Robbie Gallagher
Labour Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I want to raise an issue that I feel is having a very detrimental and suffocating effect on rural Ireland. This is the declining number of taxis available. It is so bad now that it is causing an economic bottleneck and, in my opinion, is also acting as a social barrier.”
“This is killing the night-time economy especially. People would like to go out and socialise, which we would like to see, and go out for a bite to eat or a few drinks or whatever. It is important that we encourage this type of behaviour.”
“I join others in thanking all of the staff in the campus of Leinster House for their hospitality and the manner in which they look after us all year in, year out. I say to all of my colleagues in the Chamber that I enjoy their company, perhaps not all of the time but most of the time I am glad to say.”
“I too would like to raise the urgent case of the approximately 200 people in this country who are living with Friedreich's ataxia. It is a rare and progressive condition that gradually takes away a person's mobility and independence. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition but there is hope.”
“Unfortunately, they had to turn around and head home without getting that news. Ten other EU countries have already made this treatment available but Ireland continues to wait while this progressive condition for those who have it continues.”
“I will raise an issue that affects thousands of people in this country but, in my opinion, does not get the attention it deserves. That is the shockingly poor return Irish people are getting on their savings in Irish banks.”
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“I appeal this morning to anyone who has any piece of information, however insignificant they may feel it is, to please come forward and make contact with the commission, in the knowledge that any information given is privileged, cannot be passed on to any other agency and cannot be used in any court case. The McVeigh family, as well as the families of all the disappeared, deserve the dignity of being able to locate their loved ones and give them the Christian burial they all deserve. My heart goes out to them all as they face another Christmas Day, the 50th that the McVeigh family will spend without finding the remains of their beloved Columba.”
“This is the seventh time since 1999 that the McVeigh family have made that long, torturous journey to the top of Bragan Mountain in the hope that the remains of their beloved Columba will be found. Unfortunately, that seventh search has come to an end. I commend the people and the commission involved in that search on their work. I have met them on the top of the mountain on a number of occasions. The work they did in forensically digging across 26 acres of bogland on the top of Bragan Mountain is hugely impressive. Unfortunately, that work has come with no positive results for the McVeigh family to date.”
“Today, my thoughts are with the family of the late Columba McVeigh as they will spend yet another Christmas without locating the remains of their beloved Columba. I was saddened yesterday to learn the search that had been taking place on the top of Bragan Mountain in County Monaghan had been stood down, unfortunately without a positive result. Columba McVeigh was 19 years of age when he was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA. Over 50 years have gone by now and the family still longs to find the remains of their beloved Columba. Columba's mother went to her grave carrying the pain of not being able to find her son's remains and her family have made a commitment to her that they will continue that search.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. As I said, the council conducted a survey recently on the quality of the roads in County Monaghan and 24% were found to be in the worst possible category. This clearly proves that there is a chronic need for additional funding for local and regional roads. That report is with the Department and I also mentioned it to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I hope the Minister of State will convey to the Minister that there is a chronic need in both Monaghan and Cavan for additional road funding. I sincerely hope that the earnest request from me, county councillors and the council executives in both Monaghan and Cavan does not fall on deaf ears.”
“We are hoping that both of those projects will be recognised, as well as the chronic need for additional funding for local and regional roads when the allocations are made in the first couple of weeks of January.”
“We have more kilometres than most other counties because of our drumlins. This problem is very much unique to Monaghan and Cavan. I have discussed this issue with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, on numerous occasions. I met him again yesterday and stressed the importance of an additional allocation for local and regional roads. I sincerely hope that when the allocations are announced in early January, that will be the case. I also mentioned the Ardee to Castleblaney road to the Minister when I met him. As the Minister of State knows, it is a very dangerous roadway and we are looking for funding to progress that, as well as additional funding to progress a bypass for Monaghan town which is choked with traffic every day of the week.”
