Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 14 Members of the House who made contributions to the Order of Business. On behalf of the Government and the House and on my own behalf, I join with Senators Conway-Walsh, Norris, Butler, Murnane O'Connor, Craughwell, Devine, Colm Burke and Horkan in offering our sympathies to the families of Jastine Valdez and Anastasia Kriegel on their very sad deaths. The brutal and callous killings sent a chill across society. They were brutal. We all know there is no place for killing in our society. We must always respect each other. Today there are families distraught. They have lost a loved one, an only daughter. It is mind-boggling. Senator Craughwell also mentioned the family of Mr. Hennessy. We should remember that family as well. I commend the gardaí for their tremendous work. I commend all the first responders who helped and those who gave assistance. We must always work to ensure our society and our streets are safe for all people. When one sees young women and girls being killed, it prompts the question: why and what more can we do as a society?I join in the condemnation of the killings and hope we will all stand in support of, and solidarity with, the families at this awful time.

Senator Ardagh raised the suicide rates in Dublin South-Central. The increase is a worry. Senators Devine and Grace O'Sullivan also referred to the issue of mental health. First, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, is focused on increasing resources in the mental health area to ensure that we continue to develop mental health services and to improve access to treatment and assessment. He secured an increase in the budget for 2018 and current funding is €910 million. As Senator Devine mentioned, there is capital investment in new facilities and new staff. Mental health is an issue we must continue to prioritise. I agree with Senator Devine about the people in our prisons. They are in there for a variety of reasons but if one believes in restorative justice and rehabilitation we must always ensure that our prison system, which has one function we are all aware of, rehabilitates people as well. I agree with the Senator that people in our prisons who have mental health issues deserve to be looked after and treated. Equally, I agree with Senator Grace O'Sullivan that mental health is health, pure and simple. Regardless of what viewpoint one has in the referendum campaign, mental health is about the health and well-being of all citizens. It is an important issue that must be prioritised.

In referring to the increase Senator Ardagh also referred to the new profile of women. It is a worry. The mental health of women is an important matter and it needs to be addressed in view of the figures she gave us today. As I said, improvements have been made in a variety of areas but it is distressing to hear Senator Ardagh's remarks. I do not have that information to hand. However, we will have a continuing debate on mental health. She also referred to the former greyhound racing stadium in Harold's Cross in Dublin. It is a good news story that there will be a new primary and secondary school with 1,000 places. I believe it is open to all prospective patrons and patron bodies to apply for patronage of a new school under the patronage process. The Department of Education and Skills is developing a new online patronage scheme. I am not familiar with the matter Senator Ardagh raised but I will be happy to invite the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to the House again.

Senator Ó Céidigh spoke about small and medium enterprises and awareness of GDPR. The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME, produced a survey which showed that 90% of small and medium enterprises are aware of GDPR but the Senator is correct that we must continue to promulgate awareness of the effect and potential consequences of the new regime that comes into force at the end of the month. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, have been very proactive on the skills gap. I agree with Senator Ó Céidigh that small and medium enterprises are the heartbeat of our country. The Government is committed to developing that sector. I will be happy to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, to the House to discuss the points the Senator made in the context of small and medium enterprises.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the agriculture sector and the issue of vulture funds with regard to farmers, particularly small farmers. The Government is acutely aware of this. I hope the loans can be resolved within the existing bank structure. The banks and the farmers or landowners have an obligation to engage. As the Senator knows, when one engages one puts a stop on the clock and an element of fear and uncertainty is taken away. It is important to recognise that the farming community and small and medium enterprises are at the heart of what we are as a people and nation. That is the reason there is regulation by the Central Bank to regulate the matter raised by Senator Conway-Walsh. However, it is important to have engagement and conversation so I will be happy to invite the Minister to the House to discuss the matter.It is an issue we recognise as important.

Senator Norris raised the issue of the court case involving the cover-up of child abuse and the Archbishop of Adelaide. I am happy to let the courts decide on that matter. We have a very robust child protection code in our country which needs to be upheld at all times.

