Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Cummins, Malcolm Byrne and Carrigy raised the issue of the supports that are needed for the not-for-profit sector in the theatre and arts industry. The schedule is very busy this week but I will do my best to organise something next week. The Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, met representatives of the industry yesterday, so I hope to hear some fruitful announcements arising from that. I will keep the Senators posted.

I congratulate Senator Dolan. The inclusion of Ballinasloe will make a massive difference to the town and I know she is very pleased about it.

Senator Blaney raised the shared island unit. He is correct about the milestones we have reached and commemorate and in regard to how it is about looking to the future and the opportunities to do things co-operatively and respectfully. Sometimes we lose something in the debate from the politicking around it. People may say they want a particular outcome but all their actions ensure that outcome cannot be achieved. I commended the Taoiseach when he appeared before the House a number of weeks ago, because it is a wonderful initiative. In particular, in his commitment to Northern Ireland and the united Ireland project, the greatest contribution he makes is to listen.

Senator Maria Byrne and Fitzpatrick talked about the campaign announced by the Minister for Justice last week. It is a really generous campaign and the announcement is very welcome, not least when we see how some of our migrant cousins, for want of a better word, are being treated across the EU by certain countries. It is a very generous scheme. When we opened the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, scheme last year in what was an unprecedented time, 16,000 people who did not have PPS numbers came to our Intreo offices because they had no other way of earning money than by coming to the State and taking that big step of declaring themselves as not supposed to be here. We welcomed them and gave them PPS numbers, and that is exactly how human beings and a just society should treat other human beings.

Senators Conway and Maria Byrne commended our outdoor staff and local government workers, the ESB and the OPW. We are in the grips of a storm and some counties are experiencing far worse conditions than we are in Dublin. I commend our staff and thank them for what they do and for keeping us safe. Senator Dooley asked for a debate on wind energy generation. At a time when we see very large organisations and companies pulling out of wind energy generation in Ireland because of the bureaucratic red tape they have to go through, the timing for a debate is apt. I probably will not get it in next week but I will make sure that we do it very early in January for him and I will come back to him.

Senator McGahon asked when the one-stop climate shops will be established. To be frank, I do not know but I will find out and come back to him on that.

Senator Fitzpatrick also talked about immigration and the history of Ireland and the welcome for a debate on this topic.

Senator Keogan asked for an amendment to the Order of Business. I am sorry to say that I cannot because I do not have the facility to have a debate on that particular topic. Just to inform the Senator, the topic that she has raised and the committee that is being established do not have any relevance to each other today. The debates and the concerns that she has raised are probably best-placed to be brought to that committee and seven Members of the Seanad will be represented on it. We are still establishing the committee today and the Senator can bring her topics and ideas to the committee there.

Senator Carrigy talk about pantomimes. Senator O’Donovan brought the very thoughtful suggestion forward of the people of Clonakilty and of the Michael Collins committee down there for a statue. It is a wonderful idea. He has been a long-time hero of mine and of many others but I certainly will ask the Minister as to what the status and expectation is on that suggestion.

Senator Wall raised two matters. I am aware that he is not in the Chamber at the moment but the case of the young person he raised, who failed the application for the apprenticeship is completely ludicrous and crazy. It is one of those idiosyncrasies that we have in Ireland. I will contact the Senator’s office, get the name of the young person and I certainly will make sure that both the Secretary General of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister take care of that application. I wish that young person well in their studies.

One thing I do have to raise is the point on which Senator Wall spoke this morning, namely, the welcome announcement finally made by the Minister for Education that €30 million is being allocated for HEPA filters in our primary and secondary schools in order that children do not have to sit in the freezing cold with four jumpers on them any more. The one thing that does concern me is what was reported in the newspapers this morning, which is that the filters are available but that the schools had to choose if they want the filters or some other urgent works that are required in their schools like broken windows or leaky roofs. If that is true - not everything we read in the newspapers is true - it would be outrageous. I wrote to the Minister this morning asking that she clarify that this is not true and that all of our schools, both primary and secondary, will have equal access to HEPA filters, regardless of what other works are required.

Senator Warfield asked for the date of the publication of The Future of Media Commission’s report. I do not know but I will contact the Minister today to find out.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about a report in the newspapers yesterday that the Data Protection Commission is under-resourced and underfunded. This is not the first time that the organisation has suggested this. I know from my own days in the Cabinet that the Department of Justice has an annual review with the commission and given the fact that this is a concern that the Data Protection Commissioner has on a recurring and annual basis, perhaps such a review needs to be a little bit more frequent.

Finally, Senator Norris spoke this morning about a green space at the heart of Dublin that he feels is going to be developed unnecessarily. Again, I do not have any details but I will find out and I will get back to the Senator and let him know what is the story.