Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank colleagues. I do not know how we can support Senator Ó Donnghaile. The provision of an Irish language Act is incredibly important in the whole island of Ireland and, indeed, to our diaspora. If there is anything that he specifically thinks we can do to help in this House, or as a Government, I would be very willing to help and hear him. The Irish language has beautiful words and we do not use them enough. Some of us use them a hell of a lot more than others and we should certainly promote the Irish language. So if there is anything that I can do to support the Senator, I certainly will. Senator Lombard made an incredibly important and timely request. I will contact the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, by letter to ask him to consider a campaign on farm safety for the next couple of weeks. We know the harvest has been delayed because of the incredibly bad weather in May and it is certainly not something we should be trying to catch up on by cutting corners so I will contact the Minister of State today on behalf of everyone.

Senator McGahon spoke about swimming lessons, an issue raised by a number of colleagues last week after a very important meeting with the sector. Our children, particularly some smaller children, babies and their mammies, have not had an opportunity to bond and learn that life skill. As we know and reports have shown us, swimming pools are among the safest places in this country and I think we will hear that a lot more in the next couple of months. Please God, everywhere will be safe. They are places we need to reopen so I will put a call into the Department of the Taoiseach today to ensure it is announced on Friday with the rest of the announcements we are looking forward to.

Senators Horkan and Dooley spoke about the incredible incident that occurred in the past number of days with the hijacking of the Ryanair aeroplane. The public was made aware of more details yesterday evening about how military jets forced the two very experienced pilots to return to Belarus. It is incredible. It is something one would see or expect to see in a movie, and not in real life. The EU sanctions announced yesterday are very welcome. The US following suit today will also be very welcome but what we need are real economic sanctions. The no-fly zone is a good start but we need to demand the release of the political prisoners who have been taken in the past number of days and impose economic sanctions that will really hurt Belarus and force it into a recognition that we live in a democratic society and its carry-on will not be tolerated.

Senators O'Loughlin and Keogan and others raised the issue of the review next year of the legislation passed following the referendum on the eighth amendment. I know we might be a bit ahead of ourselves as the legislation was not passed until 2019 so the three-year review will commence next year. I am not aware of the exact context of it but I will write to the Minister. I think Members have been very balanced and aware this morning that some people think the Act has some limitations while others think it went too far. The fact that we have a relatively small number of GPs willing to give the service shows how important the clause was so that if it went against a person's beliefs, he or she had the ability to opt out. That sits very well with some people and does not sit well with others but the review needs to be comprehensive and independent. I will see if I can find more information and come back to Members.

Senator O'Loughlin also mentioned what provided and still provides inspiration - the inspiration that Shane Griffin offered. We need a debate but more importantly, we need a programme of legislation. I do not know how anybody else feels but I have young people at home who are only 18 and 19. Perhaps this is just the mammy in me but I do not consider them adults to be set free who are able to forge their way. I still feel they need guidance, help and most of all, money on a Friday. That is very true of all our young adults who have lived most of their lives in care homes. It does not just stop at 18. They do not just grow up and suddenly become independent and the State certainly does not treat them that way so it is really timely that we have that debate and I will try to arrange it as quickly as I can.

Senator Conway also touched on the three-year review but more importantly, he spoke about Taiwan not being allowed access to the table of the World Health Organization. I will talk to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and see how we can help with regard to that. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science met with various members of parliamentary parties yesterday. The Connacht-Ulster Alliance will be very welcome. It is lovely to see regions that have had no universities over the past coming together and working together for the betterment and education of our children and I very much support this.

Senator Seery Kearney raised a vital issue. I do not think we realise how many people are isolated and locked away in our hospitals through no fault of their own or their families. We have reinstated visiting rights in nursing homes and it is certainly something that needs to be addressed. More importantly, these people should not be in hospital at all. They should be at home with home care packages so I will send a letter, as the Senator requested, today.

The massive backlog in driving tests and driver theory tests will become very evident to all of us in the next number of weeks as society starts to reopen. The figure of 100,000 on both waiting lists is astronomical and needs to be addressed. I will ask the Minister to come to the House for a debate, although it is proving difficult to get debates at the moment because in the run-up to the recess, everybody's time is becoming very tight. Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the need for pop-up driving test centres in Limerick given that there is a backlog of 3,000. I will write to the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and ask her to come back to us with a response on this issue.

Senator Fitzpatrick also asked about the review of the eighth amendment legislation. Once I have information on that issue, I will come back to her.

In the way she so eloquently does, Senator Ruane described how the State has provided a solution to a problem that does not exist in Killinarden where she lives. She pointed out the disconnect regarding officials who sit around the table thinking they are solving problems that do not actually exist while ignoring the real evidence of what is required in communities. I will ask the Minister to come to the House for a debate on the actual activities that would suffice and solve the real problems that exist in society. I will come back to the Senator on that.

Senator Warfield spoke about his dismay at Seanad reform having slowed down. I would suggest to him that he has not been to any of the meetings of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of Seanad Éireann for the past couple of months because it is on the agenda every single week and will certainly form part of our Seanad 100 response. I think this is down to the Cathaoirleach and I appreciate and support him for doing that.

Senators Dooley and Garvey highlighted the unacceptable conditions in Kilkee and other places around the country. I will ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to come to the House for a debate but in the absence of that, to meet us to talk about solutions.

Senator Sherlock spoke about when we reopen fully over the coming weeks. It will obviously be very welcome and we will do it cautiously. The most important thing we need to do is make sure that the people who have been hurt and harmed the most by Covid do not get left behind. The national economic recovery plan will be a major road map regarding how we recover as an economy and society to be able to support people earning their own livelihoods. That is something that will be very welcome in the next couple of weeks.

Senator Mullen raised a very important issue. When someone makes a false statement in court, it is perjury and he or she can be charged. When someone makes a false statement to PIAB, nothing actually happens. I do not think this is right, particularly given that this was supposed to be the way to stop people from having to go to court. It is certainly something I will bring up with the Minister but we might be able to produce legislation ourselves. I might talk to the Senator again but I will certainly bring it to the attention of the Minister.

Last week, it was remiss of me not to address an issue raised by Senator Keogan. She spoke about a project she started a number of weeks ago called the Feel Good Project. She described how during the past couple of months when we have all been walking around our towns and villages, she and a considerable number of Independent councillors around the country got together and put up some lovely signs of flowers and rainbows. I have some in my own village. The signs are really nice and they lift people's spirits. The sentiment behind the project was incredibly kind and thoughtful and I pay tribute to and congratulate the Senator.