“As I outlined earlier, even though the allocations were increased in the last number of years, when inflation is factored in there are fewer kilometres getting done for those allocations. On top of that, there has been a level of historical underfunding going back a long number of years and that is coming home to roost now. The road network is in a terrible state in County Monaghan. I must commend the roads department of the local authority there for its work in this area. Likewise, I commend the local councillors for being very vociferous on this particular issue. They understand the chronic need for additional funding for local and regional roads. The council conducted a survey which found that the density of quality roads in Monaghan was the second worst in the country.”
“The problem, as the Minister of State would know well, coming from a rural constituency himself, is that Cavan and Monaghan are totally dependent on the local roads. The local and regional roads are the arteries of the lifeblood of the local communities from a social perspective and from a business and economic perspective. Both counties are very well known for their entrepreneurial spirit. There are many small businesses located up small boreens but in order for them to get their product to market, the only show in town is the local and regional road network. Those roads are vitally important to the local communities. Unfortunately, we have not had a train service to both counties since the 1950s and we are totally dependent on the road network. That is why it is vital that the allocations are increased.”
“Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit ar ais chuig an Teach seo ar maidin. The Minister of State is welcome back to the Chamber this morning. I thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I would like to discuss the chronic need for additional funding for local and regional roads in counties Cavan and Monaghan. This is despite the fact that last year record funding in excess of €19 million was allocated to County Cavan and over €18 million was allocated to County Monaghan. That was a €1.75 million increase on the previous year, but unfortunately, that increase has been eaten up by inflation. Therefore, fewer kilometres are being done for the allocation, which is very disappointing.”
“As the Minister also outlined, crime knows no borders. It is vital that in our collective efforts to fight crime, we have maximum co-operation between states. For that reason, I am happy to support the protocol as outlined by the Minister.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. The Minister is very welcome. I acknowledge his commitment to this House. He has been very attentive to all debates in the House, which is very much appreciated by me and other colleagues in the Chamber. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I am happy to support the protocol as outlined by the Minister. As he stated, it relates to a proposal for mutual legal assistance on criminal matters. It is vital that we have co-operation and the sharing of information and that it is done legally with our partners in the fight against crime. This protocol will facilitate that co-operation between authorities in relation to data sharing and so on. As the Minister outlined, the Attorney General has scrutinised this from a legal perspective and is happy to see it move on to this stage.”
“I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision authorising Member States to sign, in the interest of the European Union, the Third Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, a copy of which was laid before Seanad Éireann on 4th December, 2025.”
“I hope this grant will now encourage those owners to convert that vacant space into residential use and create a home for some person, because all the services are there - water, sewerage and whatever - and it brings the dereliction issue to task. It is a hugely positive initiative and I look forward to many people taking it up.”
“In addition to that, there is a grant of €5,000 available for getting expert advice as to how to go about converting the vacant commercial space to residential use. It is hugely positive. I was happy to chair an Oireachtas committee meeting a number of months ago on the property market generally. We had a presentation from the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, IPAV, along with a number of architects and others. They all made the case for this particular scheme and I am glad the Government has listened to them. This scheme makes perfect sense because we are all aware of many vacant units above shops in our towns and villages that have been lying idle for years.”
“The vacant property grant has been a hugely successful initiative introduced by the Government. To date, over €230 million has been paid out nationally with over 15,500 applications. It has been a huge success and I think most people would agree with that because it is tackling two issues: dereliction, which is a blight on our landscape, and, in bringing down dereliction, creating a home for a person going forward. That is what we all want and we need much more of it. I welcome today's announcement of the grant for what is called over-the-shop vacant property to bring it back into residential use. There is a maximum grant available of up to €140,000 - €95,000 for when one vacant residential unit is created, another €20,000 for a second one and a further €20,000 for a third unit or more.”
“We need to make sure that what we are doing stands the test of time and that the taxpayer does not have to pick up the tab for work the State does thereafter.”
“Progress has been made; it would be unfair to say it has not. It is also fair and reasonable to say that more needs to be done. We need to move faster. I would like to focus on the issues related to the upfront costs. Many families cannot get into the scheme because they simply do not have money to start off. Those people are left on the sideline and that is not fair. We need to come up with a mechanism in order to make that happen. Elderly people also a need a hand. The trauma and form filling associated with all of this is traumatic for any young person, never mind an elderly person. We have to be conscious of that as well. It is important that the revised IS 465 is published as soon possible. The State is giving a 40-year guarantee.”
