Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business today.

The first contributor was Senator Kyne, who alerted Members to the Galway hydrogen hub public consultation taking place on Thursday and Friday next in Galway. The Senator spoke about the need for a hydrogen strategy, with which I would agree, and referenced the view of the hub that offshore wind would be needed. The Senator mentioned the Commencement matter I raised this morning which spoke about the State's offshore wind strategy. It appears to be more focused in the east and the south, which is something we must work on, certainly for Members in this House living in the west who might have an interest in advancing that strategy there.

Senator Malcolm Byrne requested a debate on the future of the media. That has been requested and we are awaiting a debate on that, with or without the report. I take on board the Senator's comments that there is a significant delay in the publication of that report. We are now waiting nine months for that.

Senator Byrne then spoke about Teagasc and the average age of farmers in Wexford, Wicklow and Carlow being 56.6 years, which is below the national average. It is still a mature age, if I can put it that way. The Senator stated there is a significant problem in getting young people into farming for various reasons, many of them to do with access to farm land. The need to facilitate farmers retiring and transferring land is one of those issues to be dealt with. We will request that debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It will likely be in the autumn session because we are in the last four weeks and we have a lot of business in terms of Bills to pass. It will be difficult to accommodate statements on a particular issue.

Senator Clonan spoke on an important topic on which all of us on both sides of the House need to work. It is abhorrent that we have thousands of children and young people waiting for intervention services when we know that "early intervention" is the term and, if it is not early, it does not have the same impact. We all know people within our communities and within our friends and family circle who are fighting day after day to get basic services. It is a fight parents do not have time for because they are caring for their children as well and trying to support them as best they can. Many parents are paying privately when they cannot afford it and even getting private services is becoming difficult because the waiting lists for public services are so long. We will request that debate, probably at the outset with the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities. That is a junior post. Ultimately, it should be a cross-departmental responsibility at Government level to tackle what is a State failure to provide these services for children. The Senator is correct that we will be looking back on this in ten or 20 years and we will be ashamed of ourselves as a country that we left children languishing on waiting lists for such a lengthy period.

I take on board Senator Clonan's points about child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, being continually understaffed as well. There are difficulties in recruiting the right people. I do not know why it is so difficult to recruit people. Perhaps we need to look at pay and conditions for those senior posts. There are many vacant posts that have been funded. The money is there to pay those salaries. We are finding it difficult to get people to take up those posts and we are competing on an international level to get people into some of these posts as well, particularly at the highest level. That is proving a challenge for us right across the health service. I take on board as well the Senator's point about the progressing disability services programme and the issues surrounding that.

Senator Wall spoke about the issues concerning special needs assistants, SNAs. There was an announcement from the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan's office. I accept the Senator's comments on the frustration with the communication around that issue and that there are ongoing issues in terms of accreditation for SNAs.It is about proper recognition for the work they do, the responsibilities they have and the key role they play in schools. Senator Malcolm Byrne was at that committee meeting, as were other Members, and there are issues around the contract. My information is accreditation is something that is accepted and agreed by Government and is on the way but I accept absolutely there is frustration it has not happened by now.

Senator Flynn touched on an issue around the use of language and the importance of proper language. Words matter and what is said cannot be unsaid. It is forever on the public record once one opens one's mouth. The Senator's mother's comments are wise and a very nice way to put it. The Senator is right that any commenting around people's living situation, especially when there is a consistent State failure to provide proper accommodation, is wrong and should be reflected upon. Many people in both Houses and beyond have at times used inappropriate language that caused hurt, so we can all think better about the language we use.

The debate with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on direct provision has been requested. Again, it will probably be in the autumn session but we are working on getting that date for the Senator. I am aware other Members also want to have that conversation with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman.

Senator Ward spoke to alert the House to the public consultation taking place through the Department of Justice around parental alienation, which is where one parent stops another from accessing the child and this does damage to the child as well as the parent. There are obviously lots of difficulties there. One parent may have genuine reasons for not wanting to engage with the other so we must be very careful in how we work through that. The Senator has encouraged Members to alert their communities to that particular public consultation.

Senator Keogan spoke about the NGO sector and the vast amounts of public money spent on these organisations. She is right to raise the point there should be a specific role for NGOs in servicing the community, assisting people and advocating but that it should not simply be to lobby and that is not really the intention at the outset. It is important we continually assess and reflect on the expenditure of public moneys and always ask the question of whether we are spending public money in the right way and can we justify it to the public. Genuine questions can be asked there and we need always to hold Government to ensure public money is spent in the right way and with the right intention.

Senator Buttimer spoke about public sector pay and asked for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath. We will make that request. He also asked for a debate on the budget. He made the point the budget is quite a long way away and he would like to see measures implemented before that. It is worth noting we have seen almost €2 billion of public expenditure on measures to try to deal with the cost of living. Budget 2022 includes the largest social welfare budget the State has had in more than 14 years. There have been specific targeted payments in the form of the fuel allowance and extra payments for those receiving it of €125 in March and another €100 in April. There were specific measures around reduction in VAT on gas and electricity for everybody. There was an energy rebate for all households as well. Thus, there have been specific targeted measures and more broad-ranging measures.

