Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the Members who contributed on the Order of Business this morning. Senator Malcolm Byrne kicked off the debate this morning. He spoke about the work the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU has been doing to build trust between the EU and the UK and between Ireland and the UK throughout the Brexit process. It is incumbent on all of us to build that trust. He also spoke about the need for greater co-operation. I fully endorse his comments and agree with him on that. There is a greater role for the Seanad in that. We should link in more and better with our colleagues in Northern Ireland and across the water. We have the ability to do that and we probably need to reach out a little bit more. We have begun that work in the committee and we can certainly continue with it.

I concur with the Senator's remarks on celebrating the centenary of An Garda Síochána. Perhaps we could put that matter on the agenda for discussion at the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight to see what the House can do to commemorate that point in history.

With regard to restrictions and the vaccination programme, I agree with the Senator on putting vaccinated persons first. Perhaps late-night venues were the low-hanging fruit. There are other areas where people are mingling and meeting each other. It is down to personal responsibility but those who have been vaccinated absolutely deserve credit for doing the right thing and protecting themselves and, more importantly, protecting others.

Senator Kyne requested a discussion with Deputy Stephen Donnelly with regard to the restrictions and a debate on matters relating to health in general. The idea of a general debate on health was also raised by Senator Buttimer. Other Senators, to whom I will come later, spoke about the booster programme. A request has been made to the Minister to have a debate on health before the Christmas recess. He will be in the Chamber next week to discuss matters related to scoliosis but that debate will be too short to expand into other issues. We will try to get a second debate with him. His office usually facilitates his coming to the House. I hope to have that debate before the Christmas recess.

Senator Kyne also raised the issue of rural housing. I fully agree with his remarks on the importance of the right to build on family land and how important that is to people in rural communities. I will certainly make that request to Deputy Peter Burke, the Minister of State responsible for local government, with regard to the guidelines on rural housing we are expecting. I may also request a further debate with the Minister on the national planning framework and how it impacts on county development plans.

Senator Boyhan thanked the staff for facilitating last night's late sitting. Other Members concurred with those remarks and I will also join in them. I thank the staff for facilitating the House in sitting until almost 1.30 a.m. last night to deal with really important legislation. It was a late sitting. The Senator raised the issue of the family-friendly forum. A report has been published in that regard. Members of this House sat on that forum, which was put together by the Ceann Comhairle. Recommendations have been made as to how we can make this House and the other House more family-friendly. I hope those recommendations are acted upon in the near future.

The Senator also spoke about the compensation scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes that was announced yesterday by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. He also spoke about the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021, which is due before the House, and the contributions of Samantha Long, whom all of us in this House know and are very friendly with, on "Six One News". I commend her on her comments and contribution. We have to take stock and listen to those who have been directly impacted by this. We believe the Bill will be initiated in the Seanad. We hope to have a debate on it in this House before Christmas. A separate debate has been scheduled with the Minister for Tuesday, 30 November, on the scheme that was announced. We will have full debates on both of these issues in the House before the end of the year. Senator Keogan and Senator McGreehan also raised the issue of the mother and baby homes. That debate is happening.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly spoke about the 90-minute fare for Dublin and asked why we are not extending that policy beyond Dublin city. That is a very pertinent question. The Senator put some striking statistics before the House such as the fact that only 53% of the country is connected by bus. Connecting Ireland, the new policy on bus connections for the country, will increase that figure to 70%, which is very welcome.

Senator Gavan spoke about an issue in University Hospital Limerick, as did Senators Conway and Maria Byrne. The situation is grave. I am familiar with it. It has been widely publicised. I concur with the comments of all the Senators on the difficulties facing staff and particularly the patients who are in that situation. I do not know what is going on. Money has been put into the hospital. I know that from the last term, although I was not in government at that time. There has been investment so something else must be going on there, although we do not know what that is. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is calling for a review and that could be welcome. I am not sure how having statements in this House as the first port of call would benefit the situation. I suggest that the Senators who have raised the issue seek a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, as a group. They might also invite hospital management. They need to get around the table with management, the Minister and the representatives for that area. That might bear more fruit. When representatives for Mayo and I had a meeting with the Minister and the management of Mayo University Hospital, it was really useful. We got a lot out of it and got down to the nitty-gritty of the issues. Perhaps the Senators could do likewise but, if they are still requesting a debate, we will certainly put that request in. I just make that suggestion to the Senators who mentioned the matter this morning.

Senator Gavan also raised issues regarding the local employment services, as did Senator Moynihan. I am not fully up to speed on all of the local employment services across the country. There are different issues in different counties. However, I know the Attorney General advised in the last term that there had to be a tendering process. I accept that may not be the answer the Senators want to hear but that is what I have been informed of. There was an examination of whether the status quocould be maintained. I have been contacted by my local employment service so I know it is a really important issue for those working in the service, who do a fantastic job. Perhaps the Senators could initially table a Commencement matter to see if we could get a direct response on the matter. A further debate may then be required.

Senator Moynihan raised the issue of the local employment services and then spoke about the issue of the Polish-Belarusian border, which I raised yesterday, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis there. I concur with the Senator's remarks. It is simply not okay for Poland to take the actions it is taking. I appreciate it is under pressure and it did not bring this situation upon itself but this is still a humanitarian crisis. There are people, human beings, at that border who need to be cared for and looked after. It is a European Union border and other member states need to step up and assist Poland as a friend and fellow member state in dealing with that situation. It must be a priority to look after the welfare of those in that situation and at that border. The Senator made a very good point.

