Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Dolan was right to highlight the welcome business funding that was announced today and the Skillnet expansion, which is welcome and timely.

I thank Senator Ward for bringing to the attention of the House that the Minister for Health met representatives of the Irish Thalidomide Association yesterday. The Senator said it better than I can when he said that this issue has gone on for far too long and I really do hope that there is a speedy resolution.

Senator Buttimer touched on the issue of the Ukraine and I will address the matter when I get to the suggestion made by Senator McDowell.

Senator Carrigy spoke about a pilot scheme on hidden disabilities that is being run in his neck of the woods with regard to car parking. It never ceases to amaze me how indignant people can be when they see somebody parked in a disabled car parking space but a person whom they assume has no disability gets out of the car and that person is berated for parking there. It is inherent upon us all to recognise that a disability is not just physical and there are so many challenges that people have in their lives today that are not entirely visible. The pilot scheme is very welcome. It will be interesting to see how the scheme goes and I wish the people in the Senator's neck of the woods good luck with it.

In an unusual departure, Senator Ahearn expressed his appreciation that moneys and resources have been directed towards Tipperary, which is very good news. I wish the new Cashel Palace Hotel every success. Yesterday, I stopped in Cashel to get a bowl of soup but I could not get one because there was not a single car park space available. That tells everyone how busy Cashel is from a tourism perspective and the development is a very welcome addition to the community.

Senator Seery Kearney spoke Ukraine and paid her respects to our colleague, Senator Paul Daly, on the passing of his daddy.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke again today about University Hospital Limerick. I spoke to the Taoiseach last week after she raised the issue, probably for the tenth time, trying to find out what happened the independent inquiry that was promised, as far as we were concerned, and he was to come back to me. Today, I will put my query in writing to both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to see if we can speed that up as the issue is highly critical at this stage.

Senator O'Loughlin talked about neurology nurses. She also sought a debate on the quality of education, which is very timely. There was a report on the leaving certificate that was issued only locally in my neck of the woods. It outlined how and why we are failing our children with the way we teach them the leaving certificate and the subjects. I will try to organise a debate in the next couple of weeks.

Senator Boylan asked for a debate on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report and biodiversity. It was intended to have a standing item on climate. To be very honest, every week something more important keeps coming up that is more topical. As the Senator and we all know, there is probably nothing as important as the climate debate so I will try to get ourselves back on track again and do that.

Senator Currie talked about the first in-person session of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. I know that lots of colleagues attended and enjoyed the interactions over the weekend. It is nice to see them because the relationship, and any face-to-face meetings and interactions that we have, are vitally important to improve what the Senator described as a strained relationship.

Senator Murphy talked about what can only be described as an horrific event for Garda Padraig Scott and his loved ones in the last couple of days. We utterly condemn the attack. It is a bizarre situation and God love the man. I thank the Senator for updating us that Garda Scott is home. The Senator is right that we need a debate on crime. We have seen a number of instances in the last number of weeks, particularly concerning older people in communities, that has literally put the fear of God in them. I mean no disrespect when I say that people's minds are not put at rest by an assistant commissioner telling us that statistics show that the level of crime is down. We need to see gardaí in communities in order to reassure the older members of communities that they are there.

Senator Keogan talked about seeking the end of telemedicine abortions and I will make her views known to the Minister today. As in everything else, I think that any of those emergency measures that were introduced do obviously need to be pulled back.

Senator McGahon talked about Russia's biggest fear and he is probably right. I think that all of us would agree that the open membership into the EU should be fast-tracked and that we should do anything we can to help.

Senator Cassells spoke about the defamation process that was announced by Cabinet this morning and the Minister for Justice, and called for swift action.He also commended the GAA, particularly Larry McCarthy, on its adventures over the weekend, which were very welcome. Time and again the GAA has stoked conversation and debate about its innovations.

Senator Flynn reminded us that today is the fifth anniversary of the Houses' recognition of the ethnic minority status of the Travelling community. I happened to be in the Chamber the day Enda Kenny made that statement. It is a true saying that people never remember what you said but never forget how you made them feel. The joyous atmosphere that was very obviously present that day was really something to behold. Considering how much of an impact the decision has made on the Traveller community, an impact that can even be seen on Senator Flynn's face this morning, one has to wonder why it took so long. It did not take anything from anybody else's life to recognise a particular part of our community and to give them recognition and joy for the heritage and the culture they have enjoyed for years.

In her contribution, Senator Flynn made a call for no more tokenistic gestures. She was referring in some way, I think, to herself being a token of a community in this House. I wish to put it on the record that Senator Flynn is absolutely not a token Member of this House. She is an admirable, intelligent leader for her community and she represents that community so well and so beautifully. I wish to acknowledge that and put it on the record.

Senator Flynn also called for debates on the heads of the Bill on hate crime and on the White Paper on direct provision. I will try to organise those debates as quickly as I can.

In response to Senator Gavan, I have not read the articles to which he referred so I am a little reluctant to comment on them. I will bring his request in respect of the revelations that were made by Paul Kimmage over the weekend about the IHRB to the relevant Minister's attention and see what response we get.

Senator Martin informed us that today is Independence Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I wish all their people well and all their citizens residing in Ireland a very happy day.

I absolutely agree with Senator McDowell's comments. It is always a matter of hindsight. Had I had notice of his request last week, maybe this would have been easier. I think Senator Buttimer is right. I cannot facilitate a motion on the matter today, not because I do not think we could put the words together but rather because any motion would have to go through the various processes and then go on the Order Paper, and I am not sure that would be facilitated. May I ask Senator McDowell a favour? We can go ahead and have our statements on the situation in Ukraine today. If the Senator would not mind writing a motion that would be acceptable to us in this House, perhaps we could pass it without debate on Thursday or even, if we could turn it around faster than that, tomorrow. If he would not mind writing something and circulating it to all of us, we will get it on the Order Paper and maybe pass it without debate on Thursday if that-----