Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their contributions. There was a number of common themes and I will touch on the two main ones. Senators Byrne, Dolan, Murphy, McGreehan, Seery Kearney, Ruane, Sherlock, Fitzpatrick and Ó Donnghaile raised a very important issue in regard to this being international week or two weeks or 16 days of campaigning on the elimination of violence against women. I wish to acknowledge the important work being done in this area both in Government supported initiatives and by the voluntary sector, which plays a pivotal role. The Minister for Justice, as others have said, has detailed extra funding for areas of the country or categories of victims not currently fully covered by support services for victims. That big exercise was undertaken to identify gaps in services. As others have referenced, among 18 organisations, €445,000 is being allocated to Victim Support at Court, Lifeline Inishowen, Longford Women's Link, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. The extra funding is being provided this year, and is separate from budget 2022 in which increased funding was also announced for combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and supporting victims of crime. An additional €2.4 million for specific awareness raising and training programmes on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Some €1.1 million will be used to put in place a legal advice and aid service in court for victims of sexual abuse, €1 million is being provided under the Garda Vote to provide accommodation for divisional protective services units, and €4.9 million is being provided to support the victims of crime. Others, including Senator Ward, have previously raised issues relating to refuges. This is hugely important. Senators raised the issue in Dun Laoghaire, and we will seek a debate with the Minister on that, domestic and gender-based violence and the issue of refuges.

The second major issue that was raised was the highly important role that our secretarial assistants play. I received a text message on Sunday from my SA, Anne Flaherty, who reminded me she was ten years working with me that day. I sent her back a reply commiserating with her for having to put up with me for that period. We all appreciate the important role that SAs play and the Cathaoirleach has addressed the issue in regard to the commission. The Cathaoirleach and I and Senators Wall and O'Sullivan have continuously raised and sought a solution to this very important issue. The proposals from SIPTU date from 2018. They included reducing the scale that SAs face; all staff would move up an increment; an additional maximum increment for each role be introduced; and the SA role in the Seanad be made into a PA role. These SIPTU proposals are sensible and fair. The job description, of course, was drawn up in the 1990s. Times have changed and moved on compared to the 1990s, not only in the country. The role of SAs and PAs roles have grown fundamentally. This is above politics; this is about fair play and decency. I will, therefore, write to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to ask for an update and for intervention and engagement. Senators Sherlock, Carrigy, Ruane, Murphy, Gavan, Higgins, Craughwell, Buttimer, Ó Donnghaile, Burke, Martin and Byrne all raised the issue. I am sure everyone else who did not will support fully the sentiments expressed.Senators Fitzpatrick and Ó Donnghaile referred to the tragedy in the English Channel. I am afraid to say that such incidents are becoming more common and that will continue in the decades ahead. Nobody can blame a person for trying to seek a better life. Irish people have done so for many years. Many Irish people went to the United States. Originally Irish people were sent to Australia but after that other Irish people tried to get there, as well as to Canada and other places, including, of course, our nearest neighbours in the UK. I have a sister, uncle and other family in the UK and I have family members in Australia and the United States. It is an issue that we can understand as Irish people. The consequences for Europe are significant. Members are aware of the issues and division that, unfortunately, it causes around the world, as well the consequences in the context of the direct provision system here and the pressures on that system. I welcome the decision by the Minister to consider a new regime or basis for dealing with refugees and asylum seekers in this country, rather than continuing to deal with them through the direct provision system. I welcome that. Perhaps we will seek an update on that and an update from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Senator Fitzpatrick also spoke about the Oscar Traynor site. Obviously, I have not dealt with the issue directly but I have followed on Twitter from time to time the developments in the case. It seems to be a long-running saga. It is good news that 850 public and social homes are being provided. It is to be hoped that will bring finality to that debate and provide much-needed homes in that part of Dublin.

