Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Several debates have been requested and those requests will be passed on to the various Ministers with responsibility.

Senator Gallagher made a poignant point about the sacrifice of the people in dealing with Covid. We are at a difficult point in the pandemic six months in. There is Covid fatigue. People are frustrated and have had enough. I think there was an expectation when this began that it would be finished by now, but we are probably not even halfway at this point. We had a little respite for the summer months of July and August, when there was an easing of the restrictions and society opened up a little bit. Psychologically, people and communities needed that but now, as we head towards the winter months and the annual flu season, the impending pressure on our health service and on the front-line workers who are dealing with that is very worrying for all of us. There is now a real need to knuckle down and do the basics right, such as hand-washing, personal responsibility and mask-wearing, all of which are very important. All of us here are community leaders. It is important that we use our media and social media platforms and interactions we have in our communities to drive that message home for the next few months. Winter will be difficult, more so for some than for others. For those living alone or in isolation or those who are less able to get out and about, it will be a difficult couple of months and we all need to play our part to help people through that.

Senator Carrigy raised the prospect of holding a pre-budget debate on agriculture. I will do my best to request a date from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, although I cannot guarantee that will be forthcoming.The agriculture sector is heading into a very difficult number of months as we approach the next Brexit deadline. We have had a number of those deadlines but the 1 January deadline for the end of the transition period poses a very real and serious threat to the agriculture sector in particular. The people involved are extremely worried about that and Senator Carrigy has raised a number of matters that I am sure representatives of the Irish Farmers Association have raised with many of us and which are worthy of consideration.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of Shannon Airport and I have dealt with this through the Private Members' debate. I hope it will give Members an opportunity to raise the matter. I agree with the Senator's suggestion of a joined-up approach for all our airports and we should not allow a position where airlines dictate how things are run in this country. It is very worthy of a conversation in this House as to how we might approach that matter because of Shannon being brought out of the remit of the Dublin Airport Authority and the complexities that come with that.

Senator Dooley raised the matter of climate action and the need for a Minister to come before the House to speak on it. I completely agree with that. Climate will be the major issue, along with Covid-19 and Brexit, in political discourse for the next four to five years if we get that far, as Senator Higgins has said. I hope we can. It is an important debate to have and we should be to the fore in Seanad Éireann in debating the issue. The just transition fund has been a major success in the midlands and I see no reason it cannot be extended if a particular area meets the criteria. I agree the Moneypoint region of west Clare is one of the areas that could certainly benefit from coming under that fund.

Senator Ahearn raised the matter of sport and the very important role it plays in helping people in communities to deal with the pandemic. Sport is a really important part of our lives, whether we play it or go to watch others play, or even whether we have families involved. Sport is at the heart of most rural communities, in particular. Pressure on local sports clubs will increase and they have not had the same access to fundraising that they would have normally. In normal times, fundraising would kick back into action now after the summer so certain supports will need to be put in place to ensure that at the local and grassroots level, small sporting organisations will not be left behind.

Senator Black raised the question of mental health and the very real impact that Covid-19 is having on it. We know it is a major problem and this will only get worse if we do not take action now. It is very welcome that the United Nations and World Health Organization have indicated that countries should be very aware of this and take positive action to try to address the matter. It can very often be an unspoken result of Covid-19. Physical ailments can be very easy to see or address but mental health can be much more difficult to deal with. There is isolation, loneliness and an impact on younger people. The Senator hit the nail on the head by saying young people have suffered terribly through the pandemic because so much has been taken from them, including access to friends, the potential for new relationships and a college experience. So much has changed in a short period and we are asking much of our young people. Their mental health must be cared for by the Government.

Senator Cassells raised the matter of vaping and e-cigarettes. It is a real issue and the Senator mentioned the obnoxious vapours that are emitted by users of e-cigarettes. I agree with the Senator and there is not really enough expertise around e-cigarettes just yet as they are still quite new. It is worrying to see so many younger people in the schoolyard and outside secondary schools vaping at lunch or before and after school as if it is a game. Maybe it is slightly better than having a cigarette but I do not really know - because we do not really know.