Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Dolan about the conference. We all know that from a party perspective it is nice to get together with friends from around the country because we only get to see them every couple of years and it is a lovely event. For me, the vibrancy, engagement, grit and determination that can only be got in rural Ireland were evident in the room on Saturday and it was lovely to see that our rural cousins are in fighting form and are not taking some of the issues we talk about in here week in, week out lying down.I will first reply to Senator Garret Ahearn, and to Senators Ward and Dolan who touched on the issue. The video that President Zelenskyy did on Sunday really shows how important leadership is, and particularly at times of crisis. For a gentleman who has not been a political leader for very long he has some metal and support in Ukraine. I say that because, as Senator Ahearn has spoken about, we can all see the crumbling buildings and talk about the history, and events, that have led to such a situation. What certainly is not crumbling is the spirit, determination and resilience of the Ukrainian people. Anything that we can do in Europe, America and anywhere else in the world to keep that spirit alive and provide support is definitely what we should do. I refer to sanctions and military weapons from other countries, which do not have the position that we do. An absolute sheer determination from a political perspective that supports them is definitely something we can do. I will liaise with the officials to see how best we can facilitate them within the next couple of weeks. I will liaise with the Senator's office to make sure, if it is not within the three days, that we accommodate them for maybe some of the time that we are not sitting but it is really important that we do this.

Regarding Senator Ward, I sometimes think that I have a magic wand but I definitely do not have a wand that extends to RTÉ correspondents for Dún Laoghaire. I will convey his concerns about the appointment of John Lee to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and ask if it is appropriate for us to respond or at least have a debate on same in this House. I will get back to the Senator on that.

Senator Carrigy, earlier I found myself considering whether I would respond to some of the comments that were made because it might be better to adopt an approach of the less said the easier mended. I will tell him what really is important. When we have difficult transitions to go through, and this is one of them, we must not poke people in the eye. Communications are absolutely crucial. A just transition, and the funding that is needed to make that transition easier, is crucial. No amount of bandying back that one is green and someone else is blue is ever going to fix that. What we need is proper communication and to respectfully show that people's lives and identities are equally important. However, the money to make transition easier is the most paramount thing that will resolve this issue. Finally, the Senator also welcomed the 9% VAT rate as did other colleagues, which is a very welcome move by the Cabinet this morning.

Senator Seery Kearney asked for us to write to Dublin City Council on the protocol that governs flag flying for her heritage groups. I will liaise with her office and we will help that situation as much as we can.

I assure Senator Boylan that I will write to the Minister and contact her office today. It seems a logical thing for us to not cause distress where unwarranted and to move to the Pillar Room for which we already pay. More importantly, I will ask what the status of the legislation is that is required for jury selection and get back to the Senator.End of Take

Senators Wall and Murphy sought a debate on rural transport. Given that it is an advantage, which we have seen in Dublin this week, and I refer to the reduction in fare prices and the introduction of the 90-minute ticket, and as previously done in some of the cities around this country, it is pity that the fare reduction does not extend to operators in the rest of the country. We should push for an extension of the scheme and I will organise a debate as quickly as I can.

Senator Murphy recommended the 9% VAT rate. He also paid tribute to the people who run his local hospital, which has gone through a difficult and painful transition. It is nice to see the hospital staff and management be rewarded for the excellent services that they provide.

Senator Keogan asked for a report on the interim Cass report and I will try to arrange it. What might be beneficial first is to write to the clinical lead of the HSE to find out his opinion of the report and then we can frame a debate around the report. I make that suggestion because I fear that if I sought a report now that I would be told that it is an English report and that the Department does not have anybody to meet and discuss it with us here. Let us find out how the clinical lead views the interim report, find out whether it will change the practices in terms of clinical referrals done by the HSE, and then I will get back to the Senator to arrange a specific debate that is tailored to her needs.

Senator Buttimer talked about the 9% VAT rate. Like Senator Conway, he supported the call made by Deputy Stanton this week to open the educational buildings that are in every single town, village and city. The real concern, and I suppose this has been highlighted because of the conversation on the national maternity hospital, is that when patron bodies own the buildings then they are the people to whom we must beg to use those buildings. Right now, the vast majority of the patron bodies in the educational system are not the State. They are either the Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, the Educate Together sector or Gaelscoileanna.We do not have any uniformity in the provision of services either before schools open or after they close and definitely not at the weekends. For the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of euro we spent on the construction of those buildings it is an absolute crying shame our sports clubs, community facilities, creches and after-school clubs do not have access to the buildings the State helps supply the funding for. It is beyond time we had some sort of a protocol and direction from the Government. I will ask for that debate as quickly as I can.

Senator Ardagh spoke about the working group on housing defects, looked for the publication of the final report and a debate to accompany that. I will ask the Minister for that.

Senator Hoey spoke about workforce planning within the health service and looked for a debate on that, which I will arrange. She also talked about the international Dublin Gay Theatre Festival and the success of it this week and last, despite public funding being pulled.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke about the elections in Northern Ireland last week. I suppose Members are all political animals so like me they were glued to the television watching the returns in the different constituencies. What really is incredible is both Michelle O'Neill and Naomi Long proved to everybody this weekend there is no glass ceiling in women in politics either in Ireland or elsewhere. I congratulate both of them on their wins. As Senator Ó Donnghaile said, we hope minds will be focused and everybody will now sit around the table and provide an Assembly and an Executive, get back to work and spend the £300 million he mentioned, which would be lovely to see.

I am not really sure how to diplomatically answer Senator Clonan's question because I fear I probably agree with everything he said. Every other apology, heartfelt, has come from the Taoiseach and it probably would be appropriate but the Minister, to be fair to him, has taken real initiative in trying to resolve this issue in the last two years, as a new Minister with genuinely heartfelt concern to try to resolve this issue. Today was the first opportunity he saw to do so sooner rather than later. While I hear what the Senator is saying, the Minister probably is the most appropriate person because he is the reason we are where we are today. I am aware not everybody is happy but he has made some serious inroads into trying to resolve this situation that has gone on for far too long. I will pass back the Senator's concerns.