Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business today. Senator Buttimer started this morning by speaking about this month being Pride month and the Senator referred specifically to the recent controversy around Dublin Pride and RTÉ. I share the Senator's concern that Pride has pulled away from RTÉ. It is regrettable that this parting of ways has happened. I would certainly hope that both parties can get around the table to try to find a way forward. That particular debate was quite tense at times with lots of different viewpoints articulated. It is regrettable the Dublin Pride felt it did not want to continue in that partnership. Hopefully they can get back to working together in the interests of promoting positive LGBTQI+ conversations and issues.

The Senator requested a debate around equality, diversity and inclusivity. I have made that request to the Leader's office and we will try to get that organised if we can for this month. I am aware that Senator Hoey has asked for the same debate. That request has gone in.

Senator Fitzpatrick also spoke about Pride celebrations and drew our attention to the Bloomsday Festival and the upcoming Stoneybatter Festival. The Senator has encouraged all Senators to try to attend or participate in those festivals to support those local areas.

Senator Keogan spoke this morning about immigration and young people, particularly in the context of the housing issue. The Senator asked that we would look at a Danish-style housing model as a potential solution. I would say to the Senator that we have a very ambitious housing plan in the State, with a record €20 billion investment to build 300,000 homes in the next four years. It will be a record level of investment in house building. I appreciate that there are difficulties and challenges. Coming out of the past two years there were periods when construction was closed down. Following the pandemic, we now have the war in Ukraine and we have supply chain issues. All of these are contributing to the difficulties in housing provision. No one individual or party or Government could have foreseen that these particular instances such as a pandemic or a war in Europe would have happened. They are impacting, of course, on housing. The numbers are, however, going in the right direction.

The Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, spoke about her attendance at the second national biodiversity conference in Dublin Castle. The Minister of State spoke about the need to work with farming communities and farm families. Two thirds of the land in the State is farmland. The Minister of State spoke about the need to farm with nature as opposed to against it. There were some very good comments in that regard. The Minister of State also spoke about the citizens' assembly, which is being chaired by Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin from Mayo. It is doing fantastic work in getting the views of our citizens for how we as a country can meet this biodiversity challenge.

Senator Gavan spoke about the President's comments. I will not stray into that issue too much, given the Cathaoirleach's direction. There are significant housing programmes taking place in the State. There are, of course, challenges. There was a decade of under-building. There have been two years when construction was not operational. There are now issues around supply chains, costs of building materials, and labour shortages, which we are trying to do deal with. Nobody can dispute that the level of investment in housing by this Government is unprecedented, such as never before seen in the State. We will see those numbers start to turn. I am aware that people are in difficulties and are facing challenges. Of course we acknowledge that. We are trying to turn those numbers around in the right direction.

Senator Gavan also spoke about the famine in Somalia and the potential for 380,000 children to lose their lives. It is shocking that in this day and age, with the abundance of food waste in every country, there would be children and parents dealing with that. It is just horrific. I commend Dóchas on its work in highlighting this. I urge the Government to do whatever it can to try to support with financial aid and to try to deal with that issue. There are so many humanitarian crises, and we can get caught up in certain ones, but this crisis is as important as the next. It is very important to highlight that.

Senator Hoey spoke about Pride month and the need to have that inclusive conversation. I concur with the Senator's remark. I am aware that it has been a difficult period for people. There has been a lot of vitriol online, on the radio and in the print media. There is a very tense conversation taking place that is not helpful to anybody. I would hope that these matters can be resolved, that we can move forward together, and that we can get back to what Pride month is about, which is a supportive and inclusive society.

Senator O' Sullivan spoke around the President's comments. I will be more general in my reply to the Senator's remarks while not focusing specifically on the recent issue. More generally, I would agree completely with the Senator's remarks on the role of the Executive, the Dáil, the Seanad, the Office of the President, and whoever holds that office at any particular time. There are very specific roles and for very good reason. There should be separation between those arms of the State. The long-standing tradition to not stray into each other's territory or to criticise one another is for the benefit of society and of the State. Questions have been raised as to whether this was maintained in recent times.

Senator Burke spoke this morning on two issues. I do not have a specific reply on the ESB issue the Senator has raised. It would probably be appropriate to raise it as a Commencement Matter since it is quite a specific question. If that is not sufficient we can, of course, look for a debate. I am aware of the issues around broadband access and particularly in Mayo and in Castlebar, and the ongoing difficulties there. The Senator referred to Eir, which has had long-running issues around customer service. I had to deal with that on a personal level and I would choose to never have to deal with that again, and would look elsewhere. The customer service has been so poor. It is an ongoing issue for people in the town. It is not just in Castlebar: it is also in other parts of the State. One would believe there would be proper access to broadband in this day and age in the main street of a county town. I have noted the Senator's comments.

Senator Craughwell spoke about the recent move by Ukrainian soldiers to get hospital treatment here in Ireland. The Senator also specifically requested a debate on neutrality. That debate has been secured and we are just working out a date. That debate has been agreed to and we will have the debate on neutrality in the Chamber at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Conway spoke about Shannon Airport, as he often does, and he pointed once again, as he often has, to the vast majority of air traffic going in and out of Dublin Airport, and the need to rebalance this across the regions. The Senator made the valid point that we have other airports in the State such as Cork, Shannon, and Ireland West Airport Knock, that can certainly have more capacity to assist in getting passengers in and out of the country. It is certainly a topic to be debated and I will request that debate in the context of aviation policy, at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Kyne spoke about the INTO and its lobbying on running costs in schools. We are all getting the feedback in every part of the country that there is a lot of pressure on schools now due to the rising costs of everything, be it insurance, energy and just keeping the doors open. I have no doubt that the Minister for Education will engage constructively with the teachers' unions to make sure that these costs can be met in a reasonable way and to make sure that schools are not under such extensive pressure for long periods. It will be an ongoing issue with regard to the cost of living and the cost of fuel and energy in general. We are all feeling this across the State. The education sector is no different. The Minister for Education is acutely aware of that issue and challenge for students and is dealing with that. That concludes the Order of Business.