Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It would be remiss of me not to mention Brexit. We are waiting with bated breath for the outcome of today's vote in Westminster. It is probably naive of us to hope that the new deal agreed last night will be passed in light of the legal opinion of the Attorney General. Obviously it is in our interest and in the interest of the country. I am grateful that all of the political parties are behind the Government in ensuring that our ultimate aim and purpose is that we do not have a no-deal Brexit and that we do not return to having a Border on the island. I wish the Government luck during the next week. I commend Dearbhail McDonald on her programme "Fertility Shock" that was broadcast last night. The Government has laid out an assisted human reproduction Bill but has not yet put it before this House or the Dáil. One in four couples in Ireland struggles with infertility and just after Christmas, the Government put aside a small fund of €1 million, which is a pittance in the scheme of things, to help couples who are in need of financial support on their fertility journey. As fertility treatment is a very costly process, the Government should bring forward the Bill and the Seanad is a good place to do so. We in Fianna Fáil would be delighted to support it and call for a debate on the matter. Dearbhail McDonald outlined her own personal journey. She said that not only does it affect people personally but it also has a societal impact whereby one has an aged society. She commented that in Japan, there are more adults in nappies than there are children. Fertility is something of which we all should be aware. Many women in their 20s and 30s are blissfully unaware of their declining fertility. A simple anti-Müllerian hormone, AMH, test or an antral follicle test can shed a lot of light on a woman's prospects for fertility at a later age. Whether or not the Bill is put forward, there should be a debate in this House on fertility and assisted human reproduction.

Last night, I attended a meeting of a community-led subgroup of a drugs task force for the whole of Dublin South-Central, from the canals to Crumlin. It was agreed anecdotally by many people who work in this area that there has been a citywide increase in the use of crack cocaine because it is cheaper and widely available. In Dublin South-Central alone, the Crumlin area has gone through eight Garda superintendents in the past three years. At present, no Garda superintendent has been appointed to oversee the Crumlin area. When will a Garda superintendent be appointed for the Crumlin area because there is a lacuna at the moment? Moreover, there are only seven youth workers for the Crumlin area when previously, there were as many as 20.

First, we seem to not invest in inner-city areas, which are the most deprived and need the most help. Second, we only react when there is an absolute crisis. We need to invest in our youth at the early stages. We need to ensure there are proper facilities, amenities and Garda resourcing. In addition, the cuts to community drugs task forces and community sector must be reversed.

There is a new phenomenon in Dublin, of which many people are aware, whereby gangs are arranging to meet online using Snapchat and other social media. Such activity is very hard to police but the Garda can tackle it if it is given the resources and there is a will to do so. Recently, 150 youths gathered in Dolphin's Barn and a few youths were assaulted there, about which the Garda said it could do nothing. Two years ago, however, there was a similar issue in another part of Dublin where the Garda examined CCTV footage after the event. As a result the Garda discovered who some of the youths were and actually went to their homes. We need to resource the Garda and ensure there is proper community policing. Most importantly, the Government should appoint a Garda superintendent for the Crumlin area.