Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators and Members of the Lower House were wrong in prejudging the Charleton tribunal and the role of the then Tánaiste, Deputy Fitzgerald. The Charleton report was mentioned by Senators Norris, Conway, Noone, Wilson, Lombard and Marie-Louise O'Donnell. We all accept that the victims in this are Sergeant Maurice McCabe and his family, in recognition of which the Charleton tribunal was established to allow for all the facts to emerge. It is my intention to arrange a debate on the Charleton report in due course. It is important to recognise that iar Tánaiste and iar Aire, Deputy Fitzgerald, selflessly resigned rather than bring down the Government or cause a general election. The Charleton report is there for all to see, and I welcome its publication. I commend Mr. Justice Charleton on his commentary. All of us, as practising politicians, should read his report because it contains messages for us and for the media.

The national broadband plan was raised by a number of Senators this afternoon. The Taoiseach and the Government are committed to the delivery of the plan. As a Government, we are determined to see it implemented. The tender process is at its final stage and the Taoiseach has made it clear that Mr. Peter Smith, the independent process auditor for the national broadband programme, will compile a report on whether the process was compromised. Let us await that report before we again rush to judgment. I remind some Senators that they were wrong on Charleton, wrong on Fine Gael getting the country back to work and wrong on the stabilisation of our national finances. They should not be wrong again. Mr. Smith must be given a chance to revert with a report.

I join other Senators in commending the former Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, on his work and I thank him for it. He has given a lifetime of service to the people of Roscommon. As head of Government, the Taoiseach has an obligation to ask questions of all Ministers, which he did, and in due course the Deputy offered his resignation. Rather than rush to judgment today, let us be temperate in our remarks.

In response to Senator Ó Ríordáín, I concur with the Taoiseach when he made clear that it was unwise of the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, to pass on the invitation in this case. The key point is that the Minister of State had no involvement with the national broadband plan. He did not organise the meeting; he merely passed on the invitation. As the Taoiseach said, this is not a resigning matter, and he has spoken to the Minister of State about it. The Minister of State has responsibility for small and medium enterprise. He has an obligation and duty to meet with a wide variety of business interests to bring business to Ireland. He has no role, however, in respect of the national broadband plan, its roll-out or its procurement. Under the Constitution, the Government is not accountable to Seanad Éireann but rather to the Dáíl. I would be happy to make arrangements for statements on the national broadband plan in due course.

I fully concur with Senator Ardagh on the issue of judicial sentencing. She is 100% correct; there needs to be a national debate about the type of sentencing, the minimum sentencing and the way in which sentencing is given, notwithstanding the independency of the Judiciary, a matter on which the Leas-Chathaoirleach ruled.Sometimes sentences administered for some crimes beggar belief. We need to have that conversation. I know it is being examined and we will have that debate in due course. I agree with Senator Ardagh, however, on that point. I join with her in commending St. James's Hospital on its digitisation programme.

Senators Gavan, Colm Burke, Leyden and Wilson raised the issue of Brexit. Senator Wilson got it right in that it is changing at a rate with which it is hard to keep up. Perhaps the UK Government and UK Parliament do not know what their left or right hands are doing. What is important is that the Government's position is quite clear. We want the negotiations to succeed. However, this will only be possible with agreement on a legally robust backstop to apply in all circumstances which will be set out clearly in the withdrawal agreement. The Government and the EU have been clear since the beginning of the process that the outcome must include the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the avoidance of a hard border on the island of Ireland.

The Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has been clear on this. I commend him and the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, on the way they have articulated and advocated across the EU, on behalf of the Irish people, that Ireland's position on the backstop remains clear. While our preference is still for an overall EU-UK relationship which would resolve the issues in question, it remains essential that a backstop is agreed which provides certainty that a hard border would be avoided in all circumstances. All of us who wear the green of Ireland, North and South, will recognise the importance and the centrality of what the Government is trying to achieve.

I will come back to Senator Gavan on the position of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017. I join with Members in welcoming the new members of the Government and congratulate them on their appointments. I thank the former Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, for his leadership in education and I wish the new Minister, Deputy McHugh, every success in the Department. I welcome back Deputy Canney as Minister of State, a very fine gentleman. I wish every success to the new Chief Whip, Deputy Kyne. I am sure they will all work together to ensure the cohesiveness of the Government for the foreseeable future.

The issue of climate change raised by Senator Grace O'Sullivan is important. As I have said repeatedly, it is the global challenge for our generation, as well as the next. The Minister with responsibility for this issue, Deputy Bruton, is committed to long-term plans to tackle climate change, not just short-term, knee-jerk reactions. In the coming months, we will see strong debates with the Minister on this matter. The Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill is on the Order Paper and we will see its reintroduction at a later time.

Senator Reilly raised the issue of school places in his own area of Dublin. It is an important issue. The Department of Education and Skills has a capital expenditure programme of €196 million. It might be more advisable for the Senator to raise this as a Commencement matter.

I join with Senator Leyden in commending RTÉ, especially Ryan Tubridy, on last Friday night's "The Late Late Show". It was a fine production and showcased what is good about Ireland. The Senator is correct that the Irish have made a significant contribution in the United Kingdom from many different perspectives. I commend all who made and continue to make a contribution. We all know of people, including many from our own families, who left on emigrant ships and planes to go across the water and made a strong contribution to the United Kingdom's health service, education and many other sectors. We all remember the term "Dagenham Yanks" with great affection. Today, one of the Ford Motor Company's top executives spoke about the importance of having a deal for Brexit. I commend Senator Leyden for raising the matter of "The Late Late Show". Senator McFadden referred to people being asked to pay in order to view rental accommodation. That is outrageous and wrong and it should not happen. No landlord should ask a prospective tenant to pay to view a property.

Senator Norris referred to the disappearance and alleged murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has visited Saudi Arabia. All of us want answers and, hopefully, the safe return of the journalist in question. It is unacceptable that human rights are being violated and that it is a case of economics versus human rights. There should be no competition between the two. I hope the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will take the matter up at the highest level.

Senator Colm Burke referred to the growth in employment. The figure he mentioned should be etched on all our memories, namely, many people are paying €2,000 less in taxes since 2015. That is a tremendous reversal of the economic fortunes of our country. The Senator made his point in the context of our friends in Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland. We all want to see the return of power-sharing. I am of the view that the abstentionist policy is wrong. Sinn Féin changed its policy in respect of the Houses of the Oireachtas and it should give consideration to changing its policy regarding Westminster.