Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This issue was debated on the Order of Business before the mid-term break by a number of Senators, including Senator Bacik. The killing of Mr. Khashoggi is to be condemned forthrightly and there can be no equivocation about it. One cannot put a price on upholding human rights and that applies to everybody in all parts of the world. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, feel very strongly about it. We will bring the Minister to the House on the issue but a Commencement matter might be a better way to deal with it.

Senator Conway-Walsh asked a question about a letter to the Tánaiste and he will be here to discuss the matter. The Government has been very strong in its approach to the all-Ireland aspect of Brexit and the impact it will have. The rights of all citizens need to be upheld. If it is not dealt with tonight, we may be able to deal with it at another time.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell asked about the implementation of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. I believe it is with the Office of the Attorney General but I am open to correction on that. I will come back to her tomorrow with a response. It was raised also by Senators Bacik and Warfield in the House. It is important legislation and the section to which she referred is very important. We need to give certainty and clarity to the families affected and many of us have been liaising with the Department and the Minister on the matter. I apologise to Senator Gallagher for inadvertently omitting to address his comments on the ambulance service. The machinery of State is available to both sides to engage and communicate around disputes. That is the best form for such engagement at this point. The Senator might table a Commencement matter to get a quicker response as there are no plans for the Minister to come to the House to debate this matter. He will be here tomorrow to take Report and Final Stages of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill and the Senator might raise that matter with him as part of that debate.