Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Methinks Senator Mac Lochlainn protests too much. The other issue Senator Conway-Walsh raised was the independent appeals office. As she said, perhaps she should raise it as a Commencement matter. I do not have information on the matter to hand so I cannot give her a definitive answer.

Senator Black referred to the untimely death of the journalist, Dara Quigley, and I join her in offering sympathy to her family. This is mental health awareness month, and I have asked the Minister to come to the House next week or the week after to have a debate on it. The Seanad Public Consultation Committee will be doing a piece of work beginning on mental health, and Government is very proactive on the issue of mental health. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss the matter Senator Black raised.

Senator Bacik raised the issue of policing, and the Minister yesterday outlined the issue and the appointment of personnel to the independent commission to review policing in Ireland. I would be happy to have a debate on the matter. Both Senators Bacik and Mulherin raised the issue of domestic violence, which is a very serious one. As Senator Mulherin rightly said, it is a compendium of physical, mental, sexual, financial and other violence which we need to address. Legislation in this regard is forthcoming, and I am happy to report back on the status of that legislation at a later date. We need to prioritise this as a Government.

Senator Coffey raised the issue of respite care, in particular in the Sacred Heart unit in Dungarvan, and the need to prioritise it. This is the fundamental reform of our health system to which Senator Burke referred last week on the Order of Business. We need to have a continuum of care for our citizens. This means we need to plan care and have, as Senator Burke rightly said again today, an investment programme in infrastructure which includes not just primary care, but also respite care, including emergency respite care. We have nearly 2,000 short-stay beds in terms of step-up facilities, intermediary care, rehab and respite care. However, we need to do more, and this is certainly something we need, as a country, to plan for. The HSE needs to be much more proactive on respite care. I do not wish to get into controversy with my next remark, but I think the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA has a role to play in respite care on the road we are travelling because, as a State, we see more people requiring care, including intermediate care, week stays for step-down care and care for those with long-term disabilities.We need to see an increase in respite provision. We need to ensure, as part of the national carers strategy and the action plan for carers, that this is implemented.

Senator Coffey referenced the national skills strategy. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, have been before the House in that regard. However, the Senator is correct that we need to think outside the box in regard to our skills strategy. More programmes related to different aspects of our workforce are needed. I am happy to ask the Minister to come to the House for that debate.

Senator Leyden raised the issue of Ibrahim Halawa, whose case has been ongoing for far too long. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, has raised the matter, as has the Taoiseach. All of us are united in the hope that this case will be resolved for the Halawa family and Ibrahim.

Senator Ó Donnghaile raised the issue of the Act of 1737 and the use of Irish in the courts in the North. I am happy to ask the Minister come to the House for a debate on that matter.

I join with Senator McFadden in welcoming home the 109th Infantry Battalion and thanking its personnel for their superb work on behalf of all of us. As I said yesterday, the Defence Forces provide a huge service on our behalf around the world. We welcome back those Defence Forces personnel. I am happy to set aside time next week for a debate on the Defence Forces.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about the homeless agencies in Galway. I find it staggering that there has been a withholding of funding for homeless services in Galway at a time when the Minister and the Department are allocating more funding than ever to resolution of the homelessness issue. On the issue of sleep-over workers, which the Senator has raised before, I would be stunned and disappointed if there was a deliberate obfuscation by the Department and the HSE in regard to the matters raised. Senator Ó Clochartaigh also raised the issue of domestic violence and women's aid.

Senator Butler raised the issue of the Book of Kells. The Senator, in terms of his very passionate remarks and the wonderful picture he painted, has been a strong advocate for the Ireland Ancient East project. During the campaign for the Seanad elections many of us passed through many of the historic sites he referenced. I would not like to see anything happen to the Book of Kells that would destroy it. It is important not just as a tourist attraction but as an historical artefact.