Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Members who contributed to the Order of Business, which was kicked off by Senator Dooley who raised the tourism sector, in particular hospitality and the rising cost of hotel accommodation, especially in the capital city. He gave examples of how Dublin compares with other capital cities, such as London, Lisbon and Berlin. From the figures stated by the Senator, we seem to be far more expensive than those other capital cities. He has requested a debate on this and was supported by Senator Buttimer.

Senator Kyne spoke about the long delays being experienced in some NCT centres. He has asked for intervention by the Minister and the RSA. I suggest the Senator table a Commencement matter as the issue is quite specific. If that does not yield results, we can look to do something further on it. The Senator also requested a debate on the capital plan and capital projects for the country. We are seeking this debate with the Minister prior to the summer recess. I hope to have information on this for Senators in the next while.

Senator Boyhan spoke this morning about the Sow for Ukraine campaign, whereby people purchase sunflower seeds at a cost of €5. The proceeds will go towards helping Ukrainian refugees. The seeds can be purchased through the Red Cross and Senator Boyhan urged Senators to get involved in the initiative. He also drew our attention to the public consultation under way on the mother and baby homes redress scheme and the fact that written submissions are being accepted until Friday, 6 May at 1 p.m. I thank the Senator for that.

Senator Martin spoke about the Northern Ireland elections. He made a very impassioned contribution about the change that is afoot. He urged all stakeholders to adopt a peaceful way of dealing with the potential outcome.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke, as he has on many occasions, about the backlog in the Passport Office. He has requested statements with the Minister. We will try to get this organised. He said some families are experiencing delays of a year or more for passports for babies. My experience is that generally it is three to four months unless something is not correct with the application. If this happens people can be put back to the end of the queue and it can be quite lengthy. A wait of three or four months is still far too long. The Senator also spoke about the DiscoverEU programme and students in Northern Ireland not being permitted to apply for the one-month free interrail pass. He also spoke about the Northern Ireland elections in which he has canvassed and he will be there tomorrow.

Senator Moynihan spoke about the tenant in situscheme and the direction to local authorities not to buy these properties and to work instead to purchase one-bedroom apartments. I note the Senator's concerns. There is another side to this, which is that we do not want local authorities competing with other buyers who are trying to purchase properties. It is a difficult balance to strike. The Minister is attempting to strike the right balance. I take on board the Senator's concerns about families entering into homelessness. Perhaps this could be prevented where there is some degree of flexibility in the local authorities. Senator Moynihan also spoke about the rowback in the United States in Roe v.Wade and the worrying developments in Texas and other states where hard-won rights to access termination are being taken away from women. We send our support to the people there. She also referred to the ongoing issues in Poland of which we are all very aware.

Senator Malcolm Byrne congratulated Kilmuckridge Drama Group on its win in Donegal and he wished them well. He drew our attention to the great work being done by the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland in promoting amateur dramatics. We have missed amateur dramatics in the past couple of years and it is great to see people back performing and doing what they do best. The Senator also requested a debate on higher education funding. We had a debate on this fairly recently but there have been new developments. We will certainly request that the Minister, Deputy Harris, come before the House. This request was supported by Senators Cassells, Dolan and Higgins who have also sought a debate. We will try to get that organised at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Cummins spoke about the technological university in the south. He said it was a fantastic development for the region and wished the university well in its work.

Senator Keogan sent her congratulations to the undisputed boxing champion Katie Taylor. I am sure we all join her in wishing Katie well. She has done a phenomenal service to the sport of boxing and to girls and women in boxing. Her achievements will be hard to beat by subsequent women coming through. She has done fantastic work. Senator Keogan also spoke about the use of student accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and raised concerns about what will happen in September. The Minister had said it is a short-term solution. We need to ensure we have accommodation for students. We will have to wait and hope we can find more permanent solutions for those fleeing the war.That it is probably a good use of that accommodation. It would be wrong to leave it empty when we have so many people looking for somewhere to stay as they flee the war and they need our support. I take on board the concerns expressed about students for September onwards.

