Dee Ryan
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Employers cannot take on people unless they have a car because their particular place of employment is not serviced by public transport. Workers are frustrated that they cannot get to work on a bus. They would like to be saving some money with the cost of living by using public transport.”
“Having heard my account of what is going on the ground in Limerick, the Minister of State will understand why I am really disappointed with that response. The NTA will be publishing an implementation plan by the end of this year. Is she joking me? What in the name of God is going on in the NTA? Clearly, it has no interest in Limerick.”
“I am nearly even afraid to say it out loud but in the last month, I have heard that it could be 2030, which is unthinkable. Can the Minister of State please tell us what is holding us back and the reason for the delay? Has the local authority completed all the works it needs to do to run the system?”
“I am out on the doors in Limerick every week and frustration with the public transport service in Limerick comes up everywhere and repeatedly. I have parents complaining that they cannot give their teenagers a little bit of freedom and let them off to go somewhere on the bus, so they have to play taxi.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming in to take my question. She is very welcome. I am standing here to ask her if she can, and I really hope she will be able to, clarify for the people of Limerick what is going on with Limerick BusConnects.”
“I thank the Minister of State for that excellent update. It is great to hear that the Department envisages that the pilot will be live before the end of this year.”
The complete record
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“In fact, Ireland leads the way in education, outperforming the EU27 average in third level attainment across all age groups. In all but one age group, we are outperforming the EU27 average by 20 percentage points. I will give one example. Last year, the CSO revealed that 66% of all persons aged 30 to 34 had third level qualifications. This is an increase from the equivalent figure of 39% in 2004. This is significant progress by any measure and it did not happen by chance. It is the result of decades of focus, sustained investment and strong policy direction. It is a reflection of the belief we hold dear in Fianna Fáil and, indeed, more broadly in Irish society, that learning should never be a privilege for the few but a right for all.”
“Expanding access to education has long been a cornerstone of our vision for Ireland, from the introduction of free secondary education by my fellow Limerick person, Donogh O’Malley, to the expansion of our university system and, more recently, as the Minister referred to, to the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. This is because as a party we know the value of education. We understand the critical importance of skills development and research and this is why we felt the sector needed its own focus and leadership and a seat at the Cabinet table to ensure it was given the prominence it merits. We can see the fruits of this ongoing focus on education over the decades through the ever-increasing rates of higher education attainment.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Gabhaim buíochas leis as teacht chun an Tí seo le labhairt agus éisteacht lenár dtuairimí inniu. Fianna Fáil welcomes these statements and this opportunity to contribute to the discussion on further and higher education, research, innovation and science. As the Minister rightly asserted, for us in Fianna Fáil, this area has always been central to our national story along with the belief that education is a great equaliser, the foundation of opportunity and the driver of progress.”
“The Minister introduced a second application process this year, which is an example of his commitment to increasing the numbers of gardaí available in our communities to help our citizens to feel safe. In the meantime, while we are waiting for Garda numbers to increase, we should be enjoying the benefits of an excellent initiative that began in 2023 when community engagement vans were put into use across the country. I have had positive feedback on them from retailers and business owners in Limerick. However, as I understand it, there is just one community engagement van available to cover counties Tipperary and Limerick. I invite the Minister to the House to discuss the success of these initiatives across the country, and to ask specifically if we can have one permanently based in Limerick city.”
“I raise the issue of policing in Limerick city centre. Just this morning, I spoke to a number of prominent retailers who had a meeting last night with our chief superintendent, Derek Smart, on this issue. We have seen a growth in instances of antisocial behaviour, which we believe is putting people off coming into the city centre and supporting local businesses, and a huge increase in the amount of theft happening in stores across the city centre. While An Garda Síochána is co-operating well with the business owners, we really need more support. I acknowledge the announcement yesterday by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, that there have been over 11,000 applications to join An Garda Síochána this year. It is welcome news.”
“With the opening of the 96-bed block this week, we are going to reach more than 250 new acute beds in UHL since 2020 when the Taoiseach took office. I acknowledge that because it is not always recognised. We need the Taoiseach's concentration and focus on UHL now more than ever as the Minister for Health brings to the Cabinet in the coming weeks her recommendations on where we go next for the future of healthcare in Limerick and the wider mid-west. I urge the Taoiseach to continue his focus and to be ambitious for us in the mid-west.”
