Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Ó Donnghaile's comments about East Belfast GAA. The fact that the Cathaoirleach is taking that on board is most welcome.

The first item I wish to raise is one I have raised a number of times in this House, namely, the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017. This morning as I made my way to the House, I listened to my local radio station KFM where a local Independent councillor from Clane, Padraig McEvoy, spoke about the theft of nine lifebuoys from the waterways around Clane. Councillor McEvoy outlined the problems this is causing the community and Kildare County Council because it is the body that must replace them. I have previously raised this problem in the House. It is also a problem with regard to another query I received yesterday relating to the Newbridge Community First Responders, which informed us yesterday that someone took it upon themselves to break the cabinet with automated external defibrillator, AED, equipment on the front of the credit union on the main street in Newbridge. They went on to say that the Garda has been notified and the CCTV will be reviewed. Because of this action, the AED has had to be removed. Those people who are damaging or stealing these lifebuoys and damaging these AEDs do not know the hour when they or a member of their family will need these pieces of life-saving equipment. I spoke to Senator Gallagher yesterday about the Life Saving Equipment Bill this before I became aware of these two incidents. I know he brought it through with members of Fianna Fáil. We all supported that when it came through this House. I ask the Leader to see where that Bill is at the moment. I support Senator Gallagher in bringing forward that Bill because this cannot continue. We are coming into the summer months. This life-saving equipment will become more and more important. Everyone in this House needs to get behind this Bill.

As we speak, there is a motion in the Lower House brought forward by the Labour Party on autism and disability services. As a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Autism, I thank Senator Carrigy for his work to date on autism. We are about two weeks away from the final report of that committee. I am sure we will get a chance to debate that report when it comes before this House. I know Senator Carrigy will ask for that as well.

I met a local group in Kildare on Monday. When you come face to face with mothers of special needs children, it brings home what the needs are, particularly with regard to respite. One lady informed me that she has been waiting since February for information on respite, while another lady informed me that she is on a half-rate carer's allowance for 24-7 care she provides for her loved one. There are so many issues around this that we need to have that debate. I look forward to the report as a member of the committee and getting the time here to debate it.