Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Members for their good wishes. I did not realise quite how many issues are actually raised when raising them myself, given some individuals have actually raised four or five issues each. I will do by best. Members will bear with me and if I omit to refer to any issue, I will be happy to come back to it.

Senator Ardagh referred to the inflated CSO figures. To the best of my knowledge, the Minister has clarified the position this morning. It is an issue that could usefully be addressed in this House on pre-budget statements. I hope we will be able to facilitate clarification of that matter in the House in September.

I agree with the Senator's point on public procurement. We need to encourage small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, because many jobs are obviously dependent on them. It is an issue that has been raised previously in the House, including by Senator Kieran O'Donnell. I believe a debate with a special emphasis on small business might be worthwhile. I will certainly convey Senator Ardagh's concerns to the Minister.

Senator Mullen referred to media fairness, in particular in regard to RTE and the pro-life and abortion issue. Other Senators also referred to this and I will deal with their comments when I come to their contributions. There is a media ombudsman and anyone who feels that RTE has been biased in any broadcast can make a complaint, which perhaps has already been made, to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. I agree with Senator Mullen and other speakers that a debate on the issue would be worthwhile. Certainly, the suggestion of Senator Paul Coghlan that they be brought before the communications committee is a good one and could be constructive. It is an issue I will follow up.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue she raised yesterday. I understand the Leader has been in communication with her on that and, hopefully, matters will progress. She also raised the issue of the economic forecast. I would have a similar answer for her as I did for Senator Ardagh, in that the Department and the Minister will be more than happy to clarify their position on that issue. Hopefully, we will be able to have a debate in early course in September on that and other budgetary issues. The Senator raised a particular issue on farming and referred to the Department of the Taoiseach. I am sure the Department will be quite happy to clarify the position in regard to the anomalies or, at least, the inconsistencies that exist.

Senator Higgins raised several issues in regard to the Canada-EU trade agreement. I believe a debate would be worthwhile and I would be happy to convey that to the Leader. I hope a debate can be arranged in the new term.

We could spend an hour or two hours right now discussing the situation in Turkey, which is very serious and evolving. The issue raised by Senator Higgins includes 21,000 teachers having their licences revoked and the demands that universities are making. The issues are so wide-ranging that it is a matter that will be discussed at length at the foreign affairs committee but it is something we could debate in this House also. It is an issue that will continue to arise in the context of the relationship of the EU with Turkey, which had come so far but which is regressing hugely. I believe it is a matter of huge regret to all of Europe. We could have done with Turkey coming more towards our way of thinking but it is moving further away. I agree with Senator Higgins on this matter.

Senator Nash and others raised the issue of the DIT, which I will bring to the attention of the Minister. Senator Craughwell in particular asked that I would write to the people involved and I would be happy to do so. Senator Nash also raised the issue of section 38 bodies. It is an issue we are discussing and it is being covered in the media every single day of the week. It clearly is not satisfactory. I am confident the Committee of Public Accounts will cover this issue well and there have been a good number of debates there to date. There are all sorts of anomalies. I would be happy for the Minister for Health to come to the House as there are always matters to discuss with him but this is something that would be worth focusing on in early course.

Senator Conway raised the question of history and the GAA. I was going to make the same comment as the Cathaoirleach, namely, I think it is already on the curriculum in Kilkenny. Perhaps that is where we are going wrong in Mayo. Perhaps we should have Gaelic football on the curriculum and that might bring us the trophy we have been so long looking for in Mayo. The GAA is always worthy of attention. The Senator asked that I bring this to the Minister's attention and I would be happy to do so. I believe it is hard for the GAA not to be in the Minister's focus on a regular basis as it promotes itself very well and we are all acutely aware of the benefits it brings to society at large.

I would be happy to agree to Senator Mark Daly's request with regard to Irish Sign Language. I cannot imagine how it could be in any way controversial. In the vein of the new politics, if there is a method in legislation whereby we can make it easier for people who could benefit from interacting with the State, that can only be a positive thing. In regard to Senator Daly's comments on legislation, I agree with him and do not see any point in having statements in the House, day in, day out. The Leader has been working very hard to get legislation before the House. If there is anything the Leader's office can do to introduce the legislation to which the Senator referred, that will happen in early course in the new term.

As I said, Senator Craughwell raised the very serious issue of the DIT. I take on board his comments and I have said I am happy to contact those responsible and bring this to the attention of the Minister for Education and Skills. I agree with the Senator's point on the registration of physical therapists and physiotherapists. Until I heard Senator Craughwell speak about it this morning, my understanding was that the then Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, was very happy to clarify this and to recognise the title. I will certainly bring this to the attention of the Minister as my understanding was that this was happening. The Senator said there was some row-back but I am not aware of what that is. I am interested in this issue myself.

Senator Joe O'Reilly raised the issue of the housing crisis and the comprehensive housing strategy that was announced. I agree, and believe most of us would agree, with his proposal that we touch base on this issue on a two-monthly basis, or whatever other period we deem appropriate, to review the situation and see what progress is being made. As with the Brexit issue, which I will come to shortly, this House could play a very useful role in this crisis, which, to be fair to the Government, is the top priority, as we have demonstrated to date. Senator Gavan quite rightly raised the TASC report and highlighted the deep inequality and divide, which is getting worse. Of great interest to me is the gender pay gap and general difficulties in that area. A debate on that issue would be very useful. The main thing I would say is that a job is the best chance of getting out of inequality. Creating jobs has been a major focus of this Government. While I appreciate the Senator raising the issues and the statistics that are very stark, some progress is being made. A debate could certainly be facilitated in due course.

