Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It might have been my iPad and I apologise if it was.

It is important that when we debate mental health, we put on record that a lot of work is being done and there is investment. We need to do more because mental health services were the Cinderella of the health service for years. There has been investment and we have a Minister of State committed to the service.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of the Hastings garage. It is an issue that Senator Rose Conway-Walsh also has raised. I am unfamiliar with the case. I do not hide behind a cloak or relationship with anybody. If there is a Labour Court or Workplace Relations Commission finding, there is a need for it to be upheld and implemented. There is also a need for both sides to talk. The Senator referenced the issue of Volkswagen Ireland. Perhaps it has a role. I would maybe agree with the Senator on the matter but I am unfamiliar with the specifics of the case. It is important that people talk. If workers' entitlements and rights have been awarded by the mechanisms of the State, they should be honoured, in my opinion.

Senator Ruane mentioned the Heritage Bill. We will debate the legislation later today so we can discuss her matter at that time.

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will be here on 21 March to discuss and present to the House an update on the action plan on housing. On that occasion we can debate the issues Senator Ruane raised about housing.

Senators Butler and Ned O'Sullivan raised the issue of accountability in terms of social media, in particular Facebook. The Senators are right that there is a need for accountability and to ensure fake news is not promulgated or that a person's name or character is not maligned. Those of us who are in the public eye as politicians or public people receive a lot of commentary on our Facebook or social media feeds. Some of it is done by trolls and some is a genuine engagement in discussion. There is no place for cowardly comments or acts being made against people who genuinely hold views. There is a need for accountability.

Senators Ó Ríordáin, Warfield, Kieran O'Donnell and Reilly mentioned the importance of yesterday's decision by the Government and the declaration by an Taoiseach about Traveller ethnicity. Yesterday, remarks were made about it in the House during the Order of Business. As Leader, I congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Stanton, on his role. Yesterday, in his absence, I paid tribute to Senator Ó Ríordáin, the former Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, and Senators Mac Lochlainn and Kelleher on the work they have done in this area.

Today is an important day of celebration. Senator Warfield quoted a folk song. The words of a Christy Moore song came to my mind, "This the day the cuckoo likes and so do I." It is a new beginning and new dawn for the Traveller community. As I said yesterday, I had the pleasure of serving as chair of the Traveller consultative committee on Cork City Council. Yesterday was a good day for the men and women who engage positively, who want to see their lives improved and who want to see the Traveller community respected and recognised. I commend all the people who were involved in the work to make yesterday happen. As the Senators correctly said, 20 years ago the Government would have been in a different space and there would have been political rivalry in terms of different sides of the debate. Yesterday and today are good days.

Senator Ned O'Sullivan also referenced the issue of disability access at rural train stations. He is right to highlight the matter. Iarnród Éireann has a responsibility and an obligation to provide access for disabled persons and people who need assistance. I am happy to invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the House to debate the matter. To expedite the matter I suggest the Senator tables a Commencement matter. He made the valid point that Iarnród Éireann has an obligation and duty that it must live up to.

Senator Reilly raised the issue of health. I congratulate him on the work he has done to provide health services in many parts of the north of this city. I am happy to invite the Minister for Health to the House to discuss the matter raised by the Senator.

Senator Colm Burke has highlighted the issue of building new hospitals. We have not built too many new hospitals in a 40-year period. As part of the overarching debate on health we should consider the matter.

Senator Craughwell mentioned AIB. I did not hear the radio interview given by Bernard Byrne this morning. I heard the news headline that a proposal has been made to pay a €250 million dividend to the State as shareholder. All of us in this House fully understand how the public feel. We feel frustrated and annoyed at the way banks have treated people, whether it is business owners or home owners. These people have worked hard and are trying hard to retain their businesses or homes and to live in their homes. I fully understand the remarks made by the Senator. It is important that we, as a State, get our money back from the banks. We bailed out the bank, in this case AIB, and we need to get money back as well. We must strike a balance between restoring a bank to health but not at the expense of the customer or citizen. I am sure and confident the Minister will be able to strike a balance. As I said yesterday, it is important that banks work with people. Banks must recognise that they have a role and a duty to play in working with people to ensure every effort is made to retain their homes or businesses.

Senator Feighan mentioned the vote that took place in the House of Lords yesterday. It is important for us to acknowledge that the Irish angle is very important. The decision yesterday recognised that a debate is still taking place in England. As Prime Minister May said, Brexit is Brexit.

I commend Senator Richmond who has commenced his work as Chair of the committee doing preparatory work for the Seanad Brexit committee. We need to highlight the importance of Ireland in the Brexit negotiations. As Senator Feighan has said, we must tap into the goodwill that exists for Ireland.

Senator Davitt made the very good suggestion that we should have a village hub. Senators Davitt and Butler should get together to lobby about rates because both of them have banged that drum for a period in the House.The contribution the Senator made this morning is worthwhile and one that should be put to the Ministers. Perhaps Senators Davitt and Butler could get together and put together a cross-party motion on it that could get the support of the House.

Senator Norris re-opened the issue of property tax, which I am not going to go into, and the issue of water. I believe we should all read the piece about water by Mr. Stephen Collins in this morning's edition of The Irish Times. Maybe the Senators opposite will go back to Deputy Micheál Martin and ask him to stop playing politics. Mr. Collins wrote "Fianna Fáil’s cynical approach to water charges has demonstrated that the party is unfit for government for the foreseeable future." For me, that is the line of the morning. The Fianna Fáil Senators might reflect upon that.