“To be fair, it is trying to build a mechanism from the ground up. It is fair to say that there will be learnings along the way. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has visited Donegal and seen at first hand the trauma I am referring to. I welcome the fact that he has brought in amendments that go some way to making life easier - if it is possible to do so - for those affected families. A great bit of work has been done in relation to this issue, and more needs to be done. I anticipate that we will be back in here again with more amendments to this legislation because we are learning a lot as we go along. It is important that, as a State, we take those learnings to arrive at a point as quickly as we possibly can to try to put those families in secure homes. As I said, I welcome the set of amendments brought forward and the progress made.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. At the outset, I commend all political voices in Donegal who have been working to try to find resolutions to this issue. One councillor, above all others, stands out in my mind: Councillor Marty McDermott, who has been working tirelessly on this issue for a long number of years. He has been recognised as a very fair and reasonable voice in relation to this. I am from Donegal and am fully aware of the tragedy and stress that has been bestowed upon the families affected by this crisis. They are going a through a living nightmare at the moment. That is what it is. It has affected people's physical and mental health. It has even affected relationships within homes. They are totally innocent in all of this. The State has been handed this massive issue to try to find a resolution to.”
“I am conscious of time. I found this afternoon's session very informative on a number of fronts. On a lighter note, I learned from the right honourable and learned Senator McDowell that in the event of the Minister deciding to change careers, there may be a future for him on the cricket fields. I am sure that provides the Minister with a great deal of reassurance. On a more serious note, the debate has been very informative. I have enjoyed it. We are fortunate that we have a number of learned individuals with very strong legal backgrounds involved in this debate. I thank all of those who have made contributions so far. As the debate proceeds, I am conscious that Joe and Josephine Bloggs may, perhaps, be sitting at the kitchen table listening to it.”
“To the current staff who are losing their jobs I sympathise with them now in the month of Christmas and I sincerely hope that all of them will find gainful employment elsewhere because they are all very good, trustworthy and honest individuals who have done great service to the county of Monaghan. Next week will be the newspaper's last week. If it is in order with the Cathaoirleach and with the Deputy Leader, I would be grateful if they would maybe drop a wee note to those in The Northern Standard to thank them on behalf of myself and all the citizens of County Monaghan.”
“People looked forward to the The Northern Standard coming out on a Thursday because we got the news of the week, be that a report on a football match or a social gathering in Knockatallon or in Inishkeen or wherever. The Northern Standard had the photographs and the reports to match. I suppose it is a sign of our time that provincial newspapers are struggling to survive with the advent of online, but we are losing a great service. To all involved in The Northern Standard down through the years, to all the staff who reported the news to us weekly, and to all of those who contributed and who worked at The Northern Standard office for the past 186 years I say a big "thank you".”
“Thursday in County Monaghan is known as "standard day". The standard being referred to is The Northern Standard newspaper, which has been in circulation in County Monaghan since 1839 when it was founded by a gentleman by the name of Arthur Wellington Holmes. It is with great sadness that I bring the news to the House this morning that, after 186 years, next Thursday will be the last edition of The Northern Standard in County Monaghan. That will cause great sadness and regret to many households throughout the length and breadth of County Monaghan. It also had circulation in counties Cavan, Louth, Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone. The newspaper was bought by Patrick Smith and family back in 1971 and has been located in The Diamond in County Monaghan since that date.”
“What we are talking about here is the potential ability to be able to save someone's life. That is greater than any of us can comprehend.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I commend the Irish Heart Foundation on the work it does. This is a proposal that has come from it. As the Minister of State outlined in his contribution, it would seem to make perfect sense. I welcome the fact that we are looking at this within the next year or so with a view to bringing it into the driver theory test in this country. That is a sensible and welcome development. As the Minister of State outlined, it is about having the knowledge in your pocket so that if, God forbid, you come across an event, you would be able to act, size up the situation and make the correct call. Having that knowledge in your back pocket is something that is worthwhile. I would welcome this development coming into effect as soon as we possibly can.”
