Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Boyhan and Clonan are proposing an amendment to the Order of Business, which I will be happy to accept and support. I thank them for that.

Among other colleagues, Senators Murphy and Currie spoke about the momentous occasion that happened last night with the Irish women's team. Today and yesterday, Labour Party representatives asked for a debate on ongoing and professional funding for our female soccer players, particularly given that the national team will now head off to Australia and New Zealand to represent us. Senator Murphy spoke with great clarity about how Amber Barrett's integrity and heartfelt display of emotion last night captured everything about the team, including the support she got from her team members around her emotional speech on how Creeslough had affected her and put her in such a sombre mood in the days leading up to that momentous match. Everyone was overwhelmed with emotion last night because of their win and the poignancy of what they said afterwards.

I agree with colleagues, though. I was naive this morning when I saw the clip because I thought they were shouting, "Ooh, aah, up Vera" in support of their wonderful manager. While it sounded like what we have all come to despise as a chant, I am genuinely dismayed that it turned out that I was naive. It puts a sad tinge on the occasion, but we need to get back to focusing on the team's future and our support for them. I thank colleagues for raising the team's momentous win last night and for saying that we all support them.

Senators Conway, Dolan and Carrigy spoke about the welcome announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development of community centre funding. For a long time, we in this House have spoken about how community centres are forgotten about, do not have money to fix roofs or install windows and must fund-raise themselves. I commend the Minister on her announcement.

Senators Davitt and Sherlock sought a debate with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on supports - this matter also touches on the remit of the Minister for Finance - for the 10,000 businesses that may be in a precarious situation because of warehoused debt. Since Covid in particular, we have always as a State striven to support businesses that are vulnerable but viable. The 10,000 businesses fall into that category. Additional careful consideration is required and I will organise a debate as soon as I can.

As she did on a Commencement matter today, Senator Dolan raised the expansion of Westdoc's services and the intolerable situation of us having given the HSE the money for those services but the HSE not having provided for them. That is not good enough.

Senator Cassells asked for a debate on the policing allocation. He is right, in that it is bizarre that the State provides the money but we let someone else deploy the resources autonomously in a way that does not reflect the needs of communities, particularly those communities that, according to the figures of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, in recent months, are growing.Senator Carrigy raised the need for more palliative care beds in his area. Also related to health services, Senator Buttimer asked for a debate on the winter plan and the looming event of the twin pandemic of Covid and flu which the HSE tells us we may face over the winter.

Senator McGahon spoke about high-speed rail and the bravery it would take for the Government to look at a project that would not deliver for 20 years. It is certainly something we can see has had a massive benefit in very advanced communities and countries throughout the world.

Senator Seery Kearney raised the story of a seven-months pregnant lady who was refused the use of a toilet. I do not know why we would need laws to ensure somebody was treated as a human being. If people see a seven-months pregnant lady in front of them, bloody hell, they should let her use the toilet. There is probably a need for a debate on where the gaps fall in our laws with regard to the provision of services.

Senator Dooley asked for a debate on the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, which has followed GLAS and REPS. He pointed out it needs some tweaking because some people will be less well-off despite the years of investment in our land.

Senator Lombard asked for a debate on local authority funding and spoke about the ongoing intergenerational precarious nature of funding for Cork County Council. We will organise that debate.

For the second week in a row Senator Fitzpatrick raised the issue of the Intreo office. At her request last week I made contact with the Minister about what was then a temporary closure but has now been announced as a permanent closure. There certainly has not been a satisfactory explanation from the Department of Social Protection on why this is a permanent closure and what is expected, other than the services to go into the cloud. It is not good enough.

Senator Clonan proposed an amendment to the Order of Business. Senator Burke spoke about the support of the drink aware programme in helping young and old people to be conscious of the effect drink has on them and to drink moderately.

Senator Murphy spoke about Agri Aware's farming through the seasons programme which is being rolled out to all of our schools. To my mind the only way we could probably enhance it is by having real tours instead of virtual tours to farms. There is nothing like getting muck on our boots and hands to realise the value of rural Ireland and for people to really see what is involved in the production of our top-quality food.