Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their contributions on a wide range of topics. Senator O'Loughlin raised the issue of ticket pricing for the Ireland-Portugal match. We all wish the boys in green well this evening. Senator Seery Kearney raised the issue of gambling in advance of that match, which is being proposed in an article in the Irish Sun. That is despicable. It is that type of leading article that brings people back into gambling. I agree with Senator Seery Kearney on that point.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the television programme, "The Missing Children" which aired on Tuesday night. I watched most of the programme, which set out the story of the mother and baby homes in Tuam and elsewhere. I acknowledge the work of Catherine Corless and the RTÉ programme with regard to the 796 missing children. As stated by Catherine Corless, she does not believe they are all buried at the Tuam site. It may be that there are children who were illegally adopted and untraced, perhaps in the United States. We need to progress the legislation with regard to the exhumation. I will seek an update on that from the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. Senator O'Loughlin also mentioned Irish thoroughbred mares. I acknowledge the official opening by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Deputy Heydon, of the €3.3 million thoroughbred equine experience facility in Kildare. The sod was turned in 2019 by the then Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Griffin. There was Fáilte Ireland funding for the project. This is a wonderful tourism initiative in the Kildare area. The Senator mentioned carbon sequestration and the work of Kildare Chamber of Commerce in that regard.

Senator Ward mentioned the very important issue of domestic violence and the fact that nine counties do not have refuges. There is also no refuge in Dún Laoghaire, which, I acknowledge, is a major urban area. As the Senator rightly pointed out, where an area has no facility, there are knock-on effects in other areas which can mean that vulnerable women have nowhere to go. This is an important issue and we should have a debate on it with the Minister for Justice.

Senator Keogan mentioned the possible re-establishment of the Oireachtas Covid committee. That would be a matter for the Seanad Committee for Procedure and Privileges, CPP, and the Dáil's Business Committee. The original committee was established on 6 May 2020. At that stage, a new Government had not been formed and Oireachtas committees had not been established. The Covid committee was established on a cross-party basis and did a tremendous amount of work right through the summer of 2020. By the start of October, members were quite tired because they had a lot of other responsibilities to attend to because the Dáil was back in business and doing important work. It was decided that the sectoral committee would deal with Covid matters. The Joint Committee on Health has met representatives of NPHET, NIAC on numerous occasions. The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly has also appeared before the committee, as has Mr. Robert Watt from the Department of Health, to discuss all of the relevant issues. Whether there is a need to re-establish that committee is a matter for the CPP of this House and the Business Committee of the Dáil. The matter can certainly be discussed with Senator Keogan's representative on the CPP.

Senator Gavan spoke about housing and requested a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on rents. I can certainly make that request of the Minister's office. I acknowledge the very high rents being charged at present as a result of pent-up pressure and supply constraints. Housing for All focuses on tackling supply and affordability issues within the housing sector. In the short term, the Government is legislating to cap rent increases at a maximum of 2% in rent pressure zones and is committed to the provision of more cost-rental homes. Senator Ardagh mentioned the St. Michael's Estate rejuvenation project in Inchicore, which, I suggest, is an issue for a Commencement matter debate. That said, I will ask the Minister to come to the House for a debate housing, including in the context of cost-rental homes and rent increases.

Senator Sherlock talked about the importance of action versus words in the context of COP26. The Government's climate action plan has been published and over the coming weeks we will be debating sectoral areas in the context of that plan. We will be dealing with forestry today and hope to deal with transport and agriculture soon. The Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was here to discuss energy recently too. This is a matter in respect of which words are not good enough. We need to see specific sectoral actions in all areas responsible for carbon emissions

. Senator Sherlock also mentioned the draft transport strategy for the greater Dublin area. Fine Gael party members tabled a motion last week on public transport. We supported the MetroLink and Dart+ but if the Senator has specific questions, it might be appropriate for her to table a Commencement matter on the subject.

Senator Ardagh referred to childcare and bringing it into the formal education system. She rightly talked about the great work that naíonraí are doing at preschool level. As former Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I know that the Government funded the development of a naíonra on the site of Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Knocknacarra in Galway city. Excellent work is being done there and in many other areas and where it is possible to provide childcare within the formal education system, that should be looked at in terms of public provision.

Senator Dolan talked about Science Week, which we will have statements on later this afternoon. She referred to the great work being done by children in Clontuskert national school in east Galway. Those children are trailblazers and advocates for change. I wish them well in their work. It is important that we continue to educate but also to allow children to teach adults about what needs to be done. There are no better advocates for change than young people.

Senator Garvey welcomed the good news regarding just transition funding of €30 million over the next 18 months, with more to follow thereafter. That funding will be used for many things, including EV charging points in communities and repair hubs. The Senator spoke about an important webinar later this month and urged us all to promote this within our communities, which we will certainly do.

Senator Davitt talked about the great work done by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Peter Burke, on councillor's pay. The Minister of State has the support of all in this House and in the Dáil in that regard. Senator Davitt referred to the Moorhead report and asked that the Minister of State would come to the House to discuss it. I will raise this with the Minister of State who is constantly engaging with the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG and the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, in relation to councillor's expenses. Perhaps he could come to the House to debate the matter or he might meet the group leaders privately to brief them on progress to date.

Senator Murphy concurred with Senator Davitt regarding councillors. He also paid tribute to the late Austin Currie. The Senator spoke about the wonderful work going on in schools and about the need for funding for polytunnels. Senator Garvey confirmed that funding is available for same, which is good news.

Senator Buttimer spoke about the retail strategy and the need to update it. I will certainly write to the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy English, to encourage him to come to the House to discuss that strategy. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, was in Galway last Friday and met a number of business people who raised the issue of well-known chains closing during the lockdown and, having evaluated the situation, deciding not to reopen. This is unfortunate and the move to online shopping makes the challenge for retailers of maintaining a presence on main streets throughout the country even greater. This is an issue that will become more important and more serious in the future so I will ask the Minister of State to come to the House to discuss it.

Senator Gallagher talked about the North-South interconnector. Perhaps the Leader would be the more appropriate person to deal with this because she was very concerned about the interconnector during her time as a Deputy for Meath East and continues to be interested in it. I cannot comment on any specific alleged trespass but I would suggest that the landowner takes the matter up with a solicitor. I will certainly ask the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications to the come to the House to discuss the matter but it might also be worth raising it as a Commencement matter.

Senator Gallagher also spoke about the Northern Ireland protocol. He is quite right to say that businesses in Northern Ireland, thankfully, have the best of both worlds in terms of having access to the EU Single Market and access to the UK market and yet there are politicians in the UK and in the Tory party who are trying to suggest that the protocol is not working for Northern Ireland. It is patently ridiculous, to be honest, and they should accept that the protocol was negotiated in good faith, signed by the UK Government and is working well for Northern Ireland.

Senators Seery Kearney and McGreehan talked about the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and the testimony its members heard regarding stroke. The Irish Heart Foundation does tremendous work in this area, as does Croí in the west of Ireland. The latter appeared before the Joint Committee on Health a couple of months ago. I will seek an update on the national stroke strategy which is hugely important. As I said earlier this year, a stroke can hit anyone of any age at any time.