Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I hear that. I hear what was said and I know that Senator Ruane read out the comments of the Minister. I can only relay to the House that the Minister was asked. The request was made. If we were to sit beyond next Thursday, going into Friday or the following week, the amendments would not be taken in the Dáil. That is the response I have been given. I am being honest and open with Members. I am sure they are aware of this anyway. There is a significant amount of business and we have tried to accommodate it. This morning, I had sight of the proposed schedule for next week. It is jam-packed. There is a lot of legislation coming through and it is putting pressure on staff in the Bills Office and other staff. I acknowledge that.

There is a point that Ministers could reflect on how the business is being run in both Houses. The same pressures are being felt in the Dáil. That puts pressure on the offices. This deadline of the summer recess is imposed but I am not sure if that is always essential. Yes, some Bills need to be passed before the recess but other Bills could probably wait until the autumn session to give more time. I am not a Minister or at Cabinet, however. I am not making these decisions. I ask that Ministers bringing legislation through consider whether there is a need to set that absolute deadline of the summer recess.

In terms of the Higher Education Authority Bill and the Electoral Reform Bill, if amendments that are tabled now are to be discussed in the Dáil, the Bills have to go back next week. Otherwise, the amendments will not be discussed. That is the reality of the two weeks that we are in. I know Senator Doherty spoke to Senators last night and again this morning to try to find changes that could be made. Some changes were made on foot of speaking to Senator Ruane, as well as Senator Higgins, who is not here but who was speaking to the Leader. Changes were made to the schedule but I accept that not all the changes that were requested were made. Out of respect for Members, I wanted to be honest about where things were at and what we were dealing with.

On the contributions on the Oder of Business, Senator O'Loughlin welcomed the significant investment announced yesterday by the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, in respect of the cost of going back to school.It is a particular pinch point for many families. Those costs are accruing and being incurred now by families. There will be an additional €100 payment under the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. An extra €67 million has been allocated for that scheme. Some 60,000 children will also benefit from extra school meals.

I take on board the Senator's comments around the need to increase the capitation grant and to remove the voluntary contribution which, as we know, is not voluntary in many schools. Anecdotally, we hear evidence that some schools put pressure on parents to pay that voluntary contribution in the full knowledge they cannot afford it. We ask schools to be mindful of that, particularly in the context of the situation with which we are dealing.

I also take on board the Senator's comments about pension abatements. It is an issue Senator Craughwell has raised on many occasions. That would be an appropriate Commencement matter if the Senator would like to raise it.

The Senator also raised the issue of funding for IVF, which is a matter many Senators have raised, and the need to provide funding in budget 2023 to assist families that require IVF treatment. We know that the World Health Organization classifies infertility as a disease. It is one of the only diseases that we do not financially support individuals to deal with and get the treatment they need.

Senator Mullen asked for an amendment to No. 2, which I will not be able to accept. I do, however, take on board his comments. He spoke in particular about the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, as did Senators Clifford-Lee and Craughwell. Senator Craughwell referenced Senator Keogan in his contribution. I was not present at the proceedings to which the Senators referred. I know there have been some difficulties at the committee. I agree with the points made by Senator Craughwell, albeit we were not a party to those proceedings. It is important that all views are accommodated in both Houses and at committee meetings. Senator Mullen spoke about the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of which he and I were members. We had many debates that were quite fiery and where we disagreed. We were on completely opposite sides. It is important that all views are accommodated and listened to and that all debate is respectful. I take on board Senator Ruane's comments that we should never seek to upset individuals, committee members or witnesses. All debate should be respectful. I am always mindful that if we were to go back 40 years, the views that I hold on the eighth amendment and abortion services would probably not have been facilitated to the extent they are today. It is important that we accommodate people's views. Even though I am in the majority today, that may not be the case at a time in the future so it is important that we ensure a balance. We do not know at what stage things might change.