Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I find myself in the unusual position that I am directing my response only to the Government side of the House. Senator Chambers opened proceedings and spoke of the anniversary of repeal. It is hard to believe that it is four years since we had the referendum on repeal. She noted that it actually started 35 years ago. We as legislators need to ensure that the will of people around equality of access is upheld and we need to ensure that there are safe access zones and that legislation is brought in. Senator Boylan also addressed that issue. I was pleased to stand with other Members of the Oireachtas at the Kildare Street gates to commemorate that day.

Senator Chambers also raised the mass shooting in the US. We were all shocked last night and this morning to hear the testimony as it broke on our newspapers, radio and television about 19 children and two teachers. It is just shocking. That is the 27th shooting there this year. On behalf of the House I wish to express all our condolences to the families, teachers and the communities and the people of America. Some of responses from public representatives were abhorrent. They said that guns were not the problem. It was people that were the problem and we should teach teachers to use guns. They said there should be armed police at schools rather than dealing with the whole area of guns and the fact that a young man could walk in on his 18th birthday and buy two guns, shoot his grandmother and then go on to the school.

One of my brothers was in Texas for work last week. He sent a photograph to the family WhatsApp after he walked into a shop and saw guns for sale because he was shocked. Little did I think we would see something like this happen in Texas a little over a week later. We have to do everything we can to condemn the attack and stand in solidarity with the devastated community in Texas. We are lucky that we have very stringent controls on firearm certificates and conditions here and that is how it should be.

Senators Boyhan, Buttimer and Malcolm Byrne spoke about Congressman Richard Neal's visit here and what a historic day is was in Leinster House. It is the one day that I was jealous that I was not here. I was abroad on Council of Europe business. From everything I saw and heard it really was a very significant day so I add my congratulations. I believe that Miriam Lord covered it very well in her piece. I did not read it but I heard something about it on the radio. It is really important that we do everything we can to commemorate and celebrate those connections.

Senator Boyhan also raised the issue of An Bord Pleanála. There are issues that are sub judicebut he is correct in saying that people need to have confidence in the whole system. We should certainly look for the publication of the Mulcahy report. It is five years since its completion. Money and time are spent on reports. They must then be published and debated and we must look at the recommendations. I agree that we need a debate on planning. I would like to include in that the matter of unauthorised developments and how our planning laws deal with them because we need to do far more. I raised that here two weeks ago. We will certainly look for that debate.

Senator Boylan spoke about the jury selection for the Stardust inquest. She referred to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, having made a commitment that she would bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that the jury would commence. That is important and we will write to the Minister on that issue.

Senator Wall raised Naas General Hospital and the "RTÉ Investigates" programme about sexual misconduct by doctors there. He spoke of gardaí carrying out the investigation. We listened to the testimony of "Ryan", which is not his real name. I was struck by his bravery and integrity in talking about what he went through. We must be very mindful of the anguish he has suffered as a result. We do need to have a debate on patient safety and the procedures in place because part of Ryan's story was what happened when he did speak to other hospital staff. We are very conscious of how overworked hospital staff are but we need to have proper procedures in place and to ensure they are followed.

Senator Wall also raised the welcome news yesterday for PDFORRA as did Senators Byrne, Craughwell and Buttimer. I agree that RACO should be included but to be fair, PDFORRA started this campaign a long time before RACO joined the debate. I want to compliment Ger Guinan and Mark Keane. They have done excellent work in a very respectful way. Many of us would have had meetings with them over the years. It is high time this happened and it is really important. I want to compliment them in particular for their sustained campaign and I add my voice to those calling for RACO to be involved.

Senator Black spoke of the shocking scenes at the funeral of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and how Israel has refused access to MEPs. I think that is wrong. They should be allowed in. The Seanad should ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to write to the Israeli ambassador. Diplomatic relations are important, as Senator Black said, but there are areas where we must take a stand. This is one.

Senator Malcolm Byrne also spoke about the leak of police files about the Uyghur community in China and the systemic abuse and genocide being carried out there. He is correct that sometimes when things like Russia's war against Ukraine happen we can lose sight of other human rights abuses happening around the world. We just cannot do so. What is happening to the Uyghur community is absolutely shocking. We will write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to share our shock about the abhorrent human rights abuse by China against the Uyghur community.

Senator Lombard spoke about car rental for tourists. He mentioned how he got a quote of €1,800 for ten days. Coincidentally, I spoke to an official coming here next week for a Council of Europe meeting where representatives from 48 countries will come to Dublin. He has a connection with Ireland and he wanted to hire a car for four days. He was having a problem finding a hotel for two days. I had recommended hotels in Kildare to him previously. He was quoted €1,500 for four days. For that he could have bought a car, sold it on and made a profit. Now he is not renting a car and is staying with a friend rather than staying in a hotel outside Dublin. It is shocking.

