Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank colleagues for their support. The mass arranged by the Ceann Comhairle for the late Sir David Amess following his tragic death is tomorrow, Thursday, 21 October at 12.45 p.m. at St. Teresa's Church on Clarendon Street. I am sure people will want to pay their respects.

Senator McGahon spoke this morning about the need for an online safety commission and regulator of all our online social spaces. Senator Malcolm Byrne regularly speaks on the same topic. There is certainly a variety of different views on any number of topics that can be discussed on social media. What concerns me and what must be absolutely regulated is when the debate becomes incredibly divisive, abusive, threatening and harassing. It does not seem to take much to get people from just having a conversation or interaction to being called a Nazi. It does not take very long. We must further that discussion and support the Minister in all his efforts to ensure we get that online safety commission and regulator, along with a culture of regulation, into social media. People are allowed to think what they want and we must certainly respect people's views and the differences therein. We do not have to tolerate being threatened and called horrible names.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the need for screening in nursing homes. Although we are in a very different place than we were last year, there are definitely some concerns that we did not learn from what happened at the beginning of this pandemic. I very much support the Senator in asking the Minister to provide the resources to our nursing homes, both public and private, to ensure all staff receive boosters and that visitors allowed in are screened. The Senator is right that many nursing homes are not allowing in visitors because of the current spike in numbers.

I will write a letter to inquire about transport capacity. It is interesting that the Senator notes the two relatively private industries - coach tourism and school transport - are at 50% or 75% but the public transport system is at 100% capacity. There seems to be another anomaly there but I will write a letter today inquiring about that.

Senator Garret Ahearn and Micheál Carrigy asked for a debate on rural regeneration and I will write to the Minister today to see if we can get in that debate before Christmas. What Senator Carrigy described this morning is an example of an organisation being penny wise and pound foolish. It makes absolutely no sense that we incur costs in one part of the health service because we cannot afford to expend costs in another that would then save costs on the initial side. I do not know if there is anything I can do for the Senator but I might speak to him after the Order of Business to see if I can help with that hospice bed in Longford.

When I was first elected to the Oireachtas in 2011 and former Deputy Alan Shatter was made the Minister with responsibility for justice, he spent an inordinate amount of time looking at progressing the legislation around surrogacy because he had a huge interest in it. Here we are 11 years later still trying to tell people how difficult it is. I have no doubt it is not easy but that does not mean it should not be prioritised. It is really shocking to read again, in a Sunday newspaper, about extended delays with the three Departments working together. Again, I will send a letter to the Minister but we should ask for a meeting so we can find out exactly what is at the root of the problem and ensure we can give reassurances to the considerable number of families and children directly affected by this debacle. I will come back to Senator Seery Kearney about that.

Senators Martin Conway, Barry Ward and Jerry Buttimer asked for a debate on antisocial behaviour. When we started this conversation a couple of months ago we spoke about big cities like Dublin, Limerick and Cork but it is not a problem just in big cities any more. I live in a relatively small town and there is a gang of 15-year-olds and 16-year-olds going around beating up 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds. Our noticeboards are alight at the weekend asking if we have seen a particular fellow with a particular colour hair. It is the attitude and culture.

Senator Barry Ward spoke about our larger cities and the prevailing change in culture that affects our new Irish. The gentleman he spoke about is not new because he is 103. He is here a long time. We really must check ourselves and ensure correct measures can be put in place to try to arrest that kind of change in our culture.

The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, spoke about multi-species sward feeds and the use of clovers in grasslands. Her contribution was very welcome.Senator McGreehan seconded the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 that will be introduced by Senator Martin. I really hope it gets cross-party support. Both Senators are right that there is a crisis and it is not a small issue, particularly for people earning their living and producing food.

Senator Burke asked for a climate debate. I will try to arrange this. Senator Horkan asked for a debate on the hospitality sector and the confusion caused yesterday. To be fair to the Ministers at the Cabinet table yesterday, they were trying to react in a timely manner to the information they had and to give as much notice as they possibly could. They really are caught between a rock and a hard place. I have no doubt that based on consultation today and tomorrow those anomalies will be ironed out. There are obviously some, if not many, inconsistencies and they will also be fixed.

Senator Gavan talked about a family renting from the local authority in Limerick. What he said was absolutely outrageous. I do not know whether it is worth my while writing on our behalf to the county manager or the CEO. It is absolutely unacceptable. Can we imagine the headlines on the front of the Daily Mailor the Irish Independentif a private landlord said not to mind a shower and that people would be grand in a couple of years' time. It is not acceptable. It should not make a difference who the landlord is. Landlords have responsibilities and tenants have rights. I will write a letter and send it to Senator Gavan today. Perhaps he will have a look at it and send it back.

Senator Cassells spoke about the intervention of the Minister yesterday on the accident and emergency department in Navan, which was very welcome. Senator Craughwell reminded us of a programme on Jadotville that will be shown tonight on RTÉ at 7 p.m. He also spoke about the need for a Government information and education programme on trying to encourage vaccination. I really do not think telling people vaccine centres are open and to come along on Saturday will be enough to bring some of the 300,000 people left. If they have genuine concerns we need to address them. A different type of education and information programme might be warranted and needed.

Senator Lombard asked for a debate on water services specific to Cork. We could probably widen it out. A considerable number of housing developments are being delayed because they do not have access to the services required for the sites. We need to iron these out and come up with some short-term solutions.

Senator Davitt asked for a debate on carbon and our climate action budgets. We will try to arrange this. Senator Black spoke about the awful news released over the weekend with regard to the 108 incidents of abuse over many years. What I think is most shocking is that the direction of the Minister to publish the report continues to be ignored. This is absolutely astounding. I will certainly send a letter looking for an interim report from the Law Reform Commission for the Senator and we will see where it goes.

Senator Moynihan spoke about musicians and the announcements coming from the deliberations over the coming days. I hope we have them before Friday. Senator Martin spoke about his Bill. Senator Boyhan expressed concerns about waiting lists and I will certainly ask the Minister to attend the House for a debate as quickly as I possibly can. He was here yesterday to discuss Sláintecare.

Senator Kyne spoke about the roadshow of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. He also spoke about the need for a debate on the national development plan and Project Ireland 2040. The debate request has been made but it will be the other side of the recess before the Minister gets to come back to us with a date.

Senator O'Loughlin opened today by discussing World Osteoporosis Day. She encouraged women to get themselves screened because usually it is only after an accident or a fall that they find out there is something. The earliest intervention would provide the most efficient and best outcomes. The Senator spoke about the debate on dyslexia last week and the continuing roadblocks of bureaucratic nonsense put in children's way when trying to access services. There probably is a need for a debate on it. I will try to arrange it as quickly as I can.