Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----health care workers, including nurses, doctors, domestic staff, porters, catering staff, gardaí, Civil Defence, prison officers, the fire brigade, council staff and the ESB. It showed the importance and the dedication of our public service and public servants. They were led by Mr. Sean Hogan, chair of the National Emergency Coordination Group, NECG. I thank him and the staff of Met Éireann for their work over the four days. The decision to ask people not to use roads or travel was wise. That avoidance of danger meant people did not die on the roads. It is a testament to the fact there was vision by members of the NECG. It shows that community spirit is alive and well in our country, in our cities, in our towns and in rural Ireland, where neighbours became neighbours of old again and where people called, visited and ensured that others were okay, that driveways were cleared of snow and that people were safe and well. In the city of Cork, which I come from, men and women stayed overnight in camp beds in hospitals or were put up in hotels. A consultant in Cork University Hospital ran from Innishannon to the hospital. Catering staff went out to make sure that food was supplied to the hospital when the trucks could not get in. That is dedication. People walked to work, including first responders. We must also give credit to RTÉ, in particular our regional correspondents, and to those who work in TV3, for keeping us informed. It was a community effort by the people of Ireland to ensure that people were safe. People worked long hours and walked to work. They did whatever was necessary to ensure that people were kept safe in our hospitals and that services were running. I commend everybody on the work they did, including volunteers and those who were paid. We are a small island with a huge heart that reaches out beyond ourselves to ensure that we look after each other. It is the epitome of what is good about us as a people.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of eating disorders. It was eating disorders awareness week last week. She is right that there is a deficit in beds but it is not just about beds. I know Fianna Fáil's leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, raised it. The HSE has committed to developing a plan relating to the development of services for eating disorders.Up to 5% of our population is affected. The HSE, in launching a new model of care, is committed to creating eight adult and children eating disorder units throughout the country allowing for faster access to assessment and it is investing up to €2.8 million. This is about ensuring people can access services but, equally, I agree with the Senator that there is an issue relating to CAMHS, which needs to be fundamentally addressed, and it is not good enough or acceptable that there are waiting lists for CAMHS. The HSE, as part of its plan, announced in January a step-down model of care delivery, a specialist training programme along with a dedicated national eating disorder network and specialised inpatient eating disorder programmes within key psychiatric units nationally as well as in local hospitals, and the creation of additional care teams through the dedicated network. It will be a collaborative approach. New clinical posts are being advertised but more action is needed on the issue. It is important to have that debate and I am happy to ask the Minister to come to the House in this regard.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of bullying. It is important to have a debate. There is no place, and can be no place, for bullying in any workplace, whether it is Teach Laighean, a small shop, a school staffroom or a major semi-State or private company.

Senators Reilly, Craughwell and Mullen raised the issue of insurance. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy D'Arcy, has been in the House on a number of occasions to discuss the issue. The Government established an insurance working group under the chairmanship of the Minister of State. An interim report was published in January with 15 of the 33 recommendations carried out. It is important that the working group be allowed to continue its work. More than half of the 71 associated actions have been implemented, which highlights the importance of the Government communicating with people.Senator Mullen referred to the issue of returning emigrants. In that case, protocols have been agreed with Insurance Ireland and they are being implemented. They commit insurers to accepting claims-free driving experience in other countries. Senators Craughwell and Reilly referred to the cost of insurance. Motor insurance premia have stabilised. CSO data, which is independent of Government, show a 16.3% reduction in cost from the peak in July 2017. If that is not an example of the need for Government to communicate, I do not know what is. Senator Mullen was not aware of that.