Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Craughwell raised concerns about the Air Navigation and Transport Bill. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the meeting on Tuesday, despite having raised the time constraints with the Minister last week, because we were dealing with the Order of Business. Since I missed the meeting, I did not see the presentation that was promised to us. I will inform the Minister today that we need to see the PowerPoint presentation and seek an undertaking in that regard. I give Senator Craughwell and the 11 or 12 other Senators who attended the meeting the other day a commitment in that regard.

There are very real concerns about the Air Navigation and Transport Bill and I am in the unfortunate position of having to say that I share them. The reason is not political or based on votes in Fingal, an accusation that gets thrown in my face every 20 minutes. It is based on the fact that 1,300 pilots are crying out for these rules and regulations to protect them in order that they can protect the thousands of people who get on aeroplanes every single day and put their safety and lives in pilots' hands. I question why a regulatory office would not want to have powers and controls to ensure Ireland has the safest possible airline industry, one which reflects the safe industry we have across Europe. I will follow up on the matter for Senator Craughwell and try to get a commitment today.

Senator Gallagher spoke with great passion and remembrance regarding the plea from Columba McVeigh's family. I am astounded by the family's dignity in spite of their loss and the 46 years they have spent trying to get information. There was great dignity in the statement they made this year about letting bygones be bygones. All they want to do is to be able to bury their loved one and have somewhere they can visit and put some flowers. I concur with Senator Gallagher in making that call, as we do so often, on anyone who has any information to please give it to the Garda or local organisations that can help find this young man's body in order that his family can finally have peace and rest.

Senator Black spoke about the six Palestinian groups that have suddenly been designated as terrorist groups by the Israelis. I will make sure the Minister for Foreign Affairs hears of her reflections this morning and I will ask for an update. The Minister will speak about the Northern Ireland protocol in the House in the coming weeks, as he has been repeatedly requested to do by Senator Ó Donnghaile. I have requested a debate on Palestine, Israel, the conflict there and the two-state solution. I do not have a date yet, but as soon as I get one, I will speak to Senator Black about it. I will make sure the Minister hears her reflections this morning.

I thank Senator Mark Wall for what he read out and said about Jadotville. I agree with him. There have been a number of requests by this House. There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. I encourage the Senator to keep his passion in the place he has it.

I acknowledge that while the House debated energy security, we did not have a debate on the price of energy, which is a pertinent issue. As I am supposed to represent the Government on most days, I should note that this is not just an Irish phenomenon. However, we must put it in a national context. It is making a significant difference to people's weekly outgoings and is not something we can ignore.

Senator Boylan spoke about the climate action plan. I know Sinn Féin has raised concerns about consultation. I can only reassure the Senator that the 4,000 original submissions made on the climate action plan as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process fed into and strengthened the climate action Bill. The whole premise of the Bill is to make sure we have constant consultation. The only way this will be a success is if we bring everybody with us and do not start picking holes and fighting about this or that industry. At the end of the day, we are all of the same mind and we are all better when we work together. There is only one way this is ever going to work. We can talk about doing it for our kids and grandkids but it does not make a difference who we do it for. I am young enough and I hope I will not feel the impacts of this. We need to do this for ourselves. I acknowledge Senator Boylan's concerns.

Senator Martin spoke as eloquently as he always does about antisocial behaviour on trains. I will request that the Minister comes the House.

Senator Mullen raised concerns about science subjects on the curriculum. We have debates to mark Science Week next week, so that may be an opportunity for the Senator to raise the matter. There is probably a wider debate regarding the formation of the curriculum and reforms to the leaving certificate. I will write to the Minister today asking that she make time available in her diary as soon as she can.

Senator Buttimer asked for a debate on RTÉ, in particular in light of the significant amount of money it has spent in the past ten years either fighting or settling defamation claims. A more important concern should be the number of people in RTÉ who have been taken off temporary short-term contracts and made permanent employees in recent years. Some of them had worked for RTÉ for 25 or 30 years. A significant number of staff still remain on precarious employment contracts, which is not acceptable. I will organise a debate as quickly as I can.

Senator O'Loughlin started proceedings by pointing out that today is international day against violence and bullying at school. We have spoken about this issue a number of times. I have requested a debate, not just on the curriculum and how teachers, guidance counsellors and support staff in schools look after children, but how we can best support families – the parents and siblings of a child who is being bullied - to make sure that they do not believe bullying is a normal occurrence, as it seems to have become in towns and villages. We must support children who are experiencing increasing anxiety problems and resilience issues. I do not have a date for a debate but I will keep chasing it up.