Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the ten Members of the House for their contributions. I commend and thank Senator Higgins for her participation in the European elections. As the Cathaoirleach said, beidh lá eile aici. She had a good result and she had the courage to run. She may have been unsuccessful but, to be fair, she was and is an excellent parliamentarian and, as she said, she can be a European in this Chamber as well. We wish her well and thank her.

A number of Senators, including Senators Ardagh, Boyhan and Craughwell, raised the issue of the election in the context of turnout. On the issue around the spoiled ballots, it is interesting that in Ireland South, 5% of the votes were deemed invalid, in Dublin, it was 4%, and in Midlands-North-West, it was 3.5%. Therefore, I am not sure it is an unusual figure in terms of the volume of spoiled votes. However, I agree that, as Senator Boyhan said, we need an electoral commission to be established and to be up and running. It is important, as part of a functioning democracy, that we have an independent electoral commission because there are issues around education and the dissemination of information, for example, in a plebiscite or a referendum campaign.

I will support anybody on the need to increase and enhance education. At a time when we have civic, social and political education, CSPE, and policy modules in our schools, there is an onus on people to be au faitthemselves with how to vote. We cannot lose that element of personal responsibility. Nonetheless, anything that can enhance the democratic process is something we should all support. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House.

Senators Craughwell and Ardagh raised the issue of child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. In the area of mental health, we need to see a continuing improvement of access to waiting lists, and that is a priority for Government. The number of people waiting is 2,738, which has declined marginally from this time last year. The number of those waiting longer than 12 months is currently 336, which is 56 fewer than last year. In saying that, both Senator McFadden and Senator Ardagh have made the case for the need for funding in the HSE service plan for the different community healthcare organisation, CHO, regions. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who I would be happy to have come to the House, will look at the issue of CAMHS in the context of out-of-hours services, seven days a week cover, eating disorders, specialist services, prevention and early intervention. In tandem with an improvement in the number of acute beds and the issue of access to services and referrals, I hope we will see an improvement in the service.I will be happy for the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of drug use in rural Ireland. I am a member of the JPC for Cork city and county. While the figures show that crime levels have reduced, the increase in the incidence of drug-driving is alarming. We need to be more vigilant in that regard. I will be happy to have the issue discussed again in the House.

Senators Higgins and Conway-Walsh raised the issues of exploration, drilling and the climate emergency. We all recognise the need to take significant steps to respond to climate change. The Government has committed to publishing the climate action plan, with actions in every sector, one of which will be looking at our reliance on fossil fuels and increasing our use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation from 30% to 70% by 2030. A debate on the matter is badly needed, but it is interesting to note that neither the Oireachtas committee nor the Citizens' Assembly made any recommendation that exploration be banned, as contained in a Bill on the subject. We must ensure we have a back-up supply when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. If we do not have energy and electricity supplies, we will have another argument. I ask those Members who support the Bill from where are we going to source our power supply in the future.

Senators Craughwell and Ó Céidigh referred to the Defence Forces, as Senator McFadden did yesterday. As this is International Peacekeepers Day, we should all pay tribute to and salute the men and women in the Defence Forces. It is not only about floods but the security they provide and the peacekeeping in which they engage. The Government values the Defence Forces and holds their members in high esteem. That is why the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, established a pay commission to look at their pay and conditions. When its report is published, Senator Craughwell will see further action being taken. Let us wait for it to be published.