Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the funding cuts to the scheme to support national organisations, SSNO. This topic may sound familiar to colleagues, as last year, in the months preceding the cuts, I proposed Adjournment matters to try and get answers. In July, the Minister stepped in and restored funding for one year as bridging funding for these organisation and said we would have a whole new scheme in place by the end of June 2015. Over the last few months, I have been working with Senator Marie Moloney behind the scenes, trying to ensure that this scheme will be put in place. We had what I felt was a constructive meeting with the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, yet today we still have no answer regarding the scheme. These organisations are receiving between €30,000 and €60,000 each from the State. They include the Asthma Society, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, the Stammering Association, the Migraine Association and the Arthritis Association. There is a long list of excellent organisations, each of which is deserving of this funding in its own right. The bridging funding will run out at the end of June. The organisations have employed staff based on this funding line and have to tell people where they stand. More importantly, they have to tell those who are using their services how the organisations are going to be fixed and whether they will be able to continue providing their services and doing their great work. I ask for an urgent debate next week on the scheme to support national organisations. I will try to submit a Commencement matter again, but it has been ruled out of order twice already because we discussed it a few weeks ago. These organisations deserve answers and we have to find a way to give them the security of funding they need.

I also wish to raise the report launched today by hotline.iewhich shows a 148% increase in the amount of child sexual abuse material online. I ask the Leader to advise us as to when it is expected that the sexual offences Bill will come before the Seanad. Given that several aspects of the Bill concern provisions that Senators have called for, it would be excellent for the Bill to come before this House. I urge the Government to consider a model similar to the Internet Watch Foundation in the UK, which filters and blocks child abuse material. As colleagues are aware, I have done a report on the issue and strongly believe that Ireland should have a system of blocking. Interpol and Europol support a system of blocking and filtering in order to stop first-time users getting access to this type of material. I know it is not a panacea, but it does ensure that material is not out there for the majority of people. As regards the sexual offences Bill, I wish to ask the Minister to consider changing the terminology in the Bill from "child pornography" to the term agreed on by Europol and Interpol, "child sexual abuse material". We should name it for what it is.