Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to highlight a couple of issues related to the Order of Business. The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations are to be referred without debate to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While I do not propose an amendment to the Order of Business, I ask the Leader to provide an opportunity at some point to debate policy on the horse and greyhound racing fund, a substantial and guaranteed fund of €55 million per annum. Approximately €80 million was allocated for the fund last year. It is a huge subsidy that, legally, is automatically built in every year. We need to debate if it is the best use of public funds. In previous debates following calls for support on key issues, including animal welfare and social welfare payments, we were asked to point to areas in which changes could be made. This is one area in which we may need to make changes. We need to consider if it is the best use of public resources and whether it should be reviewed and revised. While I am happy to support the proposal that the motion be referred to the joint committee without debate, I ask that when it is returned to the Seanad, or perhaps in advance of the taking of the Finance Bill 2019, we be given an opportunity to debate it.

I also ask the to Leader schedule a debate on the issue of child homelessness. The number of children experiencing homelessness now stands at 4,000. Last week two reports on the issue were published, namely, the report on family and child homelessness by the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government and the report on the impact of homelessness on children by the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. The joint launching of the reports was unprecedented. This shows that the issue is emerging as a source of massive concern and that homelessness is affecting, in particular, the next generation and their opportunities. The model in place is creating intergenerational poverty and inequality. We need to address the issue. I would, therefore, welcome an opportunity to debate both reports and, in particular, child homelessness. The reports acknowledge the long-lasting detrimental effects of homelessness on children which extend into their adult lives. They also contain a number of recommendations. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, to come to the House to debate these issues as a matter of urgency?

I have just returned from the 25th International Conference on Population and Development, ICPD, which was held in Nairobi. It was an incredible summit which brought together 9,000 activists working on women's health and women's rights across the world. The issues discussed include child marriage, female genital mutilation, maternal mortality, access to contraception and health clinics.