Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to address Senator Wilson's remarks. I hope we will be able to collectively pay tribute to Deirdre Lane who has been a very loyal, impartial, fair and astute custodian of the position of Clerk of the Seanad.It is important to record our appreciation and thanks to her. In keeping with the remarks of the Cathaoirleach, it is important for group leaders and, in particular, the Whips to discuss the matter further because it is one we should address in terms of the number of staff required to run the Seanad Office and also to be fair to the members of the Seanad staff who are still here and providing tremendous service to us as Members. They deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. I am sure there will be cross-party and Independent support for an improvement in the situation. I hope we will have an opportunity to pay tribute in a full and wholesome way to Ms Deirdre Lane who we all acknowledge has been a very fine servant.

I agree with the thrust of Senator Craughwell's remarks. Language is important and what we say is critical whether in the House, in the media or on social media. If Members come to the House to raise matters, it is important not to engage in populism or rhetoric that adds to hysteria or which causes further angst, anxiety or grief or sends the wrong message to people who watch or listen, or to families. In that regard, I refer to the remarks Senator Daly made on the hospital in Limerick. It is important to put things in context. Any death in any hospital is regrettable. Those of us who have worked in hospitals and been in hospitals in which loved ones or friends have died, in particular through a bug or MRSI, know full well that it is not acceptable in this modern day. The Government introduced the Protected Disclosure Act 2014 which protects whistleblowers. It is robust legislation which gives any worker statutory protection under the law of our land. It behoves all of us as elected representatives or those charged with the management of public services or bodies to work within the parameters of the law and to protect those who have the courage to come forward with information and to act for the good of the organisation or group they serve. There is a prohibition on any penalisation of workers who bring forward information under the Act. Any employer who does not comply with that should be penalised. Equally, the employee can go to the Workplace Relations Commission.

The matters to which the Senator referred in regard to Limerick are very serious and are ones the HSE and hospital management are addressing. As Senator Byrne said, there are serious ongoing issues in Limerick, but the matter to which Senator Daly refers goes back to 2009 and covers a seven-year period. My information is that 27 deaths were recorded in the hospital in the context of the matter to which the Senator refers. Unfortunately, and it is a source of regret to all of us, in three of those deaths there were contributory factors of the matters the Senator raised. In 24 cases, there were not. It is important that the HIQA report commissioned as a result of the incidents in the hospital are followed up on. Equally, the management of the hospital has a duty to ensure the spread of infection is limited. Those of us who travel to hospitals every day should know that a hospital is a place where infection can be spread very easily. The management has a duty of care to staff, patients and visitors. It is important to record that.

It is also important to understand that within University Hospital Limerick over €700,000 has been invested in the refurbishment of wards and cleaning and deep cleaning with a quality improvement plan put in place. It is very clear to me, as someone who has been Chairman of the health committee, who has worked in a hospital as a porter and who is very familiar with the activities that go on there, that there is a need for whole change of approach in the management of infectious diseases and bugs. It requires an all-embracing policy. The Government is committed to this.

The Minister for Health has been in contact and I understand that the chief medical officer has been involved directly. There is a progression of a national action plan around resistance to these types of bugs and I expect the plan to be published later this year. The points the Senator makes are important. It is critical that there is no ambiguity regarding patient safety, in particular around these infections which, unfortunately and tragically, lead to loss of life. That can never be condoned or accepted and there needs to be a complete reorganisation by hospital management with staff in how we control and manage these bugs.

Senators McDowell and O'Sullivan raised the matter of climate change as did Senator Ó Clochartaigh regarding Ministers not going to the committee, which is disappointing. As a former committee Chairman, I note that it is important that the line Minister responds to the committee he or she is dealing with. That leads to communication, dialogue and better relations. I am happy to tell the Senators that the Minister will be in the House to discuss climate change next week as a beginning in terms of ongoing discussion in that regard. I would be happy to have him come back at a later date to the wider policy discussed by Senators McDowell and O'Sullivan regarding energy and climate change. When he is in the House next week, he will address some of the matters raised by the Senators. I would also be happy to have the Minister of Health, Deputy Simon Harris, come to the House to discuss the matters raised by Senators Daly, Gavan and Byrne in respect of Limerick.

