Seanad debates

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

2:30 pm

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join others in expressing hope we will see resolution of the Bus Éireann strike in the talks at the Labour Court, which are due to take place this afternoon. We all regret the fact that talks broke down late last night at the Workplace Relations Commission.

I ask the Leader for support in drafting an all-party motion condemning the appalling chemical weapons attack on civilians in Syria last week, in the town of Khan Sheikhun, leaving dreadful carnage in its week, with the 89 people we saw dead, hundreds more injured and the terrible pictures we saw of suffering children and other civilians in the wake of those attacks. It is clear that, as one diplomat put it, Russia was either complicit or incompetent and certainly involved in the strike. I see the G7 leaders have not, in fact, reached an agreement on sanctions for Russia this afternoon and divisions are emerging as to the best way forward in terms of resolving the dreadful war in Syria. Certainly what last week has shown us is there can be no place for President Assad in the future of Syria, and he has reached yet another milestone in his dreadful treatment of his own people. I ask the Acting Leader that we might come together, as we did previously at the time of the bombing of Aleppo, to draft a motion condemning Syria and its Russian allies for the chemical weapons attack, calling for accountability for the perpetrators and calling for united international action against the Syrian regime of Assad.

I also ask the Acting Leader for debate on policing and express regret and concern the Tánaiste did not attend the AGSI conference. At a time of crisis in policing, it would have been appropriate for her, or at least a Minister of State in her place, to have attended the conference. It is the norm for the Minister with responsibility for justice to attend. There has been a good deal of adverse commentary from among the middle management ranks of the Garda as a result of this.

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. on Kildare Street outside Leinster House we will have an Oireachtas all-party cyclists' group convening for a photo opportunity. All Members and colleagues are welcome to come along and bring their bicycles. Members of the Dublin Cycling Campaign will be present, with extra bicycles for people who cannot bring their own. It is important to have an all-party cyclists' group. We had one in previous sessions of the Seanad and Dáil. The event tomorrow is to highlight the importance of promoting cycling and road safety, particularly given the high number of cyclists recently killed on our roads. In particular, we will seek support for the Bill proposed in the Dáil by Deputy Ciaran Cannon and the Minister of State, Deputy Regina Doherty, on the Road Traffic (Minimum Passing Distance of Cyclists) Bill and look for an increase in budget resources for cycling infrastructure. I ask anyone who is interested in joining us to come along just for ten minutes at the front of Leinster House at 11 a.m.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.