Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 25 Senators who raised matters on the Order of Business. The main theme was Brexit. Senators Mark Daly, Conway-Walsh, Ó Donnghaile, Coughlan, Feighan, Richmond and Paddy Burke raised matters relating to it and the Taoiseach's remarks yesterday in Glenties. It is important that the House has a timely debate on the role of Senators in the country's future post-Brexit and on Irish reunification and the matters raised by the Taoiseach. His remarks were interesting, in that they re-articulated his belief in the need for an all-Ireland forum on how to progress North-South relations. Those of us who are constitutional republicans welcome the fact that many others have followed us down the road to where we are today. It is important that an all-Ireland context be given to the dialogue and I welcome the Taoiseach's remarks.I remind the House that he has already met Chancellor Merkel and is meeting President Hollande on Thursday. He is also attending a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff this week. In addition, as leader of the Government, he is making the changes within the Department of the Taoiseach that he outlined last night. The Government intends to establish a new Cabinet sub-committee on Brexit which will be chaired by the Taoiseach. An integrated approach will be taken within the Department of the Taoiseach under the Secretary General of that Department. The Government will strengthen staffing in other key Departments to deal with the issue of Brexit. It is important for Members of this House to play a role in the future of the country on an all-Ireland basis. As many Senators have articulated, this issue needs to be addressed because it is very important for the economy, industries such as tourism and agriculture and the movement of people.

Senators Mark Daly and Diarmuid Wilson spoke about Louise O'Keeffe, whom we all admire and to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges discusses and makes decisions on who to invite to the Seanad. I have no difficulty with anybody coming into the Chamber, but it is not my decision to make. It is important for Senator Mark Daly to recognise that the last Government created the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which meant that for the first time, there was a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for children. It also enacted the Children First national guidance to protect the welfare of children, held a referendum on children's rights and established Tusla as a dedicated national child and family agency. It introduced a plethora of legislation, including the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015, the Children First Act 2015, the Children (Amendment) Act 2015 and the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. None of us wants to go down the road of what happened in the past. We all take the protection and security of children seriously. That is what the previous Government did and the Government will do likewise. It is important that we continue our work; we cannot become complacent. We need to resource child protection agencies and see a greater partnership between the HSE and Tusla at all levels. All Departments need to work together in a seamless way to protect children.

Senator John Dolan raised the cost of paying disability allowance, which is a very important issue. He has made a good case in comparing the costs incurred by people with a disability who receive the allowance with those incurred by able-bodied people. It is clear that higher costs are incurred by people with a disability. The Senator, in his role with the Disability Federation of Ireland, has been a strong campaigner and advocate for changes to be made in the disability allowance regime to assist those who have to incur higher costs. It is an ongoing issue. I agree with the Senator that the Departments of Health and Social Protection need to adopt a more joined-up approach. I will certainly be happy to facilitate a debate on the matter in the House.

Senators Colm Burke, John Dolan and James Reilly spoke about the meeting of the committee on future health strategy which is under way. It is disappointing that the composition of the committee is not in keeping with the programme for Government, but it is not an Oireachtas committee. Senator Colm Burke and I met the Chairman and the clerk of the committee last week and the outcome of the meeting was disappointing from our perspective. There is a reluctance to appoint Members of this House to the committee. As Leader of the Seanad and a former Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, I do not see any reason Senators should be precluded from membership of this forum. I do not know why the terms of reference governing the composition of the committee cannot be changed, even at this stage. I will not say at this "late" stage because the committee is still agreeing to its overall work scheme. The exclusion from a full participatory role in the committee of 60 Members of the Oireachtas is wrong. It has been outlined to us that our views will be sought in the form of a submission, but we will not be asked to participate. This is not new politics - it is bad politics. It is exclusionary rather than inclusive politics. I received a response when I wrote to the clerk on behalf of all of us which I can forward to Members after the Order of Business.