Senator Black spoke about the employment of people with disabilities. I am happy to pass on her concerns to the Minister. Regarding the funding needs that are in the budget, no doubt we will have pre-budget discussions with the Minister in this House. That is one of many issues that could be raised. It is worth mentioning that this Government was the first Government to have a Minister of State for disability issues sitting at the Cabinet table. That is very much to be welcomed.

Senator James Reilly raised the issue of physiotherapists and student accommodation, which a few other Senators mentioned. It is a major challenge in the context of the overall housing problem we have. My understanding is that there is a specific group under the housing strategy to deal with this issue and to come back with a strategy on it. In the context of Senator Reilly's suggestion, this is something we can come back to again. He also mentioned the committee on the future of health care. It is an insult to this House that Senators are not included on that committee. He highlighted the expertise present in this House. It is great. The argument from the Chair of the committee is that there are already enough members on it. In my view, the more people on those committees and the more rounded their experience, the better. It was intended to be an Oireachtas committee, so I cannot understand why that has not already been agreed. There is some resistance, which I find frustrating.

Senator Norris mentioned the Taoiseach's visit to the inner city and the reopening of Fitzgibbon Street Garda station. I commend him for his work on that. He also mentioned a local charity shop in Carlow. I agree with him. Local authorities need to be more nuanced and think outside the box when it comes to leaving units empty rather than having enterprises such as the one Senator Norris mentioned actively contributing to the community and to business in a small way. It is better than having units empty. There should be some exception made for this type of organisation.

Senator Gallagher also commented on accommodation for students. It is very positive that we have such high participation, but it presents major problems, especially in the context of the overall housing problem we have. It is especially in focus at this time of year because over the coming months students will in many cases be very worried about getting some sort of accommodation that they will be able to afford. I also join him in wishing the councillor in Donegal a happy birthday. I hope I am not in politics at the age of 86, but it is a case of horses for courses and I wish him very well. Hopefully he still plays a bit of football.

Senator Butler raised the issue of petrol-stretching. From what I understand, the criminals involved in this are moving a little ahead of the lawmakers all the time. They are probably the same people who are involved in green diesel. The Minister for Finance did come up with some measures to combat the green diesel issue and there is now a new issue in this context to be dealt with. I will bring it to the Minister's attention. It is a major issue of concern to the public. I would like to join in his request for the public to be vigilant when it comes to the price of diesel.

Senator Devine spoke about Dolphin House. It is an exemplary development and, as she said, it needs to be introduced in many other areas. She mentioned the issue of credit unions and the Central Bank, which I will bring to the attention of the Minister for Finance. The Senator also discussed rehabilitation services and people with neurological conditions, which is also a very serious issue.

Senator Richmond raised the matter of lobbying, particularly when it comes to developers and correspondence with developers. It is definitely worth getting an official comment from the Minister for Finance on this issue the next time he is in the House. In the meantime, I will make sure we communicate with him.

Senator Dolan also raised the issue of a strategy for people with disabilities. I have covered a response to that. He also raised the housing issue and agreed with Senator Joe O'Reilly on that. In addition, he mentioned the physiotherapist-physical therapist issue, which I have already addressed.

Senator Ó Domhnaill also wished the famous Mr. McGarvey a happy birthday, which, again, I reiterate. He is obviously a very popular man in Donegal. He also wished the Olympic team well. It is a very important time for athletes and their families and we all wish our Olympians well. The Senator also mentioned the ten year strategy and bias in the media, which I hope I have covered.

Senator O'Donnell's amendment has been broadly welcomed by the House. This represents a significant opportunity for the House and for the Oireachtas as a whole to cover these issues. The suggestion of having key individuals come to the House is a very good one. It could be very constructive and, depending on how it works out logistically, we could put together a report on the outcomes and the comments made during that exercise.

Senator O'Sullivan raised the issue of RTE and the debate on fairness, which I would be happy to arrange, or to ask the Leader to arrange, in the new session. He congratulated the gardaí in Limerick. They have made major progress there and it is good to highlight that. He also commented on Brexit, which I have covered.

Senator Mulherin raised the matter of provision of home care packages in Mayo, Roscommon and Galway. The situation she describes is very illogical, on the face of it and is very frustrating for people who want to be at home. It is nonsensical that it is costing us more when there is a willingness to have them at home and overall it could cost less to do so. I will bring the issue to the attention of the Minister for Health. This type of money-wasting is frustrating when money is so difficult to find in the health budget.

Senator Feighan also raised the issue of Brexit. I join the House in welcoming President Hollande to Ireland. France is going through a very tough time at the moment and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been very seriously affected by recent horrible developments. Senator Feighan also raised the very positive visit of the Taoiseach to the north inner city and the fact it breaks down barriers, which is well worth mentioning.

Senator Coghlan also mentioned that visit and the role of the national broadcaster, which I have covered. As I said, that would be a worthwhile debate.

Senator Paddy Burke raised the Brexit issue and concurred with Senator O'Donnell. We are all in agreement that a few days of debates in this House in the new session, whether consecutively or over a number of weeks, would make sense and could be very constructive.

I wish all my colleagues well for the break and hope they get some downtime and some time with their families. I thank the staff and concur with those who said the staff are always extremely cordial, friendly and helpful and have always been in my time in the House. As Senator Dolan said, we have all been in the situation where everything is completely new, and it is great to have their support. I wish everybody well.