“The Taoiseach is welcome to the Seanad today. I take this opportunity to acknowledge and welcome the opening this week of the 96-bed block at UHL in Limerick. As the Taoiseach knows, we have come through a dark time in the mid-west, with additional stress and worry being placed on the families of sick loved ones due to the overcrowding we have experienced at UHL. Since the Taoiseach took office in 2020, he has brought a concerted focus on investment and addressing the issues and deficits we have at UHL. We have seen an increase in staffing of more than 1,200 healthcare workers and an increase in the annual operating budget for UHL to nearly €500 million per annum. A surgical hub is under way and almost completed, and will help with elective procedures.”
“We certainly call in to inquire as to what the latest goings on are in the local community and to learn about and get involved in our own communities. The Minister was involved in introducing the relevant legislation in 2023. In light of the serious cost-of-doing-business challenges the independent grocers to whom I refer are facing and the competition from multinationals, will he examine the fact that the perhaps unintended consequence of this licensing fee will be that it will drive the sale of tobacco and vapes underground? It will fuel the black market for those products and may be a further nail in the coffin of independent grocers throughout the country. Will the Minister please consider a derogation for those small independent retailers when he is seeking to introduce this license fee next year?”
“I refer to independent retailers and grocers across the country who, come next February, will be facing the introduction of a new licensing fee for tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products. The amount involved will be €1,800 if they are selling both. That is per premises and is regardless of the size of their premises, turnover or footfall. It is a blanket charge of €1,800 and it will be felt far more keenly by those in the independent grocery sector, who, I would argue, are very much the same as the independent coffee shops and restaurant businesses across the country. They are the fabric of our local communities. Just like the coffee shop, the local grocery shop is where we go to pick up the paper or, perhaps for some, to buy a box of cigarettes or a vape.”
“However, and I welcome the Minister's emphasis on this, we must see the support in scaling and development in innovation of our SMEs and our indigenous sector as being the next chapter in our economic future. In that context, I highlight the research and development tax credit and the €618 million for the national AI office today. With the greatest respect, I differ from my colleague Senator Crowe in his assessment of the 9% VAT cut. I would have preferred to see a more targeted approach to supporting what I recognise as vulnerable businesses within the hospitality sector. However, I do welcome the support for them. This leads me on to an issue that is coming down the line and that is going to affect a sector comparable with the hospitality and food and beverage sector.”
“The Minister is very welcome. I take this opportunity to welcome this very important budget for our country as we move forward into uncharted economic waters. We did say that we were going to place an emphasis on infrastructure, housing and child poverty. In this budget, which we hope is the first of five, we have done precisely that. In the context of his Department, I congratulate the Minister on the very pro-business budget he brought forward. In particular, I recognise the increase in the research and development tax credit, which is really important, as well as the allocation of €618 million for a national AI office. As we know, the success, resurgence and, indeed, blossoming of our economy in the past decade is down to our ability to attract and retain multinationals.”
“For all retailers who sell tobacco and vape products, there will be a licence fee of €1,000 for tobacco and €800 for vape products, payable no matter what their turnover, square footage, location or footfall is. This is grossly unfair on the independent retailers around the country who are the fabric of our societies, and indeed akin to the independent coffee shops and restaurants that we heard so much about from the Minister, Deputy Burke, in the lead-up to the budget. They were forgotten. I ask that the Minister come into the House to discuss the supports he will introduce for these independent retailers, who effectively face a tax on a footfall driver and loss-leading product in their premises. It is very important to them and to a huge proportion of their profit margin.”
“I send my condolences to Senator Teresa Costello on the passing of her dad. I also offer my condolences to Independent councillor in Kerry, Niall O'Callaghan, and his family on the passing of his brother Paudie at the weekend. I rise on an issue that was raised with me by my local shopkeeper. George Lee, a third generation family grocer, holds the corner shop in my village of Castleconnell in County Limerick. He brought this to my attention, and I have spoken to others since. It is an issue that will affect many retailers, including independent retailers, up and down the length of country. That is the introduction of the new annual licence next February for the sale of tobacco and vape products.”
“I want to put on record the feedback I have been getting from my community in Limerick. People were not surprised by the stark results laid bare in the report. Their immediate question was what are we going to do about it. With that in mind, I request that the Minister for Health would come into the Chamber and give us some time to discuss this. It is really important. In Limerick we are facing into another winter that is likely to be a strong flu season, if what is happening in Australia is anything to go by. We know already that we are going to be under severe pressure. We are already under pressure and we know we will not be able to cope. I would welcome the opportunity for the Minister to come into the House to discuss what short-term measures she is able to take to support UHL.”
