Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

New politics is alive and well in the Seanad this morning. It is great to hear about people jumping in and out of bed and various other matters. I am delighted that Fianna Fáil Members found a warm bed when they arrived after the Labour Party, even if they did have to change the sheets.

It is despicable that somebody has tried to steal the Green Party's clothes on the issue of that party's Bill. The Green Party is part of the rise of change in Ireland and it is despicable to try to scuttle the Bill at the 11th hour in order that somebody else can take it.

My colleague, Senator Gallagher, mentioned the genderisation of education and the failure of the education system to attract a significant number of men. Anybody who works or has worked in the education area, as the Leader has, cannot but be aware of the fact that fewer men are coming into it. I attended a meeting of men called Men's Voices. I am not 100% behind any particular pressure group, but one issue that was raised which has merit was the establishment of a men's council of Ireland. It would include organisations such as the White Ribbon and Men's Sheds. It has merit in so far as it should be possible to establish such a council and ensure it gets funding from the State. I would ask the Leader to consider that and maybe discuss it with the relevant Minister to see if it has some traction within the Department. Last year, Senator Paul Coghlan, now the Leas-Chathaoirleach, delivered an excellent report in the previous Seanad on cross-Border smuggling. An area that we seem to neglect or ignore, probably because it does not rise on our trajectory very often, is the role played by customs personnel. Members of this House should congratulate them. They put themselves in more risk than personnel in any of the other services because the type of people they deal with, the criminals the Leas-Chathaoirleach pointed out last year, are very dangerous. The customs men and women fearlessly go about the country seizing illicit cigarettes, fuel and alcohol, and they do that for the State. They deserve our congratulations and support.