Senator Ahearn spoke about the winter plan, which was recently agreed and published. It was discussed yesterday at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, should anyone wish to look back at the transcript of the meeting. The Senator referenced the number of patients on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick. He referred to the recent investment that added 100 beds in the hospital and 40 beds in Clonmel hospital and highlighted the differences between the hospitals in terms of the numbers of patients on trolleys. All present appreciate the hard-working staff in all hospitals and the difficult decisions management face in all hospitals. That is not to say that things cannot be done better or that they are not being done better in some hospitals than in others. Senators Maria Byrne and Conway have raised this issue previously. I do not know if there are management issues in Limerick hospital, but if there are, they certainly need to be addressed. I know that when there were particular problems in the hospital in Galway several years ago - there are still problems there in terms of capacity - a hit team came down from the HSE nationally to look at discharge policy and improve it and ensure there was a better flow of patients once they were ready to be released to community beds and the like. Perhaps there are issues within Limerick hospital that need to be addressed.

The Senator also raised the issues of weddings. I see the point he is making. If one spends all day at a wedding, it does not matter if one is there until 2 a.m. in the morning or 3 a.m. in the morning. We have all been there in various guises at different times. I will leave that issue to the Cabinet and to NPHET, which offers advice. It is a fair point but I will not comment on the rights or wrongs of it.

Senator Keogan spoke again about secretarial pay. She also raised the issue of vaccine passports and discrimination. This comes back to the point made by Senator Ahearn. There are so many unvaccinated people taking up beds in emergency departments and putting pressure on the system. We need to do everything we can to encourage people who have not received the vaccine to get vaccinated. I appreciate there are people who may have medical conditions that mean they cannot receive the vaccine. I accept that. However, there are other people who are listening to scaremongering on social media. I will not say they are not aware but it may be the case that some individuals are experiencing language issues or whatever. I know from the comments of Mr. Paul Reid yesterday at the health committee that the HSE is doing a mountain of work, for example, in providing information in a range of languages and visiting certain hotspots such as meat plants where there is a large foreign national population to ensure they know about the services available and get a jab and, of course, the booster when it is available and offered. There are many no-shows at booster clinics, which is regrettable.

I refer to cybercrime. When it happens, it is very serious, but when the issue is solved, it goes into the background until the next time it crops up. We may be able to ask the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, to come to the House to give an update on State cyber policy and so on.

Senator Hackett spoke about the hen harrier. Communities have to play to their strengths. If there are communities that have a particular resource such as a bog, hen harriers, corncrakes on Inisbofin, curlews or whatever and it is intrinsic to and synonymous with that area, they have to grasp that and promote, embrace and encourage it. It is great to see the young people of St. Brendan's school in particular, as well as the wider community, working to showcase what they have. I acknowledge that work.

Senator Murphy raised several issues I addressed earlier. He also raised the issue of pony racing not receiving supports from Horse Racing Ireland. I am not sure if he was speaking about point-to-point racing. It might be an issue suitable to be raised as a Commencement matter but I am sure it is a valid point. There is always debate regarding the horse and greyhound fund and how that money is being spent. It is an important and valid point.

Senators Carrigy and Maria Byrne spoke about black Friday, which is not a term I particularly like. Green Friday or green Monday would be more suitable. The Senators rightly urged people to buy local and, as the Cathaoirleach said, to buy Irish. I recently attended a meeting with businesses in Galway. There is concern that some businesses are leaving the high street. I know Senator Buttimer called for a debate on retail strategy and policy. It is an issue of concern in terms of the changing face of high streets in cities, urban areas and small towns that more people are moving online. It is fine if a company can embrace both and have a front-door presence as well as an online presence and encourage people to buy Irish and, indeed, encourage people from abroad to buy their products as well. I agree that it is an important issue.

Senator Craughwell raised several issues. He spoke about damage to sea cables. I have encountered examples of that, including damage caused to an ESB cable to the Aran Islands a number of years ago. The Senator made the point that the Garda does not go to sea, but the Naval Service does. Although increasing the number of Ministers in the Government would be very popular among politicians, I am not sure how the public would react to that unless there was a very valid and strong case for an additional Minister or two at senior level to deal with a specific issue that was not being addressed.

Senator Cassells spoke about Tara Mines. I am very familiar with the mine. I have been down in the depths of it. I cannot remember how many kilometres underground-----