Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is unacceptable that the website could be hacked so easily. This can be addressed as a matter of urgency but also as a matter of ease. There are technologies which can be put in place which will ensure information is secure and people can have their information protected. Technology can also ensure the system can be overridden to protect applicants who are looking for important visa interviews and want to get their paperwork processed quickly.

I agree with Senator Ardagh that it is unacceptable that some employers are not accepting the asylum work permit. We should work collectively to ensure people's applications are accepted as it is important.

Senator Lawless raised the issue of voting rights. It is part of a national conversation, leading to a referendum next year. I look forward to having many a healthy debate both here in the House and in wider forums.

Senators Murnane O'Connor and Devine referred to the Oireachtas committee on mental health and welcomed its impending report. Equally, it is important to recognise the work being done by Professor James O'Higgins Norman in DCU who has now joined up the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre with Facebook to put in place a new anti-bullying and online safety training programme. We all welcome this. The report being published today by the cross-party committee will be an important step in this area.

Senators Conway-Walsh, O’Mahony and Swanick raised the issue of Spinraza. The response of the Minister of State to this issue on Commencement matters earlier recognises the serious potential benefits of the drug for people with a serious illness. I accept it is frustrating. The HSE will examine all the evidence. I hope it will look favourably on the request.

Senators Conway-Walsh and Paddy Burke raised the issue of flooding and roads in Mayo. I do not want to get into a particular argument but I am not sure where Senator Conway-Walsh is in terms of investment in our regional and national roads. As Senator Paddy Burke rightly said, an extra €286 million has been made available in the national planning framework for roads. Part of the difficulty we have with the opening of drains is due to issues with the freshwater pearl mussel. It is also about local authorities, farmers and landowners being proactive. I would be happy for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senators Dolan and Devine raised the issue of child poverty and that today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs and Employment Affairs and Social Protection are acutely conscious of the need to have more young people out of poverty. That is why we have seen an increase across the board in social welfare payments. Changes have been made to a plethora of schemes such as the back-to-school allowance, access to childcare, school meals, lone-parent's allowance and jobseeker’s benefits. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has an allocation of €127 million for affordable childcare and €89 million in addition to being able to change access routes for childcare. I would be happy to have a debate on the matter. One person in poverty is one too many.

Senator Dolan raised the important issue of access to voting and that there are outstanding issues relating to access to polling stations in 11 constituencies. We should welcome the independence given to people who are visually impaired when voting. It should be extended to all elections. We need to see returning officers making decisions at a local level with regard to where they locate polling stations. If they are not wheelchair accessible or disabled person friendly, then they should not be used as a polling station. Extending the voting franchise through the postal system for people who are housebound or who may find it difficult to get to a polling stations should be looked at. If other countries can do it, I do not see why we cannot.