Senators Kevin Humphreys and Diarmuid Wilson referred to the request made by Senator Kevin Humphreys to bring the Taoiseach to the House. I assure the Senator that the Taoiseach is willing to come to the House not because he wants the Taoiseach to come but because the Taoiseach wants to do so. The Taoiseach is more than happy to attend and speak in the Upper House. It is my intention that the date in question will be 29 September. There will be a debate on a range of issues, including the post-Brexit environment, Ireland's place in Europe, Ireland's relationship with the United Kingdom following Brexit, the programme for Government and the impending budget to be announced in October. There is no need to divide the House on the issue because the Taoiseach has agreed to come. I share Senator Diarmuid Wilson's view that it is important for the leader of the Government to come to the House at least once in each term. Other Taoisigh have been missing in action in the Seanad. I am happy that we will have the Taoiseach in the House on 29 September. I hope that will satisfy the Senators who have made proposals in that respect.

Senators Rose Conway-Walsh and James Reilly raised the issue of coding. The Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, has written to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to ask it to consider the introduction of the teaching of coding in primary schools. As a schoolteacher, this would be a brilliant act, especially in the light of the way the country has moved in terms of career development. It would be extraordinary to see it happen. Senator Rose Conway-Walsh referred to the success of Coder Dojo, which is an example of the benefits of teaching coding to young people. It changes their perspective and also gives them a balanced approach to education. I hope we can have a debate on the matter. We will support this movement in any way we can.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about a company, LowCostHolidays, that has gone out of business. We will take up this very important and serious issue with the Minister in question. The bonding system that applies to travel companies needs to be changed. We need to address the issue of bed banks, especially in terms of how they can get and charge for them.

Senator Robbie Gallagher raised the issues of coding and broadband connectivity.

Senators Máire Devine and John Dolan highlighted the publication yesterday by Social Justice Ireland of a very interesting read. I hope the Ministers for Social Protection and Finance will consider the document as part of the Government's approach to the budget to be announced in October. The Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, was here last week, but we might invite him back in advance of the announcement of the budget.

Senator Ray Butler spoke about the dental scheme. I hope the Ministers, Deputies Simon Harris, Leo Varadkar and Michael Noonan, can form a plan on dental care for young people. The removal of the PRSI scheme for young people, in particular, was one of the big mistakes made in the last two Dáileanna and Seanaid. The effects can be seen in the cost of dental work, the waiting times for orthodontic treatment and the bad state of repair of the nation's dental health.

Senator Ivana Bacik called for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on the issue of Syrian refugees. As the Senator knows, the Minister is committed to taking in more refugees. She has established a task force on refugee protection. I would be happy to have her come to the House.

I agree with Senator Ivana Bacik that any regime or Government that contemplates using the death penalty should not be supported. I certainly hope the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will take up the issue on our behalf. Proposing to use the death penalty sends the wrong message and is the wrong thing to do.

I will be happy to accept Senator Colm Burke's amendment to the Order of Business on the missing persons Bill.

Senator Aidan Davitt also raised the issue of refugees. I agree with him that there is a need to have an integration policy. I do not think the Minister, Deputy Francis Fitzgerald, said or meant what the Senator might have thought she had said. Her policy on refugees has been one of positivity. She has been strong on the issue of national security and protecting the Border. I will be happy to pass on the Senator's remarks and invite the Minister to come to the House after the summer recess.

Senator Frank Feighan spoke about soccer hooliganism, which is a worry. I hope we will see the FAI working with all sports organisations to eliminate all forms of discriminatory behaviour in sports grounds.

I will note Senator Paul Gavan's remarks about University Hospital Limerick and ask the Minister responsible to liaise with him on the matter.

Senator Catherine Noone raised the issue of Pokémon GO. I certainly hope none of us will walk into the table or walls here. We note that Pokémon GO is an app. The Senator is right when she says we must promote the gaming industry, which is a fertile ground for us. We did this successfully when the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, was responsible for job creation. Blizzard Entertainment in my city of Cork is promoting gaming and employing people.