Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join Senator Maria Byrne in congratulating the students from Scoil Íde on their success in the Intel Mini Scientist Competition. I also congratulate those at Troy Studios on their success. It shows that there is innovation and creativity in the schools. We commend our teachers, the students and their families. With "The Young Offenders", we have witnessed the success of our film sector and here is another good news story.

Senator Swanick raised a very important issue about the charity sector and Oxfam in particular. I am not fully aware of the complete story but I read some of it and heard a little about it on Sky News yesterday. The Senator is right in making his points about the charity sector. I am glad that Oxfam Ireland has disassociated from the mother ship, if I can put it that way, in terms of what has happened.

Senators Swanick and Noone raised the issue of female genital mutilation or circumcision. I agree with them. As I said on yesterday's Order of Business, it is not a medical procedure. It is inhumane and barbaric treatment of women and it is wrong. We should all stand united in our condemnation of it and work to change the mindset of some people. I know others of the Islamic faith have a different viewpoint on the practice and we welcome that.

Senators Craughwell and Leyden referred to PDFORRA and the case in the European Union on the acknowledgement of its members' rights. I welcome that and congratulate PDFORRA. Mark Keane is a very fine person whom I know well. We all accept that there should be collective bargaining. That is important. I hope that as a consequence of this ruling the Department, the Minister and those in the Army and Navy will co-ordinate to implement the outcome. I am not familiar with the case of the LÉ Clionawhich the Senator raised. He raised it in the House and had spoken to me about it already. I am happy to meet him, talk about it and, as I said, take the matter to the Minister.

Senator Martin Conway raised the issue of reusable coffee cups. We all welcome any progress in that regard. On tobacco-free Ireland and Ash Wednesday, it should be the aspiration of all of us to have a tobacco-free Ireland and to encourage people to stop smoking. An old advertisement was played on "Morning Ireland", the purpose of which was to try to encourage women to smoke. We should all work together to make sure that big tobacco does not recruit more young people, and young women in particular, to smoking because tobacco is dangerous and causes cancer. We should all stand united on that.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan raised the issue of the cath lab in Waterford. I know there was a protest last Saturday. I would be happy to have the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, come to the House. A national review of cardiac specialist services is taking place. I know that the mobile cath lab in Waterford is continuing to operate and that Senators Grace O'Sullivan and Coffey have been very proactive on the matter. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss the wider issue of health. I will come back to him on it because it is an issue which is prevalent on the Order of Business most days.

Senators Feighan, Ó Ríordáin and Coghlan referred to the North. I appeal to all of those involved in the talks to negotiate and reach an agreement. The impasse has remained for far too long, from last year's elections up until now. There is a need for devolved government in the North of our country. I know that Senators Feighan and Craughwell were in Glencree yesterday. We need to ensure that we have a government to represent the people of the North at a very critical time in terms of the Brexit talks and in the context of the need for a devolved government in the North. There is a duty on all sides. Senator Ó Ríordáin is right. It is about meeting in the middle, whether on the proposed Irish language legislation or marriage equality, and about getting an outcome that is to the benefit of the people. I would say to our unionist friends in the North that there is nothing to fear from an Irish language Act. I would ask them to work with us to ensure that we can have our own language and culture preserved and protected. Equally, there is nothing to fear from marriage equality. I ask Sinn Féin to move with the unionists on certain issues. Let us have a government that can work for the people at a critical time.

I also join with Senators Ó Ríordáin and Feighan in their comments. Although we have no role in how Senators are elected to the House, we have been well served by unionist Members. I am thinking of people like Gordon Wilson, Sam McAughtry, Maurice Hayes-----