Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A wide variety of topics have been raised for discussion. In response to Senator Maria Byrne's matter, I have requested a debate with the Minister for Health on the ongoing vaccination programme. It is quite disheartening to hear that the two people the Senator brought to this House’s attention last week still have not even had contact. I do not know if my office can be of any assistance but I am willing to help. If the Senator would like to make contact with me afterwards, I will see if I can help. I wish the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival every success. It will probably be a little bit strange for those involved to be doing it online. but we will find every way possible to make sure it can be a success.

Senator McGreehan raised a very good idea and I will ask for a debate on her proposal. I would highlight that the public sector supported 750 apprentices last year and will strive to do more. The Minister with responsibility for further and higher education announced only recently that his ambition is for us to have 10,000 apprenticeships. We can all acknowledge our young people have been adversely affected, as have women, because of the pandemic and the unemployment statistics, which are not pleasant to read. It is definitely an issue we will have to debate in the future.

Senator Carrigy asked for the Minister and the CEO of the HSE to meet a local organisation that has championed the project he raised for the past number of years. I will write to Paul Reid and to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, today to ask them to meet those local people to discuss the ongoing events in the Senator’s area.

Senator Garvey spoke of the wonderful work our local enterprise offices and Intreo offices do and reminded us there should be more co-operation between the two to specifically home in on what requirements with respect to educational support, mentoring and work experience are needed in each area. We might have a debate with the Minister with responsibility for employment affairs in the coming weeks on what plans are afoot to make sure we support our unemployed people to get them back into work.

Senator Fitzpatrick, as did Senators Horkan and Senator O'Loughlin at the start of proceedings, spoke of the powerful legacy Seán Lemass has left that is enshrined in many aspects of Irish life. I want to say how powerful and passionate Senator Fitzpatrick's contribution was and not only in paying tribute to Seán Lemass. She had not a note in her hand and she delivered her contribution very eloquently. One would certainly know it came from the heart. I want to acknowledge that to the House.

Senator Boylan spoke of her solidarity with Palestinians and the Ballymurphy families who are awaiting the much anticipated news today from the inquest.I am acknowledging that we are thinking of them. I have requested a debate on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and, once I have a date, I will let colleagues know when that will happen.

Senator Ahearn spoke about An Taisce as indeed did Senator Lombard. It was raised yesterday and I said we will acknowledge and note the comments that have been made.

Senator Dooley asked for a debate on the Irish Water investment programme. I will write to the Minister today and ask for that. It is very poignant, given some of the reports that have been issued this morning and some of the requests that have been made, which should not go down very well not only in political circles but in many other circles in respect of water charges.

Senator Sherlock spoke about the ESRI research that was also mentioned by other Members. This is something on which we should possibly have a debate. Colleagues have asked when we are going to have a debate on the affordable housing Bill, if it is published this week, and I expect it to be published tomorrow. I will try to start that debate next Monday. There will be no confinement in that debate and everybody who wants to discuss the very good merits of the Bill will have the opportunity to do so.

Senator Sherlock also spoke about the vast inequality female artists in this country experience, let alone the discrimination they experience. It was very nice, therefore, to see Imelda May’s long-awaited album go straight to No. 1 in the charts and to see that she is supported by everyone in this country. Long may she reign.

Senator Horkan talked about the reopening of society. We have a debate scheduled and I am just waiting for a date from the Minister and will come back to the Senator on that issue.

Senator Keogan talked this morning about the repair and leasing scheme. There are so many facets to the housing response by the State and this is a very good one. You would wonder sometimes why so few houses, only 234 in four years, which seems like a tiny number of houses, have been put forward to avail of this scheme. A grant of €60,000 is not that small an amount of money to incentivise people. We probably need to look to see if there are other routes or if there are other issues within the industry or sector that cause people not to want to reinvest in their houses and lease them back to the local authority. That should form part of the wider debate on housing we will have in the House in the coming weeks.

Senator Keogan also mentioned the review, which was also mentioned by Senator Mullen, on the third anniversary of the legislation to repeal the eighth amendment and the introduction of rights for women in this country that we never had before. That review will take place at some stage this year and we will come back to it once I get a date from the Minister.

Senator Kyne talked about the Galway harbour company and the vision it has to do something similar to what was done in the Dublin docklands area, which has been much rejuvenated in the past 20 years. The Government’s decision and the port’s role in the future development of international trade in this country, given that we are a very small island, will play a vital role in this. I look forward to seeing that Government decision and of it being in favour of Galway.

Senator O’Donovan talked about reopening and urged us all to be cautious, as indeed did Senator Ahearn with regard to the use of antigen tests. I mentioned yesterday in one of my musings that rather than being so critical of the use of antigen tests from the perspective of NPHET, we would all have been brought a little bit more along the process had the wording of one of our adviser’s tweets been a little bit more encouraging of us and perhaps of having a positive campaign on the best use of antigen tests and how their results can be administered. I am also mindful, and I do not mean this in any disrespectful way to Senator Ahearn, that women and their partners in this country have been using pregnancy tests since time immemorial and we have no problem reading the instructions and figuring out what the actual results mean. An antigen test, therefore, is not going to be that much more difficult, but I take the Senator's point.

Senator Warfield talked about the affordable housing Bill. As I said, if it is published tomorrow, I hope to bring it before the House next week. The Senator also acknowledge our position on the UN Security Council with regard to condemning the conflict in Palestine and Israel. As I said, I will come back again once I have a date for that debate.

Senator Pauline O’Reilly spoke about something that is very topical recently. A lady I have great admiration for, Anne O’Leary, the head of Vodafone Ireland, introduced a menopausal policy in the company, which is one of the largest employers in the country. It is an example that many more employers could take on board and it is definitely something we could have a conversation in the House about because it impacts not just the many women in this country going through that at a certain time in their lives but also their families, employers and work colleagues because of the impact it has on a woman’s health.

Senator Mullen spoke about our abortion laws. We can all acknowledge he has a particular view and other colleagues have a different view. This does not take away from the fact the review of the legislation after three years will take place this year, and it may be appropriate to have a conversation about the review and allow people to express their concerns or indeed their positivity towards the new medical care available for women in this country.

Senator Bacik spoke about the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and looking for a condemnation. She also sought a housing debate which it is hoped we will have next week.

Senator O’Loughlin opened with a tribute to Seán Lemass and sought a very urgent assessment of the review that is needed of the driving test backlog. Some 100,000 of our people are looking and waiting to have their driving tests. Under normal circumstances that would take years and that is certainly not something that can be countenanced. I look forward to the response of the Minister for Transport as to how he intends to manage that.

There was one amendment proposed. Unfortunately I cannot accept it for two reasons. One is that we are time constrained today and have to leave at 1 o’clock, which means the last vote has to be called 15 minutes beforehand. Probably more importantly, however, the Bill is going to the Dáil on Thursday and I could not ask for it to be rolled over until next Monday. The four Government amendments are technical ones and should not take any more than about 15 minutes, which would give an hour to discuss and debate the Senator’s amendment, which I hope may be enough for her. I thank the Cathaoirleach.