John McGuinness

When we commenced, and I called Deputy Carthy, we had Ministers from the Government and so on here. That is why I allowed the matter to proceed. Now I have to put the question that the Deputy asked and whether the Bill should be considered, that question being: “Is the Bill being opposed?”

I presume in the absence of everyone else in the House that the Bill is not being opposed. Therefore I presume that the motion for leave to introduce is agreed.

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

We have been here before. We have expressed the same degree of disgust and anger at what we saw on the “RTÉ Investigates” television programme recently but we have not done anything in between times to make sure it does not happen again. There is a lot that we could have done. For example, the community nursing homes are a great idea, as outlined by Deputy O'Donoghue earlier. We have them in Kilke…

By arrangement, I call Deputy Tóibín.

Yes. I will look after the clock. Go ahead.

Thank you, Deputy.

Order, please.

Before moving to the Social Democrats, I acknowledge the group from New Zealand in our Distinguished Visitors Gallery. They were welcomed formally yesterday. They were so impressed that they came back again today. They might mark a sheet for us about how people performed yesterday versus today.

I thank the Deputy.

We have to conclude, Deputy McGrath.

The Select Committee on Agriculture and Food has completed its consideration of the following further Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2025: Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Deputy Hearne, you had your turn.

Seacht nóiméad.

Yes, the group has 21 minutes.

Maybe Deputy Collins can have a chat with him on a personal matter.

Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 in the name of Deputy Sheehan have been ruled out of order as they are not within the scope of the Bill.

The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad.

We are dealing with amendment No. 139.

Acceptance of amendment No. 139 involves the deletion of section 46 of the Bill. It was already discussed with amendment No. 131.

Amendment No. 140 has already been discussed with amendment No. 131.

Amendments Nos. 147 to 150, inclusive, 152 to 156, inclusive, 189 to 191, inclusive, 193, 194, 196, 197 and 199 are related and may be discussed together.

Amendment No. 157 has been ruled out of order.

Amendment Nos. 165, 167 and 168 are related and may be discussed together.

Amendment No. 185 is in the names of Deputies Clarke and Cullinane. Amendments Nos. 185 to 188, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together.