Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators who contributed on the Order of Business today. Senator O'Loughlin was first. The Senator acknowledged the beginning of the Punchestown race festival this week and the major contribution the horse racing industry makes to Ireland. This is the case not just in Kildare but right across the country. The industry is worth €2.45 billion to the economy and nearly 31,000 people are employed in it. The industry is extremely important, and I wish all the organisers of the festival the very best this week. I have no doubt that people will have a fantastic time while they are there. I also acknowledge the massive effort being made this year in terms of equine welfare. It is a very worthwhile thing to highlight in the context of the festival as well.

On the issue regarding the sewerage system in Allenwood that has been highlighted by Councillor Dara Fitzpatrick, working with Senator O'Loughlin, a public meeting was held last night to discuss the matter and the prospect of working with Uisce Éireann to address it. There are challenges in this regard at times, but the need to progress water and sewerage schemes is important, especially in the context of delivering housing in densely populated areas where the population continues to grow.

An important issue was also raised concerning Gareth Landy and male infertility. It would be worth having a debate on this subject at some point. We might look into doing so in the future.

Senator Clonan spoke about the Dublin transport plan and the fact that disabled persons organisations have not been consulted. He has asked for this to take place and has requested a meeting in this regard with the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I ask the Senator to write directly to both the Minister of State and the Minister. I would be happy to endorse the need for this meeting to take place.

Senator Joe O'Reilly welcomed the establishment by our new Taoiseach of a Cabinet sub-committee on children with disabilities and early intervention. This is probably one of the most important issues the State has to deal with. It is an issue that all of us as public representatives deal with weekly. It is extremely harrowing to see the impact on children and families when early intervention does not happen.It is a lost opportunity for that child. I wish the Taoiseach well, and former Taoiseach Varadkar, as he chairs that very important committee.

Senator Hoey spoke about the levels of intolerance in the State. We are living in challenging times and people feel unsafe. She asked whether this is still a land of welcomes. I think we are still a land of welcomes. I do not believe we are a country filled with hate, but people are concerned and fearful and it is part of our job to deal with that and to provide factual information rather than leaving a vacuum there. We have to deal with migration, which is a huge challenge not just for Ireland but for every country, and one that is here to stay. People are fleeing war, persecution, changes because of climate and economic desperation. There are many reasons people are coming to the country. Recent events, especially those involving Northern Ireland and the UK, have been quite unhelpful. I might remark on that further when I get to Senator Keogan's comments, but I take on board the points Senator Hoey was making about how we want to continue to be the land of welcomes that we have been and which I believe we always will be.

Senator Lynn Boylan spoke about animal welfare, with particular reference to dogs. The Senator has regularly raised this issue over the last four years and been a real champion of dog and cat welfare, especially dog welfare. I will seek an update from the Department of agriculture on the promised reforms we have been looking at for a number of years. The Ministers, Deputies McConalogue and Humphreys, are keen to progress that, so we will seek an update for the Senator.

Senator Kyne acknowledged my genuine interest in green issues. I thank him. That has been there for quite some time, but it is important to always highlight our tackling of climate change. I concur with his remarks on bus transport in rural areas. There is certainly a push to get people out of their cars and we would love that to happen, but it is just not a practical reality on the ground in rural Ireland because we do not have adequate public transport. Local Link has been a massively valuable service right across Galway, Mayo and all rural areas, but we should be looking at stopping closer to home. It is ridiculous to send somebody driving one direction to go the other direction. It is just not workable. If we are serious about investing in public transport, we must have a tailored approach to rural areas that fits the lifestyle of rural people.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the ash dieback announcement today, as did Senator Daly. Senator Daly has previously raised the issues and the challenges there. It is a hugely welcome announcement by the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, that €79.5 million is being made available to complement the existing scheme of €160 million. It is retrospective, so any farmer or landowner who has already carried out clearing works or replanting may still apply. It is a hugely significant sum of money. My understanding is that the average plantation is about 3 ha, so people could be looking at a payment of up to €15,000 or maybe more. It has been a huge strain on farmers and landowners, especially when at a time when they are under pressure anyway because of the terrible weather. It has effectively been raining since last July and to get this boost shows that the Government delivers. The Government has delivered in this space and it is down to the work of the Government parties that this scheme is in place and that there is money there to look after farmers and landowners. It is a really welcome and positive announcement from the Department of agriculture.

