Seanad Éireann for the first time our former colleague and friend, Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Colm Burke. I congratulate him on his appointment as Minister of State.
On a personal level, and as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, I wish you every happiness and success. You have been a friend for a long time and I really hope you have a very positive and productive tenure in the Department. I want to congratulate you on a personal level. The honour is thoroughly deserved. You are a man who has served the city and county of Cork with distinction. We look forward to you working in the Department of Health, continuing the great work you have being doing. Comhghairdeas.