Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

You are all natural, Malcolm. It is fine. On a more serious note, it raises wider concerns. The Irish Timesis the newspaper of record. We need to be able to trust what it prints, both online and in hard copy. To be fair to the editor concerned, they were unlucky. It was only a matter of time before it happened. Maybe it has happened previously and we have simply not been aware of it. They dealt with it in the right way and acknowledged that it was a mistake on their part. They are improving their editorial processes to try to ensure this does not happen again. We need to be more vigilant as citizens and consumers of information that we question what we read to ensure it is valid and accurate. That will be a challenge for younger generations, in particular, to make sure we critically analyse information we are given.

The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, spoke about agricultural shows. She encouraged us to look at the website irishshows.orgto see what shows are happening in our local areas over the summer months and to visit them and support them. She acknowledged the work of Ms Mary Fitzgerald of Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel on the organic garden they use to provide produce for the hotel and encouraged other hotels to do the same if they can and where they have the space.

Senator Boylan spoke about Ireland's emissions figures going in the wrong direction. It is a particular challenge. We have challenges to reduce emissions, not just from electricity consumption but from agriculture as well, and the demands are significant. We are going to have to find the right balance.Ireland is home to some of the biggest tech companies in the world. Their headquarters are here and there is a demand for data centres. We need to strike the correct balance between ensuring we are open for business and can facilitate companies that invest in this country because they provide a lot of jobs that are valuable to our economy and meeting our emissions targets. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communication is keenly aware of that.

I take on board the point the Senator made about the retrofitting scheme. The one-stop shop scheme has not been the success we hoped it would be. There are significant problems in accessing the scheme, under which beneficiaries only pay the net balance of what is owed. However, the costs being quoted are astronomical. I saw one quote for a heat pump that was slightly less than €20,000. I know for a fact that heat pumps can be installed for €7,000 or €8,000. Why is there such a gap? One plumber said that is what people are charging. There are huge problems with how the scheme is being run. It needs to be opened up. It is not competitive enough. There are not enough suppliers acting as one-stop shops. Competition will fix that. It is currently too restrictive. Most people could never afford the bills being charged for a full retrofit and the grant cannot be accessed piece by piece, for windows and doors. It makes no sense. The grant is less if the work is done piece by piece, which is what most households can afford to do. The scheme needs to be examined. I have spoken directly with the Minister about this issue. He and his Department are working on how the scheme can be amended and improved to ensure it is accessible and affordable for all citizens. It is important to point out that green loans are available to assist people who want to do more work upfront and pay it off over time. They will make savings by reducing their energy demand in the house.

Senator Sherlock and other Senators spoke about the appalling attack on vulnerable people, migrants, who were in a camp on Upper Sandwith Street. It is regrettable that it got to that point. It is acknowledged that there are huge capacity issues in the system. However, it is also important to acknowledge that in the space of one year, we have taken in 84,000 people seeking refuge, including Ukrainians and international protection applicants. We can be proud of how we have handled that overall. The vast majority of communities have been welcoming. We have found beds in places we did not think we had beds. Everyone has done a lot to get us to where we are and to keep the show on the road, especially the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, who is doing a fantastic job. It is not perfect and it never will be. The demands being made of us are extraordinary. Other EU member states are facing the same challenges we are facing. It is important that we, as public representatives, do not do anything to fuel the issue and that we do whatever we can to assist the Minister and the Government to try to provide accommodation for these people and to deal with an extraordinary situation. There is a war in Europe. A year and a half ago, we did not know we would have this situation. We are doing our best to try to help people. The Minister has acknowledged that every effort is being made to get accommodation as quickly as possible for those who were not provided with accommodation when they first arrived in Ireland. However, it is simply not possible at every moment of the day. It will be an ongoing challenge for some time. We will have to keep a watching brief on that.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about the increase in medical school fees. I agree with his remarks. Perhaps a system could be put in place under which the cost to the system is recouped through the person staying on to work in the Irish system. I think that would be acceptable to all citizens. It is much more expensive to run a medical course than to run an arts or business course and the State foots most of the bill. That must be acknowledged. Those availing of that significant support with fees need to give it back. They should be required to stay in the system. The colleges will have to look at something like that. The Senator made an important point about the socioeconomic profile of doctors finishing medicine courses. We want to make sure medicine is open to all those who would be the right person for the job. That should be the overarching policy.

Senator Joe O'Reilly spoke about on-campus student accommodation and has asked for a debate on the matter. I will request that from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Senator Keogan spoke about the same issue Senator Sherlock raised, the violence perpetrated against vulnerable migrants. I take the point the Senator made that it is easy to blame communities but the pressures that are there also need to be addressed. However, it will be an ongoing challenge and it is correct to utterly condemn that kind of violence. It is simply unacceptable. There is no excuse for that type of behaviour, but we need to do our best to try to avoid those situations if we can.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about Phizzfest in Phibsborough and the fantastic volunteerism that made the event happen. It was a huge success.

Senator Wall congratulated the lilywhites, and I congratulate the Kildare team on a great job, and raised an issue related to retained firefighters.I am not familiar with the issue around the negotiations but it may be worth tabling a Commencement matter on that issue because quite a specific matter has been raised.