“There was a really good take on where we are within the working world outside the gates of Leinster House with regard to the use of AI in the working world. Could the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, be brought in for an update on the important work she is leading in the establishment of the national AI office, which was funded in the budget this week and is due to be opened in August 2026? When the Minister of State has an opportunity, it would be great to have her in the House to get an update on that important subject. Now that the budget has been published and people are digesting and working their way through it, I call their attention to the very important HIQA report that came out relating to Limerick and the mid-west in the week prior to the budget. I acknowledge the work been done and all the stakeholders who contributed to that.”
“Gabh mo leithscéal, everybody, we had a little timing issue this morning. We were under the misapprehension that the Order of Business was at 11 a.m. so I was downstairs in committee; I apologise. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak. I spent a very interesting morning with a group of business professionals on St. Stephen's Green who were launching the CFO 100 list for business and finance. They were also having an interesting panel discussion on AI and next generation finance. It was a wonderful insight into where multiple different sectors of industry are, not just those from the large technology companies or large businesses, but also SMEs, business owners and entrepreneurs.”
“Before calling the next speaker, I welcome Deputy Paul McAuliffe and his guests, Maurice and Wendy Thibault, to the Gallery. We are having a discussion on a Private Members' motion regarding supports and services for patients with head and neck cancers. I call Senator Collins.”
“I thank the Senator very much. Before I call the Minister of State to respond, I welcome Deputy Tony McCormack to the Visitors Gallery with his guests. I thank them for joining us for this very serious motion on the topic of supports and services for patients with head and neck cancers.”
“Beyond that, the report also makes three recommendations and options for consideration by the Minister to achieve the number of beds required to support a growing population to 2040, namely, either to develop and expand further at UHL in Limerick; to develop a second location, a co-located campus in Limerick akin to what they do in Galway in the Merlin Park University Hospital; or commission a model 3 hospital, which would have a second emergency department for the region. Will the Leader call on the Minister to come in here and debate this at her earliest possible convenience?”
“Indeed, its findings are that we do not have an emergency department issue, rather an inpatient bed capacity issue in the mid-west. After that, the report makes two recommendations. In order to achieve the number of inpatient beds needed to support the emergency department at UHL, it is recommended the Minister that should devise an urgent, short-term plan to tackle the issue right now and to bring us up to the further 96 beds we will require by the end of this year to stand still.”
“I join colleagues across the House in offering commiserations to Dr. Mansergh's family and recognise the significant contribution he made to Irish society and Irish life during the course of his career in the Civil Service, the Seanad, the Lower House and as a Minister of State. I echo the commiserations of my colleagues to his family. I rise to ask the Leader if he will call on the Minister for Health to come to address the House at the earliest possible time on the issue of overcrowding at UHL. Just a number of hours ago, the long-anticipated HIQA report, which gives advice to the Minister for Health to inform decision-making on the design and delivery of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the mid-west, was published. It lays the facts out starkly for us and diagnoses the problem we have in the emergency department in UHL.”
“We have only one accident and emergency department to deal with all the issues that occur in the entire region, including the ones that can be foreseen or projected in terms of age groups and the ones that are unforeseen, like accidents. We are under immense pressure so we need additional focus from the Minister to get us through this winter.”
“I thank the Minster of State for coming to see us this morning and delivering that message. I agree with him on acknowledging the significant investment that has been made in recent years. I also acknowledge the huge work being done by the newly appointed regional executive of HSE Mid West, Sandra Broderick, Bernard Gloster, head of the HSE, and indeed the Minister, who has focused on weekend discharging. I wish the CEO of the hospital, Ian Carter, the very best in the work he is doing, which we are hearing is bearing fruit. However, unfortunately we are fighting fire when in the mid-west when it comes to healthcare.”
“There is also the completed first phase of a community nursing unit in St. Camillus Community Hospital with a second phase under way. We are, therefore, seeing significant capital investment but that is not going to get us past this winter. My question to the Minister is what immediate actions can she take to bolster the healthcare provision in accident and emergency in UHL this winter. I will tell the story of a gentleman I am aware of. This 79-year-old gentlemen had a first fall in April, spent 24 hours on a trolley in accident and emergency, contracted pneumonia and was twice in the high-dependency unit over a period of weeks. He has been back twice and on a midweek night in September of this year that gentleman spent 24 hours on a chair. It is shocking.”
