Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with the Cathaoirleach and other Members in expressing sympathies to the family of the late John Carroll, who was appointed to this House in 1981. He was a giant within the trade union movement and for those of us who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, he was a familiar face on television, not to mention a voice on radio, advocating for union members, collective bargaining and the rights of workers. His role in the amalgamation of the IGTWU and the Federated Workers Trade Union, which became SIPTU, brought him much acclaim within the trade union movement. He was a person of huge intellect and compassion and a man who focused on the rights of workers and the most vulnerable in our society. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I offer the deepest condolences to his family on his sad passing.

Senators Ardagh, Conway-Walsh, Boyhan and Conway raised last night's "Prime Time" programme. I did not see the programme in its entirety as I was on "The Late Debate" with Senator Higgins on the radio but we certainly owe a debt of gratitude to the three women involved for their bravery in allowing their anonymity to be waived in order to shine a light on the harrowing experience they had. It is far too easy to issue words of condemnation but this should not be happening in our society. I agree with Senator Conway that somebody must be held to account for what happened. There is no excuse. We can blame systems or a lack of social workers. We can blame a lack of money or we can say there was too much money but there was a failure of accountability which needs to be dealt with. Three lives have been ruined and, as the Senators said, it is important we learn from this and put in place safeguards to protect the most vulnerable. In this case, it was young children in foster care, which is meant to be a safe and secure environment and it is unacceptable that an apology was only issued by the HSE on foot of a "Prime Time" programme. I do not try to be populist and there are very good people working in Tusla who are doing a tremendous job, but this is unacceptable.

I would be very happy for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone, to come to the House to discuss the matter. When I was Chairman of the health committee, I worked with the first Minister for Children and Youth to sit at Cabinet, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. We dealt with the Children First guidelines and put in place HIQA and we all thought we would see an end to the inept maltreatment of children in care. It is harrowing to read the reports this morning. It is not all about money because the budget for Tusla was increased and 300 new staff were recruited. If there is a deficit of social workers, why is that the case? We must draw a line under this awfully upsetting era. It is about people who are vulnerable being treated appallingly. I agree with Senator Conway-Walsh that they were let down by the State. There is a duty of care on all of us and a duty to hold people to account. We, in these Houses, are held to account by the electorate, whether by popular vote in the Lower House or election to the Seanad, and it is about time there was accountability for people who operate and manage services. I appreciate the good work that is done by many people but we must not allow this to continue.

Senator Ardagh asked about tracker mortgages. I commend the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, and the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on their work in this area. The Taoiseach said the behaviour of banks towards people on tracker mortgages was scandalous. The banks have been dragging their feet and there is a human cost, as we are beginning to see. People have lost their homes and investment properties and there are mental health and well-being implications to that. I hope we can bring resolution to this as these are human beings. We require banks to work with them and for trust to be re-established.

Senator Ardagh also raised an issue regarding Kylemore College. I am sure it is a matter for the ETB in Dublin but any increase in costs needs to be justified. I hope we do not preclude people from entering or returning to education.

Senator Craughwell raised the HPV and BCG vaccinations. Yesterday was World Meningitis Day and one in five of 24 and 25 year olds can die from contacting meningitis so it is important that we have a vaccination programme. A new social media campaign, #24youhavethepower, was launched to coincide with the day and when he was Minister for Health, the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, introduced free meningitis B vaccinations for infants, making us only the second country in Europe to do that. We also need a strong campaign around vaccination. The BCG vaccination for TB expired three years ago, in 2015, and an independent immunisation group established that the vaccination was not advisable but I would be happy for the Minister to come to the House to debate the issue. We will have a debate on the Defence Forces next week. It is disappointing to hear that there are members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Air Corps who are not receiving their pay. Duty payments should be made promptly and expeditiously.

Senators Humphreys, Ó Céidigh and Norris asked about the MetroLink, as Senator Ardagh did on the Order of Business yesterday. I am happy for the Minister to come to this House on the issue. There is a consultation process until 11 May in which members of the public can submit their views and opinions and a number of public consultation meetings will take place. I ask all Members to advise people to go along and make their views known.As I said yesterday, I fully understand the concerns of Members, the residents and members of Na Fianna about the implications of this for them and, in the case of the sporting club, for the GAA. It is important that we have a conversation around public transport and connectivity. I pose the question to Senator Norris: what would an underground Luas have cost? It is easy to come in here and say we should do it, but what would be the cost of that? Perhaps that debate needs to be happen and I would be happy to have the Minister, Deputy Ross, come to the House to debate it as quickly as possible.

Senator Paul Coghlan raised the issue of Brexit. We will have a debate on that in the House next week.

I wholeheartedly concur with Senator Leyden in welcoming the decision by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to allow for the proposed merger of The Irish Timesand the Irish Examinerand the ancillary and affiliated companies and radio stations. It is a merger we need to see happen quickly. I commend the Crosby family who have been involved with the Irish Examiner, then the Cork Examiner, since 1872. I thank them for their huge commitment to the people of Cork, and of Ireland, since they commenced their involvement in the Irish Examineras it is now. It is fair to say that the Evening Echoand the Irish Examinerare synonymous with Cork. I certainly hope that the titles can be retained and that we continue to have excellent coverage of current affairs and sport in the Irish Examiner, the Evening Echoand the other newspapers the Senator referenced. I hope the Minister, Deputy Naughten, will approve the merger quickly so that we can have continuity and certainty as well as the retention of jobs. I commend the Crosby family and all who worked and work in the Irish Examinerand the Evening Echoin Cork.

I disagree with the Senator on one issue. Members of this Government have courage and conviction. The proof of that is that our economy is recovering.