Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators who raised matters on the Order of Business. I also congratulate my colleague and pal, Senator Feighan, and Elaine with whom I am very friendly. I am delighted for them. It is lovely to have positive news and it is a lovely time of year for such an event. We all wish them well.

Senator Horkan raised the Threshold report published this morning. It highlights the ongoing problem of which we are all very aware.The Government recognises the role Threshold plays in supporting tenants and providing training, on-call and other services. It provides an important service. It cannot be said enough that where landlords intend to terminate a tenancy on the basis of intending to sell the property, they must do that in accordance with the law. The sale must be within three months of the termination and the landlord must sign a statutory declaration to that effect. If that is not being adhered to, we must find a way to ensure it is. It is as simple as that. Senator Humphreys has raised this matter many times and I feel his frustration. I am told the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will introduce the residential tenancies (amendment) Bill to Cabinet next week, but I can understand why the Senator might be sceptical because I feel like I have been told many times that it is happening. Many of these issues will be addressed, however, and we might wish to have a discussion on that in January when the opportunity arises.

Three or four Senators raised the issue of Brexit and many of the points resonate, not least the points made by Senators McDowell's and Feighan about how the UK is our closest neighbour and has been a fantastic ally. I do not agree that point has not been said enough because I have heard it said frequently in many debates and we all recognise it. The Government has always wanted a good result for the UK but the best result for us and the UK would be another referendum, if people in the UK see sense. There was so much misinformation communicated during the referendum that people should feel aggrieved about the national debate that took place. It was hijacked by a few prominent Brexiteers who scurrilously pushed out fake news. A deliberative democratic process, where there is proper discussion, is needed. The people in the UK gained much insight into the matter over the course of the whole fiasco. Senator Gallagher made the point that people can change their minds, but there seems to be some sort of feeling that people should never change their minds and that they should remain firmly fixed in a view. That is not an intelligent way to approach life, however, and sometimes situations or circumstances change, as Senator Gallagher noted. The democratic process should be allowed to take account of that and we all hope there will be another referendum in the UK.

Senator Horkan mentioned the Committee on Budgetary Oversight, and I do not see any reason why we would not have a debate on that in the new year.

Senator Boyhan raised the climate action discussion that took place yesterday. We have spoken to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, and he is available to appear before the House this evening from 7.30 p.m. until 9 p.m. I suspect, however, that will not quite satisfy Senators and there will need to be a more meaningful discussion on climate change. I have been promised we can have a lengthy debate on climate change in January with a proper question-and-answer session with the Minister. If that pleases Senators, I will suggest it as a response.

Senator Boyhan also mentioned the electoral commission and deletions from the register. That process happens most years but it should be raised as a Commencement matter if the Senator has major concerns in that area.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of autism. We are all glad to see a proper strategy on autism for the first time and it would be good to have a debate on autism in the House. She also raised the issue of fuel poverty, which is in particular focus at this time of the year. It links with the climate change debate in many ways. I was a proponent of carbon tax simply from an environmental point of view, but a carbon tax will have a seriously negative impact for people who already find it difficult to cope. There needs to be an intricate conversation about the issue. The Joint Committee on Climate Action sits regularly, and its plan it to produce a comprehensive report on particular actions the Government - not just the current Government but any Government - should take over a number of years. As with other strategies that have been created for the health sector, there needs to be a long-term plan for action because it is too serious an issue for there not to be. I am talking about climate change in response to the point about fuel poverty but fuel poverty is important-----