Senator Buttimer spoke about the pharmacy sector and asked for a debate on the future of the pharmacy sector. He also referenced the ongoing HRT issues and the shortage that is being experienced by many women across the country. It is an ongoing issue. We have been told that there is a global shortage and that supply will increase in June or July. The Government, pharmacies, the medical profession and pharmaceutical companies could do more to meet the demand at a quicker pace. The Senator supported the call for a debate on the hospitality sector.

Senator Cassells referred to the announcement this morning of funding for higher education and referenced the report that his uncle, Mr. Peter Cassells, published six years ago that has yet to be properly acted upon. That work is under way and we look forward to debating the matter with the Minister in this House in the coming weeks.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about a recent report on women presenting with ovarian cancer and gave the stark number that between 300 and 400 women have come forward. She spoke about her concerns, as she has often done in this House, about University Hospital Limerick and the huge number of sick people on trolleys. I know that there is a particular acute issue in that hospital. She is concerned that people may have their diagnosis delayed because they have been unable to access services as quickly as they should do. The Minister for Health has appointed a special committee to look at the situation in UHL and we hope the situation is resolved shortly.

Senator Sherlock spoke about the new national maternity hospital. She welcomed that the approval by Cabinet to proceed with building has been paused, as does Senator Higgins. From the Government's perspective, we have spent almost ten years looking to get this hospital built. The project was signed off by the previous Government. Significant changes have been made. It was a 150-year lease but the duration has now been doubled to a 299-year lease, which is a long time to lease land. The building will be owned by the State and the HSE. A service level agreement will be given to St. Vincent's Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital to run the services. We are assured that all legally permissible services that are currently available, and legislated for, will be provided at the new maternity hospital as is currently provided in the existing maternity hospital. However, I am very persuaded by the very strong arguments that have been made by so many senior clinicians like Dr. Rhona O'Mahony, Professor Shane Higgins, who is the current master of the National Maternity Hospital, and over 50 clinicians who work in the maternity hospital. There is a strong clinical argument, which I say as a layperson, that co-location is best for women and girls. I find it really concerning that women who are very seriously and critically ill in the National Maternity Hospital must be put in the back of an ambulance to be transferred to St. Vincent's Hospital and St. James's Hospital because the National Maternity Hospital does not have an ICU and there is no critical care capacity in the current maternity hospital. That issue needs to be addressed.

I hear the concerns that have been raised but very few alternative proposals to resolve these issues have been put forward by those who have expressed concerns. I plead with them to do so. Clinicians who work on a day-to-day basis in obstetrics and gynaecology in the maternity hospital have expressed their concerns. I can see from their contributions on different programmes that they are deeply frustrated at the ongoing delays. These are the doctors who deliver care so I trust and I am reassured by what they have told us. I welcome the publication of the legal framework for all of us to scrutinise as parliamentarians, which is our role, and the Minister for Health will engage with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health. It is positive to have that space to do that out of respect for the genuine concerns expressed by genuine people, which have been raised. My sincere hope is that the project gets under way without further delay because the prospect of waiting another decade is simply not good enough.

Senator Dolan spoke about the investment in higher education and the significant investment of €307 million. We will arrange a debate as quickly as we can.

Senator Craughwell spoke about his attendance at the RIC commemoration in London. He expressed his disappointed that a similar commemoration could not be held here and I take on board his comments. The backlash in this country was because the Black and Tans were part of the RIC. So there is a genuine link between them and that anger was very real.

Senator Boylan mentioned the illegal retention of data by the Department of Social Protection. I do not have the full details about the issue. I suggest that she tables a Commencement matter to start with and if that is not sufficient then we will look to get a debate scheduled with the Minister in attendance. The Senator has the support of Senator Higgins to delve further into the issue.

Senator Conway spoke about University Hospital Limerick and the number of people on trolleys. He asked for a wider debate on emergency departments across the country.He has welcomed the third level funding as well.

I think I have dealt with Senator Higgins's main concerns about the maternity hospital. She has also requested a debate on Lyme disease, as has Senator Murphy. We will try to get that organised.

Senator Davitt asked for a debate on e-scooters with the Minister for Transport. Might I suggest to the Senator a Commencement matter to start? Then, if we need a wider debate, we can schedule that through the Leader's office.