“The survival rate reduces by approximately 10% for every minute that passes before CPR and defibrillation. When bystanders have the confidence to know what to do in such emergencies lives can really be saved. As the Minister of State will be aware learners prepare for their driving test by studying official RSA material on hazards, signs, vehicle safety and other matters. However, with first aid and CPR training learner drivers can become potential lifesavers. This initiative makes perfect sense and I hope the Minister of State and the Department will take this on board because it could make the difference between somebody’s life being saved and not.”
“It makes sense that generating greater knowledge of CPR and its use and a greater confidence in knowing what to do in an emergency situation could save a life. Cardiac arrest survival has increased since recordings began in 2012, during which time awareness and the number of people receiving CPR training have grown significantly, which is very welcome. In 2024 emergency services attended 2,885 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Ireland where resuscitation was attempted, with 230 lives being saved as a result. That is absolutely marvellous. The time it takes to provide defibrillation is the most critical factor for survival following a cardiac arrest and the importance of quick actions by bystanders before ambulance crews arrive cannot be underestimated. There is an 80% chance of survival if a defibrillator is activated within two minutes.”
“The foundation is advocating first aid and CPR questions be added to the driver theory test. This measure is being introduced in the UK early next year with the aim of increasing cardiac arrest survival rates by ensuring many people know how to respond in an emergency situation. First aid and CPR questions are being added to the UK driver theory test with a focus on basic lifesaving skills like using a defibrillator and performing chest compressions as motorists are the first responders to cardiac arrests. The aim is to boost survival rates. Road traffic accidents can cause cardiac arrests due to trauma and shock and they can also be caused by drivers experiencing cardiac arrest. Drivers may encounter people who have collapsed along the roadside, or on streets, or out walking or jogging or at bus stops, service stations or carparks.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach. I welcome him back to his old stomping ground and thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I wish to raise a very important issue with him. A striking feature of our towns, villages, sporting grounds and other facilities all over the country in the past few years has been the growth in the provision of automated external defibrillators, AEDs, by local communities. Communities understand the value and importance of the availability of defibrillators and indeed of learning first aid. I commend all those volunteers who give up their time freely to provide this service. They truly are lifesavers. I recently attended a presentation by the Irish Heart Foundation where such issues were underlined.”
“I am certainly happy to support the Government amendment and I plead with my colleagues on the other side, Senator Black and her colleagues, to go along with that and to give the task force space to conclude the very valuable work it is doing.”
“They are on call wherever they go. They are meant to be experts on planning, housing, climate change, policy and economic development. The role that constitutes the councillor currently is endless and they need more help. The basic first principle is that they have to be paid for the hugely important role they do. The amendment put forward by Government is very sensible. I plead with the authors of this legislation to reflect on that. Their Bill is very worthy, as I have said during my contribution. However, it is important that we let the work that the task force has undertaken to conclude. Nothing should overshadow that at this time. Perhaps the sentiments as expressed in Senator Black's Bill can be encompassed in the work that the task force is doing.”
“It is positive that it has formed a task force on all aspects of the role of the county councillor and local authority set-ups. I commend the members of the AILG and LAMA on their input into that task force. From the feedback I am getting, it is not a talking shop. People are taking the role very seriously. I sincerely hope that there is a positive outcome to that. It is due to report by February, which is fairly optimistic bearing in mind the volume of work involved in it, and the Minister of State might give us more clarity on that. I sincerely hope it is able to stick to the strict deadline it has given itself and to all the councillors who have fed into that. The role of the county councillor, as many speakers have alluded to this evening, it is a very expensive one. They are there in their community 24-7.”
