Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Mullen. If the schedule that I will issue this afternoon does not have it listed, then I will make sure to add it on.

I thank colleagues for the number of issues that have been raised today. The Tusla report that was raised gives rise to concerns, particularly when the concerns themselves are being expressed and shared by Tusla. It would be very apt to invite in the Minister for a debate on Tusla, its operation, its planned progress and what issues that it might have, so I will request that today.

Based on what Senator Mullen raised, I will ask for a debate. From the number of responses that he has received, he can see that there are still very strong emotions on this debate. I do not think ignoring the facts does justice and service to people's views, so I will again ask the Minister for Health to schedule that debate in the coming weeks.

In response to Senators Ward and Craughwell, I rang their offices and apologise that I did not get them yesterday evening. Progress was only made at Cabinet yesterday morning to advance those talks. I know that information was leaked before the Cabinet made its decision yesterday morning, but all interested parties received an invitation yesterday evening to sit around the table. I am not sure whether people are starting from a different place than other interested agencies, but I do know that every representative body will be sitting around the table and I very much anticipate that they will express their views and the concerns of their members to the negotiators at the table. I genuinely wish them a successful outcome for all of our public services. I know people are coming and starting from different points from a wage, pay and terms of conditions perspective. I hope that they reach a good leap pad, as it were, for the end of it so that there is a good positive outcome for all of them.

In response to Senator Ruane, a number of colleagues raised the issue and the report in The Irish Timesyesterday morning detailing the awful incidences. I wrote yesterday to the Minister and there was a Commencement matter this morning where a Minister gave a response to the effect that the Minister is quite happy to have a debate. I expect to get a date sooner rather than later for a debate on prisoners' conditions, and as soon as I do I will let the Senator know.

Many colleagues - interestingly, mostly women - mentioned that today is the international day for ending discrimination and gender-based violence towards women. I am sometimes dismayed that we have to fight tooth and nail for every little step forward just to be equal in a world where there more of us than the people who seem to deprive us of the equality of opportunity. I will go straight to the end to Senator Boylan's request. I read with interest that Scotland yesterday was the first country, and indeed I hope it is not the last, to end period poverty. The fact is that we have to ask for paraphernalia to be put in a loo for something that happens naturally to a women, and Senator Boylan is absolutely right that if anybody went into a loo and there was no toilet roll, there would be blue murder, so it is beyond me why we must fight for something that is so fundamental to our monthly lives. Enough nonsense and interjections that we are busy doing something else; this is a basic human right for a woman. It is not something that a woman can put off or can say it will not happen, although, thankfully, it stops at some point in a woman's life. However, for the vast majority of a woman's adult life, from about 12 or 13 years of age until she is in her 50s, it is something we have to deal with, so get over it and just put them in every public place, in every toilet, in every university and in every workplace. It should not have to be begged for.

I will ask the lads for their help. We stand up in this House as women and talk about the fact that we constantly have to fight arguments over body shaming, discrimination, gender-based equality, and access to healthcare, education and equality in the boardroom. The only way it is ever going to change is if we all want it to change and we have to stop begging for it. It is a basic human right to have equality of opportunity to access every level of service from the State, and it should be something that all men should want for their womenfolk and family members as much as women want for themselves. Help us out, please. That is definitely a debate. We started it yesterday and it is rescheduled with the other Minister the week after next. I invite the people who did not get access to speaking time yesterday to access that opportunity on the next occasion.

I will ask the Minister for Justice to come in after Christmas for a debate on the upgrade of the capital plan for the Garda. I will also schedule the debate for the technological universities next week.

Senator Hoey raised the issue of the safe return of third level education. That is something we can bring up when the Minister is in the House next week to debate higher education. What we need is consistency, and it is not just that sector that seeks consistency but all of us. We all just want to know what the plans are. I know we have to change plans in terms of how the virus reacts, but we would like to know where we will be in six weeks and six months. I think that will arise from our debate on Thursday, but also, obviously, from the announcement that Government will make arising from the NPHET meeting today.The just transition funding yesterday was very welcome. I wish some of it was coming to my own area, it has given such cheer. It is a real sign that Ireland is changing and we recognise that we need more than a passive engagement to result in the changes required. It was very important to receive that amount of money yesterday.

Others raised the EPA and its chairperson's interview earlier on "Morning Ireland". There is no doubt that this country has serious environmental challenges such as air and water pollution and the surges into our sea from leaks. It is nearly like Groundhog Day. The EPA gives the same report every year and we never seem to make any progress. It definitely needs a debate and I will look for one from the Minister today.

The House will debate reopening Ireland on Thursday. I do not know when either Professor Nolan or Dr. Holohan said that wearing visors was not safe. I will get the text of that. It might be worth reading it into the record here on Thursday, to note precisely when they did say that. It is timely given that we are all hopeful that hospitality and restaurants and pubs will reopen in some shape or form in what hopefully will be a jolly season between now and Christmas.

In response to Senator Garvey, I have mentioned the "L" word a few times in recent weeks over Covid. I do not think loneliness is just an issue that pertains to older people. It might be more prevalent to older people but loneliness and people's well-being is something we need a debate on. I will write to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who has responsibility for well-being and ask him to come to the House for a debate sooner rather than later. It is far more obvious under Covid but there are people who, even under normal circumstances, do not see one person from one Sunday to the next and only do so when they go to mass, perhaps with the exception of someone delivering meals on wheels. Some of our older people do not see anybody from one end of the week to the other and it is not fair. There are also many who are in the midst of lots of people who still experience loneliness. I will ask the Minister for a debate on well-being.

Several Members raised Brexit and its ill effects, including transport links. Next Tuesday lunchtime, the House will start a debate on Brexit. There is no time limit. Everyone can speak for as long as they like. Next Thursday, there is seven hours to deal with Committee and Report Stages of the Brexit Bill. We will definitely have an update before then but everyone will have an opportunity to talk about the ill effects that are coming. We all hope there is a deal but even then we cannot get excited about that because that will have no positive outcome. No deal is less positive but there is no upside to Brexit. That debate will be significant.

On the public health alcohol Bill, I do not know why Northern Ireland and the Republic have not done what they said they would, that is, to work together to provide all-island pricing in unison. We seem to be experiencing a number of difficulties working on an all-Ireland basis in recent months which is an awful pity. I will write to the Minister and send the Senator a written response when I hear back.