Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

He has helped to make the church a friendlier and warmer home for people than it was in the past. It is disappointing, as Senator Norris rightly mentioned, that a wide variety of families, including LGBT families, single-parent families and lone-parent families, were removed from a brochure promoting this event. I hope the church will recognise that the traditional family model has changed in today's Ireland and today's world. All of us should embrace this within the concept of family. If that means challenging the conservative perceptions and preconceived notions of some people, I think that is no harm.

Senator Reilly spoke about the Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017. I am certainly not holding it up as Leader of the House. I will endeavour to find out where the Bill is for the Senator. I commend him on the remarks he made about cancer last week. I congratulate him for his Trojan efforts to achieve a tobacco-free Ireland.

I join Senator Maria Byrne in calling on everyone in Limerick to avail of the free vaccination this afternoon. It can be seen in today's report on the importance of the HPV vaccination that vaccinations work. I think we need to spread the message that vaccinations work. I hope people will take that up.

I congratulate Troy film studios on the imminent launch of "Nightflyers". Senator Lombard raised the issue of bus services in Ireland. As he said, I also attended the meeting in Cork with Bus Éireann. As the Senator said, the cost of travel from Kinsale to Cork is €14.50 return. This does not promote greater use of public transport. The Government has increased the resources of Bus Éireann in terms of additional new buses. I agree with the Senator that in Cork we need additional buses, additional bus lanes, greater encouragement of the use of bus services and more customer friendly fare options. I am happy to ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to come to the House for a debate on bus services.

I, too, had a Commencement Matter on this issue ruled out of order, yet the Minister, Deputy Ross, was able to respond to a Topical Issue on Bus Éireann in the Dáil. I understand why my matter was ruled out of order but there needs to be accountability by Ministers to this House, be that in regard to the HSE or any other agency. It is not acceptable that Ministers, Departments or organisations can refuse to come to the Houses of the Oireachtas to address issues, be that in committee or in either House. We need to be able to hold them to account. As I said, I understand why my Commencement Matter was ruled out order but it is unacceptable that Members of this House cannot get a reply to a matter that is of importance to people in Cork city.

Senator Conway raised mass sporting events. I am open to correction but I understand there are regulations governing the licensing of events by the local authorities, working with An Garda Síochána and other agencies. The point made by the Senator in regard to Ennistymon is perhaps one that he could take up with the relevant authority in the area.

Senator Colm Burke raised home care packages, which is an important issue. We need to see more people availing of home care packages and I am happy to have the Minister come to the House for a debate on the issue.