Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept that trees are the lungs of the world, but I also agree with Senator Reilly on the need for policy in this area.

Senator Swanick referred to the issue of loneliness, isolation and single person households and the UK Campaign to End Loneliness. I would be happy to provide time for a debate on that issue.

Senator James Reilly also spoke about the EU fund used to assist people. I would be happy to provide for a debate on that issue with the Minister.

Senator Mulherin referred to the European Commissioner for Agriculture's public consultation on the agriculture market and fairness in the EU food supply chain. I welcome that the majority of NGOs and member states are engaging in that process. Senator Mulherin has on many occasions raised in this House the need for fairness in regard to meat factories and retailers. I would be happy to provide time for that debate.

I join Senator Black in condemning the death of Ms Galizia, the eminent journalist who brought the Panama papers to the fore. An attack on a journalist is to be deplored and the killing of a journalist is to be strongly condemned. It can have no place in any democracy. I join in Senator Black's condemnation of the killing of Ms Galizia. We all cherish freedom of speech and the right of people to write, which in any democracy should be sacrosanct. Any killing is to be deplored. Senator Gallagher raised the vote of the SNAs for industrial action. The important point here is that the Government increased the number of SNAs in the budget. The place to engage on this is the Department of Education and Skills. The allocation model is based on the school need and the needs of individual pupils. However, I will invite the Minister to the House to discuss the issue.

Senators Ó Clochartaigh and Devine raised the issue of Catalonia. That situation is ongoing and we would all welcome anything that could be brought to bear to resolve the matter. However, it must be rectified internally in Spain first. The Senators can shake their heads but we have different viewpoints on how it can be resolved. That is what should happen first. If anybody is detained illegally for whatever reason they should certainly be supported in their attempts to regain their freedom.