Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleagues. I am slightly in shock to hear Senator Daly say that we have 800,000 dogs and that only 217,000 of them are licensed. That should be something that is relatively simple to enforce yet we are not doing it.

Deputy Casey raised the wonderful initiative of Ruby. It is particularly topical in conversation for the past 12 months when all of us have been walking around our villages because there has been nothing else to do. The amount of dog faeces in this country is phenomenal, and we all know the reason for that. There is a row in my house every day when we bring the dog for a walk about who is on bag duty. We all hate carrying the bags but if there were bins in our villages, we would not have to carry the bag the whole way. That would stop people hiding them in hedges or hanging them on bushes. The idiocy of people who do that never ceases to amaze me but it can only be because they do not want to carry them the 5 km around their villages. The real need is not to have an awareness campaign, and it would very valuable, but to put bins on all walks and greenways in our villages. We need to be forward thinking when we are providing new routes for people or planning routes around our villages through Slí na Sláinte initiatives or whatever to make sure that we have the facilities for people to dispose of what obviously comes naturally to a dog when we bring them out of our houses. I am sorry for that rant.

I will bring the recommendations of the agriculture committee to the Minister’s attention. It is something that is very important, particularly at this time of the year. Most people in our towns and villages do not realise the impact of their dog running out of the house and what it can turn into in respect of our sheep and lambs. We should be very much aware of it to ensure our dogs do not slip off their leads or get out of the back garden. I will write a letter to the Minister today.

On Senator Ahearn's issue, for the past number of weeks there has been a standing invitation to the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Transport, Deputies Michael McGrath and Eamon Ryan, to come to the House to discuss the national development plan with all of us and to hear our concerns, issues and ideas. I had very much hoped that that would happen before the closing date of 19 February because it seems silly to have it after that date when the horse has already bolted. I have not received a date from either Minister yet but my office we will continue to push for that.

In all of our counties, there are certain projects that are at an advanced stage of development. Not all of them are road projects but other infrastructural projects that people are relying upon for the future development of their counties and their areas. We all need reassurances that those at an advanced stage will continue with the support of Government and local authorities but also that information on those that are or may be under review or for reconsideration should also be passed on so that we all know exactly where we stand. I will come back to the Senator as soon as I have the date for that debate.

I commend young Ruby. She is a little doll. When it takes a little lady like her to point out something that all of us moan and groan about, there should be a national awareness campaign. As already stated, however, having the necessary infrastructure would provide a solution to the problem. We would then not have to continually moan about it.

Senator Boylan referred to the Stardust tragedy. This is one of the earliest memories I have of a national disaster. I was only nine. It was shocking then and it is even more shocking now to hear her describe the difficulties the families who lost loved ones are still having 40 years later in trying to get answers to what actually happened on that night. I heard a lady make a comment this morning that if the events of that tragic night had happened in a more salubrious area, we would not be having this conversation now. We would have long ago had memorials and testimonies attributed to the people who lost their lived and all of the families who have suffered ever since. What is going on is an absolute disgrace and I certainly will write to the Minister today, not just on Senator Boylan's behalf but on behalf of everybody.

I sincerely apologise to Senator Joe O'Reilly. I told him that I would find a date for him the last time he raised the matter. I know this issue is particularly important to him, as it is to others. He is absolutely right. Every time I have turned on the television recently, I have seen advertisements for the large types of casinos that I always associated with very late-night viewing on particular television stations.They now seem to just be on our mainstream stations as if they are legitimate, attractive and something that should be part of the normal daily discourse. They absolutely should not.

Senator Cassells is right. I cannot believe he has a nine year old. He is making me feel really old. We know our rates of ownership of phones per capita are some of the highest in the world and this starts very young with our children. We all absolutely know that most young people from the ages of approximately ten, 11, 12 and upwards are walking around with a very dangerous weapon in their pocket, not just because of the potential for gambling but for all the other things they can access. I will definitely push for a date for that discussion but I am at the mercy of the Minister and the team. It may be very apt for us to have a debate or statements as a form of pre-legislative scrutiny or to indicate what we would like to see in the upcoming legislation. I will try to arrange that in the next couple of weeks.

Senator Fitzpatrick and others brought up the very welcome announcement of €240 million for transport infrastructure yesterday. We are pushing an open door, particularly as the past 12 months have seen people pounding the pavements and out on their bicycles, which is welcome. It has probably accelerated the spread of the enthusiasm that some of us have for walking and cycling to the rest of the population at a much faster rate than we would have seen otherwise. It is a very welcome announcement and I look forward to us extolling the virtues of all the projects in our constituencies as they are developed over the next couple of months. That €240 million is very welcome.

Senator Paul Daly spoke about the money too and he and Senator O'Loughlin mentioned that there is only one bridge in Newbridge, which flabbergasts me. We absolutely need a debate on transport, not just in our towns but in all our urban and rural communities. We need the national development plan to be outlined as it applies to this infrastructure, including motorways. There is a standing request to the Minister for Transport to come in to have a conversations with us. It is not scheduled for next week but it might be on the cards for the week after. As soon as I have a date again, I will let the Senators know.