Senator Butler raised the issue of vacant properties. The Government is aware of the needs in some rural towns. A variety of schemes have been introduced by Government to try to incentivise people to relocate and open businesses, but there is an obligation and duty on local authorities, Government and the business sector to work together to ensure that we continue to have vibrant rural towns.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of education. I regret that she is not here. I was not going to blame Fianna Fáil for cutting funding at the beginning. I was going to say that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is committed to increasing the capitation grant in the forthcoming budget. He was the Minister who secured an extra €1 billion for education in the previous two budgets. He has strengthened the core of our education system. The Minister has created more school places, employed additional teachers and taken on more special needs assistants. This means that the pupil-teacher ratio has been reduced and that our education system has more teachers, more places and more new buildings, which is a pretty good record, to be fair to him. A sum of €10 billion was allocated for education in the previous budget, and the Minister has also committed to reducing costs for parents with the forthcoming publication of the education (parent and student charter) Bill. Senator Murnane O'Connor should reflect upon that.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of the garda who fired the shots on Saturday night. The Cathaoirleach rightly said that there is an inquiry by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. I will not stray into that area. The Senator also mentioned the Minister of Finance's speech in Galway. I am happy to have the Minister come to the House to debate that matter.

Senator Feighan recognised the importance of the Good Friday Agreement. Is our country not a better place as a result of the signatures of Ireland, the UK and the parties in the North to the Good Friday Agreement? It is important that we continue to promote the benefits of the agreement. In that context it is equally important that we all resolve to have Stormont back in action and a government in the North of our country. I commend Senator Feighan on his work not just in the UK and on British-Irish and North-South bases but across the United States where he has been promoting Ireland and good relations.

I commend Senator Feighan on his words of wisdom on the royal wedding last weekend. While many people pretended that they did not watch it, the number of people who said to me, when I was out canvassing, that they could not talk because they were watching the royal wedding was extraordinary. It is good that we can have the conversation here. It is important that we continue to promote good relations. We are lucky that Senator Marshall has joined us to show that we can build bridges and have diverse views in the Houses of the Oireachtas. That is a positive.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan raised the issue of the green ribbon and mental health. I have addressed that. Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of his Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2016. I assure the House that it is not the Leader stalling the Bill. I commend the Senator on his work. He makes the very wise and legitimate point that death certificates cannot be issued and that is a significant issue for many families awaiting news or who, for a variety of reasons, understand that the only outcome is going to be death. I commend Senator Burke on his work. We on the Government side will bring that Bill back to the House as soon as possible. It will not be held up from my end.

Senator Horkan raised the issues of planning, the planning process and the need to have a debate about planning. He is right. The decision by Apple in the context of the planning delay illustrates difficulties we have and which we must overcome. The Senator is right and Government is looking at the issue of streamlined and fast-tracked planning. It is important that we look at having a debate on making our planning system more efficient.While we do not want to go back to the bad old days, it is important, as the Senator rightly said, for the development of key infrastructure to take place in a variety of ways. I think his point is well made.

Senator Warfield raised issues relating to the supplementary register, young people and voting. I think his comments highlight the need to have an electoral commission that can take charge of election issues independent of the Government and of the Oireachtas. I would be happy to have a debate on this matter when we resume after the referendum. It is important for us to have an independent electoral commission to deal with the electoral register, encourage people to vote, look at what happens between elections and manage the democratic process. I would be happy to have a debate on this issue.

Senator Gallagher spoke about farm safety. As he will recall, Senator Conway chaired the Seanad Public Consultation Committee when it considered this matter. The Minister has been to the House to discuss farm safety. The points made by Senator Gallagher are very relevant as we approach the busy season for the farming community. The Senator highlighted the potential dangers associated with parts of the farm like the slurry pit, the silage pit and the machinery yard. It is important to create awareness. Regardless of the section of the Government that deals with this issue, it is important during the busy farming season for people to be aware of the potential disasters that exist on the farm. Farm safety is something we must highlight. I will be happy for the Minister to come back to the House again.