Seanad debates

Tuesday, 6 December 2016

2:30 pm

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 21 Members who made contributions on the Order of Business this afternoon.

Senator Ardagh referred to the movement towards staffless public libraries. As someone who served as chairperson of Cork City Council's library subcommittee when I was a member of the local authority, I am aware that it is a matter for local authorities to fund their own services. The staff of libraries certainly play an integral and strong part in our experience in libraries. I might have the Minister come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator McDowell spoke about the water pipeline between the River Shannon and Dublin. I will be very happy to invite the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to come to the House. There have been issues with water supply, and particularly water pressure, in Dublin. Those of us who stay in hotels when we are in Dublin will have seen water conservation notices in the lifts and public areas of hotels. It is important that we have a debate about how to ensure there is continuity and safety of supply in the Dublin area. Senator McDowell mentioned that he has received a paper from Emma Kennedy on this issue. Perhaps he might circulate it to Members as a means of reference. It is important that we learn and broaden our horizons. I will get the Minister to come to the House in this regard.

I join Senator Ó Clochartaigh, who also referred to libraries, in recognising the excellent work of the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, in bridging a solution to the ferry issue last weekend. I thank the Minister of State for intervening and thereby showing his power and his ability to bring people together. Senator Ó Clochartaigh is right when he says that a long-term solution is needed. We have got a reprieve until 4 January, but we cannot have déjà vuor Groundhog Day on that date again. The point the Senator made about bin charges is to be welcomed. I will come back to that again.

The fundamental point made this afternoon by Senator Ó Clochartaigh is that all Members of the House should play a part in helping to eradicate the mistreatment of men and women who work in the entertainment and hospitality sector, including waiters, waitresses, bar people, glass collectors, doormen and doorwomen, taxi drivers, nightclub DJs and band members. We enter their workplaces when we go into restaurants and public houses. They deserve to be treated properly and with respect and decorum. I hope that as public officials, we lead the way by ensuring people in our parties and groups treat these people with respect and courtesy as they do their day's work or night's work. Senator Lawless, who is present, plays a strong role in the hospitality sector in Chicago. It is important for us to stand up for and stand with those who work in the sector.

Senator Black raised the issue of mental health. Everyone in this House has a role to play in promoting positive mental health, wellness and well-being. The Government has committed funding to this area. It has become a popular cant to blame the Government or public bodies for difficulties in the mental health sector. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, like her predecessors, Kathleen Lynch and John Moloney, has demonstrated her willingness to prioritise mental health. An additional €115 million has been invested in mental health this year. This represents an increase of 20% since 2012. There has been a recruitment and advertising campaign. I was in Cork City Hall yesterday when the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Des Cahill, held an informative and important briefing on the issue of mental health and suicide in the city of Cork. We all have a role to play in this regard. It behoves all of us to ensure mental health is prioritised. I join the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, in trying to do that.

I am happy to accept the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Nash. Many Members of the House, including Senator Norris, who has left the Chamber, are playing a role in making our society more equal and more progressive. While it might not be as simple as Senator Nash thinks to achieve the aims of the Bill to which his amendment relates, we should collectively sign up to support it as a means of ensuring we can send a message to those who were persecuted and treated badly by the State, and their families.I join the Senator in condemning the treatment of workers in Drogheda. They have been locked out, in some cases, without any recompense or by-the-by after 20 or 30 years of service. Certainly, the issue of the Duffy Cahill review is one to which we can come back if we happen to have the Minister in the House.

Senator Richmond raised the matter of the EU Council meeting on the future of Europe. He is right. There is a need to have dialogue on the future of Europe, not least in the context of what we have seen with the Brexit vote, the vote in Italy at the weekend and the implications for the European Union, in particular, for fiscal stability. The issue of the growth of certain populist trends throughout the European Union is important as well.

Senator Swanick proposed an amendment regarding No. 29, motion 9, on the Order Paper. I am happy to accept it and join and commend him on his strong words and action around the tobacco industry. I commend the former Minister, Senator Reilly, on the role he played as Minister for Health in this regard. All Members can send a collective message to the effect that we do not want to see people dying of smoking or smoking-related diseases. If we can progress the health and well-being of our nation, then any stepping stone in that direction should be approached with acclamation by all.

Senator Devine raised the matter of Portlaoise. It is an important matter and one with which we should not be playing politics. I chaired the previous Joint Committee on Health and Children. We dealt with the HIQA report and we had some of the families affected before the committee. It is important to recognise that steps have been taken on foot of the events. It should be put on the record that it was the bravery of women and their families which has allowed us to come to this day, when we can have another report on the services in the hospital.

I must have listened to a different radio programme this morning, because I thought the chairperson of the group was clear and strong on the need to have a strategic plan. The plan is with the Minister to be implemented. He emphasised that we need to protect and ensure the safety of women and their babies and that this concern is paramount at all times. I fully agree with the Senator's point that we must see a strategic plan put in place. We must safeguard the lives of women and children and protect staff as well. That is why there has been an increase of 18% in Government funding to the hospital, something to which Senator Devine did not refer. That is why we have seen an additional 16 midwifery posts put in place as well as two additional midwifery management posts and an arrangement with the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital.

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