Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members for the contributions on the Order of Business. Senator O'Loughlin kicked off today's Order of Business and raised once again the issue of Garda numbers in Kildare compared with areas of similar population size in the State. I note that the Senator has expressed frustration that she has no forum in which to raise this matter. I understand that the Cathaoirleach has attempted to facilitate that. It is only right and proper that the Senator has a forum to raise those issues, which she said again this morning. Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about testing capacity and in particular PCR testing for the community that she represents.

Senator Joe O'Reilly welcomed the NIAC approval for vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds. The Senator reiterated his belief that vaccines are one of the major tools and the key to fighting this pandemic. The Senator also spoke about climate and made three specific suggestions, which are proposed practical solutions for how we can bring the community on board. The Senator suggested: wind turbines in every local community that would be owned by the community; a reduction in vehicle registration tax for first-time electric vehicle purchasers; and an incentive for farmers to create carbon sinks on their land. The Senator has requested a debate in the Seanad around those types of practical solutions for the climate agenda.

Senator Mullen raised the issue of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act, as did Senator Keogan and others. We obviously come from very different places on this issue but I will also always defend the Senators' right, and the right of others, to have their views heard and properly listened to and respected. I do so because we want the same in return on other issues. It is an important part of the democratic process. I am very conscious that it may be decades down the line when we revisit this again in the same way, but things could also turn around. I am very conscious that we should always be respectful. I take on board the Senator's comments on the need for the review to be impartial and objective. I want that too. I want it to be a legitimate review that has credibility, which is very important. I take on board the comments of the Senator about the chair and for that person to be somebody who is respected by all sides. This is such a contentious issue that I do not believe everybody will ever be happy, no matter what way it is done. To have legitimacy and credibility, every effort must be made to ensure that all views are respected and heard. While the Senator may not agree, I believe we tried to do the best we could at the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which at times was contested heavily. The committee held some very strong debates.

Senator Mullen also raised the prospect of a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics and that the United States of America and Australia have already moved to do so. My personal view is that we should do so. I believe that the vast majority of Members of this House would agree with that. Certainly, this is a message we should send from those in agreement in this Chamber, to the powers that be, that this would happen. I note that our Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Chambers, will not be attending, nor will his officials. That is not in any way to cast aspersions on any of the athletes competing. That is separate issue. Of course we want our athletes to have the opportunity to compete at the highest levels.

Senator Mullen also raised the issue of cheating in horse racing. I share the Senator's concerns. It is a huge industry here and we are aware that a lot of money is involved. Because of this, there are many interested stakeholders when it comes to that issue. It is important however, that we ask the tough questions. If certain practices are happening in other countries, we need to make sure they are not happening in Ireland. It is possible, of course, but we just do not know. I do not know the answers to all of that. It is an interesting request to invite the committee chairperson here but as the Cathaoirleach has pointed out, it is not quite in line with our process around inviting chairpersons to the House. It is open to any Member of this House to attend the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine to ask those questions directly to the chairman, Deputy Jackie Cahill. I am sure he would facilitate that.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly raised the issue of live exports and the transportation of livestock to locations that would be considered long distance. She particularly referenced the Finola Mvessel. The Senator painted a harrowing picture. I am not sure what I can offer the Senator in terms of information. It must have been a very distressing journey for those animals to travel those distances in those conditions with no vet on board. Assuming that what the Senator has put on the record of the House is accurate and correct, I would share concerns for those animals and their welfare, and the fact that there was no veterinary support on the vessel. One must ask if the persons involved in that type of transportation, and particularly in that situation, have an appropriate level of concern for the animals? Many people would feel that is not the case. While there is big money in live exports, animal welfare should always be the top priority when we engage in this type of trade. Senator Pauline O'Reilly also welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, of the €50 million for HEPA filters.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke on a number of issues. The Senator spoke on the housing supply strategy, which was published in Northern Ireland this morning, and the commitment to build one third of social homes out of 100,000 units. This sounds very ambitious and I wish them well. The Senator also spoke of the need to have better cross-Border engagement through the North-South Ministerial Council on the issue of housing. If we can learn best practice and get advice and tips from each other, then why would we not do that? That is a fair suggestion. Senator Ó Donnghaile also referred to the recent visit to Derry by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris. The Senator asked for a debate on cross-Border education in the space of higher education.

Senator Ó Donnghaile also raised the imminent publication of the final report of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, of which I am the Chairperson. Senator Ó Donnghaile is a member of that committee, as are a number of our Seanad colleagues. We will publish our final report tomorrow. It will be a virtual report and all Members are welcome to attend at 12 noon tomorrow. I thank all of the Senators for their work. I give the Senator a commitment that of course we will have a debate on the report. It will not be possible to do this before the end of this term, because we only have next week. At the earliest opportunity in the new term we will have a debate on the report as published. Six months following publication, as we have decided, we will invite the Minister back to the Chamber to give an update to the House on how the recommendations in the report are being implemented.

Senator Moynihan expressed her view on the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act and to express her commitment to safe, legal access for all women in the State. The Senator also expressed her disappointment that the review of the Act is simply on the operation of the Act and not the policy within the Act.

Senator Moynihan also spoke about a specific issue regarding Dún Laoghaire and a housing co-operative where the contractor has pulled out. I do not have the full details on that issue but I note the Senator's comments. The Senator also spoke about the Dublin Flea Market, which has not been able to find a home.Senator Moynihan is a Dubliner and I can understand how upsetting it is for people in the locality to lose that. It has been in Dublin for so many years. It is a shame that it was not facilitated in continuing.

Senator Crowe rose to welcome, finally, the approval by An Bord Pleanála of the Galway city outer ring road, as did Senator Kyne. I can say, with first-hand experience, having lived in Galway for many years, how terrible and bad the traffic is there. I would even go as far as saying that it is worse than Cork. The traffic in Galway has gone beyond that; it is terrible. The city is choked and people cannot get or out of it. We know, from dealing with the business community in the western region, of the problems. Business owners, particularly those who are located in the business parks around the edge of Galway city, are telling us that they cannot expand, get staff or take on new contracts. It is having a devastating impact on the city's growth and potential for new jobs and attracting forward inward investment. The approval is really welcome. Getting the planning was the first step; now it has to be built. It is a little way off, but there is funding there to do it. It is a positive day for the city. I recall, even going back ten years, that there was talk of different environmental concerns. The difficulty was that although people agreed with addressing the environmental issues, no progress was made. It has taken far too long to get to this point, but it is a welcome day for people living in Galway and for those who travel to Galway for work, as many in people in Mayo, Roscommon, Clare and the surrounding counties do.

Senator Keogan raised the review of abortion legislation announced by the Minister for Health. The Senator made some comments that I feel are appropriate to address directly. She said that it the review is a pretend public consultation process. I must reject that comment. She said that the outcome is prearranged. Again, I reject that assertion. It is not prearranged. She stated that there have been more than 13,000 abortions in the past two years, representing a 70% increase. She has probably not taken into account the fact that many of those women travelled to undergo abortions. Those abortions happened, but happened in a different jurisdiction, that being the point.