Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 27 Members who contributed. I did my best to listen to everybody and capture everything they said. I apologise to Senator Devine, whom I missed out on yesterday in respect of the issues she raised regarding An Bord Altranais and the accreditation of nurses from the US. She raised an important point, which I hope the Minister will address when he comes to the House in the autumn.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of the second runway at Dublin Airport. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Attorney General are not procrastinating on this. It is a matter of a statutory instrument and competency in the area of noise management for which the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, is the lead agency. We must ensure we get this right. If there is a failure to do so, Senator Ardagh and her colleagues will be first to jump up and roar about it.

To be fair to the Minister, due process is being undertaken in connection with the proposed runway. Second, I ask the Senator to read the Department's strategy, which contains a commitment to a parallel runway by 2020. I would like to refresh the memories of all Members. The DAA has made an application to Fingal County Council for a five-year extension of the planning permission in order that the runway permission will not become outdated. Noise management is an important issue for the residents of the area and it comes under the competence of the IAA. I assure Senator Ardagh that the Minister is very much committed to building a new runway. If it takes more time, let us make sure we get it right.

The Senator also made reference to yesterday's PAC report. In welcoming the report, it is about ensuring whatever the investigations, that we continue to shine a light on the culture and practices within An Garda Síochána as part of the ongoing process of reform initiated by the previous Government and continued by the current Government. Investigations are being undertaken by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission on foot of referral by the Commissioner of suspected fraudulent activity in respect of certain EU training funds.

There is also a need, as I said yesterday, to expedite the civilianisation of An Garda Síochána to provide for a new perspective on management of gardaí. Senators Davitt and Ó Domhnaill have in one way encapsulated that we need to reaffirm and work with an gnáth garda, the man and woman on the street, and with the inspector or superintendent who is working flat out in community policing in a variety of ways. They deserve not just our support and respect, but our affirmation. They do a job in difficult times, often at unsocial hours, and we must support them.

There is an obligation to transform the culture within the force and the only way to do that is to ensure we get to the bottom of the cancer that exists within it in order that we can have a force that we can be even more proud of. As a Government, we have invested in the Garda. Pay restoration is happening and there has been investment in different sections of the force. I would be happy to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House in the autumn. The interim audit report into the Garda Training College published in March 2017 made 19 recommendations. Five have been fully implemented, five are partially completed and nine are in progress. Complex legal issues arise from the report and we were all disappointed to read some of the outcomes in it. Senator Craughwell referred to the use of words and language. Our party founded the Garda and all those who have supported the force since the foundation of the State will stand by it but we must also ensure there is cultural reform.

Senators McDowell, Higgins, Bacik and O'Donnell referred to the need to continue the process of Seanad reform. All of us are very much committed to reforming the House. There has been strong cross-party co-operation in this Seanad and, as Leader, I have been clear that I will work with all Members regarding the internal workings of the House, the passage of legislation and how we do our business. Seanad reform is not as black and white as the populist manifesto included in Senator McDowell's election literature. It invites a variety of views and opinions.I am very much looking forward to working with all Senators to ensure that at the end of this Seanad we will have a reformed Seanad that can be passed on to the next Seanad Éireann.

I accept the intention of Senator McDowell's motion on the Order of Business to give, and to imbue in all of us, the spirit of co-operation rather than to have a divided House. I will work with everyone but it is a two-way street. As the Leader of the House it sometimes feels as though I am on a cul-de-sac or on a revolving roundabout that seems to only go in one direction. I will persevere. I know the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and the Government are committed to bringing about reform. The question that needs to be posed by all Members of the House is "What do you want to see in a reformed Seanad and what does it actually mean?" Many Members of the House will go on the national airwaves, will write articles and will come in to debate here, but they do not stand for anything-----