“I echo Senator Conway's call for the publication of that review. We in the mid-west are very eager for it to come out, to see what the recommendations are and for the Minister to take action on it. Actioning it is key. We would like to hear what provisions she is making for further capital investment in healthcare in the mid-west region in the coming budget. In my Commencement matter I also asked if the Minister could update the House on what provisions she is making for this winter. We have seen significant long-term capital investment in the mid-west, as my colleague rightly points out, since 2020. There is the 96-bed block in UHL, which I believe will be opening next month, and a second 96-bed block under way. There is also a surgical hub at the site of the old Scoil Carmel up in Punch's Cross.”
“I acknowledge the significant emphasis the Minister of State has placed on men’s mental health and the initiative she launched at the ploughing championship last week that entails 15,000 free counselling sessions for men. I thank her and her Department officials again for all the work they are doing on this. I appreciate it.”
“I, too, commend the Minister of State and her team in the Department, all the stakeholders who engaged with her in the public consultation period and the individuals and organisations that fed into the mammoth piece of work before the House now. I acknowledge the contributions made by colleagues in the House today and commend the Minister of State on her openness to going through and debating the amendments proposed for Committee Stage and later Stages. I acknowledge the work the Minister of State has been doing in her Department in addition to her work on this mammoth Bill. I thank her again for the community access support team pilot project in Limerick, which combines a mental health professional with a garda in first-responder capacity in Limerick.”
“At the earliest possibility, when we come back after the recess, I would like the Minister to come into the House to discuss this cohort of working people, the people who pay for everything, who are not being housed in our society. In Limerick, it is a significant number. We think it is approximately 20,000 people, according to the last census, over the age of 18 who are still living at home with their parents.”
“Unfortunately, however, the private market is not delivering homes at a cost at which they can purchase them. Affordable housing in this context is the scheme whereby the Government subsidises the cost to deliver housing for those people. I am really dismayed to learn that in Limerick, on foot of my questionings with the local authority, we have only 12 homes in that affordable range coming forward in the pipeline in the foreseeable future. They are rental; they are not even affordable purchase. We need an urgent debate with the Minister for housing. I know it is an area he is very focused on. I look forward to the work he has done on this being unveiled in the coming weeks.”
“I rise to make my final contribution on my first term in the Seanad. During my time so far in Leinster House, I focused on highlighting the trolley crisis at University Hospital Limerick. I turn my attention to the other burning issue for us in Limerick which is the challenge of affordable housing. That term "affordable housing" is often misunderstood. When I say "affordable housing" in this context, I am talking about the Government scheme to support people who earn over €40,000, as the threshold is in Limerick, that is, over the threshold to qualify for social housing, but who do not earn enough to be able to purchase from the private market, so approximately €75,000 or €80,000. That is a huge salary range and those are fine earnings that people are making in Limerick.”
“Our region is trading and operating at a marked competitive disadvantage because this does not allow our regional economy to achieve its potential. It does not allow us to achieve the population growth figures we want to achieve when we think about Ireland in Ireland 2040 and managing our spatial strategy and economic growth strategy, and managing where people will live into the future. We have set as an objective that only 25% of the 1 million additional people we expect to be living in Ireland by 2040 will be in Dublin. We only want one quarter of those to be in Dublin. Limerick and the mid-west stand ready to accept higher population growth, but we need PSO connectivity to a business hub, one of the holy trinity, and support for our regional airport.”
“If we do not look after the rooster – our international access – I am afraid we do put our economic success and further growth at risk. I ask the Minister of State, as I did the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to consider providing support for Shannon Airport. Dublin Airport has daily business connectivity into the holy trinity of air access in respect of business connectivity and economic development, namely, Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam. There are multiple flights daily from Dublin into the holy trinity. Cork Airport also has multiple daily flights into Amsterdam and Paris, and flights into Frankfurt multiple times per week. Shannon Airport, I am afraid, was only recently given, for the summer period from March until October, two flights a week into Paris.”
