Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 18 senators who made contributions to the Order of Business the afternoon. I will begin with Senator Ardagh's contribution on housing. All of us involved in politics recognise the importance of the Government's strategy around housing and the priority the Government has given to the issue of homelessness and getting people out of emergency shelters, especially young children and young families. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney has been in the House repeatedly, and will be again tomorrow, to discuss expediting the infrastructure around housing supply. It is a legacy issue on which the Government is working but we all agree that the action plan for housing and homelessness has ambitious targets to deliver residential homes. We need to start building houses and we need to start creating supply. The Government has made a number of changes and they will be outlined again by the Minister in the House tomorrow. We must support him in that and acknowledge the work he has been doing as Minister with the action plan for housing.

Senators Boyhan and O'Mahony raised the Rugby World Cup. It is important to congratulate and salute the IRFU on this very ambitious bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.It would be of huge economic importance to the country and a massive fillip to our tourism industry. It would certainly be of added importance to us in terms of our sporting prowess as a nation throughout the world. It will not be easy to secure the hosting of the Rugby World Cup. It will require all of us, if I may, to stand shoulder to shoulder, to unite both North and South and to bring together all sporting codes that have the capacity in terms of their stadia to host matches and to be part of the bid. I wish the IRFU well. The Taoiseach and many Ministers were at the launch this morning. We should all stand together to see this delivered. It is of absolutely importance for us. The hashtag #SupportTheBid has already been started. We should all support the bid.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of Harriett Bruce and her husband. I expect the Minister is aware of the facts. It is a matter for the Minister. The briefing this afternoon by Senator Ó Clochartaigh is welcome. Arising from it and his contribution today, the Minister could look at the case again.

Senators Frances Black, Niall Ó Donnghaile and Ivana Bacik raised the issue of Traveller ethnicity. The Minister of State, Deputy David Stanton, is committed to the implementation of the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy. This will be done on an interdepartmental basis and will encompass cultural identity, education and housing. The closing date for submissions on the strategy was 30 September. The Minister of State is committed to reverting to the House on the issue. I commend Senator Black on her work on Traveller ethnicity. We will have a further debate on it.

Senators Bacik and Rose Conway-Walsh raised the issue of domestic violence. This is a matter of huge concern. One in four women suffer physical domestic violence or abuse in the country and one in two are sexually harassed. Those figures are far too high. It is not acceptable. All of us involved in politics and civic life, along with different organisations, must work together to ensure we end this scourge in our society. I commend the SAFE Ireland conference that was attended by 35 global leaders yesterday. That it was so attended speaks volumes about the importance of the issue and the scourge that it is in society.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is committed to the domestic violence Bill, which, as she stated at the conference, will put domestic violence at the centre of our justice system. It is important to acknowledge that we can all play a role in ensuring we treat people with respect and that language does matter. Whether it is that of the President of the United States of America or that of a teenager in school, our language and behaviour is important. We must send a positive signal to women of all ages and young girls, in particular, that they are to be respected and can live their lives without fear of any type of abuse. This applies to everyone from the leader of the free world to the youngest person in our society.

Broadband was mentioned by Senators Robbie Gallagher, Rose Conway-Walsh, Joe Reilly, Gerry Horkan, Colm Burke and Catherine Noone. I agree fully with Senator Burke on the absolute importance of broadband to attracting and locating industry in rural Ireland. This should form part of planning criteria. Planning officials, in tandem with suppliers of broadband, should ensure that broadband is available to those in rural Ireland. Senator Horkan is correct that many of us in urban areas take it for granted. However, when we go beyond the Pale, as we did in the Seanad campaign, and visit other parts of the country, we see that telephone connectivity dips. This happens even on the Cork-Dublin motorway. The same applies to broadband.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, is committed to the national broadband strategy and to increasing the service to 1,000 Mbps per home and premises in rural Ireland. Its roll-out will begin shortly with the majority of it being done prior to 2018. It is important to recognise that there will be issues with regard to some of the more rural and isolated communities but there must be a process in which we can roll out broadband to the majority of the country. All of us agree that broadband is currently a missing part of the infrastructure that is necessary to attract people economically to locate in the country and to allow people to stay and live in their own communities.The Minister is committed to that. We have a national broadband strategy which the Minister is anxious to see introduced. The survey Senators mentioned was conducted over a 12-month period from July or August 2016. It shows improvements in broadband speeds and reflects investment by the telecoms industry in upgrading the network over the past four years. However, we all agree that there is a digital divide and there are certain parts of the country that cannot access high-speed broadband, which is unacceptable. The Minister and the Government are committed to incentivising and accelerating the use of broadband through the national broadband strategy and plan. I would be happy for the Minister to come before the House again to discuss the matter.

