Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 12 Members who contributed to the Order of Business. On my own behalf and on behalf of my party, I offer my sympathies to Monica Barnes's husband, Bob, and her family. I commend her on a life well lived. She should be extolled for her diligence as a public servant. She probably was the epitome of the wing of Fine Gael many of us want to be part of. I had the pleasure of meeting her a few weeks ago at the back door of Leinster House and she was full of life looking forward to the referendum campaign. She was due to take part in a press conference last week. That shows how vulnerable we all are and how precious life is.

Monica Barnes was a politician I grew to admire and I had the pleasure of meeting her on a number of occasions. She was always effusive in offering support and encouragement. As previous speakers said, and as has been reported in the media, she worked tirelessly on behalf of women and her constituents. She did the State a huge service and I extend my deepest sympathies to her family.

Senator Daly raised the issue of Brexit and the ongoing machinations within the UK Government. It would be preferable if we did not get involved in that. The Government is clear regarding the priority of Brexit and its position on it. There has been no deviation from that. As Senator Coghlan said, Mr. Barnier and Mr. Tusk have been clear regarding the Commission's approach and it is incumbent on us to allow for progress to be made at the next Council meeting. We are clear as a Government on what is our position. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, will continue to represent the Government and build alliances throughout Europe. It is important though, as Senator Daly correctly said, that the issue be well flagged and that we highlight the rolling maul that is the British position while, at the same time, recognising that we have an obligation and a duty to respond as a Government on behalf of our citizens and on an all-island basis.I am glad the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, will be in the House later on regarding corporate manslaughter. I would be happy to have that matter discussed. I would remind Senator Daly that his own party has Private Members' time any time it wishes to bring the Bill forward. That time is available to Fianna Fáil. The Government is not blocking the Bill coming back as he knows quite well. It is a matter we will tease out with the Minister for Justice and Equality this evening.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of accountability. It is important that we recognise that there is a need for accountability. The Government has been very clear on that, on the matters of the health system or on any matter to do with governance of public bodies, moneys, utilities or services. People want accountability and the Government wants it. We demand that and it should happen.

There is a question that must be posed and I do not fly a flag for anybody, other than the Irish citizens that we represent. What do we want to have here? Do we want to have the HSE chief executive gone now or do we want to see the mess cleaned up? This is a tragedy. This is a scandal. I do not believe it is served by saying a head is needed, and I do not say that Senator Craughwell is saying that to be fair to him. This is about ensuring that everything that can be done in the next few weeks to reassure the women of Ireland and the families can be done so that we will never revisit this again. I agree with Senator Craughwell that there is a need to have a high priority in terms of corporate governance and what it means to be in a position of responsibility. I fully subscribe to that viewpoint. People cannot be left to walk away and left without having to pay the price of being held to account. I am always of that viewpoint, but let us get to the facts. That is why we have established an independent investigation. Let us then make our decisions based on the results that come back. I am happy to debate that at any time.

I refer to the points made by Senator McFadden on the issue of cervical cancer. I am told the helpline had nearly 11,000 phonecalls. There are over 7,600 callbacks to be made. Some of that involves a clinical consultation, some of that involves a doctor or nurse being involved and checking and collating information. In accepting some of the criticism that has been made, I think it is important to reassure people that the quality of the callback that will be given is important as well. We all accept that the concerns and fears of the women and families must be addressed and we must do everything possible to ensure that the callback from the telephone helpline takes place in a timely, prompt manner. I hope that will happen.

I know the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Taoiseach have been very strong and strident on the returning of calls and the provision of accurate clinical information. We must respond in a matter of days rather than prolonging it for people. That is something we need to see continually kept at the heart of this. We must give information to women and reassure them, as the Taoiseach and the Minister have done, on the smear test and redress.

I refer to the issue of Facebook as raised by Senators Higgins and Warfield. I welcome the decision of Facebook to ban paid political advertisements from outside the jurisdiction. I commend the transparency campaigners who have highlighted the need for this type of influence to be stopped. It is also important to recognise that Facebook has a responsibility which today it is living up to. As Senator Higgins rightly said, if there are anomalies regarding the GDPR in Article 9.2(d) then let us get it right rather than having to continually revisit it.The whole issue of social media advertising, as well as publishing on social media, is an area where we need to see quick action taken. Senator Warfield tabled a Commencement matter this afternoon in which he mentioned the Russian election. Of course we do not know that the Russians influenced the American election yet but we will await some of the results. I believe it is important that we call out people who interfere in our democracy. I welcome the fact this is taking place.

The level and type of campaigning has changed. As Senator Warfield said in his remarks earlier, it is important to recognise that the way we do business is different now. This means we must all be aware of the consequences. It is important that we have an electoral commission in our country that will grapple with the idea. This morning we saw a most despicable attempt to denigrate and degrade the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, by certain people who put up posters outside his constituency office on a route to a school. It beggars belief that this could be tolerable or acceptable in any democracy. I condemn such behaviour in any shape or form. As politicians, we can argue within the four white lines of the Dáil, Seanad or council chambers. We can participate in elections and we are held to account. We have rules and regulations under which we are governed, but some of the behaviour is unacceptable and should be called out for what it is: thuggery of the worst type.

I join Senators Norris and Reilly in seeking clarity with regard to the publication of materials. You are right, a Chathaoirligh, that it is not from the Civil Service, to be fair. I believe it has to do with the issue around the McKenna judgment and what can and cannot be used by the Houses of the Oireachtas when it comes to the printing of material. I do not believe we are precluded from communicating with our constituents but we are prohibited in electoral contests, whether for the Dáil or the Seanad, or in a referendum from expressly asking for a "Yes" or "No" or a number one vote. However, it raises a question that perhaps we could look at through the Committee on Procedure and Privileges or perhaps in a wider forum such as the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. The question relates to how we communicate with people and what we can and cannot do.

Senator Reilly raised the issue of his Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill. Again, I am happy to have the Minister come to the House. It is not that we are trying to preclude the Bill from coming back. There are issues the Minister is keen to get right in the Bill, from what I am told. Again, we will be happy to see that come back. I commend Senator Reilly on his work.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of Epilim medication. I know that in 2014 and 2017 the European Medicines Agency strengthened and enhanced the advertising restrictions on its use. I suppose it is fair to say that the majority of doctors, GPs and nurses do not communicate bad news over the telephone. They do so in a certain way. Communication over the telephone is not the practice but Senator Murnane O'Connor might be best advised to raise it as a Commencement matter. She may get a more expeditious response in that way.

Senator Boyhan raised the issue of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone. My information for the Senator is that the work around amendments to the Bill continues as we speak. Several issues are outstanding, from what I am told. I do not have the specific information the Senator is looking for. Amendments were being worked on but I do not have any new information or an indicative timetable for the Member. However, I would be happy to keep him involved when I get that information for him. It is important legislation that we need to see coming back to the House. I am happy to take Senator Warfield's amendment to the Order of Business, which I forgot to mention that.

Senator O'Sullivan referenced Facebook, and I have responded on that point. Senator Richmond has an interesting proposal relating to an immigration day. As he said, it is important to recognise that 80% of people have a positive viewpoint. That is something I welcome. I certainly concur with Senator Richmond that we cannot allow a situation where we adopt a far-right approach in our rhetoric, behaviour or attitudes. One of the best things that happened was when Alan Shatter was Minister for Justice and Equality and he brought in the citizenship ceremonies. We also have need for an ongoing integration policy that must live up to the highest standard.I commend Senator Richmond on his proposal. I thank Senator Coghlan for his remarks on Brexit. I am happy to accept Senator Warfield's amendment to the Order of Business.