Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Richmond was getting worried that the longer the pregnancy lasted, the more rugby matches he would miss. That concern has been resolved and he is now off the hook. Luke Thomas will be heading to the Aviva stadium soon.

Senator Ardagh raised the important issue of the redress scheme, specifically in respect of the Magdalen women. The views of the Department of Justice and Equality and the Ombudsman diverge on this issue. I have read the Ombudsman's report and the commentary on it. Redress is needed, regardless of who is involved. A previous speaker referred to forgetting our past and doubling down. Neither this Government nor its predecessor can be accused of not opening a door on some of the awful tragedies and events in our nation's history. It is important to recognise that some of the institutions in question are included in the Residential Institutions Redress Board scheme. However, everyone concerned should be able to obtain redress and we should work collectively to ensure this occurs.

Senator Ardagh also referred to the "Prime Time Investigates" programme broadcast last night on the issuing of summonses. While I did not see the programme, if one in four summonses is issued incorrectly, the matter must be addressed as a matter of urgency. I presume the Garda Síochána, which issues the summonses, has a role to play in fixing the shortcoming in the system.

Senator Boyhan raised the issue of Brexit and spoke of the island of Ireland. I wish to delve into that issue for a moment. I join the Senator in commending the Government, specifically the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, on their sterling defence of our position as a nation last week.Senator Boyhan is also correct in his observations that this is about the island of Ireland and the people on it, north, south, east and west. It is important that this continues to be to the forefront of our Brexit deliberations and discussions. Therefore, last week the Government took a determined line in its remarks and stance to represent the island of Ireland.

I am happy to have the Minister for Education and Skills come to the House to address the Caranua matter raised by Senator Boyhan. If the Senator were to raise it as a Commencement matter, he might get a more timely response. I will endeavour to have the Minister attend the House in the new year, however.

Senators Conway-Walsh and Ó Donnghaile referred to the signed letter. It is important that we all stand together, as the voices of republicanism and the voices of unionism, and accept the democratic mandate given to people. It is also important that we accept the institutions of state must work to better people's lives. However, there is a responsibility on all sides to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement are implemented. The Senators referred to the remarks of the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach, since he has taken office, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Coveney, have been clear on how they would like to see our Government work with the Government across the water to ensure that we have the institutions of state up and running and that there is an assembly with a Government in the North. Given the mandate about which the Senators spoke, there is an obligation and a duty on all sides, whether the DUP, Sinn Féin, the SDLP or the UUP, to get around the table again to work towards ensuring that we can have a power-sharing executive back up and running.

My views on direct provision are well known and I share Senator Dolan's comments that it is a blight on our State and one that we need to eradicate as a matter of urgency. I often commended Senator Ó Ríordáin on his work in the Department when he was a Minister of State and I now often commend the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton. I believe the Minister of State is genuine in his approach and is working to ensure that the issue is resolved.

What Senator Dolan said about Huntington's disease is awful. As former Chairman of the committee on health, this has touched a number of families whom I personally know. It is an awful imposition on people. I hope that, under the Sláintecare report, we will see the supports about which the Senator spoke put in place to deal with rare diseases. This is about people's lives and it is an awful life sentence, if one likes, to be hanging over a person. I share the Senator's views on it.

I seem to be in a good mood today because I agree completely with Senator Ó Ríordáin on the issue of gun crime and its normalisation. None of us can allow it to happen in our culture, society and communities. We have a duty to work together to ensure that it does not become part of the daily lives of so many people, whether in Dublin city, Cork or elsewhere. I welcome any opportunity to have that debate. Senator Ardagh also sympathised with the family of the victims in Blanchardstown and I join with her in that regard. Gun crime has no place in our society. There are certain protocols to be followed to own a gun but we need to have a debate on the issue of illegal guns and gun ownership.

I concur with Senator Ó Ríordáin on the issue of educational disadvantage. It is important that we work to combat deprivation and that we break the cycle of disadvantage in our education system. To paraphrase the Senator, the last Government was a coalition Government of two parties which willingly signed up to the policies of the Department of Education and Skills, whether introduced by the Minister, Deputy Bruton, the former Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, or the former Minister and Deputy, Ruairí Quinn. It is important that we remove the barriers to educational disadvantage. Senator Ó Ríordáin noted that our literacy rates are improving as are our retention rates and completion rates. However, this is about ensuring equality of opportunity in our educational system is open to all pupils. Like the Senator, as a teacher I would be strongly of the opinion that we need to have a system that is student-led in terms of breaking that cycle of disadvantage.That can be done. We have seen the success on literacy. We have seen how we can be innovative and creative, but equally, it is about ensuring that an alternative to the leaving certificate is provided, because not every student can do the leaving certificate. It is also about ensuring that there is access to education. I have a very one-dimensional view on this. If we need to change the model, then let us look at how we can do that. It is not about the type of school that we were perhaps all used to or put through. It is about doing things differently as well. I would very much be of the view that we can have that debate in the new year with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton.

Senator O'Mahony raised the issue of roads and the increased budget for capital investment. Like him, Senator Leyden and Senator Butler commended and complimented the members of the local authority staff who were working on the roads in cold and hazardous conditions. I join all the Members in paying tribute to the workers who were out gritting the roads. There is merit in what Senator Butler said about the Scottish model. Farmers and people living in rural Ireland went to depots, took salt and gravel and did the work themselves. In some cases they were told not to. It is important that we pay tribute to the work that has been done over recent days. We should also thank the members of staff of Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann who got to their place of work to ensure there was a service provided to people.