“The Minister of State is welcome back to the Chamber. In the last Government we debated councillors' terms and conditions with him and he always had a very receptive ear. I know the councillors have a friend when they have him in that particular role. I wish him well in it. I commend Senator Frances Black on introducing this legislation. In principle, I have no issue in supporting it. Any opportunity we get in this House and in the Lower House to discuss the role of the county councillor is a welcome opportunity and one that we should all grasp. There is no doubt that the role of the county councillor has changed significantly in recent years and it really is a full-time job for a part-time salary. As the previous speaker alluded to, progress has been made, but much more progress needs to be made and I think Government recognises that.”
“Unfortunately, the report will not be published in full until the new year, so the families will spend another Christmas searching for that truth. It is hard to put into words to the Members here today to try to gauge the effect that has on the town of Monaghan, on this city and, indeed, on the families who are still looking for answers. My thoughts are with them this Christmas as they spend another year searching for the truth. To Margaret Urwin and the Justice for the Forgotten group and, indeed, all those families who have been on this journey for so long and who have conducted their business in such a dignified manner, I salute them, and I pray that 2026 will bring them the answers they are seeking.”
“The 1974 Dublin-Monaghan bombings resulted in the biggest loss of life in a single day of the Troubles. Some 34 people lost their lives on that fateful day and over 300 were injured. The Ulster Volunteer Force was responsible for that. For over half a century, going into the 51st year now, the families of those victims are still searching for the truth. That journey has taken them on many roads with many disappointments. Yesterday, many of them headed to Belfast to hear the progress report on Operation Denton as part of the Kenova report, which was a group that was looking into the activities of the UVF and the alleged collusion between the security forces and that organisation. While no evidence of collusion was found, it is widely accepted that it was widespread at that time.”
“It is hugely significant and important. We need to make sure people can access that particular facility in a safe manner from the part of the world I come from.”
“It will add another layer of importance to the strategic nature of the N53 and the need to upgrade this hugely dangerous roadway, which has a high volume of traffic on it. Approximately 5,500 students currently attend DkIT, not to mention lecturers and other staff who attend the college. Many of them come from counties Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and Meath and even as far away as Dublin. It is a hugely important road for the region and there is a chronic need for it to be upgraded. I would like the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, to come into the House so that we can have a debate on the matter and explore the possibility of finding moneys to upgrade this road from the shared island fund. The partnership between DkIT and Queen's University is very much a shared island initiative.”
“Some time ago in the Chamber, I raised the issue of the N53, which is the road that links County Monaghan and County Louth, and travels through County Armagh. The condition of that road is very poor. It is very narrow in places, and needs funding to bring it up to a standard that would be capable of accommodating the current volume of traffic. It was always a very important strategic route for that particular part of the world, but now even more so with the great, exciting, substantial news of the partnership between Queen's University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT. Everybody in the region is hugely excited about that because DkIT will now have university status. Let us hope that the partnership will be up and running by September 2026.”
“They are all geed up and for many it is traumatic and disappointing when the case they are involved in is pushed back by six or 12 months. The Minister also alluded to two amending Acts. I am delighted this legislation has come through so swiftly. We in Fianna Fáil are delighted to see it proceed.”
“I too welcome to the Seanad this afternoon Councillor Áine Smith, students from the school in Bawnboy and our other guests. I hope they all have an enjoyable afternoon. I give credit to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, who is setting the place on fire with his speed of movement in terms of activity in his Department. I acknowledge that and all his staff who work so hard alongside him. I am delighted to see this legislation coming through. The appointment of additional judges is vital because when people seek justice through our courts, it is important there is an avenue available to them, without delay. It can be very stressful for people to go to court.”
“Irish farmers, and many EU farmers, have spent thousands of euro ensuring the products they produce are of the highest quality. The money spent on traceability and animal health mean the quality of our food is top drawer. Unfortunately, we will not be competing on a level playing field if the Mercosur deal is passed, in that the standards that are taken as a given in this country, and in the EU broadly, are not mirrored in South American countries. This is deeply worrying and, as far as I am concerned, food coming from South America should not form part of that deal at this time. We need to discuss this issue. I hope the Leader will be able to organise a debate with the Minister as soon as possible.”
