Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their queries and comments on today's Order of Business. I thank all of them for their warm tributes to the late Mary Jackman; I know her family is listening. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party in particular, I thank her for her dedication and service to County Limerick and here as a Member of Seanad Éireann.

Senator O'Loughlin began by relaying the good news about a dedicated centre for people with Alzheimer's disease in Kildare. She made a valid point about the need to map the gaps in services across the country. It is a worthy initiative and something I will ask the Leader's office to contact the Minister for Health about.

She also spoke about strategic housing development, as did Senator Boyhan. Strategic housing developments were initiated to try to improve the flow and processing of new housing applications because there was a view that housing developments were being held up within the planning process. The legislation has been amended and that is important. The Senator spoke about connectivity issues relating to walkways at the Liffey Linear Park and An Bord Pleanála.

It is something I have come across and An Bord Pleanála must really engage on these matters. If it makes a decision to overturn a planning permission or refusal by a county council, there must be a process that would allow the board to say to the council that it is going to overturn the decision but where it can take on board specific issues that it might have. For example, one development needed an area for buses to pull in outside. The council refused the application and An Bord Pleanála granted it, meaning there was no bus shelter in the finished project. There really should be joined-up thinking on that. The Senator spoke about connectivity and it is very important. An Bord Pleanála must be aware of that and a debate, as suggested, is a good idea as well.

Senator Maria Byrne mentioned Age Action Ireland and the elderly in Ireland. It is a valid point. Banks are looking out for people who will have to change their bank from Ulster Bank in particular, which is exiting the market. It is encouraging people to join the relatively small number of competitor banks. It is a valid point because there is much work in changing direct debits and all of that. By God if you miss a payment you will know about it. People get the phone calls and human contact when a payment is missed for insurance or whatever else. The banks look for that money. It is an important matter and hundreds of thousands of direct debits across the country will need to be swapped over from Ulster Bank and KBC to other banks. I know the committee has worked on it, and a debate on banking competition, as well as the matters raised by the Senator, would be worthwhile. I will inquire about that.

The Senator also mentioned the reports of the person who went missing from UHL. Senators Byrne, Gavan, Conway and Ahearn have raised on numerous occasions issues around UHL. As a member of the health committee, together with Senator Conway, we requested that certain hospital groups, such as those in the mid-west and the Saolta group, where there are particular issues relating to overcrowding, need to be accountable. As politicians we are accountable to residents in the area and the Minister is accountable to the Dáil and, sometimes, to this House if he or she comes in. Senior Ministers tend not to do so. The management of hospitals must also be accountable and I have requested that they be accountable to the health committee.

Senator Boyhan mentioned strategic housing developments, as I said. He also asked for a report into alleged planning irregularities in County Donegal to be published. I will ask the Leader's office to contact the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage about that. It is the report commissioned by Mr. Rory Mulcahy.

Senator Ó Donnghaile commented on the welcome news around the Casement Park redevelopment. I have not had the pleasure of being there but I have seen the pictures over the past number of years. Rewilding is positive now but not in that case because flowers and everything were growing in it. I think I saw sheep in some of the pictures.The redevelopment of Casement Park is very welcome for Belfast, but also for the GAA and the island as a whole. I certainly welcome it.

I refer to the passport issue. Senator Wilson has a tabled a motion on the matter and a number of other Senators have indicated their support for the opening of a passport office in Belfast and the west or north west to provide that face, if you like. As Members of these Houses, we have access to a hotline. However, we have all heard from constituents, particularly in recent times, that it is very difficult to get through. The ability to have face-to-face meetings and make appointments for emergency applications in one's immediate area would be very welcome. I am not sure when the motion will be before the House but it is important that we look at these initiatives.

Senator McGreehan also commented on the Passport Office. She referred to the agricultural shows, which are a mainstay of the rural countryside. They have been missing for the past couple of years because of Covid, so it is great to see they will be back this year. The Government has supported these events under various Departments. We will all enjoy going to the various county and local shows in the coming months.

Senator Buttimer asked that the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, come to the House to discuss the issue of leaving certificate results day. I will ask the Leader’s office to write to the Minister to request such a meeting. I hope a date will be announced soon and there will not be a need for a special debate. Hopefully, a decision will be made soon to give peace of mind to students who will be sitting exams from next week. It is obviously very important for all those sitting their exams to know when the results are coming out. The CAO will also want to know, as will the third level institutions, as others have said.

Senator Keogan spoke of the need the overhaul the dental treatment services scheme. I welcome that the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has committed to a review of the scheme and recommended improvements in an announcement in April. This is an area where there have been failings. A number of dentists have exited the scheme for a variety of reasons. Certainly, if something is not done and more dentists exit the scheme, it will no longer be effective. Perhaps the Senator will table a Commencement matter on the issue to get fuller details.

Senator Malcolm Byrne welcomed members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe who are soon coming to Dublin. He mentioned that up to 1,000 delegates will arrive and that his party, Fianna Fáil, are part of the alliance. I welcome those delegates coming to Dublin. It is certainly a coup to get that group to come to here for its convention. The European People’s Party, of which Fine Gael is a member, was in Dublin in the convention centre, I think, seven or eight years ago. That was welcome at the time as well. The Senator also called for statements on the school transport scheme before the recess. It is a staple of the political diet in the month of August for people who do not get bus tickets to inquire about them and ask if they will get concessionary tickets. Any improvement to that scheme would be welcomed. I will request a debate on it.

Senators Ahearn, Conway and Dolan discussed the €30 million grant for An Post. I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and our colleague, Senator Carrigy, who has pushed for years for support for a sustainable nationwide post office network. I am told the monthly footfall in post offices is more than 1 million visits. That is indicative of the service the post office provides and its importance. There is €10 million each year for three years to protect the post office network, ensuring that it can continue to provide the service it does. I hope that can be continued after the three-year period because it is hugely important. I acknowledge all involved in that.

Senator Dolan also commented on the changes to the carer's allowance made by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. An increase in the threshold was announced in the budget. I know the Minister also wants to see carers receive pensions. That is hugely important. I welcome the changes and initiatives the Minister outlined yesterday as well.

I think I have covered all of the matters raised by Senators.