Senator Ned O'Sullivan also praised the Garda in his remarks. We all acknowledge and pay tribute to the men and women of an Garda Síochána, who perform heroic duty every day, whether it is the simplicity of the job they do and the danger they put themselves in, but also the fact that we know that we are safe and secure in having a very good Garda force, notwithstanding the troubles that may exist in some parts of the Garda, which are being rectified. I commend and thank members of an Garda Síochána for their work.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of workers in section 39 companies. It is a very contentious one. It is about ensuring that there is parity of pay and esteem. There are some workers who have fallen through the cracks between State employment and working for a private organisation or institution. That needs to be rectified. I have said that on the record in the past. The Minister of State will be in the House later to speak on a different Bill. Perhaps Senator Gavan can comment in regard to this issue. It is one that we need to see addressed. Forthcoming legislation in the area of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, will restore public sector pay when enacted, but there is an anomaly whereby section 39 workers are penalised and victimised. That should be addressed.

I join Senator Black in sympathising with the homeless people who have passed away during recent days. I wish to reassure the Senator and the House that the Government is very much committed to tackling the issue of homelessness. It is a Government priority. Additional resources and funds have allocated and additional beds have been made available. The facts speak for themselves. Public moneys are being allocated through the Rebuilding Ireland plan. Additional beds are being provided for those sleeping rough in Dublin and in Cork.

The Housing First programme supports homeless people. Members may have different viewpoints on how it is being done but that is a different question. We often hear complaints in this House that the Government is doing nothing. The Government is prioritising housing. If we declare it a national crisis, what does that actually mean in real terms? Nothing. It is a headline in a newspaper. The fact is that all of us are committed to ensuring that there are no people living homeless on any street.

People are homeless for a variety of reasons. One of the things that we need to do is tackle the issue of building houses. We need developers to do that. We require social housing units to be provided, acquired and built by local authorities, and we also need to look at why people are homeless. For example, in the budget of this year, €116 million is being allocated to homelessness. That is an increase of €18 million from the previous year. Listening to some people, one would think no money is being allocated. I agree with Senator Murnane O'Connor that this issue must not become a political football. There needs to be a political and a collective will from all sides. That is why the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, commissioned a summit to meet managers of local authorities. It is important that we have a continuing debate in this House, and I would be happy to have that. Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Swanick. Is fadhb mhór do mhuintir na tíre an t-uaigneas, go mórmhór faoin am seo den bhliain, mí na Nollag. Tá a lán daoine ina n-aonar ag an am seo. It is important that we are, as the Senator said, friendly and reach out the hand of friendship. That requires volunteerism. It requires State help, which is being given, but also a change of mindset. Senator Swanick is correct. The issue of loneliness is an important one that needs to be tackled in the context of society. There are people who today may see nobody other than the postman, and that in some cases may be a frequent visit. It is at times like this that one admires people, such as Paddy O'Brien in Cork, who do Trojan work for the elderly, the organisation ALONE in Dublin which was set up by Willie Bermingham and other organisations across the country. It is important to have that debate and I would be happy to have it in the new year. I would be happy to accept the Senator's amendment to the Order of Business in regard to the motion he has spoken about.

I join with Senators Byrne and Reilly who referred to the issue of education and the fact PE will now be part of the leaving certificate programme. This is to be welcomed. Senator Reilly, when he was Minister for Health, was strong on Healthy Ireland, the strategy by which we will tackle obesity. It is something we will certainly see the benefit from in time.

Senators Gallagher, Paul Daly and Leyden made reference to the fodder crisis. The Minister, Deputy Creed, was scheduled to be here this week but, unfortunately, as the Senators will be aware, he is away on European duty. Both he and the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, are conscious that there are issues around fodder that need to be addressed. That is why the Minister set up with the working group. The Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, met the president of the IFA, Mr. Joe Healy. As Senator Paul Daly, who I commend on his role, will be aware, the task force is working with Teagasc and different stakeholders on the provision of information on fodder supply and shortage. Its first meeting was last week in Sligo. It is important that it is not only monitoring but activity in the fodder crisis by the Department. The Minister has been in touch with the European Union seeking the advance of the basic payment for 2017. It is a matter that Senators need to keep on the agenda. I certainly share Senator Paul Daly's view that this will happen, given that at this time of year the weather will deteriorate. I hope the Department will be proactive, as it has been. If Senator Paul Daly has any information he can share, it would be very welcome given his experience. It is a matter in which the IFA and the Department are involved but we must keep on top of.

Senator Norris raised the decision of President Trump on the US Embassy in Jerusalem and made reference to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney. The Minister, in his remarks last week, addressed the issue stating that the move was premature and ill-advised. Like many in the House, I feel it is about ensuring that a resolution is reached in the Middle East peace process. The decision by President Trump last week was very unhelpful in the efforts to bring peace. We all want to see a negotiated resolution in the Middle East peace process and that means recognising that Palestine and Israel must work together, as we have seen in other parts of the world. Senator Norris also made reference to new parking regulations. I would be happy to have that debate in terms of the planning and the density of new apartment complexes.

I congratulate the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on the new Luas line. I was surprised Senator Murnane O'Connor did not congratulate the Government on that today, as the spokesperson. The Senator is not transport spokesperson, gabh mo leithsceál.