Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank her for her many years of service and wish her well in her retirement. I do not mean retirement as she is a young woman, but in the next phase of her life. I wish Dan Mulhall every success in taking up the baton in Washington D.C.

Senator Craughwell also made reference to payments in regard to the Defence Forces. I would be happy to have the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, come to the House. It is extremely important that we recognise the contribution of the Defence Forces at home and abroad. I will be happy to have a further debate on the issue of pay and we should be able to have it before the summer recess.

Senator Hopkins referred to a meeting in Kilbride, County Roscommon, last night. She is right to articulate the early years sector and the issues that need to be addressed, such as those raised by the early years alliance, in terms of investment and the rate of pay for staff. I would be happy for the Minister, Deputy Zappone, to come to the House. It is a matter that exercises people across the country. I have attended a number of meetings on the issue in Cork and I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House. I thank Senator Hopkins for raising the matter.

Senator Gavan made reference to the political centre. I remind all Members that it is the political centre that governs this country. It is about having responsibility and living up to it, not being populist or catch-all to all people but about ensuring that we have a Government that delivers. I hope we will all aspire to that aim.

I thank Senator Butler for raising the issue he mentioned in terms of his trip to Berlin and the importance of the co-operation and dialogue across Europe. It is only through dialogue and communication that we will see the Brexit negotiations achieve success for Ireland.I hope that will happen during the negotiating period.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the issue of the emergency department in Limerick. The Government has invested in the emergency department there. We must continue to invest to address the issues of people on trolleys and waiting times. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to debate the matter and discuss the strategy.

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins referred to the meeting today between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Trudeau, who I welcome to Ireland. As the Taoiseach said, the visit is about ensuring that we forge a relationship with Canada. Senator Higgins referred to that type of relationship. I am sure, from the bilateral meeting today and the conversations we have had in the House and across Departments, that the relationship will focus on what is good for us in the context of employment, attracting investment and business. It is about what is best for Ireland. It is not about us being an inferior partner in the relationship, it is about us being coequal. We can certainly have that necessary debate in the House.

Senators Lombard, Gallagher and Feighan referred to the decision of the British Government to change its fisheries policy as announced at the weekend. As the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, said, the decision is unhelpful and a very serious matter. It will form a central part of the Brexit negotiations in regard to our maritime sector and coastal communities. I commend all of those involved the seafood and maritime sector regarding Seafest in Galway at the weekend, which was a phenomenal success. The UK Government's decision is important and serious and we must be very proactive in respect of it. The Minister is and will continue to be proactive. Our ocean economy is worth €5.7 billion and employs 30,000 people. We must forge an alliance and a relationship with our friends and allies in Europe to promote our policy and ensure our access to waters is not hindered and that such waters remain open to us.

I join Senator Ó Domhnaill in hoping we see a positive resolution to the talks in the North. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has been very clear regarding the Government's ongoing need to see the Irish language Act form part of the talks. Special status for the North has been Government policy for a long time, as the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, made very clear in his remarks and work. As we enter the 11th hour in respect of the North, it is critical to re-establish the power-sharing government at Stormont and avoid direct rule, which none of us wants to see return. I wish all involved in the talks well. We will all work in whatever capacity we can to see that happen.

Senator Paul Coghlan referred to opening of Killarney House, on which I congratulate him. He referred to Lord Castlerosse and the home of the Earls of Kenmare. I suppose we could call Senator Paul Coghlan "Lord Killarney". With the house opening for the first time, it is a great day. I do not mean to be partisan in noting that the Senator has been a champion of Killarney House. As Senator O'Donnell said, he could become a one-man band for all of the tourism bodies involved in the promotion of Killarney. He has been a champion of both the town and the house and I congratulate him and all involved on the project. I also thank the Government for providing the funding to open the house. I am sure Senator Paul Coghlan will say that there is more work to be done, but this is a positive development. It will add a huge tourist attraction to the town, joining those which already exist there. I hope to have better days in Killarney unlike last Sunday, which was a very poor day for Cork people. We will come back to that. Senators O'Donnell and Wilson made reference to our State airports. I join Senator O'Donnell in welcoming the investment by Norwegian Air in both Shannon and Cork airports. It is not about these airports today; it is about investment in Ireland. I was at Cork Airport last Saturday to watch the first Norwegian Air flight taking off while the first flight landed there today. As both Senators said, we must examine how our State airports can be utilised to promote the country, attract investment both in business and in the tourism industry, and ensure value for money. I will try to facilitate a debate in the autumn, if not before the summer recess, on our airports and the need for regional development, as Senator Wilson said. That is not an anti-Dublin point; it is about being pro-country and using a collective approach.

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of the HSE's decision on support services for women with breast cancer. I join him in condemning the HSE for the callous nature of what it did the weekend. It was appalling, first, that an announcement was made on a Friday afternoon; second, that nobody was told; and, third, that the Minister had to intervene to ensure the policy was changed and stopped. It is not good enough that women in a vulnerable position, either undergoing or awaiting treatment, were subject to such an announcement. It is important that the Minister comes to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator Paddy Burke also made reference to Brexit and fisheries and I have responded on that.

I sympathise with the Hanafin family on the death of former Senator, Des Hanafin. I join all Senators in paying tribute and offering sympathy to the family of the late Austin Deasy whose son, John, is a Member of the Lower House. He was a fine parliamentarian and Minister. He was a man who stood his ground. As a former Minister for Agriculture, I recall him coining the great phrase, "There will be no capitulation" in his talks with the EU when I was a teenager. Perhaps that is a fitting epitaph. For us, there should be no capitulation in our Brexit talks. I would be happy to schedule expressions of sympathy on the sad passing of both men in the coming months.

Senator Ó Clochtartaigh referred to a youth work scheme in Galway. If he gives me the details, I will be happy to either have the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs debate the matter with him in the House or to approach him privately.

On a personal level, I thank all Members for their good wishes. It was great to see unanimity in respect of a matter of good news. I am happy that we, as a country, can allow all of us to get married.