Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with Senator Ardagh and other Members of the House for complimenting the emergency services on their effective work yesterday, particularly in Mountmellick but also in parts of Laois, Kildare and Dublin. The yellow warning given by Met Éireann certainly was correct, given the volume of rain and blockages in the road network. Laois County Council is to be commended on its activation, in particular the fire service, civil defence, the engineering staff and the outdoor crews. As Senator Craughwell said, the Defence Forces also deserve a mention. The Minister, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, is on his way to Mountmellick and he is also to be commended. The Government is aware of the situation and works with local authorities and other agencies to ensure there is a plan and an ongoing review of the situation. It is important that people who are discommoded are back in their houses as quickly as possible. I sympathise with all the people who are affected as it is unpleasant to spend a Wednesday afternoon having one's house evacuated. I hope all arms of the State support them in the course of the clean-up.

Maidir leis an cúpla focal ón Seanadóir Ó Céidigh, aontaím leis go bhfuil obair agus seirbhísí RTÉ an-tábhachtach, go háirithe i leith Raidió na Gaeltachta agus TG4. Ba bhreá liom an tAire a thabhairt chuig an Teach chun cúrsaí RTÉ a phlé. Senator Ó Céidigh and Senator Ó Clochartaigh referred to RTÉ and the Irish language, and to TG4 and Raidio na Gaeltachta, and I would be very happy for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter. It is an important service and it is important that people are informed through Irish. Senator Ó Ríordáin asked about the national drugs strategy. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Catherine Byrne, was in the House to discuss the strategy but I would be happy for her to come back. It is an important issue and decriminalisation has received wide support from across the House. It is important we continue to bring the issue to the fore and we can do that through the legislation about which the Senator spoke. The public mindset has changed, through education and the debates we have had in this House. It might be best if the Senator put down a Commencement matter as we have a lot of legislation to deal with in the coming weeks.

Senator Reilly mentioned the visit of the Ministers, Deputy Eoghan Murphy and Deputy Damien English, to Fingal yesterday. I welcome the announcement of 200 permanent emergency beds and we will ask the Minister to come to the House to debate the issues raised by the Senator on planning and planners. I commend Senator Paul Daly on raising the important and topical issue of Black Friday. It is an Americanism that has crossed the ocean to us. It is frightening to see so many people being duped by fictitious websites which take all their details. It costs them lots of money and their details get into the public domain. Dermott Jewell spoke about Black Friday on the radio this week and I commend him on his work. The Senator is right that there is an implication for VAT and import taxes and it is important to have a debate on it. It will not take place today but we need to do something on it because it is an issue that is not going away. More and more people are buying online and there are implications of which they are not aware.

Senator Lombard and Senator Devine mentioned the six Garda stations that are being reopened and I welcome that fact, and Senator Lombard asked specifically about Ballinspittle. I did not hear the remarks from the Committee of Public Accounts this morning but I remind Senator Devine that the acting Garda Commissioner Mr. Dónall Ó Cualáin, signed off on the six stations, which include Stepaside, being reopened. I do not know the name of the garda who was before the Committee of Public Accounts this morning but it is important that there is no political interference in policing.