Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators who have raised matters on the Order of Business.

I do not disagree with most of what Senator Gallagher says on rural Ireland. Many of the private operators will not want to provide the services that Bus Éireann has traditionally provided, particularly to off-the-beaten-track areas. With regard to his comments about the Minister and the Government's response, the direction has been for all sides to reflect, and to have a constructive and realistic discussion. We are all very hopeful that some clarity can be brought to the situation, both for Bus Éireann workers and the entire population, especially those who use travel passes and so forth. I share the Senator's concerns. I was frustrated that we did not get many of the answers we wanted while the Minister was in the Seanad last week, perhaps due to time constraints. I have been pushing for the Minister to be brought back to the Seanad to answer any queries.

Along with Senator Craughwell, I too welcome the selection of Senator Richmond to the post in question. I note Senator Boyhan's comments. Senator Richmond is a very experienced and committed European. He has an extensive background in EU affairs. I will warmly welcome his eventual appointment when it is approved by the Seanad.

Senator Craughwell called for a debate on the Tesco situation. I would be happy to facilitate such a debate.

The issue of inequality for hill farmers in farm schemes is not one of which I am fully appraised. I will speak to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in regard to ANC payments. I am sure he will be happy to attend the House. As Senator Conway-Walsh said, this affects the most vulnerable type of farmers in the country. It is very important they receive support. They should know what they are entitled to, and that they will receive that.

I will pass on to the Taoiseach Senator Conway-Walsh's concerns about the dispute in Hastings garage in Westport. I agree that it is as important to those workers as the Tesco dispute is to employees there. Their livelihoods depend on it. If the Taoiseach's office can be of assistance, I am sure it will be.

I agree with Senator Ó Clochartaigh on direct provision and the implementation of the Mahon tribunal report. I am happy to facilitate such a debate in the near future. I note the Senator's comments about Brexit. To be fair to the Taoiseach, he is one of the only people who has not been speaking in the media about leadership over the last number of weeks. The Taoiseach works very hard. The Senator's concerns about Brexit are appreciated. The Taoiseach has been very committed to the issue.I believe each Department is engaging on the issue. I note the Senator's comments, none of which I dispute, on a potential threat to 400,000 jobs in the agrifood sector, but his remarks about the Taoiseach are unfair. I believe everybody in the House would refute his comment that the Taoiseach intends to do a lap of honour. That is not his style. That said, I will ask the Leader to arrange for the Taoiseach to come to the House in the near future for a debate which we would all welcome on Brexit. In the context of the committee on Brexit that is being set up, it might be useful to have him come to the House soon to debate the issue.

Senator Gabrielle McFadden referred to the regional veterinary office in Coosan in Athlone which is an important facility for farmers in the area. I heard a discussion on the issue the other morning on "Today with Sean O'Rourke", during which it was suggested farmers would have to bring their livestock to Kildare to have autopsies carried out. That would be very unsatisfactory, but I do not think it is yet clear what the plans are for the practice in question. The Senator's suggestion we have a debate on the matter in the near future with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify the position and allow Senators to raise their concerns about regional veterinary offices is a good one.

Senator Billy Lawless proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 12 be taken before No. 1. I am happy to accede to his request.

Senator Maria Byrne wished the under-20s team and their captain, Calvin Nash, from Young Munster good luck in the game against France. We all join her in wishing the team and the senior Irish team the best of luck at the weekend.

The Senator also welcomed the announcement of four new transatlantic flights from Shannon Airport which will be vital to connectivity for the mid-west. I understand a similar announcement was made in the case of Cork Airport. It is good news for both the south west and the mid-west.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh asked for a debate on the direct provision system. I would have no objection to arranging such a debate. During my time in the Seanad the Senator has been a strong voice on the issue. I can assure him that the Minister of State, Deputy David Stanton, takes it seriously. He is very committed and I am sure he will be more than happy to come to the House for such a debate.

On staffless libraries, while I accept that there is a need to respond to new technologies in the servicing of libraries, I am concerned about the trend in that regard. I recently heard on radio - I think I also heard it on "Today with Sean O'Rourke" - a discussion on how the civil service in the United Kingdom was moving towards automated services and how this was leading to the loss of multiple thousands of jobs. It may be a fact of life that we will have to face up to this change into the future, but a debate on the issue would be useful and worthwhile. Personally, I would much rather have a book in my hand rather than read one on a hand-held device. However, that is progress.

Senator Kieran O'Donnell also welcomed the announcement of the new flights from Shannon Airport. He also spoke about the Bus Éireann Expressway service. While his point about the free travel pass is important, as I said in response to the point raised by Senator Robbie Gallagher, the small vulnerable communities that are disconnected from the routes serviced by Expressway are of more concern.

Senator Victor Boyhan referred to the report of Amnesty International and its strong criticism of Ireland on the issues of housing, Travellers, the Roma community and refugees. I believe the Leader will facilitate a debate on the report in the near future. It is certainly meaty and deserves scrutiny.

The Senator also welcomed the proposed establishment of the Brexit committee, the Chairman of which cannot be appointed until the Seanad has approved its establishment.

I join the Senator in congratulating Senator Grace O'Sullivan who received the prestigious Green Leader 2017 award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the tackling of climate change and environmental issues in Ireland. We are all very proud of her achievements.

The positive outcome on job creation is that the unemployment rate has fallen from 15.1% to 6.8%, but, as pointed out by Senator Colm Burke, the reduction in unemployment is impacting on those employed in community partnerships. The people concerned should be deployed for upskilling and training in their areas because obviously they have great experience when it comes to job finding and so on. I am sure the Minister for Social Protection will be happy to come to the House to discuss the new structures that might be put in place to ensure we gain from the experience of individuals employed in community partnerships.

Senator Aidan Davitt raised the issue of Bank of Ireland pushing "fear of missing out, FOMO" loans on students in DCU. This is a worrying trend. In my day all one got from a bank was a Henry Hippo piggy bank.