Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank colleagues.

I thank Senator McDowell for his contribution. I do not think the matter he raised is one people consider until it is put foursquare in front of them, but it is definitely worth exploring. I will write to the Minister and maybe then I will send the Senator back copies of the correspondence and we will see in what forum the matter should be discussed. It might be kind of lost in this Chamber, but I will come back to the Senator once I make the response.

Senator Burke welcomed the cost-of-living budget and asked for a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, particularly on funding for local authorities. Senator Currie welcomed the cost-of-living budget and said it was a good response so far, particularly to the issues that have come across her desk in recent years.

Senator Dolan welcomed the €9 billion in expenditure on education, probably the largest spend we have ever had in that sector. She said Fine Gael is backing business and welcomed the budget.

Senator Carrigy spoke, as did Senator Kyne on a similar issue, about resources and staffing, not only in primary care but also in our acute settings and all disability and mental healthcare settings. It would be very valuable for us to have a workforce planning debate with the Minister. It is very easy for us all to stand around here and to give out about the length of queues without realising what is causing them. Most of the time it is a lack of recruitment within the HSE. I will try to arrange such a workforce planning debate as quickly as I can.

Senator Carrigy looked for a debate on the capital plan with the Minister for Transport. Senator Seery Kearney talked about a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the apartment owners who face absolutely massive bills. I think other people had expected a response today, particularly when we saw the response to the issue of mica today, especially around funding and how we will resource that. I think we expected a response today and did not get it, so I will certainly ask for a debate on Senator Seery Kearney's behalf.

Senator Seery Kearney also touched on the issue Senator Ruane spoke about. It is an awful pity when people use issues of such real importance on a human level to communities and to families to play politics with one another. It is even worse when the two parties involved are supposed to be in government, in a coalition with each other. The way the report was done at the weekend is really regrettable, but the Senator and the other people who were at the committee know exactly what the intentions of those people are. I would support and applaud her because that is the route to go. While there needs to be a response from the Garda for the actions that were avowed, we are going to have the same conversation in six weeks, six months or six years if we do not do something different, and I think that is what the community wants to see. I applaud all the people who want to take this seriously as opposed to just playing politics with it.

Senator Kyne spoke about the lack of GPs, particularly in rural areas, and the challenges they face. I do not really live in a rural area and we face the same challenges, so I think we need to have that conversation about workforce planning.

Senator Ahearn welcomed the budget, particularly the Government's and the State's funding of IVF treatment, one of the really welcome measures announced today.

Senator Martin spoke about the robust response in the budget. He then touched on other issues such as the power of sport and mental wellness. He congratulated his local boxer, and we join in those congratulations.

Senator Murphy raised the requirement for a footbridge in Leitrim and an application that has been made by Leitrim County Council. I have told the Senator that I will follow up with the Minister and come back to him.

Senator Cummins welcomed the cost-of-living budget, particularly the targeted and universal mix. He welcomed the extension of the help-to-buy scheme and the €500 per-person tax credit for those who are renting.

Senator Boylan spoke about her upset at the results of the Italian election and the mood there. The majority of the people who supported the winning parties was surprising. I was struck by what Ruairí Quinn said when Meloni was making her thank-you speech on Friday evening and the idea that while we campaign in poetry, we govern in prose. I very much hope that that is true and reflected within the Italian community and the Italian Government because if half the things the new Prime Minister campaigned on come into force, we will have a very different Italy from that most of us know and have enjoyed and loved over the years.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the STEM programme in co-operation with the University of Limerick and Johnson & Johnson, and Tús joining the project. It is a wonderful project and it really supports young women and gives them confidence and all the conditions they need to be able to shine within STEM courses in our universities. Limerick is a shining light in that area.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the number of GPs and bed capacity. He was talking more, I suppose, about acute settings.The 650 beds that were announced by the Minister earlier as part of next year's funding are very welcome. However, as we know, a bed is not a bed without the teams and staff that work around it. The workforce planning is very welcome.

Senator Ward welcomed the cost-of-living provisions in the budget but again raised the GP issue.

Senator Fitzpatrick welcomed today's budget but asked me to follow up with the Minister for Health on the ongoing closure of the Intreo office in Cabra, which I will do today.

Senator Flynn spoke about the Ireland's Future conference this weekend and is looking forward to participating in it. She asked again, as she has been asking for the last couple of months, for a debate on direct provision. It has been requested but I will follow up today to see if we can get a date.

Senator Sherlock spoke about the real success of Culture Night in all of our towns, villages and cities last Friday evening. It is just wonderful. Most of us only get to see areas that are not our own on Facebook, Instagram or whatever but it is wonderful to see people enjoying stuff they would not get access to on a normal weekly basis. It was a real success and is a credit to the Department and the Minister.

More importantly, Senator Sherlock spoke about Mahsa Amini, and the brutal murder of a 22-year-old stunning and beautiful woman. While it is probably a failing on my part that I never paid much attention before, in recent days I have been absorbed and engaged in all of the social media around that particular murder and the murders and killings that have happened since. Notwithstanding the lack of response not only from our own Government but also from others, particularly from the UN and UN Women, the Iranian women are not willing to take what they have had to put up with in the Republic of Iran, where the ideal of a republic is a far cry from the reality. The Senator stated that the Iranian women need our solidarity in whatever way, shape or form we can give it. I will certainly follow up with the Minister for Foreign Affairs to look for a better response than we have received to date.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke about the large coming together this Saturday in the Point Depot, the Ireland's Future conference. He wants to have a proper debate on what kind of Ireland we want for the future.

Senator Garvey spoke about a horrific incident at a hurling match at the weekend, when Jason McCarthy was injured and had to wait over an hour for an ambulance, which is not acceptable. The Senator asked whether the funding taken at the gate would be more appropriately spent on a reserve ambulance just in case. I wish to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment that our senior hurlers and footballers give us from an enjoyment perspective week in, week out.

Senator Keogan welcomed some elements of the budget. I am sure more debate will be had later this evening. She also welcomed the elections in Italy over the weekend.

Senator Buttimer welcomed the cost-of-living budget and commended the Ministers. He wants to see the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. We will not have them this evening because they will be in the Dáil but we will get them as soon as we can.

Senator Buttimer also looked for a debate on Ukraine and the ongoing impact of the war, particularly as we come into the winter months, and how we can continue to support them. I will amalgamate that with Senator Clifford-Lee's request last week for a debate on Ukraine, particularly around the use of rape as a weapon of war.

Senator O'Loughlin opened the Order of Business today by speaking about the growing violence at our GAA local matches and the kind of example we are setting for our younger children. It is absolutely shocking. It is really important that Sport Ireland engages with those local governing bodies immediately so we can see an immediate response because these things are now happening on a weekly basis and it is really not a good sign.