Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 18 Members of the House who contributed to the Order of Business today. On my behalf I and that of my party, I express sympathies to the family of the late Michael Fahy who died. Senators Leyden and Boyhan very eloquently paid tribute to the man for his longevity of service and his unique role in Irish politics. We send our deepest sympathies to his family and to the Fianna Fáil Party on his sad passing.

I join Senator Lombard in paying tribute to the late Pat McAuliffe who died suddenly on Monday in Cork. In a previous incarnation I had the pleasure of working in RTÉ Radio Cork as a sports reporter with Pat McAuliffe. He was one of the most accommodating and supportive broadcasters to anybody engaged in journalism. His encyclopaedic knowledge of sport was legendary. His gentleness in his interviewing of managers and players after games was exceptional. To his partner, to his brother Matthew, to the RTÉ family and to the sports family in Cork we wend our deepest sympathies on his death.

Senators Horkan, McDowell, Leyden, Feighan and Coghlan raised the issue of Brexit, which is a moving target every day. We all share the sentiment the Senators expressed this morning. We hope the British Parliament in tandem with the British Government arrives at a common-sense decision. There is a joke going around that the British people might see the end of May before the end of April. However, we have to pay tribute to the British Prime Minister at one level for her steadfastness in trying to get a result. I welcome her engagement with Jeremy Corbyn this morning and I hope it will bring results.

I note Senator McDowell's words regarding President Macron and the whole relationship. I do not believe there is a payback for tax realignment and tax policy. The Tánaiste, the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs and the Minister for Finance have said it repeatedly. I certainly hope there is not because this is a stand-alone issue. This is about the European project in itself as opposed to tax harmonisation or what individual countries do. However, I would certainly be happy to agree to the Senator's request for a debate on the issue.

I repeat that I hope the DUP will recognise that it has a key role to play. It can bring people with it and it should take leadership given that the people who vote for that party will be dreadfully affected by a hard Brexit. Equally, it is important that we continue, as the Taoiseach has done this week with meetings with President Macron and tomorrow with Chancellor Merkel, to build bridges across the Continent.

Senators Horkan, McDowell and Gavan raised the issue of school patronage. As Senator McDowell said, the issue needs to be handled sensitively and in an intelligent way. The Minister and his Department have not been involved in the letters sent to schools in Malahide. The process outlined by Government has two distinct phases: identification and implementation. That is important because the transfer of patronage is about one issue. In tandem with that, there needs to be proper consultation with the school community on the reconfiguration and the patronage issue. The formal implementation phase has not yet commenced and there is no requirement on the Department until September of next year.

There can be considerable scaremongering and hyperbole on the issue with suggestions about the refusal to celebrate Christmas, Easter or other festivals. Many schools already do that in a non-denominational manner as it stands. It is important to have a calm debate and a process that is informative and that is handled sensitively and carefully. I understand the letters parents received are not based on information from the Department of Education and Skills. I hope that the reconfiguration process around diversity will allow choice for families so that we can have the school communities that people want. I look forward to that happening. We will certainly have that debate again with the Minister in the coming weeks.

Senators Horkan and Gallagher raised the issue of what is happening to ATMs. Senator Horkan made the sensible suggestion that the money could be dyed or decommissioned in some shape or form. While I do not want to get into a particular row with Senator Gallagher, it is a bit rich of him to criticise the Government when his party decimated rural areas. He can do it if he wants, and he can say it again. Fianna Fáil closed Garda stations. It closed the Garda College in Templemore. It cut recruitment.