Senator Keogan spoke about the Minister for Justice. She will appreciate I am not going to get into comments on the Minister specifically, but the comments coming from the British Prime Minister probably should be viewed in the context of elections coming up in a couple of days in England. His comments were disgraceful, quite frankly. He was riding roughshod over British-Irish relations. The blame rests squarely with the British Prime Minister and the UK Government and not our Government on that. We did not provoke this particular fight, but it is important to remind politicians across the water that the Irish people and the British people value the relationship between our two countries and it is to be protected. We went through a very turbulent period during the Brexit negotiations where relations were not good. We have got them back on track and got the institutions in Northern Ireland back up and running and it is hugely regrettable that what look like comments related to the upcoming elections have been allowed to damage relations here. I am a big believer in diplomacy and in politics. This is a solvable issue and a shared challenge. Neighbours should work together on this and absolutely, we need to work with the UK on migration. It is an obvious point. We are also a member of the European Union. That is club we are in and we have to work there as well. One does not prevent us from working in the other space. The two have to work hand in hand.

Senator Malcolm Byrne congratulated the Kilrush Drama Group on its recent accolade in amateur theatre. I will certainly request a debate on the Garda vetting review. I am not sure where that is at. I will contact the Department and see whether we have any update on that as I appreciate the Senator has already raised this as a Commencement matter.

Senator Carrigy welcomed the town and village funding from the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. She was in County Mayo yesterday to make the announcement.We had three projects in Mayo as well, one of which related to the Order of Malta in Castlebar. It was very welcome. It is great to see the funding going into towns and villages throughout the country. The Department has been very successful in supporting rural areas. The announcement yesterday was very welcome and shows that the Government is delivering for communities everywhere.

I take on board the Senator's point about children with additional needs and the need for services throughout the year. We can request a debate on that with the Minister of State with responsibility for special education. It might also be worthwhile for the Senator to table a Commencement matter in order to get an answer a little sooner.

Senator Higgins spoke about universities and students taking the issue of Gaza to protest, particularly against a heavy response in US universities. I do not intend to comment on what Irish universities have or have not done but I take on board the Senator's comments. The question of Horizon funding might also warrant the tabling of a Commencement matter.

Senator Paul Daly referred to the issue of ash dieback.

Senator Conway spoke about public transport and welcomed the update today from Irish Rail.

Senator Flynn expressed her solidarity with Ministers who have been under severe pressure, in particular Deputies McEntee and O'Gorman, and I concur with her remarks. The levels of abuse and vitriol being directed at politicians are totally unacceptable. We are driving people out of public life. I have no doubt that not just Ministers but every Member of the Houses is questioning their future in politics and whether the juice is worth the squeeze. There has to be a level of civility and decency in public life if we want people from all walks of life to come into these Houses. For too long, we have taken a hands-off approach, and the mentality among politicians is just to keep the head down and plough on, but that is not going to work anymore. If we want to protect our democracy, which is under threat not just in Ireland but across the globe, we have to push back on the treatment of politicians. Abuse, whether online or in person, and protesting at people's homes is not okay, and I know that Senator Malcolm Byrne has a Bill which deals specifically with that issue.

Senator Murphy also stood in solidarity with the politicians I just mentioned. The Senator mentioned the Lough Funshinagh issue. We will have that debate shortly, and we look forward to it. Along with Senator Dolan, Senator Murphy has been to the fore in raising the Lough Funshinagh issue and making sure it was at the top of the agenda in the Seanad. He alerted me to the issue and I had the opportunity to visit the site. He had said to me that the videos and photographs did not do it justice, and how right he was. When I saw it with my own eyes, I really had not been expecting it to be as bad as it was, to be frank about it, so I was glad to facilitate statements on the issue today and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for agreeing to come in. We will have that full debate shortly after the Order of Business.

I take on board the comments about Williamstown and the loss of the GP there. This is a hugely difficult matter in rural areas. In fairness to the HSE, it does advertise the positions, but we are finding it difficult to attract GPs to move to local areas. The rural GP is a very specialised position in the community. They are on call all the time and it is a very demanding job and a big responsibility. We have to look at how we can attract and retain GPs in rural areas, not least given a lot of our GPs are heading towards retirement and will at some point be looking to move to that next chapter. We have to ensure that service, therefore, in areas throughout the country. I hope a GP will be found soon for the area.

Senator Black spoke about the freedom flotilla, the blockade of Gaza and the prevention of aid, aid workers, journalists and medics getting in. What can we say at this point? There is a united front in both Houses as to the appalling, barbaric attacks by Israel on the people of Gaza, including children. For generations to come, people will view Israel through the lens of what it is doing now, and it has done huge damage to its own state. Many people in Israel do not support what is happening, and while we condemn the 7 October attacks, what has happened since then has been so disproportionate and inhumane. We have repeatedly called for a ceasefire and sometimes I feel it is falling on deaf ears. It is beyond the powers of this Chamber to achieve that, but it is still important to continuously debate it and highlight it in this Chamber. We will not look away and we will always push for a ceasefire and peace in the region. I thank the Senator for continuously raising that matter in the House.