“The Minister of State, with his background and area of expertise, does not need me to tell him that the rooster is, indeed, our international connectivity. It is our air access to the EU marketplace - 450 million individuals with whom we have the ability to trade tariff-free. Those who are not familiar with business and with our economy may be excused for thinking our economic growth is due to our success within the country. In fact, it is our membership of the EU and our ability to trade into the EU marketplace and to support foreign direct investment and make Ireland the home place for multinationals trading into the EU marketplace that have allowed us to see the economic resurgence we have seen the past decade or more and reap the benefits of growing PAYE and corporation tax receipts.”
“It requires relatively little investment in order to enable the final piece of double-tracking to be put in place and platforms to be put in place across the city, which would really give us a jolt in terms of developing our core density. I could also have spoken about or highlighted the motorway to Cork and the important economic links that enables and, indeed, the links that exist that justify it. I have written to the Minister on all of those projects and asked for his consideration to support all of them in the national development plan review but there was that chicken-and-egg dilemma as to what I would talk about. Listening to the contributions of Senators around the room, they were focusing on these links and how they could improve our regional economy, but I was asking myself where the rooster was in this debate.”
“I welcome the Aire Stáit to the Chamber and thank him for coming in to listen to us today. I also thank the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for his opening remarks and for his intense listening when he was here in the Chamber. When I thought about today and what I would like to speak about, I had a multitude of projects that I could have chosen to focus on. I could have spoken about the junction 28 Mackey roundabout improvement scheme that is badly needed in Limerick to open up access to the IDA business park there and the University of Limerick. I could have spoken about the great potential that we have for metro rail in Limerick.”
“I commend the postmasters on the work they have already done in diversifying. I notice the many mobile phone and insurance offers available when I pop into my local post office. I commend them on the changes they have had to make and the new learnings and skills they have developed over recent years. I thank them for their continued work and services in our communities.”
“I am not going to repeat the points that have already been made. I would just like to highlight one important overarching piece of policy that we are all trying to work to in government, which is of course Project Ireland 20240 and the national development plan. Our aim as a society in managing our population growth is to do that in a sustainable way, with only 25% of our population growth over the next number of years up to 2040 to be in Dublin. Our aim as a Government and as a State is to increase the number of people who are living in our already established villages and towns. With that in mind, it is critical we support the postmasters in the ask they come to us with to allow them that time to continue to rethink their operations and for us and the Government to work out how we might best use this valuable door into communities.”
“The Aire Stáit is very welcome to the Chamber for this important discussion. I rise to support the many statements that have been made by my colleagues across the Chamber and the very good points they have raised. I know the Minister of State comes from a rural constituency and, with his portfolio in the previous Government and his familiarity with agriculture and rural communities, he is all too aware of how important our post offices are to the fabric of society in rural communities. I am from a hybrid constituency, if you like. I am a country girl from a village but living on the outskirts of a city. Knowing your postman and that relationship you develop with your postperson is as important in the suburbs and the city as it is to those in the villages. That is to acknowledge the good work that is also being done in the suburbs.”
“It can provide opportunities for children to learn or play, young people to gather safely and creatively and entire communities to thrive and connect, thereby combating loneliness. In an era where we have multiple competing demands on the public purse, we should enable and encourage such acts of generosity and not create obstacles. Let us ensure that communities across the country can fully benefit when someone steps forward with a gift intended to give back.”
“I request that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage come before the House to outline the policies and procedures that govern how local authorities receive gifts such as buildings or other assets from philanthropists. Too often, generous offers to give back to a town, village or county are met with red tape and a lack of clarity. We need a clear and supportive framework to ensure that where someone wishes to gift something of value to their home community that gesture can be accepted and put to meaningful use. Right up and down the country, our main streets are challenged - ask any retailer or Tidy Towns activist. When a gift which could be used as a community, arts or recreational space is offered, it can be transformative.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, to the Chamber. I ask that speakers be as brief as possible in their contributions because we will need to stop at 3.30 p.m. for the Order of Business. My apologies. It is the impact of the vote in the Dáil. Does Senator Nelson Murray wish to proceed? I apologise; we need to proceed as the Minister of State is here.”
“I appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House to give me that information but, with the greatest respect to him and the Minister, I have heard all of this before. I know all of those figures and about all of those initiatives. Other than the extension of the medical assessment unit hours in Ennis and Nenagh, they are not specific to UHL. What is the Minister considering for this winter? I am not hearing about short-term interventions specifically for UHL, that the Minister is considering a temporary reopening of accident and emergency departments in Ennis or Nenagh, that she will assign additional staff to the UHL emergency department, or that she is planning on installing more temporary beds. We need a specific UHL emergency department winter plan and we need it now.”
