Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by joining the 14 Senators who raised the issue of the European football finals. I join them in congratulating our team on its performance last night. A nation held its long breath for the last five minutes plus injury time. It was a great result and I wish to congratulate Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane as well as Michael O'Neill and his team and their success.

It is important that we celebrate the victory sensibly and that we pay tribute to the team for the manner of their display last night. Many had given them no chance and, if I am to be honest, I was one of those. However, by their character and skill they ensured a great result. We talk about Stuttgart in 1988 or the Giants Stadium in New York in 1994 but in this case Wes Hoolahan will be remembered forever because of last night.

The issue raised by Senators Butler, Coffey and Reilly relating to the cost of flights is disappointing. It is unacceptable that airlines should be gazumping or engaging in price gouging to make profits at the cost of fans. Our fans have been renowned throughout Europe this week and last week for their sense of fair play, fun, revelry and decency. It is a pity that the airlines are engaging in this type of activity to maximise profits. It is exploitation at its worst. I call on Aer Lingus and Michael O'Leary of Ryanair - a good contributor to Irish sport in his own right - to recognise the importance of this match next Sunday. I will write to them as Leader of the Seanad. I hope the House will be united in calling on Ryanair and Aer Lingus not to exploit fans or engage in gazumping but to encourage them by laying on extra flights and encouraging fans to travel. This will help to create a carnival next weekend and we can overturn the hand ball of Henry some years ago.

It is an important issue but it is not simply about the airlines this week. It could be about the cost of hotel rooms for concerts next week. We have to be real. I appeal to Ryanair and Aer Lingus to work with our fans, the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Association to encourage our fans to travel. It is important that they do that.

Senators Daly and Reilly raised the issue of car insurance costs. I very much agree with them that the costs have spiralled upwards. As I have stated in the House already this week, this is the reason the Minister for Finance has asked officials in his Department to put together a review of policy involving the Department of Finance, the Central Bank, other Departments and agencies and the insurance industry to examine the factors that are contributing to the exorbitant costs of motor insurance increases and come back with a review. Out of that review the group could then produce a set of recommendations to yield an improvement in the functioning and regulation of the insurance sector. The Senators are right. It is important that the matter is examined and that we come back with a comprehensive review which gives benefit to the motorist and the person who needs car insurance. Senator Daly is correct in that we require car insurance. Again, we should work with people to ensure they are insured appropriately and properly and that we do not see an increase in people driving without insurance.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of the Leader programme in her remarks. This week, the Minister announced funding for the Leader 2020 rural development programme.A total of €250 million will be available for investment in rural enterprises and communities. The funding will be provided based on a strategic approach and on priorities agreed at local level. I have spoken to the Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and to the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, about this and can assure Senator Conway-Walsh that the latter in particular will not be found wanting when it comes to Mayo. As it stands, 80 strategies have already been finalised, with more to come. This is an opportunity to invest in rural Ireland to attract enterprise and to promote job creation, local tourism and community development. I will ask the Minister or Minister of State to come to the House so that we can discuss the opportunities that the programme will present.

A number of Senators raised the issue of Brexit. It is very important, even at this, the 11th hour, that we appeal to people in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom to vote to remain in the EU. Economically, it is very important to us as a country, as it is to the EU. Whatever our concerns about the EU the old Irish saying, Ní neart go cur le chéile, applies today. It is important that we stand together. The European Union is better with the United Kingdom inside rather than outside. The UK is our most important trading partner and it is important to us that it stays in. Again, I appeal to Members who have not already done so to engage with their friends and relatives across the UK and ask them to vote to stay.

I am very happy to accept Senator Norris's amendment to the Order of Business. Senators Craughwell, O'Donnell and Reilly raised the matter of decorum in the Chamber. It is important that, as Members of the Upper House, we would debate issues with decorum and good manners. As someone who is known to have engaged in raucous behaviour in the House in a previous life, on mature reflection -----