Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said in announcing the Order of Business, it is important today, as we reconvene, that we pay tribute to and remember the late Feargal Quinn, to whom we will have tributes in due course. I again offer sympathy to his family on his very sad passing.

It is also important that we remember Lyra McKee who was tragically killed in the North. I hope her death is a reminder to all of us that we must never go back to the days of old.

As the Cathaoirleach and Senator O'Mahony have done, I pay tribute to Eugene McGee who was not just a GAA manager but also a person who was very insightful in his commentary on rural Ireland and political affairs and the world of journalism. He was innovative in his thinking.

We should also remember the people who were killed in Sri Lanka since we last met. We do so mindful of the fact that we are privileged to be here.

As Senator Mullen said, we are back from our laethanta saoire. It is as a consequence that I remind the House that the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges received a request to use the Chamber for Europe Day tomorrow, to which request other members of the committee and I acquiesced. The decision was made by the committee. It is my intention to conduct business tomorrow.

On the amendment proposed by Senator Ó Ríordáin, to be fair to Members of the House who are not here, the Minister for Education and Skills is taking oral questions in the Dáil and will not be available until 7.30 p.m. As the House knows, the Government is not opposing the Private Members' Bill. With regard to what Members who have legislation being taken prior to the Private Members' Bill have intimated and in the understanding it is a matter for the House to accept or reject the business of the House proposed, I hope we can accept my proposal on the Order of Business.I am not trying in any way to be unhelpful to anybody. The Minister will not be available until 7.30 p.m. Other Senators have tabled amendments to the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016. They have indicated to me - and to other Senators through their groups, I am sure - their availability or otherwise. I will not curtail the debate on the Private Members' business. It remains the intention that two hours will be allocated, as is normal. I cannot accept the Senator's amendment on the basis that the Minister is not available, but I nonetheless assure the Senator the Government will not oppose the Bill at this Stage.

There was a visiting delegation from Shanghai, accompanied by Séamus Hennessy, who is a friend of Senator Maria Byrne. I had intended to welcome them but they have left the Chamber.

Senator Ardagh raised the important issue of home care packages, while Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell spoke about older people and the need to provide support for them. This week, Jim Power wrote an interesting article in the Irish Independenton the cost of care for older people, which amounts to €4.5 billion. The care of older people needs to be addressed. I fully agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell and commend her on the publication this week of Irish Working Lives.As we live longer and as our population grows older, we all seek better types of care and facilities, and the Senator is correct that we need to be more creative in that regard. I am happy to hold that debate in due course.

The issue of housing was raised by Senator Ardagh. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will appear before the House next week to take part in a debate on housing, which I will be happy to join.

Senators Ardagh, Leyden, Conway-Walsh, O'Mahony, Feighan, Ó Ríordáin, Horkan and Mullen raised the matter of broadband. Much of the focus has been on the correspondence from Mr. Robert Watt, the Secretary General at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Those who argue against the plan did not consider, or chose not to refer to, the correspondence from the Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mr. Mark Griffin. He has spoken with optimism about the bidder achieving savings and about how in ten years, all those who seek broadband will have access to higher-speed broadband and its benefits. It beggars belief to listen to the likes of Senator Norris, yet again, and others with a populist agenda. Are they really saying they do not want people to have access to broadband? Are they against the plan for broadband?