Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very happy to be St. Brigid's representative in the Seanad today. To follow what Senator Wall said, Members do not have to wait until next year to come to Kildare; they are welcome to come anytime. In fact, Solas Bhride has a wonderful set of activities going on throughout the week.

To turn now to the issues at hand.Senator Malcolm Byrne, like most Senators, recognised the importance today of Lá Fhéile Bríde and I thank them for that because she is synonymous with the environment, with farmers and with social justice not just in Kildare but around the country. Senator Malcolm Byrne also spoke about Áine Hyland's tweet, which I also noticed yesterday, on the fact that it is 100 years today since our education system was put in place. The language, history, music and tradition that were mentioned 100 years ago are still hugely important today. They are important for ourselves and they are important also for the new Irish who have come to live here so that they can appreciate our traditions and heritage.

In regard to the issue of the Cassells report, I agree that it is regrettable that six years have gone by without any action in regard to that report. Members may recall that the former Minister for Education, Deputy Bruton, suggested that the report go to the European Commission for economic evaluation. My understanding is that it has been completed and has come back in the past month to the Government. We certainly need a debate on that. We have to invest in higher and further education going forward. It is important, as Senators acknowledged, that students' costs go down. We all support that but we must ensure there would not be a lacuna in regard to funding and support for higher and further education.

The issue of Richard O'Halloran coming home was raised also. Looking at the photographs of his children and his family over the weekend, the scenes testified to the unbridled joy in that family. I cannot begin to imagine what the three years were like for them, and how happy they are to have their dad and husband back home. We wish them all well.

Also mentioned was the competition mandate for the Central Bank, which is an interesting issue. We could ask the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to come and have a debate in regard to that issue.

Senator Conway spoke about RTÉ's "Claire Byrne Live" programme last night. I did not see it but he has prompted me to look at it. It gave recognition to Aimee Foley who, very sadly, was abused by her dad and showed great bravery in regard to waiving anonymity. He also spoke about the lack of adequate sentencing. On the day that Ashling Murphy was buried, a man was in court for murdering a woman and he got 12 years for murder. This was on the same day that the whole country was absolutely rocked with grief and shame that this happened to Ashling Murphy. There is an issue about sentencing and we need to address this. We all join in saluting Aimee for her courage and bravery in coming forward.

Senator Conway also spoke about the leaving certificate, as indeed did Senators Byrne, Carrigy and Gavan. It is a very difficult decision to make. Much consultation was put in place over the past few months. The big issue that everybody called for over the past few weeks was clarity, and for a decision to be made. A decision has been made. I accept there is disappointment with the decision but now there is clarity and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that in mathematics for example - and this is from looking at the press release earlier - where there would normally be ten questions to be answered, six can be answered. English comprehension will have the required number of response halved. The fact that many of those doing their leaving certificate this year did not have the opportunity to do their junior certificate had to come into play. That was an added difficulty in regard to a hybrid model. We will take the message back.Of that there is no doubt. It is a worrying and stressful time. There is never going to be a leaving certificate without stress no matter what form it takes. It is a preparation for further exams.

Senator Lombard made a particular comment on leaving certificate reform and I am surprised he asked the question about such reform because his own party colleague, Deputy Kehoe, is Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and there have been 14 meetings in recent months on leaving certificate reform. A total of 57 witnesses to date, between students, parent bodies, unions and teachers, have appeared before the committee on this issue. I have no doubt there will be a very comprehensive report coming forward. I agree we need to look at reform going forward.

I accept Senator Mullen’s amendment and it has been seconded on the Order of Business. I wish him well in the progress of his Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2022. As the Senator said, it is hard to quantify insurance fraud and we certainly need to deter it, without a shadow of a doubt.

Senator Garvey mentioned that ten times more boys than girls cycle to school and that girls should be allowed to wear trousers in schools. I completely agree. In fact, there was a particular hearing of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills, as it was known under its last mandate, and there was a very clear direction that girls should be allowed wear trousers in school. We need to support all of our young people to cycle and to support the cycling infrastructure throughout our towns and country. The point was well made.

Senator Garvey also made a point about science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, subjects in schools. I happened to see a small clip on television last night of Dr. Katriona O'Sullivan, who is a professor in Maynooth University, and she does tremendous work around equality in education. It was a very interesting piece about working to support STEM within schools, particularly among girls in disadvantaged areas. She is a wonderful woman and has made presentations before to the Oireachtas education committee and I would recommend following those.

Senators Ó Donnghaile, Craughwell and Currie all spoke very passionately about Bloody Sunday and all of the coverage over the weekend. My own father’s anniversary was on Sunday. In the midst of us going to mass and of our family meeting and our grief, I could not but be struck by the difference between what happened to our family and to the families on Bloody Sunday, together with the commemoration for Stardust victims. As has been mentioned, the dignity of all the families who were interviewed, both in print and on television, was just incredible. They deserve the truth and all of our support in all of the investigations that need to be done. I certainly agree on the need to have truth and restorative justice and we will certainly bring those views forward to the Minister.

Senator Ó Donnghaile also spoke about the report from Amnesty International on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We all value the role of Amnesty International and we in Ireland have always been very forthright in expressing our solidarity with the Palestinian people. We will look for a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on this issue.

