Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Heckling will not stop me saying my piece.

I challenge as well the response to Senator Malcolm Byrne, who raised the record and the facts in relation to Sinn Féin and Russia. Last week, Senator Gavan put on the record of this House a challenge to two members of Government who were doing their job on trade missions and he linked that to human rights abuses in Qatar. I disagreed with that connection. Today, however, the Senator is not facilitating other Members doing what looks to be something quite similar. The Senator cannot have it both ways. The Senator is entitled to make his remarks, as is any other Senator in this House, on that issue.

I take on board the comments that Senator Gavan made on the book by Ms Sally Hayden which, I think, we would all agree, is a fine publication and a good worthwhile read. I congratulate Ms Hayden on the book. Many Members in this House would concur with the Senator's remarks on the challenges and obstacles being put in the way of migrants trying to access Europe. The many lives being lost at sea is appalling and is an atrocity. We would all condemn that. One thing the Senator and I agree on this morning is on that issue. I concur with the Senator's remarks in that regard.

Senator Wilson seconded the motion this morning on Ukraine. I have dealt with that matter. I commend the Senator on circulating the motion to the House and for giving the House an opportunity to show its support for Ukraine on that issue.

Senator Lombard asked for an update on the human tissue Bill. I suggest that the Senator raise a Commencement matter on that particular issue as it is quite a specific question. I note the Senator's comments that he wants the Bill dealt with before the end of term. To be honest, I am not sure it is due before the House before the end of term. We have a packed schedule and many Ministers are looking to get Bills passed. Obviously, we have the Finance Bill and the Social Welfare Bill as well. We will have a busy number of weeks as we head towards the Christmas break. The Senator raised a particular issue around the Road Safety Authority and testing centres and in particular, on the test centre in Skibbereen. I suggest the Senator might raise a Commencement matter on that particular issue in relation to that test centre.

Senator McGreehan asked for a debate on the UK Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which I have requested with the House Leader.

Senator Maria Byrne welcomed the two new routes to Europe from Shannon Airport, as did Senator Conway. I congratulate Shannon Airport on expanding its services yet again. Senator Maria Byrne also raised again the issues and ongoing challenges at University Hospital Limerick, UHL.

Senator Davitt raised the issue of rail services, in particular, highlighting Mullingar as being a significantly-sized town from which there should be a second line to service commuters and the population of the area. The Senator also requested a debate with the Minister for Justice on how the Garda deals with victims of burglary. We will request that debate. It will most likely be in the new term, as we have only recently had the Minister for Justice in on a number of occasions.

Senator Carrigy spoke about the train service as well, and wanting that extended to Longford. The calls were across the board here to extend the trains to other areas as well. Senator Dolan also spoke about the train service to Ballinasloe. I concur with the remarks of both Senators in terms of regional connectivity, that all lines and roads lead to Dublin and that is fine as it is the capital city, but we need to start connecting the regions as well. Obviously, I have been a strong proponent of the western rail corridor and a line from Galway to Mayo, connecting up the region and providing a good service. There is no reason the train should not stop in Ballinasloe. Why would it not? That service should be provided. If we are looking to get people out of their cars and into public transport, we have to provide an alternative option to the car, which simply is not there for most of the country.

Senator Carrigy also spoke about the assessment of needs issue and referenced Senator Malcolm Byrne's comments from yesterday around what appears to be an increase in litigation and, as was put by Senator Byrne, the lawyering up of HSE officials in dealing with parents who are rightly demanding services for children with disabilities.

Senator Seery Kearney welcomed the Cherry Orchard implementation board that was announced by the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne. The Senator welcomed and thanked both them for setting up the board and spoke about the need for additional services in that community across all areas in terms of services.

Senator Fitzpatrick asked again for a debate on public transport in Dublin city, specifically around the National Transport Authority, NTA, and public transport plans for the area. The Senator criticised the significant fee being attached to contributing to the planning process for citizens. It is €100, if one wants to make a submission. It seems like quite a high fee for somebody to make a submission for their local community. It is an amount that might be beyond the means of many citizens.

Senator Conway spoke about Shannon Airport but also gift vouchers, and raised particular concerns about how they operate among different retailers.

Senator McGahon raised the advanced training centre in Dundalk. The Senator asked for a debate on regional balance and the potential to roll out similar training centres across all regions. We will request that debate with the Minister, Deputy Harris.

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile raised the Irish centres and asked for a statement on that. I have put that request in to the Leader's office for a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Brophy, on the diaspora, development aid and the extension of voting rights. We will get that, most likely, in the new year. We will not get a chance to do it before the end of the term. Senator Boylan made a very important contribution in the context of highlighting that tomorrow is International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women. The Senator put some very stark statistics on the record in terms of the increase in the number of women coming forward and the number of files going to the Director of Public Prosecutions. There has been much debate in this House, and in the Lower House as well, particularly in the past couple of years, around violence against women. There is a huge amount of work happening in the Department of Justice in respect of this matter, and funding being put behind a plan to try to reduce and, hopefully, at some point eradicate violence against women. The numbers are quite shocking. The Senator rightly pointed out that we had some very high-profile cases that the entire country would have been aware of. Some 242 women have lost their lives since we started counting in this regard. It is important to remember and acknowledge all of those lives lost and not just focus on the cases that made the headlines. Every life lost is a life that should not have been lost.

Senator Dolan spoke on the issue with trains in Ballinasloe. I think I have dealt with that matter. We will request a debate on rail services in the new year. There has been a request for a debate from other Members as well around the all-island strategic rail review and the plan for rail services across the country, with a particular focus on regional rail and bus services as well. I take on board the Senators point. I would have often used the service operated by Citylink and GoBus from Galway to Dublin. That is operational there. In some ways, the private sector has filled the gap.