Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 20 Members of the House for their contributions to the Order of Business and I thank the 18 Members of the House who made reference to the referendum and the decision of the Irish people last Friday. I will begin by thanking all Members of the House for their contribution on the matter and I thank the Irish people for their participation in the referendum. The people have spoken decisively. They turned out in their droves to cast their ballot and we have seen the outcome. It now behoves us as Members of the Upper House, in conjunction with Members of the Dáil, to ensure that the will of the people is carried out.

I begin by thanking Senator Bacik for her leadership in the campaign. I thank Senator Noone for her role as chair of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, and I thank Senator Mullen for his contribution to the referendum campaign from a different viewpoint. I thank the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, for establishing the Citizens' Assembly. As a member of the Constitutional Convention that was, I believe in the importance of deliberative democracy, and the Citizens' Assembly again proved its importance.

A mandate has been given to us to act and it now behoves us to do that. I think it is important to reflect on what took place last Friday. The Irish people, as Members have said, participated through a combination of personal conversations and thorough investigation of the facts before them. However, as the exit polls from RTÉ showed, it was not just about the referendum campaign. It was during the five previous years that many of them made up their minds. It is important to recognise the critical importance of civic engagement groups on both sides of the referendum campaign, in particular, as Members have said, on the side that emerged with the "Yes" vote last Friday.

I made the comment on Friday we voted, on Saturday we counted, and today we stand as Irish people in a republic, united, going forward. I commend all who took part, "Yes" and "No". I want to hear all sides. I have always been of that viewpoint. We live in a democracy and a republic, where the one third who voted "No" continue to have the right to have their voice heard.That is what we do as a republic. We respect each other, we disagree but we now move to legislation. The enactment of the legislation is a priority for Government. As the Minister for Health said today, and I ask Members from the "Yes" side who contributed today to note this, we must do so with a sense of realism. Senator Lawlor was correct. Rushed legislation is bad legislation. The Minister is committed to putting together a timeline for the legislation and regulations. This is why he is having discussions with all sides in a cross-party way. It is important that we get this right for the women and doctors of Ireland. The Minister's intent is to have the Bill published in the coming weeks. I understand the Dáil is sitting longer so that it can have Second Stage commenced prior to the Dáil recess. Obviously, as Members of the Upper House, we must await the passage of the legislation through the Lower House before it comes to us but I am sure that in coming months and weeks, we will have an opportunity to debate the legislation. We will not delay it here. We do our business in this House in a very efficient manner. As the Taoiseach said this morning, it is desirable to have a cross-party approach. In the context of Senator Bacik's comments on the 1995 abortion information Act, we could have a cross-party approach to that.

It is important that we reflect upon what happened last Friday and do so in a manner that respects the right of all of us to have different viewpoints. In response to Senator Boyhan, the Electoral Commission Bill is part of the programme for Government and is a priority for Government. Tolerance is a two-way street, as Members will know. There is room in our society and State for different viewpoints and I hope those with a different viewpoint will not, as some people have argued, fold up their tent. Democracy in a republic is about all of us being able to have our views heard and voiced.

Senators Craughwell and Gallagher raised the issue of An Garda Síochána and the GRA. It is important to recognise that the debate at the GRA conference is coming from a representative organisation, which has a right to have its voice heard. The Government is committed to An Garda Síochána. I will not take any lecture from Senator Gallagher about the way the Government treats and respects members of An Garda Síochána. We are the party that reopened the Garda Training College in Templemore, started recruitment and increased investment in An Garda Síochána. It is important to put that on the record. I would be happy to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of capitation, an issue that has been raised here previously. The Minister for Education and Skills is committed to increasing capitation. It is one of a number of issues being looked in the context of the upcoming budget. There has always been a traditional local contribution. We have had ten difficult years. A total of 42 new schools have been built and an extra €1 billion put into the education budget, 85% of which has gone to schools, which means extra teachers and special needs assistants. We now have 6,000 new teachers employed, 3,000 new special needs assistants and 20,000 extra school places compared to 2010 when we had 9,000. The capitation grant has increased under the Minister. It was first reduced in 2010 by the former Government. It is important to recognise that in the past number of years, we have seen the capitation grant increase. The Minister's record in education is there to be seen. It is important that we recognise that.

Senator Craughwell raised the role of local government and Europe. I would be very happy to have a debate on that. I know many members of local authorities travel to different conferences in Europe and play a very strong and sterling role in the promotion of local government. I congratulate and commend members of our local authorities who do that.

I welcome Senator Gavan's group from SIPTU's Limerick district council, which is very welcome to the House today, as is Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell's group from Foxford, County Mayo. Senator Byrne raised the issue of CervicalCheck. It is important to recognise that there have been delays in some women being notified, which is unacceptable.Some of that has to do with information being unavailable but additional staffing has been granted to CervicalCheck and it is critical that the women involved are communicated with and that there are no delays whatsoever.

I join the Senator in wishing Adare Manor well in the "Best of the Best 2018" awards.

Senator Clifford-Lee will be glad to hear that the Government is intent on holding a referendum on the reference to women in the home in October. I am sure she will be very happy to campaign on that referendum. I agree with her that the language in our Constitution is outdated, is of its time and should be removed. It is the Government's intent to have that referendum in October of this year and I look forward to campaigning with the Senator for its removal from the Constitution.

I answered Senator Boyhan in terms of the Electoral Commission.

Senator Mulherin raised the issue of the Cúirt na Coiribe student accommodation in Galway. A new management company has taken up residence there which I understand is treating the students unfairly. I hope that can be resolved as a matter of urgency.

I do not have the information in terms of the hooded men for Senator Conway-Walsh. I will be happy to communicate that issue to the Tánaiste.

Senator Lawlor raised the issue of Seanad reform. The second meeting of the Seanad reform committee will take place this afternoon under the chairmanship of Senator McDowell. I will be happy to bring the matter back to the House for ongoing debate in terms of progress reports. I thank Senators for their contributions.