Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important there is parent representation on the expert advisory group's sub-committee. I would be happy to talk to the Minister again on the matter.

Senators Feighan and Coghlan raised the issue of the House of Lords vote on Brexit yesterday and the statement it sends. We should all reflect on what the House of Lords voted on yesterday. The Seanad Brexit committee, which Senator Richmond chairs, will resume its work and be holding public meetings in a couple weeks. It is my intention to have the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, to the House to discuss Brexit.

I have engaged with Senator Mac Lochlainn on the damage to the riverside park in Swan Park, Buncrana, County Donegal. I am disappointed he has not got his meeting. I will endeavour to take up the issue with the relevant Minister. When the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, was in Donegal, he was presented with the petition to which the Senator referred. I will be talking to the Department afterwards regarding this matter.

I share Senator Warfield's views on the two matters he raised. There is no disagreement from me. It is daft to put it mildly that the vote in the Lower House is being opposed and objective sex education cannot be pursued in a cross-party manner. One of the ancillary recommendations of the committee on the eighth amendment concerned sex education. It beggars belief that in a modern democracy-----