My county colleague, Senator Wall, has issued an invitation for everyone to come to Kildare, with which I completely agree. St. Brigid was certainly looking down on Glen Ryan and all of the lads on Sunday. The international and national recognition of Saint Brigid and the work undertaken in Kildare in lighting the Hill of Allen etc. was exemplary. We look forward to greater things to come, especially in 2024.

Senator Wall also mentioned the Defence Forces, as did Senator Craughwell. I completely agree on the comments about the video announcing a change of use for Cathal Brugha Barracks.I looked into that myself and I understand there was no basis for it whatsoever. It was an appalling lack of respect for the military and defence community, those who serve in Cathal Brugha Barracks and all of the families. Particularly in the year of Michael Collins's centenary, words fail me in terms of why the Minister did that. The Senator also mentioned the commission report. We look forward to having a lengthy debate. It is so important that we invest in our Defence Forces and that we look at recruitment and retention. We should thank the Defence Forces for all they have done, particularly during the pandemic.

I wish Senator Flynn the very best of luck with her first Private Members' Bill. I worked with her on the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020 that I had brought before the House. I know her absolute commitment to this whole area. I am very happy to accept the amendment to the Order of Business which has been seconded now. Sexual exploitation of anyone but especially children is absolutely horrific. We all have to be committed to dealing with this in whatever way we can.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the enormous challenge for those who are hoping to buy and those who are renting. She spoke about the importance of hope to people who are locked out from owning their own home or indeed from renting a home. We all need hope but we need practical actions as well. She gave us good news that 123 of 231 actions have commenced or have taken place. There were 20,000 houses completed and 30,000 commenced last year. It is important to take the politics and the heat out of that debate and recognise it.

Senator Maria Byrne also spoke about the leaving certificate issue and about the An Bord Pleanála decision to defer a decision in respect of the Limerick to Foynes bypass. I completely understand where she is at. Delays on decisions like this do not help anyone. We need to look for a decision on it.

Senator Craughwell spoke about Richard O'Halloran and Cathal Brugha Barracks. Senator Murphy spoke about Robert Pether from Elphin and his family; indeed I have often heard him speak about the matter before. The fact that we see Richard O'Halloran thankfully being released means we really should be able to try to put all diplomatic efforts into bringing about the release of Robert and ensuring that his family has the same opportunity to reunite.

Senator Lombard spoke about the leaving certificate, which I have mentioned. Senator Gavan spoke about the pagan aspect of Brigid. He is 100% correct. In many ways Brigid was the bridge between the pagan world and the world of Christianity. Today is also the first day of Imbolc. No matter who Brigid was, whether she was a saint or a pagan, it is an important day to recognise everything that she and maybe many different Brigids stood for. The Senator also raised the issue of the leaving certificate.

Senator McGahon spoke about the housing list and how people who did not update cannot go back on in the same position. He is correct. That is the way it is happening in Kildare and I assume it is happening around the country. There needs to be uniformity. It is an issue on which we need a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. There is no doubt about that.

Senator Ward spoke about the increase in the cost of the postage stamp and that it did not necessarily mean supporting the continuation of post offices or indeed staff. I was surprised when I heard about it on the radio. I do not really know what the rationale is. We need to look for the rationale. We also need to acknowledge the great service post offices and their staff gave, particularly during Covid. They were just incredible in terms of the contact they gave to many elderly people who live on their own. They did messages for them during Covid. It is important to know that.

Senator Carrigy spoke about those working in long-term residential settings and suggested they should be included in the €1,000 bonus. My understanding is that the matter was clarified at Leaders' Questions in the Dáil today. Those in section 39 organisations will be covered.That is most important.

Senator Boyhan spoke about forestry and harvesting and felling being a real issue and the need for a debate on the matter. We had a debate on the issue last year but we will certainly look to organise another one. On the issue raised by Senator Cummins, I wish to congratulate Waterford City and County Council on its achievement. It is great that it is doing such incredible work. I congratulate the leadership of the mayor, Joe Kelly, all the councillors, the chief executive and all the staff. I did not see the "Prime Time" programme, but I will watch it. It is important that when a local authority gets it right, we look at how it did it and the actions it had taken to see how we can follow that around the country. It is a huge issue and a large light has been shone on it. We must look to see if we can run some other pilot programme in other counties and see what we can do. I thank Senator Cummins for bringing that to our attention.

Senator Ahearn spoke about the passports issue. There is no doubt that the system needs an overhaul. The Passport Office closed down completely during the first Covid lockdown. At the time, I thought it was nonsensical that it was considered a non-essential service. It is playing catch-up now. The initiative that has been proposed that people should have to check their passport status when they book holidays, could be an interesting one.

Senator Currie spoke about survivors and how we need to support all victims. I absolutely agree that we do. Senator Burke spoke about the Planning and Development Act and requested a debate on the matter. I think he is correct. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, has outlined some initiatives that he wants to put in place. I agree that it should happen, but I think it cannot happen without reference to Irish Water because many of the problems and issues that we have are down to problems with the Irish Water infrastructure. I look forward to that debate. The Senator also made a very pertinent point about the RTB and issues that are raised on behalf of landlords as well as residents. There needs to be balance in the provision of support.