“The Ceannaire might recall that last week I asked that the Minister for agriculture come to the Chamber to discuss the recently introduced caps in compensation for farmers whose animals were turned down with TB. Will he re-issue that request as a matter of urgency in light of the up and coming Mercosur deal, which is hanging over us? The news this week that Brazilian beef coming into the EU tested positive for banned hormones and had to be recalled is deeply worrying and concerning. It is hugely important that consumers have confidence in the food products of any nature that are on the shelves for consumption. There has always been a cloud and doubt hanging over food coming from South American countries. Unfortunately, in this instance, beef coming from Brazil has substantiated the concerns many individuals had.”
“Co-operation is vital in that regard because crime does not know any borders. It is a global issue and we need the co-operation of our neighbours to have an adequate system in place to protect ourselves. I am very happy, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, to support the proposals before us. I understand we need the assent of both the Seanad and the Dáil to opt in to them. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I am happy to do that. I wish Deputy O'Callaghan well in his role as Minister.”
“There is a substantial pool of moneys available under the new asylum fund. There is something like €11.9 billion, which is a huge amount of money and a big increase on the €6.2 billion that was there previously. That will go a long way to help co-operation, be that fingerprinting of applications, vetting or whatever. It is important that we have these systems in place. As John Donne, the poet, said once upon a time, "No man is an island", and on this particular issue, I firmly believe we cannot go alone. We will need the co-operation of our neighbours and our EU colleagues to have a proper system in place that can be fair but firm and efficient, which is vital. The security element of it is something we have to be cognisant of because, unfortunately, there are threats on a daily basis, not just to us but to EU security.”
“I welcome the Minister back to the Chamber this afternoon. I compliment him and acknowledge the great energy he has taken to his new role and the progress he has made across a large number of areas. I ask him to continue the good work. From a Fianna Fáil perspective, we are happy to support the measures outlined here this afternoon by the Minister. It is important, whether it be security or migration, to have an EU approach as they are global issues. We need an EU approach to try to deal with whatever it may be, whether it is security or migration. We only have to look across to our nearest neighbour, the UK, which decided to go it alone, and we can see the issues it has to deal with now. Ultimately, it requires co-operation among all EU states to deal with security, migration or whatever. That is vital. The funding is also vital.”
“We seem to have been talking about school secretaries and caretakers for an awfully long time. They have genuine and legitimate aims and aspirations that every effort should be made to meet. I ask that the Minister re-engage with the school secretaries and caretakers to try to find a resolution to this problem.”
“I was very disappointed to learn that the talks aimed at finding a resolution to the dispute over pensions for school secretaries and caretakers have broken down. As we all know in this House, school secretaries and caretakers are a vital component of our school system without whom it simply would not function. It is disappointing that school secretaries and caretakers had to go on strike initially. We all met them on the picket line. It is disappointing that it appears that those talks appear to have now come to the end of the road for now. I appeal to the Minister for education to re-engage with our school secretaries and caretakers because the last thing they want to do is to be back on the picket line come January, and the last thing we want is for them to have to do that. All disputes come to an end eventually.”
“I look forward to the publication of this report in 2026. I look for the Government to progress the recommendations of that report so that towns the length and the breadth of the country can look forward to having their own voice, and having people from their own towns representing the needs and ambitions of those towns.”
“I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response. We are, and I am sure the Minister of State will agree, very fortunate to have so many hard-working councillors throughout this country, and we must always strive to expand their role in their local areas and enhance the terms and conditions of those elected members. As these young people leave the Gallery this afternoon, we need more platforms for those young people to enter politics. Currently, that is cut off from them. By having town councils in place and back in situ , those young people who wish to be public representatives and represent their towns will have a platform, as I said, where they can dip their toe into local democracy and maybe expand on that, if it is what they wish to do. It is widely recognised it was a huge mistake to abolish town councils.”
“The re-establishment of town councils also has the potential to bring more new people into politics at local and ground level, including many women and young people. They were, if you like, a platform for people to dip their toes into political life to see how it went. We need much more of that. Clearly, I understand that restoring town councils is a logistical challenge but I also understand that the local democracy task force set up to fund these functions is due to report shortly. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could provide us with an update this afternoon.”