Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. Out of the depths and tragedy of death comes new life. During the course of the summer recess Senator Lombard and his wife, Catherine, had the pleasure of having two young boys born to them, John and Denis. I congratulate Senator Lombard and his wife on the heroic endeavour on his part. I imagine his sleepless nights have started. We commend Senator Lombard and his wife, Catherine.

It would be remiss of me, as Leader, if I did not follow Senator Daly's remarks by congratulating him and his good wife, Eileen, on their recent marriage and wedding. We congratulate them and wish them well. By all accounts, Kinsale has survived and is now coming back to life after the nuptials. Senator Ardagh raised the important issue of DEIS schools, but before I discuss it, I wish to welcome everyone formally for returning. Senators have been back at work since long before today, but I wish them a productive and fruitful term until Christmas. I hope that, in the era of new politics, we can all come together to ensure the people's interests rather than vested interests are served in the House.

Senator Ardagh was right about there being a review of the selection method for DEIS schools under way. I am informed that it will be published by the end of the year and that a new action plan for disadvantaged schools will ensue. I join the Senator in expressing hope that there will be an increase in opportunities for people to participate in education as well as more positive outcomes for children in disadvantaged areas. A school in my area has become so successful that it has fallen out of the DEIS band. In that light, it is important the review take note of the Senator's remarks. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, will be in the House in the coming weeks to discuss education. I hope he refers to this issue as part of that deliberation.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of retirement age in general and the case of Dr. Brendan Murphy of Cork Institute of Technology, CIT, specifically. My understanding is that Dr. Murphy received a five-year contract in 2014 and that CIT and the Department are in dialogue regarding it. I am unsure as to the outcome of that dialogue but I am sure it will be the best outcome for CIT. As the Senator knows, the Bill on technological university status is returning to the Seanad. It is important we reflect on what would be the best outcome for CIT. I am informed there has been consultation on the specific issue.

Senators Devine and Colm Burke raised the question of nursing and the importance to recruitment of changing different pay rates, which has happened in education. I agree with Senator Colm Burke about the cost of agency staff and the need to move away from their use in order that more nurses can be recruited and retained in the health sector. I agree about the importance of nursing and the need for the situation to be clarified. The Minister for Health has been involved and I have spoken to him. Senator Colm Burke and I attended a meeting with him in Cork on Monday where we heard that nurse retention rates in hospitals were increasing. That is welcome, but it cannot be taken for granted. I agree with the Senator that the two-tier pay system must end. I will work with him and other Senators to achieve that.

Senators Kelleher and Ó Clochartaigh referred to the report that was published on Traveller accommodation. The serious threat to life posed by fire and other safety risks to members of the Traveller community is one we cannot take lightly. The Minister and the Department must first reflect on the report. Second, local authorities must consider it in the context of their housing plans and Traveller accommodation committees and work with the Traveller community on ensuring that, at a minimum, there is access and egress, fire blankets and proper adherence to health and safety measures at halting sites and that accommodation needs are met. I will invite the Minister to attend the House to discuss this issue.

In a wide-ranging contribution, Senator Bacik mentioned education. I commend Trinity College Dublin on its initiative. I assure the Senator that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, will attend the House to discuss education in the next two weeks. As to Syria, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will attend our Brexit debate in the coming weeks. Perhaps we could discuss Syria and the important issues raised by the Senator then, not least of which was the saving of lives. I commend our Naval Service personnel, who have been proactive in saving lives in the Mediterranean Sea. Those of us who follow the situation closely will know there will be a homecoming this Friday. At a time when the matter has been tied into the issues of Brexit and the European response, it is important we keep up the effort in our debates.

Senator Bacik also referred to the repeal of the eighth amendment. As she knows, the citizens' assembly is commencing in October and the amendment is the signature item at the beginning. Like the Senator, I would have preferred the re-establishment of the Constitutional Convention model, but I understand the need for the Taoiseach to have a citizens' assembly. I appeal to those who are taking part in the debate around the eighth amendment to understand that language matters. That is to paraphrase what came from the debate in New York this week. In this Chamber and in a previous health committee we had discussions on protection of life during pregnancy legislation. It is important that we hear from all sides of the debate. I ask those who deride the idea of a citizens' assembly to reflect on the importance of what is being convened. Citizens are informed and although they may not be parliamentarians or invested in politics, they will be versed in knowledge and be able to do their work. They will come back with a set of proposals. The Taoiseach is right that this is not a black and white issue. We must take this debate beyond the prism of the usual suspects discussing it in the media. We must allow the "gnáth duine", the man and woman who will ultimately make the decision, to have their say and be participants in the debate. I hope the citizens' assembly will be given the support it needs from a resources perspective and, equally, by us as parliamentarians, the body politic and the country's citizenship. The citizens' assembly will do a service to the State and we should allow it to do its work.

I agree with Senator Conway that we must have a debate on the role of the Coast Guard and I would be happy to facilitate that. Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the funding of local government and the importance of the Government being able to support local government. She argued that, equally, local government should be able to bring forward mechanisms to support itself. I know the Local Authorities Members Association is meeting on Friday in Bantry and many Members from the House will be there. The importance of this will be seen by the Minister in the coming months and weeks when he discusses many elements of the local authority umbrella. I would be happy to have him come to the House in that regard.

I join Senator O'Mahony in congratulating our Olympians and Paralympians on the joy they gave to us during the summer. Sport is a great unifier and the success of our Olympians and Paralympians - I will not name them all - was uplifting and gave us a sense of importance and of who we are. We saw that in the homecoming and the warmth of reception given to those athletes. The bigger issue raised by the Senator is the importance of the governance of sport and sporting bodies. Perhaps we can come back to that piece of work in our consultative manner as the issue of how sport is governed should be addressed. There is also the matter of how sport complies with different directives. The Irish Sports Council under Mr. John Treacy is doing much work and I know Mr. Kieran Mulvey has moved into a different role again. We will come back to the issue.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh joined Senator Kelleher in raising Traveller accommodation and he also mentioned rural affairs, the Gaeltacht and the diaspora. The relevant Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, has committed to coming to the Seanad and has asked that we wait until the strategy is completed and published before he speaks to us about the Irish language. The other Ministers of State, Deputies McHugh and Ring, have also committed to coming before us to speak about rural affairs and the diaspora. The Senator also mentioned water and the most important point is that both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fail have changed positions on multiple occasions on the issue.