One reason for this situation, and I do not know why, is that the car rental fleet is 40% of what it was in 2019. Why? Is it because the price of second-hand cars has gone up? I really do not know. It must be investigated, I completely agree, because it is important that Ireland has a reputation for value for money. For the first time in three years we are able to open our country and our world-renowned hospitality to people. We want to ensure that they have easy access to accommodation and car hire and not at exorbitant prices. We cannot have our tourism undermined. We should look for a debate with the Minister on that issue.Senator Craughwell also raised the matter of the tender process and said the Secretary General had refused to meet the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. He also spoke about the Air Corps being slighted. We will certainly write to the Minister regarding that and will request the Secretary General attends the committee.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about Limerick College of Further Education, UL and the expansion of courses there around film apprenticeships and retrofitting, in addition to Ronald McDonald House. Senator Buttimer also attended the presentation this morning. The fact a new 52-bedroom house for families has been opened is phenomenal. The emotional and financial stress on families when they have a very sick child is huge on so many levels. It is wonderful to see the extra supports that are being given.

Senator Keogan raised the spectre of inflation and the issue of access to food and food security that is being discussed in Davos. While she is correct that for far too long a lot of food in this country has been sold below cost, which has caused a major problem for producers, we should also be doing everything we can to encourage allotments and community gardens for people to grow their own food where they can. Maybe we could look for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on that.

Senator Ahearn spoke about the primary school in Grange, Tipperary, and rising costs. My understanding is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform made an announcement about two weeks ago that due to inflation the Department will step in, rightly so, on capital grants. Following that, I received a number of phone calls, as I am sure Senator Ahearn and many Members did, to see if the sports capital grants could be included in that. I contacted the Minister's office and, while they will not be included, it is looking at doing something. I agree that when extensions are needed, they are needed immediately, generally speaking, because we are playing catch-up all the time in this regard. The Senator asked for a debate with the Minister for Rural and Community Development on CLÁR schemes. Tipperary is very lucky to get CLÁR; I wish Kildare could. It is important to have clarity on timelines relating to decisions and when funding can come through.

While welcoming the visitors in the Gallery from Longford, Senator Carrigy spoke about the importance of the Irish influence in American politics. I remember a book I read by Conor O'Clery, The Greening of the White House, which was an excellent book on the influence Ireland brought to bear on the White House. In that context, it is important to mention Ms Trina Vargo, who was foreign affairs adviser to the late Senator Ted Kennedy. She set up the US-Ireland Alliance based on that premise because the late Senator Kennedy felt there would be a time when Ireland would not have the influence it has and he wanted to ensure young people on campuses across America would have the opportunity to learn about and understand Ireland, with the hope they would one day be influential in their own country and in politics.

Senator Kyne spoke about Galway being bottom of the league for per capitacouncil funding and looked for a debate on local authority funding. We need that debate and I will certainly write to both Ministers involved in that. That is where key funding is needed in all our county and city councils throughout the country. We need a sustainable level of funding for all our local authorities to be able to carry out the very important and significant work they do. We should look for that debate and for accountability and transparency in funding. I have often heard from executives in Kildare County Council that it is one local authority but has two Dáil constituencies, and it certainly does not get enough funding either. I agree with that.

Senator Murphy asked for a debate on the N5 route from Strokestown to Ballaghaderreen and spoke about the major safety concerns that are there. Road safety is absolutely an issue but he has spoken to the Minister and the Taoiseach specifically on the N5 issue and the Senator believes the project will be back on track. Maybe it is worthy of a Commencement debate also.

Senator Ward spoke about mutual recognition of qualifications from Ukraine. I completely agree. There was a Commencement debate in the House last week, during which this matter was asked about in respect of pharmacists, for example. Pharmacists will say otherwise, but I have no doubt there is a shortage of pharmacists in this country. Ukraine is not one of those countries that is allowed a fast-track into pharmacy here and I believe it should be. I agree with the Senator that we should certainly look at that mutual recognition. He also addressed the avenue through the Council of Europe declaration in respect of how we can support Ukrainians and that small window where we could look at Russian assets that are in Ireland, and the possibility of seizing them and using them to finance for the reconstruction of Ukraine. His final suggestion related to the €4 million given to the International Criminal Court by Ireland and the suggestion the remaining €3 million might be of better use on the ground. I do not disagree. We certainly will write to the Minister and make that suggestion.