Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator is probably in Dublin North and Dublin South-Central as well. Senators Ardagh and Clifford-Lee raised the very important issue of BusConnects. I know that Senator McDowell has been knocking on doors about this as well. The Senators are correct to raise this very important issue. Many of my party colleagues, such as Councillor Emer Higgins and Deputy Rock have also held public meetings on the matter. There is a need to have meaningful consultation. I do not buy the conspiracy theory argument that suggests people are not engaged when the Dáil goes into recess. They are engaged and the fact that many Members of the Houses and councillors have had public meetings shows people are indeed involved and engaged with the process.

What is important, however, and where I agree wholeheartedly with the Senators is that we need to have full public consultation. There needs to be real meaningful dialogue and engagement. What outcome do we want to see? We want to see better routes; increased journeys; and faster bus connectivity. Public transport is something to which the Government is committed. If we need to see an extension of the consultation period, I would have no personal problem with that. The points made by Senator Ardagh and others today were valid.

I have no answer for Senator Ardagh regarding the sale of the John Player site.NAMA is not open to political engagement. As far as I am aware, engagement with NAMA is precluded under the Act. However, the issue raised is one on which there is need for consultation.

I wish Senator Freeman well in the Presidential election and I congratulate her on attaining the nomination and on raising the issue of mental health. Yesterday, I spoke at an event and I made the point that there is a need for mandatory mental health training in the workplace in order that people will have the tools to promote positive mental health and to address stress in the workplace owing to, in some cases, inflexible and long working days. It is important that we recognise that the workplace has changed. In times past, there was a considerable amount of emphasis on vocational training and the physical health of employees. We now need to do likewise in respect of mental health and wellbeing. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, has made changes in the curriculum in terms of wellbeing but I agree with Senator Freeman that it is important that there is mental health training in the workplace.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of waiting times for assessment of needs, in respect of which she rightly quoted the disability Act and stated that the number of applications is way too high. Following on from enactment of the legislation, 1,138 applications were received in 2016. This increased to 5,839 last year. Between 2005 and 2017, 43,521 completed applications were received by the HSE. It is important to recognise that there has been profound change. An assessments of need compliance improvement plan has been put in place by the HSE and the Minister of State with responsibility for this area, Deputy Finian McGrath, has allocated additional resources to areas where there are significant backlogs. I agree that we need to erode these waiting times as they are a source of stress to people and families.

On the point raised by Senator Black, the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 was not delayed by the Government in the Lower House, but for other reasons. The Taoiseach is on record as saying as late as yesterday that it is a priority of the Government to have that Bill enacted as soon as possible. It is my understanding that the Bill will be back before the Dáil next week. I give the Senator a commitment that the Bill will be taken here as soon as possible after the Dáil has done its work. The Senator will be aware that much of what happens in the Seanad is conditional on the Dáil concluding its business. She is correct that we need to have the conversation about the continued misuse and abuse of alcohol in our society. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is but one measure in this regard, although an important one. Senator Black is to be commended for the work that she does. Having the type of conversations which bring people on a journey forms part of what we must do.

Senator Bacik raised the issue of the eighth amendment. I welcome the signing into law by President Higgins of the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018. The eighth amendment is now repealed. Those of us who campaigned for it very much welcome that signature yesterday.