“I appreciate that the Minister has a lot of important and pressing healthcare matters on her plate. However, my question is that regardless of the recommendations of the HIQA report - and I note that the programme for Government committed to putting more beds into UHL - what actions is the Minister preparing for this winter, as we face into another seasonal surge in illness and as we anxiously anticipate higher than ever trolley numbers?”
“We are already very worried about this winter. We have the highest level of patients on trolleys across the country. The majority of people presenting to accident and emergency departments are elderly people. If an elderly loved one in my family has a slip or a trip and has to go into the accident and emergency department, he or she will be facing a much longer wait, with less frequent access to care, than any other person in the country. That is simply not fair. The people of Limerick and the mid-west are very worried. I received notice from the office of the Minister last Friday that the HIQA report into accident and emergency care across the mid-west region, commissioned by the previous Minister has been delayed. It was expected to be presented to the current Minister in May and published when she was ready to publish it.”
“I acknowledge the progress that has been made, particularly during the term of the previous Government when staffing numbers were increased by approximately 100,000 healthcare workers across the UHL group. The first 96-bed block is due to open in September, and we are very much looking forward to that. The Minister has been to Limerick and has had a tour of the facility. The second 96-bed block that was commissioned is under way. A total of 16 rapid-build beds were put in place in December last year and a further 16 have been committed to. I understand they will go in this summer. The former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, announced last November a further 84 beds. This all sounds like great news, and I know and understand that these measures will help to alleviate the problem. However, they are not helping in the here and now.”
“We have had chronic overcrowding for the past 15 years. We have had record high numbers of patients on trolleys. Just this morning, UHL is again the hospital with the most patients on trolleys in the country. The HSE's population profiles show that more than an average number of amount of people living in the mid-west would be classed as extremely disadvantaged, very disadvantaged or disadvantaged. I will say that again. We have higher than average levels of people in the normal population in the country classed as extremely disadvantaged, very disadvantaged or disadvantaged. We know that there is a correlation between poverty and complex health needs, and, therefore, a greater number of presentations to accident and emergency departments.”
“An tAire Stáit is welcome to the Chamber, and I thank him for coming to take this matter. I raise this matter once more. It is the number one priority for people living in Limerick and a huge concern for people across the mid-west, including in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. It came up at more doors than housing in Limerick during the general election campaign. That is how sincerely people in Limerick feel about the issue. If the Minister of State lived in Limerick, he would feel this way too. To recap, there are 450,000 people across Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary. The University Hospital Limerick, UHL, group is the hospital group which operates the region with one accident and emergency department. It is the only hospital group in the country that operates with just one accident and emergency department to serve its population.”
“I congratulate the Cork hurlers on Saturday's match. Undoubtedly, it was the tensest and most stressful match that I have attended. Fair play to them and credit where credit is due, it was a match full of heart and tension. The day is not over yet. We will see what happens later in the season.”
“I congratulate her on all that she has accomplished. The industry partners are Analog Devices Incorporated, which was represented by Mr. Martin Cotter, and Eli Lilly, which was represented by Mr. Dave Riordan. I congratulate all involved in delivering this course and offer my best wishes to the student participants. Next on the agenda was a visit to the hospitality campus at Roxboro, which is part of the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. We were handled with a white-glove standard of care by the students undergoing courses there. I congratulate all of the lecturers and course leaders. In particular, I congratulate Ms Bernadette Enright, Mr. Paul Patton and Ms Bernadette Cullen for all that they are doing. I congratulate the wonderful students on the many awards they have amassed in recent times.”
“I wish to draw the attention of Senators to a very positive day of visits that we had with the Minister, James Lawless, in Limerick recently. He started his day at the University of Limerick where he met Professor Shane Kilcommins and the executive committee of the university to discuss recent events there. We next attended the launch of the new iBio masters programme at the university, which is the latest of UL's immersive courses. The university is famous for its disruptive nature in the way that education is delivered. Each undergraduate course is paired with work experience. Thus, graduates emerge with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience to help them get further in their careers. We are excited about and proud of the new iBio programme. Its academic lead is Dr. Jakki Cooney.”