Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sure all Members will want to join in the expression of congratulation to all those involved in the success of Irish film, producers, directors and actors being nominated for the Oscars last week, in particular Lenny Abrahamson for his nomination for best director for "Room", which got four nominations. Brooklyn got three Oscar nominations. It is superb to see such recognition of the enormous talent coming out of Ireland. Having said that, there is a serious issue of State funding. The Irish Film Board raised this on Thursday of last week in anticipation of the nominations coming forward. It organised an event with stakeholders and those working in the industry asking the Government to reverse the spending cuts that were introduced during the crisis and pointing out that funding for the Irish Film Board has been reduced by 40% from the peak in 2008, which represented a peak year in spending, as Senator Mooney might recall. The 2008 peak of €20 million in funding is now down to €11.2 million. Clearly, the immense success of the Irish film industry has been achieved in spite of these funding cuts.However, I support the film board's calls for a review of those cuts.

I support also calls for a debate on the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's powers of phone surveillance. Serious issues have been raised in respect of the apparent surveillance of journalists' phones without any notification to them by GSOC. I am aware that the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is presenting a review of the issue to Cabinet and we might have a debate on that, if time permits, when we know that response. Clearly, this is another scandal relating to GSOC powers.

I call for a debate on homelessness in light of the revelations in recent days about complaints concerning accommodation which have been made in Dublin, and in light of the excellent RTE programme last night in which some brave families who were homeless effectively filmed themselves in their predicament over a number of months. It was powerful television and it brought home to all of us the real plight of people in homeless situations, but I take issue with Senator Mooney's comments. There was a period of serious neglect in terms of social housing provision; I believe everyone can agree on that. Over a period of many years there has been a lack of funding provided for social housing, and what we are seeing now is the consequence of those years of neglect of this sector.

A motion on the issue of cystic fibrosis and funding for particular medications has been circulated by Senator Daly. Quite a number of colleagues from the Labour Party - and, I am sure, from other parties - have expressed concern to me about the issue and I have asked the Minister for Health for a response on the provision of two drugs in particular, Orkambi and Kalydeco, for those with cystic fibrosis. I have an alternative wording that we might agree on, which I will circulate to group leaders today so that, rather than playing political football with this very serious issue-----