Seanad debates

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

3:55 pm

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Bacik and Brennan and several others spoke about the 22,000 delegates at the Web Summit and we welcome each and every one of them to Dublin. Senators Brennan and Conway in particular raised the rates being charged by hotels, which are five or six times the normal rates. This is certainly exorbitant and the relevant committee should bring before it the Irish Hotels Federation and ask it to comment on this. It lobbied very strongly for the retention of the 9% VAT rate, which the Government retained, but charging such rates for hotels, as Senator Brennan stated, is like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Let us hope this type of action will not continue.

Senator Bacik called for the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, to come to the House to debate developing trade links with Africa.

The Minister of State is overdue a visit to the House, so I will invite him.

Senator van Turnhout praised Childline's services and asked about the Irish youth justice service not reporting since 2010. I will raise the latter matter with the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Senator Quinn proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, seconded by Senator Norris, to the effect that No. 13 be taken before No. 1. I will accede to the amendment. Like several other Senators, Senator Quinn raised the question of votes for the diaspora in Seanad elections as well as in presidential elections. I will invite the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, to attend the House in early course to expand on the ideas he has mentioned in the past day or two.

Senators Naughton and Conway referred to the need for a debate on the issue of cyberbullying. Senator Conway referred to Ask.fm. In many cases, there is undoubtedly a lack of responsibility on social media. People, particularly young people, believe that they can say whatever they want and hurt others. This matter must be addressed. I will invite the Minister to the House, but we will hold a debate on the issues of mental health and suicide next week, as requested by a number of Senators in recent weeks. We may hold a separate debate on the issue of cyberbullying before the end of the term.

Senator Zappone addressed a number of questions to the Tánaiste. The Tánaiste will attend the House for Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill on 2 December. As the Senator rightly pointed out, we are witnessing a recovering economy, but it has not fully recovered yet. We are still spending a great deal more than we are taking in as a country. This situation needs to be borne in mind.

On wind energy, Senator Kelly asked whether there was a need for pylon projects. While this question has been debated by the committee, I realise that new points have been made by several Members, so I will ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy White, to attend the House.

Senator O'Donovan discussed the beef crisis. We will try to get the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, to attend the House on the matter. The Minister is in China trying to open markets for our beef producers. We can expect good news in that regard, namely, that Irish beef will be sold to China, thereby increasing the size of the market and the prices achieved by farmers. Last week, the Minister chaired the third meeting of the beef roundtable discussion between processors, farm bodies and all of the main stakeholders in the sector, including the farming bodies, meat processors and Government agencies as well as Tesco and McDonald's. At the Minister's request, farming groups and processors have agreed to engage in intensive discussions on the commercial issues that are in dispute during the next two weeks under an independent chair. He also secured a strong endorsement from all stakeholders for the establishment of farmer-owned producer organisations in the beef sector to help rebalance negotiating power. The Minister is doing everything possible to solve this problem.

Senator O'Donovan also requested a debate on the fisheries. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, will attend the House to discuss that matter in the coming weeks.

Senators Mullins and Leyden referred to fuel laundering.

We would all like to join in complimenting the Garda Síochána and Customs and Excise officials on their find in Monaghan. Fuel laundering is a reprehensible business, funded in many cases by former republicans involved in criminal activities. It will have to be stopped. It was requested that the Minister for Finance come to the House to outline the steps that have been taken in this regard. There has been great co-operation between the Irish and UK customs and excise officials and scientists in combating this problem. I am sure the Minister will come to the House and address the matter in early course.

I noted Senator Norris's points on the proposals of the Convention on the Constitution on the presidential election and his points on the diaspora. Senator Moran complimented Dundalk FC on its successes and rightly pointed out that the matter of Sinn Féin and Maíria Cahill has not gone away. Sinn Féin certainly needs to name the abusers that it banished to this jurisdiction. The protection of our children is-----

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