Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Ned O'Sullivan on one point about Brexit. There is no such thing as a good Brexit; he is 100% right on that. It will have ramifications and repercussions for us as a country, for our relationship with Europe and for our relationship with the UK. We must certainly work to overcome that.

Senator Humphreys raised the issue of the licence fee and I will be happy to have the Minister come to the House. I commend RTÉ on the documentary on the McCabe family and again pay tribute to Maurice McCabe and his family.

Senator Mullen raised the issue of the Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor's education gender equality task force report, which was published yesterday. Irrespective of the views the Senator has on the matter, the Government is committed to equality. That is why we are bringing in paid parental leave for both parents, making childcare more affordable and raising standards, and doing more to promote women in the Judiciary and on State boards. Yesterday's is another step in tandem with bringing in quotas during the last Government to increase the number of women running for and being elected to office. There will be those who will oppose the Minister of State's proposal and those who will support it. What we must achieve is a greater level of diversity in positions of authority and in professorships in our third level institutions. That is what the Minister of State is doing. I will be happy to have her come to the House on the matter. Whether it is a gaudily-coloured proposal or otherwise, it is well intended by the Minister of State.

Senator Reilly raised the issue of obesity, having himself been the champion of Healthy Ireland. I will have that debate in the House in due course.

Senators Ó Donnghaile, Feighan, Black and Daly attended the Ballymurphy inquest yesterday. I will not comment on that as it is ongoing but I thank them for being there.

Senator Lombard raised the issue of the HSE, Kinsale and the bringing together of three organisations. I commend Senator Feighan on his great work on the commemoration of the First World War last weekend and his work on the shamrock poppy, for which I thank him.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of Venezuela and the Fidesz party.