Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a significant length of service and well done to him. I am sure his community will miss as their public representative.

Senator Murphy has also welcomed this morning the opening of the eight-bed hospice unit in Roscommon where he also acknowledged the fantastic work of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. With all of the fundraising, it was the people on the ground who paid for the building of this hospice. It is a great credit to the people in Roscommon and Mayo that they have built both hospices. The Senator is correct to acknowledge also the Department of Health, the Minister for Health and the staff of the hospice. I wish them well. It is a fantastic service and at some point we will all need that type of service as all families are touched by that.

Senator Lombard has requested a debate on the issue of the Residential Tenancies Board and the inability to contact that office. I suggest that a Commencement matter would be an appropriate way to deal with that issue at the outset and if that is not sufficient, we can look to have a debate later on.

Senator Keogan asked about a particular niche issue around accountability. I do not have a full response for the Senator but I acknowledge the remarks she has made in that regard.

Senator Conway spoke this morning about a story by the journalist Ciara Phelan in the Irish Examineraround the delays in court hearings and proceedings for domestic violence cases. As the saying often goes in legal terms, justice delayed is justice denied. The delays are unacceptable and will need to be addressed. That would be an appropriate issue for a Commencement matter with the Minister for Justice in order to get an update as to exactly where that is at but it may require a fuller debate thereafter.

He has also spoken about the VAT rate in tourism of 9%. A debate will be happening with the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, next week and with the Chair of the Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, Deputy Niamh Smyth, who will also be in the Chamber. That will be an opportunity to raise that particular tourism issue and other issues around tourism. We look forward to that debate.

Senator Carrigy spoke this morning about the N4, which is an issue he has raised previously, and, in particular, the section between Mullingar and Rooskey, together with the need for proper, balanced regional development.

Senator Seery Kearney spoke this morning on an issue that I am not overly familiar with in respect of an historical site in Chapelizod where she has requested a debate on heritage with the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and we will request that debate also.

Senator Higgins spoke this morning about Nicola Sturgeon. I have already dealt with that particular issue and I concur completely with her remarks on that.

In respect of the "fair, firm and hard" comments by the Taoiseach on migration, I cannot give the Senator a response as to exactly what he meant by that. I agree with the Senator in respect of our approach to date which has been very good. We have been very welcoming, have done our very best to accommodate people, and the response from communities and from people on the ground in bringing refugees into their homes and communities has been very positive. We have done ourselves proud and I sincerely hope that we continue in that same vein. That is where we want to be and is the space we want to operate in. We are known internationally as being that friendly and helping hand and looking after people in their time of need. I expect that we will continue to do the very same thing and to do our very best to help those who are fleeing, for whatever reason, but fleeing to try to find a better life for themselves. The door in Ireland is very much open for people.

Finally, Senator Dolan welcomed her school this morning Scoil-----