Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 16 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business.

On my behalf, on behalf of the Fine Gael Party and on behalf of the House, I join all those who paid tribute to the late Peter Mathews, who passed away today. Those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Peter recognised many admirable and warm qualities in him, not least, as Senator McDowell referred to indirectly, his conviction-based approach to politics, his need to find solutions and his willingness and determination to stand up for what he believed in, whatever aspect of politics it was.

I had the pleasure of getting to know him and his wife Susan, who is an absolute lady. I know no words of ours today will suffice, but we offer our condolences, sympathies and comfort to her. It is important she recognises and understands that we value the part that Peter played and the work he did as a politician here in Leinster House. He was a man of absolute integrity and sincerity. He was principled and determined. There was a humour and a warmth about him that one could only admire. One rarely fell out with him over issues that lasted beyond that conversation, as many Senators have said.

In his wife Susan he had a pillar of strength, a great companion and a wonderful friend. Whether one met her in the House here or at social gatherings, she was always in good form and was always good company. He was very proud of his family and they meant a lot to him. He had a family of tremendous value. I send my sympathies and condolences to Susan and the family on his very sad and early passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I also welcome the father of the House back from his absence. It is great to have him here and to hear his voice interjecting and to have his physical presence back in the House. I wish him well in his return to us here.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of the non-principal private residence, NPPR, tax and the ruling. She made a good point on the deductible expense, that the payment that can be claimed back, and that the €200 that is available. It is a matter we can bring back to the Minister for Finance. I share her view on that and thank her for raising that matter.

The issue of the inquiry that was announced and the publication of the reports into the treatment of Grace have been raised by a number of Senators, including Senators Conway-Walsh, Bacik and Devine. The Government will establish a commission of investigation and the terms of reference will be brought to the Cabinet by the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, which will be published next week. It is important to recognise today, as many Senators have raised it, that this is a woman, a person and a citizen of our State, and she is entitled to respect, dignity, care and protection. I join all the Senators who have raised it today in the House, and I join the Taoiseach in his remarks in the other House, in saying that the way she was treated is a disgrace. It is unacceptable in a modern, 21st century Ireland. The very least, as the Taoiseach said, that this House and the other House can do is apologise to Grace and to her family for the way she was treated. It is a matter for which the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, has responsibility, not the Minister, Deputy Zappone.

The two HSE reports have been published. It is important that we not just publish those reports and have an inquiry but also that we have accountability and responsibility. I make the point again today in this House. It is about time that responsibility and accountability are accepted and stood up for by those who are charged under the State with the care and protection of people within our society.I agree completely with what Senator Devine said. How many more times must we come into this House and lament and deplore the condition and the treatment of people like Grace? It is time it stopped. We thought we had drawn a line under these sagas in our society but this has been ongoing for 20 years. We have come to recognise that this is not acceptable any longer. There is a need for accountability and responsibility to be accepted and we should not have to come in here any more to discuss negligence and incompetence. I have already put in a request for a debate in this regard to be held in the House next week and I waiting for the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, to respond to me on that.

Senators Ardagh, Bacik, Byrne and Horkan raised the issue of Bus Éireann. It is a matter of grave urgency and concern that there is an impending public transport strike. I hope there will not be an all-out strike. It is important there is engagement by everybody involved regarding this proposed strike. There is a need for the talking to continue and for there to be a proper conversation around what is being asked for, what is being proposed and for how we can have a roadmap for the way forward to bring a resolution to this dispute. The Workplace Relations Commission is still the way to go. That requires all parties to this dispute to be involved.

I wish to put on record and it is important that people recognise that the subvention to the company has been increased to €40 million; in terms of free travel, the public service obligation funding has been increased by 11% and Bus Éireann has seen a 21% increase in its subvention. The bottom line, however, which we cannot ignore at one level, is that there is a €50,000 loss per day on the Expressway service. However, the approach taken by Bus Éireann yesterday in issuing a threat to cut public sector workers' pay straight away was the wrong one. One cannot threaten people or engage in that type of activity in a public manner. The way to reach a resolution to this dispute is by all sides sitting down, engaging and reaching a compromise and a solution to ensure that the travelling public will not be discommoded. The Government is committed to a public service transport entity being continued. It is important there is a continuation of the talks.

Senator McDowell raised the issue of Seanad reform. I understand the delay in the progression of his Bill rests in the appointment of a chairperson of the implementation group. I do not have a timetable for it or any further involvement in it. I am not in any way acting as a barrier to its progression despite what he might think. Therefore, I cannot give him an update on that.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue relating to mica. Our colleague and friend, Senator Paudie Coffey, when he was Minister of State, set up an expert group on this matter. My understanding is that the expert group met in Donegal recently. I am told it is either finished or very close to finalising its report. That report will be given to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and to the Minister of State, Deputy English, who was in Donegal recently. They will be fully informed of the issues at hand, the report will be published and I am told an implementation plan will arise from it. The work is ongoing. There is no question of procrastination about this. I very much look forward to that report being published and subsequent to that to our having a debate on this matter in the House.

Senators Black, Noone and Devine raised the issue of the treatment of Ava Twomey and of her mother, Vera's protest walk on which she set out today. The Health Products Regulatory Authority report was published two weeks ago. It provides for an access scheme in terms of the issue being discussed, that of a cannabis-based treatment relative to specific schemes. This relates to certification and to a medical practitioner of some description being able to sign the relevant form. The Minister for Health is committed to a compassionate access scheme. He met Vera Twomey last week. Senator Colm Burke also met her and I advise Senator Devine that I spoke to her yesterday. All of us are committed to finding a resolution to this issue.This is about the treatment of a young child and a family. Some of the information the Senator has put into the public domain today might not necessarily be correct, but I am not going to have a row about it. It is important-----