Senator Bacik referred to Syria and we all join in the condemnation of what is happening there. It is important that we, as an island nation within Europe, send a strong signal that we stand firm. The Minister is happy to come to the House and she has indicated her willingness to do so. It is a matter of just getting the legislation passed. If we can get the Minister in before Christmas, we will try to do that. I am happy that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, has put up his statement of intent on his website. He has committed to revert to the House following his visit here last week. I hope we can see the judicial appointments Bill proceed. It is important that we introduce clarity. Equally, it is important that we do not allow a transgression in the area of State-judicial relations.

Senator Joe Reilly asked for the attendance of the Minister for Education and Skills to discuss school transport. Senator Craughwell also raised the important issue of Brexit. It is important that we have meaningful and clear statements which do not border on hysteria or try to drum up support for some position. The Senator is right that this is a very important topic that will have a profound impact on us as a nation. It is fair to say that Brexit will have more of an impact on us than on England, Scotland and Wales put together, which is something we need to come back to in the House. It is clear that there needs to be a very strong offensive by our Government and by us across Europe to protect our interests. The Senator's point is well made in that regard.

In reply to Senator Ó Clochartaigh, I note that the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora was here. The issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, is actually my fault. I have held him off on the basis that I want him to attend in the new year when legislation will be scarce so that we can have a real rather than a rushed debate in the House. To be fair to the Minister of State, he has given me a number of dates before Christmas, but we have to deal with pressing legislation in the meantime. That is the reason he has not been in before Christmas.

On the matter of the ferry, I heard a commentary on "Morning Ireland" this morning and I discussed the matter with the Minister of State prior to coming to the House. While it is a matter primarily for Galway County Council, the Minister of State, to be fair to him, is in discussions this morning with the Department and the different groups involved. I believe he is due to meet with the island co-operative later today with a view to resolving the matter. It is important that the matter is resolved. This is an island community and it deserves to be able to access and leave the island. I will be happy to pursue the matter with the Minister of State, but in the meantime the Senator may wish to put down a Commencement matter. I have been in touch with the Department on that prior to coming here today. I would be happy to talk to the Senator about the deportation matter after this debate to see how we can approach the Minister.

Senator Black raised the statement by Professor John McHale of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.Senator John Dolan has communicated with me this morning. I spoke to him on the telephone and he e-mailed me. I would be happy to have a discussion on the issue. The point made by Senators Frances Black and John Nolan which is lost on some people is that investment in public and social services is very important. It comes back to the water issue. Although some believe there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and that it can be used to pay for everything, somebody has to pay for something. We must try to get the balance right and protect those who are most vulnerable. I will be happy to invite the Minister for Finance to come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Gabrielle McFadden mentioned green Thursday and black Friday. Saturday, 3 December, is small business Saturday. It is an invitation to all of us to spend locally and support small businesses in our communities. It is the third year of what is a grassroots campaign established by Retail Excellence. Every €10 spent locally is worth €40 to the local economy. Some 28,000 people are employed locally in small businesses. If Members can support green Thursday or small business Saturday and if next Saturday we can all try to shop locally and support our local retail outlet, it would be very welcome and help to provide and protect jobs.

Senator Colm Burke raised an issue close to my heart, namely, long-term planning for a new hospital in Cork. It is very clear that a new hospital is needed in Cork. While we may have arguments and disagreements about where it should be located, it is critical that we have one and that the plans be advanced. A report has been commissioned, published and debated and I hope the project will come to fruition. I commend Senator Colm Burke for having the long-term interests of the health service at heart.

It disappoints me when members of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin speak about health issues. They did not support having Members of the Seanad on the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare when they could have. We have expert Members from all parties such as Senators Keith Swanick, Máire Devine and Colm Burke, who could have been on the committee making their contribution and giving of their expertise and it is disappointing that we did not allow it to happen. It is important that we plan for the future of health care services, given that people are living longer.