Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Leader of the House, I am happy to have more Bills initiated here. I have asked on behalf of the House for that to happen, and I certainly think it is important that we work to ensure that there is legislation.We initiated a second time slot for Private Members' Bills to allow for debate on legislation. This week I gave a commitment to Senator Warfield regarding a gender recognition Bill. We will work with all Members to ensure all voices are heard and legislation is passed in the House. It is important that this is not just a debating Chamber but a House of the Oireachtas which passes and enacts legislation on behalf of citizens.

Senators Grace O’Sullivan, Ned O’Sullivan, Lombard, Higgins and Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of the gorse fires which are happening in many parts of the country. I join with Senator Mac Lochlainn in commending the men and women working across a variety of organisations to bring these fires under control. If people break the law by lighting gorse fires or starting shrub fires or whatever, then they should be prosecuted with no derogation. Senator Lombard referred to the fires in Gougane Barra in County Cork. It was devastating to see the effects of the fire, as well as the amount of time and expense in putting them out. As all Senators rightly said, it is not just about education and training but about ensuring those in the farming community are able to light such fires appropriately in the allocated times. As Senator Ned O’Sullivan said, in different times there were always fires in bogs which were part of life in rural Ireland. We must ensure now that, if there is out-of-season burning, then those people are prosecuted.

The Defence Forces personnel are working to assist the different civil authorities. The Air Corps is assisting today in fighting gorse fires in Galway. We all join in congratulating them. In addition, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Garda and the fire service in ensuring section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 is implemented. It is important to put on the record of the House that this section prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. We must all collectively work to ensure the biodiversity of our areas is not affected.

A significant amount of land, 79,000 hectares, is held in national parks and nature reserves. Senator Coghlan’s beloved Killarney National Park, for example, comprises 26,000 acres. It is important the State has a visible presence on the ground to ensure there is no unauthorised burning in our countryside. Anyone with information should provide it to the authorities to ensure we can identify those who deliberately set fires in open areas without concern for the consequences which can be challenging, not just to working people but to wildlife and farms. I thank all the Senators who raised the matter. It is an important issue we must address as a nation.

Senator McFadden raised the matter of the closure of the Athlone mail centre. I join with her in calling on An Post to ensure the viability of the mail centre there and that it is kept open. As Senator McFadden said, it is an issue of strategic importance and is the top mail centre. I join with her in calling on An Post and its chief executive, David McRedmond, to ensure the matter is not left to one side but the centre is kept open and preserved. Outside of Dublin, Athlone and Portlaoise are nationally important and strategic sites for An Post.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised an issue concerning the third level institution in Castlebar. A working group has been set up which is due to meet with the staff next week and to report back by mid-September. I would be happy for the Minister to come to the House regarding this matter.

Senators Gallagher and Wilson raised the issue of the North-South interconnector.It is important the Government, no matter what it thinks of the decisions we make in this House, takes notice of the votes in both Houses of the Oireachtas. I am told the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is not available today but I would be happy to have him here. He is due to come to the House on 23 May. If that date is not suitable, I will be happy to talk to the Senator afterwards about settling on a date in between. He is coming to the House on the date I mentioned and I would be happy to have him debate the matters the Senator discussed.

Senators Michael McDowell, Neale Richmond and Alice-Mary Higgins raised the issue of Brexit and Europe Day. To be fair, the outcome of the decision by the EU leaders was a victory for the Taoiseach in terms of his approach to Brexit but I share Senator McDowell's view that we must have an all-encompassing, all-island approach to Brexit. It is not about one versus the other; it is about hearing from all sides. If we could have that discussion as part of the proceedings of the Brexit committee, I would certainly be happy to take on board the issue the Senator raised today, namely, the comments made at the meeting of the Seanad Brexit committee last week by Mr. McGrane of the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce. It is important there be engagement and that we get all people to participate, no matter what their interest is in Brexit. It is a very important matter of which people may not yet have taken cognisance. It is important that an gnáth duine engage.

I join Senator Neale Richmond in welcoming Europe Day today. It is a day that perhaps gains in importance given the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. The result of the opinion poll on the Claire Byrne show in regard to staying in Europe and the benefits thereof is heartening. I would be very happy for the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, come to the House in regard to the matter.

Senator Paul Gavan raised the issues of the Palestinian flag, the people held in captivity and the importance of the ability to make a telephone call. We all accept that.

With regard to the Defence Forces, the main purpose of the procurement of defence equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces overseas in peace support operations and to give the greatest possible protection to Irish troops on missions in their important duties and tasks. I am told the steps taken regarding the matter of equipment, as raised, were as a consequence of a competitive tender process. That is the answer I have for the Senator in that regard. If the Government did not have a tendering process, perhaps the Members opposite would be complaining then also.

Senator David Norris raised the issue of blasphemy. His remarks speak for themselves. It is a ludicrous situation we are in. If one watches the tape of Stephen Fry's interview with Gay Byrne, one will see it for what it was. I am certainly glad there is no prosecution emanating. It is important, perhaps, that we have a referendum on the matter. I certainly would not be shy about it. There have been no public prosecutions on blasphemy under the 2009 Act. The last prosecution for blasphemy took place, I believe, in 1855. Eminent lawyers can give me the answer to that.