Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I will try to include everybody. Senators Conway, Dolan and Crowe began today by very much welcoming the €50 million announced yesterday by the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, for the free schoolbooks programme for all our primary school children from September 2023. Senators mentioned this scheme was first initiated by the former Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Joe McHugh. I was at the Cabinet table when he did it and I cannot express the resistance there was to this initiative. It is really no mean feat, therefore, that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has got it over the line now in such magnitude this year. I have no doubt, however, that the cost-of-living crisis helped us along the way. It is very welcome and I think it is long overdue.

Senators Gallagher and Cassells asked for a debate on the interconnector report very quietly released yesterday evening. I am not sure anybody was expecting it. I am not sure what the political timing is concerning this report. I can tell Senator Cassells that I am not sure whether I have any shout left in me. I say this after what I witnessed yesterday after 15 years of challenging the same consistent issues that we have as communities in counties Meath, Monaghan and Cavan and those communities still being completely and utterly ignored.

The glaring elephant in the room yesterday evening was clear when we asked questions about the current costs and the expected costs. Heretofore, the costs have always been an issue in respect of explaining why we could not undertake this project in the context of the State not being able to afford it. The cost of steel is apparently not on the list of things our Department is conscious of today. It does not know how much the cost is going to be until we go to tender. This is absolute nonsense compared with all the other times we were well able to have been told about the figures in this regard.

In the beginning, there were the lies and the tripe we were told concerning the cost comparison being 20:1. We finally got it down to a reasonable discussion with our last set of reviewers, who were independent. I say this because we could certainly not call the report we got yesterday independent in any way, shape or form. The elephant in the room is that this report has completely omitted to tell us what the costs are today. I would bet my house on the fact that overgrounding is now actually more expensive than undergrounding would be, based on the cost of steel. I will, therefore, relish asking for a debate and for the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to come to the House. He is already coming here next Tuesday, but that is to talk about fisheries. Given all the issues we have been talking about in the context of inland fisheries for several years, I do not want to conflate or confuse these two issues. We will therefore ask for a second debate with the Minister.

Senator Dolan welcomed the Galway-to-Athlone cycleway public consultation. This will provide a great new amenity for that neck of the woods.

Senator Kyne asked me to write a letter to the CEO of National Broadband Ireland seeking increased capacity and therefore a speeding up of the project, which I think would be welcome for every part of the country.

Senator Black highlighted her opposition to the lifting of the eviction ban, on which a vote will take place this evening in the Dáil.

Senator Burke requested a debate on the west coast versus east coast offshore argument which it seems is being put forward by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan. I will again ask for this to be a separate topic of debate.

Turning to Senator Mullen, he expressed his concern about language that has been used recently. He is probably right about it. The parental choice of education is not just enshrined in our Constitution but in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. It is one of the first and foremost things in this regard that parents come first. What we heard a few weeks ago, therefore, was unfortunate.I am not really sure whether it was planned. It was probably another off-the-cuff comment, which probably did not do us any justice.

Senator Ahearn welcomed the 100 jobs in Clonmel. They really are welcome. I wish continued success to Gus and Audrey Kearney from SEPAM.

Senator Flynn stated yesterday was International Racism Day and mentioned the launch of our plan. She sought a debate on the plan. I will organise that debate.

Senator Ward is looking for a debate on Defence Forces expansion, particularly the potential use of the harbour at Dún Laoghaire as a naval base.

Senator Horkan said Daffodil Day is this Friday. Everybody is conscious that we are not in town as much as we would normally be, but we should look after an organisation that is wholly worthy of support in local towns and villages.

Senator Sherlock asked me to contact the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to find out what exactly is going on with regard to the 58 schools. That is not an unreasonable ask. I will do so today.

Senator McGahon spoke about the Windsor Framework and the proposal we hope will be passed resoundingly by a vote this afternoon to bring about positive change in Northern Ireland and very much signal that Northern Ireland is open for business.

Senator Keogan very much welcomed the announcement on Kaftrio yesterday by the Department of Health and the Minister. I do too, particularly because we know somebody very close to us will deservingly get their medicine now. Going through the system just to get drugs is so painful and demeaning, particularly when the drug in question has already been allocated to older people in the country. I welcome the announcement.

Senator Keogan also sought a debate on the recent shock waves that have been sent through our banking system. I will ask the relevant Minister for that debate.

Senators Malcolm Byrne and Murphy spoke about RTÉ's "Prime Time" programme on the shocking physical and verbal abuse and attacks that people in the retail industry have to suffer. The Senators were looking for a debate. We will organise that debate.

Senator Boylan was looking for an update on when the water ownership referendum will be. It was mooted in the past couple of weeks that it might not be ready for November. I will get a definite answer for the Senator and let her know.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the welcome initial noises coming from the new chief executive officer of the HSE on the changes required in Limerick. Week in, week out, colleagues bring to the attention of the Seanad the hundreds of people who have to lie on trolleys in Limerick. The Senator was also looking for a debate on crime and security.

Senator Davitt asked me to ask the Minister for Education to come to the House to outline her plans with regard to transgender and sexual education in primary schools. I can certainly do that.

Senator Craughwell asked for a debate on human rights in some of the countries that treat people in a way that we might not regard as very respectful. Senator Carrigy spoke with such pride about the student entrepreneurs he met this week and told us about the Big Move to Big School campaign that he would like to bring to the Minister's attention. As I said, Senator Crowe talked about the free books.

Senators Hoey and Malcolm Byrne talked about the recent laws that have yet to be signed off by the Ugandan President, but which no doubt will be, on the banning in Uganda of people's way of being. It is absolutely shocking. I will certainly bring it up with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, particularly the Minister of State responsible for foreign aid, to see whether we can enshrine human rights and dignity in any of the countries to which we give aid. I will revert to the Senator.

Senator Gavan proposed an amendment to the Order of Business and it was seconded by his colleague. I will wholeheartedly accept the amendment. Apparently, there is a list of reasons what the Senator described is going on, but none of them is acceptable. I wholeheartedly commend the Senator for doing what he did today and for standing by the people's side yesterday. It is absolutely disgraceful-----