Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senator Carrigy. I will pass on his comments to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine today because I fear that in order for us to be effective in our sanctions against Putin and Russia it will certainly have an impact on the economies of all the European countries and indeed the western world. How to plan for that is what the Senator is asking for a debate on, and I will ask for that today.

I have no doubt that Senator McDowell would have written a far more strident, strong and probably more effective motion today but at least we have a motion that is a start and that is agreeable and that will be passed hopefully unanimously by the House today. As agreed on Tuesday this will be a rolling debate. It is not scheduled for next week but it is rescheduled for the week after. At that stage maybe we can revisit having a stronger wording.

The suggestions made today to invite our Commissioner to address us might be something we could take up with the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight because I think it would be worthwhile to hear how and why the sanctions are planned and phased as they are, and why normal people like us do not understand why things are being withheld. It might be a worthwhile debate. I thank Senator McDowell for his contribution.

Senator Lombard asked for the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to be brought in with regard to a programme for public pools. I will organise that.

Senator Seery Kearney talked about the generosity of Irish people. I do not know whether we are unique but there is always a swell of response and generosity when Irish people are asked to step up and they have indeed done so in spades in the past week and will continue to do so.I am mindful the Ukrainian ambassador said yesterday that much of what we are collecting is possibly not what is needed. Ukraine, through the humanitarian agencies, will issue lists of stuff, probably mostly medical supplies, that are actually needed as opposed to what we naturally think we should offer. I look forward to hearing about that.

Senator Buttimer asked for an urgent debate, which I will organise, regarding the national service plan and the HSE waiting list action plan. He is correct that what is required is structural change in our health service and not new plans that come out every year followed by analysis of the plans and why they did not work at the end of the year. We are all aware that structural changes are needed.

Senators Hoey and Conway raised World Book Day, as did Senator Maria Byrne. I wish everybody well on that. I acknowledge the major input and the joy it is to read a really good book. When I get one I cannot put down, I love it. It is a great experience. I acknowledge that.

Senators Gavan, Black and McDowell touched on what is an horrific ongoing situation with regard to criminal behaviour. I did not go to the briefing mentioned by Senator Black as I do not think I was invited to it, but I was not aware that so many people have been murdered in the past seven years. I will certainly ask for a debate on that and facilitate it as fast as I can.

Senator Keogan made a very worthwhile plea to all our faith leaders. Many of us automatically assume we are talking about Catholic Church leaders, but we are also talking about our Protestant and, indeed, Muslim, Buddhist and humanitarian faith leaders. Senator Keogan made a plea to people to open up their hearts and homes for what will be, according to the Minister for Justice this morning, tens of thousands of refugees we hope to welcome in the next couple of weeks. Senator McGahon made the suggestion of standing up to the Russian people through the inclusion of all sanctions, which means all banks and not just selected ones that will not impact on us. He also made the suggestion of asking our European Commissioner to come to the House.

Senator Malcolm Byrne made a unique but apt suggestion of having a debate on the value of politics and an open discussion of why and how we should cherish our democracy in light of the resignation of our colleague, Deputy Alan Kelly, yesterday evening. I wish Deputy Kelly, Regina and their children continued success in whatever role, political or otherwise, he chooses in future.

Senator Black spoke about the war and Senator Sherlock about the awarding of the contract by the National Gallery of Ireland. I will ask for a debate on procurement policy but, from personal experience, it is determined by European legislation. It may be something we should start to challenge and ask for those extra conditions to be added to the tender process.

Senator Ó Donnghaile made a suggestion that post meetings of BIPA we should have a conversation about the committee work it does, which would be very valuable. I will ask the Oireachtas Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight to put that on the agenda too.

Senator Craughwell talked about the repatriation of Irish citizens from Romania by the Irish Air Corps. He thanked the Air Corps for that and asked for a debate on our neutrality, which was suggested on Tuesday and has gone to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for consideration of a date.

Senator Ward talked about the resignation of Professor Ben Tonra, his concerns about Chinese influence because of their investment in UCD and a debate on funding for the third level sector. Senator Murphy spoke about our roads projects and inviting the Minister for Transport to the Chamber, for which there has been an open invitation for the past number of weeks. We talked about the national development plan, especially the roads projects that have been excluded from it, just before Christmas. I have not forgotten about it. I consistently remind the Minister the invitation is open to him to come to speak to us. Senator Murphy also congratulated the Convent of Mercy senior camogie team, which we join him in doing.

It is endometriosis awareness month, which Senator Maria Byrne brought up. The leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad, Senator Chambers, frequently raises the issue because of her personal experiences and interest in it. It is an enormously quiet disease that women have been made to suffer silently for far too long. We have talked a lot about women's issues, which is a phrase that annoys me, over the past couple of months. This is a medical issue that is something we can fix fast. The other issues are cultural and we may have a more arduous journey to try to change an entire culture, but this is a medical issue that requires medical intervention far quicker than the seven years that is the current average. We need to wake up and have a proper medical response and programme in Ireland for the one in 10 women who suffer silently from this condition. I am very happy to add my support to the awareness campaign that is going on this month. I ask everybody else to do so in a similar way, if they can, for which I would be very grateful.