Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I tell you, a Chathaoirligh, Ruth Lawlor is a cracking, energetic woman. It is Senator Buttimer’s privilege to work with her, as indeed it has been for many other Fine Gael politicians over the years. It is a real credit to her because she is one great woman. I wish her well and continued success in her career here in Leinster House campus.

To answer Senator Buttimer's request, I will organise the debate on sexual health when we come back in September. To Senator Horkan I say we are all privileged to have him re-elected. He is a prominent member of this Seanad and makes welcome contributions, not least of which was today when he reminded us of the contribution Dr. Seán McCarthy made in his political life and of his service to his local community. I send condolences on behalf of all of us here in Seanad Éireann, along with those of Senators Horkan and Burke, to his family on his passing.

Senator Fitzpatrick talked about the housing advances we have made. We all acknowledge that a lot has been done in the past year but much more has to be done.

Senator Wall requested a debate on financing and banking. What some of the larger banking institutions are talking about doing is quite insidious. I will certainly organise that debate after the summer recess.

Senator Ward talked about the welcome visit of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya today and tomorrow. She will meet representatives of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and both the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, tomorrow. She is very welcome.With 550 political prisoners in prisons in Belarus we have an awful long way to go to redress the situation. I join Senator Ward in agreeing far more serious sanctions need to be employed on behalf of the European Union to address the issue that Lukashenko is in that country and what he is doing to his people.

Senator Murphy talked about an issue many people find incredibly frustrating. I certainly will raise it with the Minister. Indoor summer camps have been refused the ability to open whereas hundreds of thousands of children have been going safely to school for many months since they reopened. It is a dichotomy people cannot understand; how is it safe in one environment for our children to go to school but it is not safe for them to go to indoor camps? I will raise the issue and I hope we will get it addressed quickly because the summer will be over before we know it.

Senator Gavan talked about the ongoing issues he has experienced in Limerick. To be honest with him, we are probably blue in the face raising it here. I do not mean to be disrespectful to him but every week we raise it we get reassurances and the following week we are told of the stories of women being prohibited from having their birth partners with them. It really is not on. I will certainly raise it again with the Minister for Health today but I could nearly tell the Senator that I will be told he sent the letter. The only thing I can suggest we do is to keep highlighting it so that people still know the frustrations women and men are experiencing.

I want to comment on the other matter the Senator raised. I am quite nervous about doing that given I am no longer in the Department and it is probably not politically correct to comment. I gave reassurances while I was there that there is a space for every single offering, probably far more so today than there would have been when I left in February when we were at near full employment. Our job clubs and local employment services do enormous work in parts of the country where private enterprise would not bother their backsides ever going. These are honourable decent people who extend the services far more widely than the contracts they have with the State. There is a place for every offering to all the people who are unemployed. The Minister launched Pathways to Work yesterday for some of those extra hundreds of thousands of people who have become unemployed because of the pandemic and will find it difficult to get jobs. There is a place for all offering their services. I concur and stand with our job clubs and local employment services. They have been giving services to the State for many generations and will be needed in time to come. I will ask for a debate on that issue when we resume in the autumn.

Senator Cummins talked about a pathway to reopening indoor hospitality and the reopening of summer camps, bingo halls and other such venues. We need to get to a scenario where people who are vaccinated are able to feel the liberties they were promised by that vaccination and we must also provide pathways for those people who either cannot or do not want to get vaccinated to be able to get back to some sort of a new normal. I will organise a debate on that matter for the Senator in September.

Senator Dooley asked for a debate on dental health services for people with medical cards, which is an issue not only in his home county of Clare but in every county. Many of our dentists have stopped providing services to medical card patients, which is not acceptable without a plan B from the Department. I will organise a debate on that issue.

Senator Mullen talked about the gambling Bill. It is unusual to see the separate arms of State interjecting, particularly the President, in a political matter, but this issue is far greater than a political one. It is an insidious issue that stretches into our towns and counties and it certainly needs to be addressed. Both Senator Wall's and Senator Ward's Bills should be advanced but in the absence of those being brought forward in the Senators' Private Members' times I will try to make inroads into what the Government’s plans are and come back to the Senator Mullen on it. It is definitely something that should be done sooner rather than later. I for one very much welcomed the President's intervention at the weekend as this is such a serious issue and has caused and continues to cause many problems, and is a blight on many people's lives.

Senator O’Loughlin talked about Pat Tinsley and a drug being awarded funding over the weekend, which is welcome. She raised that issue on several occasions. It is a testament to her tenacity and persistence that this drug is now on the drugs scheme. I congratulate the Senator and wish her continued success in her other anticipated campaigns. She also raised the 12-month ban on blood donations. It seems illogical and ties in with Senator Buttimer's request for a debate on sexual health. We will arrange that for the end of the summer to try to get some changes made in that regard..

Senator Boylan talked about fracked gas. I will ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss the issues she raised.

Senator Ruane raised the issue of the expulsion of children. Stepping Stones is a school in Kilcloon with which I have been involved for many years. The expulsion of Conor was something that was very difficult for both sides, but a debate is needed on this issue. There are children who provide challenging behaviour who are not suitable for our schools. Instead of expelling the children we need to add additional resources to the schools to make sure children like Conor can continue to go to school, get collected by the bus every day and enjoy the obvious benefits of being in an environment where they can grow, make friends and continue their social and educational life.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of the search and rescue, SAR, contract, as he has done on a number of occasions. On the last occasion he raised it I wrote to the Secretary General of the Department of Transport looking for some answers for him. I will come back to him once I get a response to that letter.

Senator Kyne spoke about the planning application for a new greenway for the west from Oughterard and Moycullen right up to Galway. It would be a stonking welcome addition for the tourists. I wish the people there success with it.

Senator Chambers opened the Order of Business of business by raising the issue of the Alzheimer's day care centres. There is one in Skerries we are desperately trying to get open. It is an issue that has caused considerable angst to dementia and Alzheimer's sufferers and patients during the past 12 months. They have lost an enormous social outlet and it has caused an acceleration of many of their symptoms. It is unacceptable we do not have plan B for those that will not open now or in September. We need to make sure we put the necessary resources and finances in place. The Minister is committed to this issue and to getting the venues that are not suitable for reopening to be in a position where they are suitable for reopening.

I am happy to accept the amendment proposed by the Leader of the Fianna Fáil group for the taking of the stalking Bill. I very much welcome it and wish her every success in getting it passed through the House.