The communications committee had a hearing on not only the funding of local media but that of the national media, and particularly our print media. There is an extension of funds to all our local and national media through the wage subsidy schemes, including the Covid restrictions support scheme and new schemes announced this week. It is a tragedy and a pity when we hear of staff being stood down because most of us know the people representing our local newspapers, whether photographers or journalists. They are being stood down because advertising in local newspapers has fallen to a trickle. The number of people purchasing newspapers has dropped significantly in the past 12 months so there is a real need for support. I very much hope that commission on communications advances the required funding not just on a national perspective but on a local perspective.

Senator Cassells spoke poignantly about the concerns we have for children and I will arrange a debate with the relevant Minister as a precursor to the legislation. A number of people raised the question of the leaving certificate and I will speak to that at the end.

Senator Buttimer spoke about this and we will have a new living with Covid plan, although I know we are all bloody sick to the back teeth of living with Covid and just wish it was over. We all recognise that there is a couple of months at least left in this phase of our lives. We must recognise that the past number of months have been incredibly difficult. My husband said to me this morning that Dublin has effectively been in lockdown since 13 September last year, which seems like aeons ago. With the exception of one week over Christmas, the people of Dublin have not been allowed go outside their county or 5 km from where they live. If we have as many months in our future in which we must live with lockdown as seems to be the case, we must recognise the socio-economic and social impact on every section of society. Different people in the House have asked for debates on Covid's effects on the front line, women and children, for example, but there is no section of society that has not been or is continuing to feel an impact from Covid. We may have got through the months before Christmas because we had Christmas to look forward to.I recognise that mistakes were made and that hindsight is wonderful but right now, nobody has anything to look forward to. Last night, we were told through the media, which is a huge pity, that we potentially are facing another seven weeks of level 5 restrictions. To be told that, with no prospect of light at the end of the tunnel, is difficult for people who are in the whole of their health but it must be incredibly difficult for those who are teetering on the brink at the moment. Therefore, we do need a debate on living with Covid in this House in the next few weeks. I hope it is held before the plan is launched in order that our ideas can be fed into the plan. Sport, and safe sport in particular, is definitely something that needs to be brought in. Perhaps this could be not just for elite athletes but also for those who are teetering on the brink and need an outlet of an evening. I will try to organise that debate in the next few weeks.

Senator Warfield talked about his motion and I very much look forward to the debate when he tables it in the few weeks during Private Members' time.

Senator Martin lauded the allocation of €240 million to councils for walking and cycling infrastructure. While this is something that is close to his heart and that of his party, as we all have encompassed a new-found love of walking and cycling, we will enjoy spending that money.

We may have to start referring to Senator Hoey as the Senator for students because each week, she brings up different issues in relation to the difficulties students are facing. I have issued an invitation to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to come to the House to talk about students practically, if not entirely, learning remotely this year, about what are the plans for the coming years and about the issues raised by Senator Hoey this morning. It makes perfect sense to me, as it should to the organisers of practicals in universities, to only bring students to universities on as few occasions as possible. It would make sense for universities to arrange practicals together. Obviously, something must definitely be done next year for those students who have already paid fees but who have been unable to access their rooms or dorms at all this year. I will relay that information back to the Minister.

Senator Boyhan spoke beautifully about the impact the "RTÉ Investigates" programme shown on Monday night had on everybody who watched it. One would have to be the most cold and cruel person not to feel heartbroken at witnessing the way nurses and doctors put so much into their work after such a long period. They are still enthusiastic about the care they provide even after so long. The Senator is right to state that something must be done. It is not just about money and rounds of applause. That was all lovely last year but we have all come so far down the road this year that we now recognise that more needs to be done. I will talk to the Minister about the kind of tribute we can make to those workers. I am not sure that it should just extend to those to whom Senator Boyhan referred, who are immediately looking after Covid patients, because stress levels are also high in other sections of our health service.

Senator O'Loughlin raised the issue of roads in Kildare and the welcome advances for the money but we all recognise that there is a long way to go. When we consider that there are five or six schools close to the only bridge in Newbridge, it is clear that there is a long way to go.

I will finish by noting a number of colleagues raised the issue of the disappointing announcement by the ASTI yesterday evening. It is disappointing because some of us are teachers and many of us are parents of children who are doing their leaving certificate examinations. Mostly, it is disappointing because we want certainty for students and young people. I spoke just now about the impact of the pandemic on those who are in the whole of their health. Young people are at an important stage in the development of their lives. They need certainty and it was promised to them a few weeks ago. The Minister for Education said that there would be certainty last week. The Taoiseach said this week that there will be certainty next week. That was thrown in the air last night.

I am most surprised at the behaviour of the media. Perhaps in some ways, I should not be, because there always has to be a hero and a villain. It was in no way helpful for the media to attack teachers last night. I certainly do not think it was helpful for them to do so this morning. Any teachers that I know - I am sure it is the same for us all - are engaged in teaching our children from 8.40 a.m. or 9 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. or 4 p.m. every single day. They are as exhausted and stressed as our children. I completely believe that the ASTI wants what is best for the children. The accusations made against the organisation last night were most unhelpful and will not have a positive impact. The Senators are correct to state that the only place that negotiations and positive outcomes happen is around the table. The ASTI is meeting the Minister this afternoon. I very much hope that the meeting does bring it back to the table. While I also know that a decision will be reached on the leaving certificate, I wish to God that it was made sooner, rather than extending the pain, suffering, anxiety and stress that young people and their parents have been going through for many months now. I wish the Minister every success this afternoon.