Senator Ruane raised the issue of drugs. I would be happy for the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to come before the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Harkin referred to the Islamic Cultural Centre and congratulated it on its anniversary. It is important that we build an inclusive society which respects people of all faiths and none. I very much welcome the celebration. I join with the Senator in congratulating Senator Feighan and his wife, Elaine, on the birth of Francesca.

Senators Mulherin and Ó Domhnaill referred to the commemoration day. I will not get into a war of words with Senator Ó Domhnaill because we can all remember the legacy of violence on our island. Many of us wish that blight had not affected the legacy that has been left by the Troubles. It would be disingenuous to do what he said in his remarks. Senators Mulherin and Butler referred specifically to the commemoration and remembrance day last Sunday. The men and women of our country fought and should be recognised. There is a national commemoration day in July, which we all attend. We are proud to support the men and women of our Defence Forces who represent us most admirably across the world in many troubled areas. It would be unfair and wrong to associate last Sunday with particular issues North and South. I understand the day is about the commemoration of those of Irish descent who served. I welcome that the Taoiseach laid a wreath at Enniskillen. Senator Mulherin's suggestion regarding centenary funding should be considered as a way to acknowledge those who have died from around the country.

Senator Devine raised the very important issue of climate change and referred to ice sculptures outside the Houses today. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the briefing. The Minister of State, Deputy Naughten, will be in Morocco tomorrow to address the UN's COP22 meeting. He will reaffirm our position that we must, as a nation, individually and collectively, take responsibility for tackling climate change. We owe it to future generations to do so. Like Senator Devine, unlike some in the other House, I do not believe that this is an act of God. It is not. We all have a duty of care to the Earth and are stewards of its creation, and must make the Earth we inhabit better, not just for ourselves but for future generations. Tomorrow, the Minister of State will speak about our commitment to becoming a low-carbon economy and having a consultation process for a national plan to mitigate the effects of climate change, building on the Paris agreement from last year. It is important that we put that on the agenda and I am happy for the Minister of State to come before the House, following his visit to Marrakesh, to have a debate.

Senator Mullen referred to non-union members. It is predominantly a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills. At the risk of upsetting the Senator, perhaps he could table a Commencement matter. As a former active member of the ASTI, I suggest that the teachers involved might be able to sign the agreement with the Department separately if that is their desire. We all have to incur the wrath of FEMPI. If he is willing to provide more information, I would be happy to revert to the Minister.

Senator Burke referred to junior doctors. He has been a stalwart in championing their plight. I hope junior doctors who, through the IMO, are party to the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road agreements will reflect on that.The Government is committed to engaging with the INMO on matters regarding junior doctors. I am a former chairperson of the health committee and we were very proactive in commissioning a report on the working conditions of junior doctors and the relevant European directive. They are a pivotal part of our health system and they should not be disrespected or undermined in any way. The living out allowance is under consideration and should be considered in the context of a public sector agreement on pay. I certainly hope the INMO will engage in further talks with the Department.

Senator Noone raised an important issue concerning a defibrillator being made available in many parts of the country and I share her view. I welcome her suggestion that old telephone kiosks be used and we could take this up with the relevant Ministers and Departments. I will convey to Senator Coghlan her congratulations on the Heart of Killarney project. I am sure he will be delighted that Senator Noone mentioned Killarney on the Order of Business today.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the role he has played in the relocation of the Seanad. I know he said he would not hold a debate on it but I thank him for the role he has played in shepherding us from this Chamber to the Ceramics Room in the National Museum. He is right that work on this Chamber is essential. We will be welcome tenants on a temporary basis. I hate the use of the term "temporary arrangement" but we have to move and we are conscious that we are using the workspace of the people in the National Museum. I acknowledge the huge amount of work by all sides in this House, and particularly by the Cathaoirleach. He has facilitated a briefing tomorrow and it is important we recognise that there are needs on both sides of the compound. The idea of a forum established by the Ceann Comhairle is one we should all welcome.