There was obviously a reduction in the cost of diesel and petrol that seems to have been erased in recent weeks but there have been emergency measures taken by the Government. It is worth pointing out those measures can be taken in advance of a budget as well if needs be. The Government is monitoring the cost of living issue on a weekly basis and it is the top priority for the Government to deal with.

Senator Mullen spoke about RTÉ now not coming in to the Oireachtas committee. I completely agree with his remarks. It is right and proper the broadcaster is not coming before an Oireachtas committee. Despite the fact there was considerable upset and anger at that debate we must be very careful around the role of Oireachtas committees and that line between the State broadcaster and the Oireachtas as well, in that there is a relationship there that needs to be harmonious to ensure the proper operation of a democracy and the Oireachtas, as well as the proper functioning of the broadcaster. There is a fine line. There have been debates in the past on different issues like marriage equality and the referendum on the eighth amendment where at times others call for debates to be closed down as well. However, again, it is about taking on board that we must listen as well, where certain language is used that maybe did not need to be used, that there are times when we can intentionally need to hurt others without any real benefit to it and there is no need for that either. It is just to learn from that, move forward and hope that particular issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about welcoming the new planning for a 150-bed hospital in Limerick to be run by the Bon Secours group. She acknowledged it will be a private facility but made the point there is a role for public and private healthcare and the additional 150 beds, though they are private ones, will help alleviate the pressure on UHL. That pressure is considerable.We know that HIQA recently reported that the circumstances of patients in the hospital are far below the standard expected. The Senator congratulated Councillor Olivia O'Sullivan on her election as mayor of Limerick. She is the third woman mayor in a row and there have been only five in the past 1,000 years. That is quite significant. I wish the councillor well in her time ahead.

Senator Davitt spoke about the plans to provide for maternity leave for councillors that are going to Cabinet and welcomed that move. We all concur with that. We have certain steps to take in this House also. We still do not have maternity leave for Oireachtas Members. A bespoke solution was put in place for the Minister for Justice that was absolutely appropriate and needed, but there has been no change whatsoever for any other Member of either House. There is a public perception that the issue has been resolved but it has not actually changed at all. If we are serious about encouraging women into politics and retaining them in politics, this is one of many issues we will need to address as an Oireachtas. Senator Davitt said there is potential to expand a plan to cater for councillors with long-term illness whereby they could nominate somebody to stand in to do their job for a number of months. It is a reasonable suggestion and one that should definitely be explored.

Senator Carrigy spoke about the Men's Shed in Longford, whose representatives in the Visitors Gallery are welcome to the Chamber, and also about the importance of the Men's Shed movement right across the country, particularly in rural areas. In my county, Mayo, several men's sheds have no doubt saved lives by dealing with mental health issues and rural isolation. I do not say that lightly. Having an outlet and the ability to meet up, make new friends, reconnect with old friends and do something positive in the community is really important.

Senator Carrigy also spoke about the loss of commercial rates to Longford County Council when Lough Ree power plant closed. There was a reduction of €1.2 million. The Senator said there is a need to bridge the gap and ensure the funding is still provided to the local authority. It is Government policy to ensure that we have just transition such that when we close power plants like the one in question and it has an impact on employment and commercial rates for a local authority, there is an onus on the Government to ensure no detrimental impact on the local community. The Senator's comments are certainly valid and of genuine concern.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about housing and has urged certain groupings, parties and individuals, and everybody in between, to think before they object to housing in their local areas. This is a problem right across the country. Projects are not getting under way as quickly as they could or at all because of local objections. Taking into account that planning and community engagement need to be done in the proper way, it is urgent to get houses built and finished. The Senator also acknowledged the latest report that shows housing commencements are at an all-time high, with over 30,000 commencements in the past 12 months and the number going in the right direction.

Senator Fitzpatrick also alerted the House to a particular issue on the Navan Road, with the Intreo office, locally referred to as "the labour", having been closed since April. I suggest to the Senator that she raise this as a Commencement matter given that it is a quite specific issue. We can take it from there if a satisfactory answer is not provided to her.

Senator Conway spoke about the need to provide more housing for elderly people to facilitate them in downsizing and freeing up larger homes for younger families coming through. It is a sensible suggestion. He has asked for a debate on this matter. We will request it for the autumn session.

Senator Conway has once again raised the issue of the leaving certificate. I take on board his comments in that there is frustration because we still do not know the date on which the leaving certificate results will be published. It is important to know because it has an impact on the Central Applications Office offers for college and students starting college. The delay is because there have been a number of re-sits of the examinations because of Covid, in addition to other reasons. I am aware that the office of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, is working very hard to resolve the issue at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Warfield spoke about the Government commitment to a HIV–AIDS memorial. I take on board the Senator's comment that there should be consultation on the right way to achieve this. It is hard to believe it is 1982 since the first case was reported. We have come a long way. Millions of people lost their lives over the period. What is occurring is really important and I am glad to see it is finally progressing to the public consultation phase.