Senator Black spoke about the live music and entertainment sector, as she has often done in this House. She spoke very passionately about the area. I have no doubt those who work in the sector are reeling after the imposition of restrictions and an early closing time yesterday. It is just not possible to run a nightclub that closes at 12 midnight. It is not practical. It is a really difficult situation for those who work in entertainment, including artists, singers and musicians. It is incumbent on the Minister for Social Protection to engage with that sector specifically and to see what supports are appropriate because it is just not that easy for those who work in it to get other employment.

I also take on board comments from the retail and hospitality sectors, which are really struggling to get staff. It is a matter of striking the right balance. Rightly or wrongly, representatives of these sectors have suggested that the pandemic unemployment payment is a factor making it difficult to get staff where there are vacancies. Another solution could be found but the Minister has to engage with the sector and find out how to help those working in it, who cannot simply get another job.They are artists who are working in the live entertainment sector. They are in a unique position and have been for a very long time. I appreciate how difficult that is.

Senator Paul Daly raised the issue of the vaccine programme, especially the booster vaccine and the clarity required in that regard. Senator Ward raised a similar issue. We requested a debate on health with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, which will hopefully take place before Christmas. That issue about the vaccine programme, particularly booster vaccines, could be discussed with the Minister.

Senator Conway welcomed the appointment of Kieran Mulvey to the dispute relating to the Doolin Coast Guard unit. We all join with him in that and hope that the issue can be resolved expediently now. The Senator also raised the issue of Limerick hospital.

Senator Keogan, aside from raising the issue of mother and baby homes, spoke about the fostering situation. I was struck by what she said. I know she has worked in that area and helped many children over the years. I agree with her. I have some knowledge of that area from local issues. Not enough is being done. There should be a recruitment campaign to the wider public. I do not believe I have ever seen information on how to become a foster parent or what is involved. There should be a call put out to the public, as the Senator did this morning. I have not seen that done in the mainstream media or local spaces. There is a job for Tusla to do in reaching out to the public and having a new campaign around fostering in order to try to get more people into the system. The Senator is right. The numbers she highlighted, namely, 30 children dying in the past year alone, seven of them by suicide, represent an absolute failure on the part of the State to look after those children in their most vulnerable time. I have no doubt the Senator is correct in that the fact they do not have loving, stable homes is the primary reason that these children are in that desperate situation. It is a black mark against the State, and we have to do something about it. The figures speak for themselves.

Senator McGreehan spoke about and welcomed the mother and baby home scheme. She acknowledged the work done by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, in putting that scheme together. There are challenges being faced and we will wait for the debate on that to hear what the Minister has to say. We will get contributions from all Senators on that scheme and see how it is received in the days and weeks ahead.

Senator Ahearn raised the issue of transport and asked for a debate with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on greenways and walkways. He spoke about a blueway and a greenway connection between Waterford and his area of Tipperary. It is an exciting project. Senator Seery Kearney also raised the issue of transport. A debate with the Minister is definitely required because there are many developments in transport, be that in rural transport, BusConnects, Connecting Ireland or the changing of routes. There is a lot happening and, I agree with the Senator, there has not been a proper public consultation because it just was not possible. We need to listen to communities because, at the end of the day, we are there to serve communities and not just foist a new system upon them that may not work for them.

Senator Crowe spoke about the need for supports for business following restrictions, which linked in with what Senator Black raised. Senator Crowe spoke, in particular, about the CRSS and the restart grants and the anomaly that is these are as easy to access. The Senators is looking for that matter to be resolved.

Senator Ardagh spoke about antigen testing, the need to extend it more broadly and to remove the cost barrier to antigen testing. She also spoke about today being World Prematurity Day, as did Senator Buttimer. We commend the staff working in the neonatal units and the parents of premature babies, and acknowledge their work today.

Senator Lombard spoke about the charity sector and the difficult period it has experienced in the past year and a half. He put out a call to people to support their local Society of St. Vincent de Paul and local charities at this difficult time.

Senator Buttimer asked for a specific debate on living with Covid. Again, we could tie that in with the debate with the Minister for Health that we hope to have before the end of the year.

Senator Craughwell spoke about the booster vaccine. He also spoke about the extensive vacancies within the Defence Forces. There are 700 non-commissioned officer, NCO, vacancies and many others in the officer ranks. According to his calculations, that amounts to a €40 million - what could be termed as a saving - lack of expenditure by the Department of Defence due to those positions not being filled. There are issues around a lack of NCOs and officers in the context of just running the organisation and discipline within it. When one sees reports such as that in yesterday's edition ofThe Irish Times, one can see that there are definitely problems in the Defence Forces which need to be addressed.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the hospital in Limerick, which I have dealt with. Senator Ward spoke about the vaccine as well as the Winter Olympics in Beijing and requested a diplomatic boycott. The Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, has already indicated that neither he nor officials from his Department will attend the Olympics and that he is awaiting a response from the Department of Foreign Affairs, which we expect to receive in the near future. I concur with the Senator's remarks in that we cannot be seen to be endorsing what China is doing on human rights violations, a lack of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and on its actions in respect of Taiwan.

Senator Seery Kearney spoke about public consultation not taking place, especially in the context of an issue that arose in Chapelizod which I am not personally aware of. I take on board what she said about the loss of connectivity for that area. It seems quite stark. Those involved seem to have got that wrong and need to go back to the drawing board on it.

Senator Cummins spoke about the company in Waterford, Tegus, that announced 100 jobs for Waterford. That is fantastic for Waterford city. I say "Well done" to the company and I wish the area and the people who will take up those jobs well. There have been more than 400 job announcements for the city. It is fantastic to see the regeneration and renewal of the city and surrounding areas. It is great for the south east.