Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator Murphy spoke about the increasing numbers of motorcycle accidents and fatalities on the roads. It could be in the region of eight fatalities so far this year which is a significant number. It might certainly be an issue to raise as a Commencement matter with the Minister for Transport.

Senator Murphy also commented on how the budget should be prepared. I certainly agree with him that budgets cannot be written through opinion pieces. There should be cohesiveness in the Government on how budgets are worked through and progressed.

Senator Boyhan called for a debate on the residential zoned land tax. This comes under the Department of Finance but it is an agricultural issue. I am very aware of it. It has been raised with both Ministers. The difficulty is that town plans took in certain areas that included land that was zoned residential but was being actively farmed. There is an option to opt out and revert it back to being agricultural land but that would reduce its value. The optimal solution is that if it is being actively farmed, it can remain as it is. This poses a challenge because the request is to maintain its zoning as residential and treat it as agricultural. I am not sure whether this can be facilitated but it is being examined. Certainly the Minister is very aware of land that is being actively farmed and that it is an anomaly. It was never intended to be the subject of the tax. We want to prevent land hoarding where people speculate on land that could be developed for residential purposes. There are large contractors who own large swathes of land. We want to make sure they either develop it or sell it on and let others develop it. We need that land for housing. This is the intention of the tax. It has brought into the net individuals and farmland that we did not want in the net. We will request that debate. I am not sure which Minister would take it but we will request the debate and see where we go.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke about a particular issue regarding East Belfast GAA. I condemn absolutely any sort of threat being made to the club. It is regrettable that an investigation had to happen where there was potentially a suspect device at a GAA pitch where children play. I do not think any community would support it. There will be widespread condemnation of such activity.

Senator Ó Donnghaile also raised an issue with the Passport Office not accepting the Northern Ireland identity card used to go to polling stations. Senator Ó Donnghaile has asked that it be accepted as part of a passport application. I suggest tabling a Commencement matter on the issue and I know the Senator has indicated that he will table a Commencement matter next week. This may get the issue progressed in some respect.

Senator Wall spoke about the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017 initiated by Senators Gallagher and Wilson. It was adjourned early. It is on Committee Stage. We can liaise with both Senators to see when we can resume Committee Stage and continue to progress the Bill.

Senator Wall also spoke about a motion in the Lower House on autism and disability services. He made a very good point on carer's allowance and the need to address the rates being paid to carers

Senator Burke about jury service. There is quite the anomaly. Many Members called for jury service will find that judges are sympathetic to an unusual situation. Those called for jury service often turn up to the court but are not selected.It is open to such persons, given that they have been already called and it is unlikely that there are any supports in place, to make the judge aware of their difficulty on the day and the judge may be willing to allow them to step aside. However, this is not guaranteed. It is important that such anomalies are addressed. It is unusual to have someone in between jobs being unlucky enough to be called.

A debate has been requested with the Minister for Transport on pilot systems and transport hubs. We will request that debate. It can be challenging to get a debate at short notice with that particular Minister in the House. It may be the case that we will not get the debate until after the June recess.

Senator McGreehan has asked for a debate on inclusiveness in sport. She spoke about Glenmore Athletics Club and the "come and try day" that was held for people of all abilities which was a great success.

Senator McGahon spoke about renewable energy and the need to make a change to taxation that allows for people to farm solar energy and not be at a financial or tax disadvantage.

Senator Craughwell spoke about the intimidation that he and his staff member have received in relation to the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022. Lobbying and taking representations are elements of the job but it is regrettable that the Senator's parliamentary assistant's name was published online. This is not really a space we should be going into. He also made a call for security for Oireachtas Members to be extended to councillors. That call was also made by a number of Senators, including Senator Keogan, last week. I agree with that. On that topic, the grant is only 50% and I wonder if this discourages some Members who could use additional security from getting it in. It is not an issue for me personally but I think any Member who has a security issue and where the Garda make an assessment and decide there is a security issue, that should be taken care of. That is of the utmost importance.

Senator Warfield spoke about Meta and the €1.2 billion fine. He asked for a debate on data protection and privacy. Senator Malcolm Byrne also requested such a debate last week. We have been promised that we will get a date. I do not have a date at the moment but hopefully we will firm it up later today. I am hoping to have the debate in the next couple of weeks. I know the Minister is keen to come to the House on that issue and the area of emerging technologies, AI and data protection. It is a big space but having a debate here would be a good starting point.

Senator Tim Lombard spoke about CAMHS and the staffing situation and vacancies in Cork, in his own area.

Senator Maria Sherlock spoke about the Charities Association of Ireland and the ongoing challenges there with recruitment and retention and the pay disparity. She acknowledged a process has been initiated by Government to look at the issue and get the pay levels up to where they need to be. It is a challenge, not just for the charity sector and community services, but right across the board. We are at full employment, which is fantastic but it makes it challenging to attract workers in certain sectors and we are feeling those pressures.

Senator Flynn alerted the House to the establishment of the newly formed committee that will look at issues affecting the Traveller Community. I wish the Senator well and I commend her on her work. I look forward to seeing the committee in action and its report. I have no doubt it will make a big difference. It is fantastic to have a joint committee, across both Houses, that will debate in detail issues affecting the Traveller community and hold Ministers and Government to account on those issues.

Senator Cummins spoke about the Minister for Justice advancing the legislation to increase the penalty for assaults on gardaí and emergency workers. The Minister was in the Chamber yesterday speaking about the matter. To give him his due, he credited Senator Robbie Gallagher with the legislation. Senator Gallagher first initiated the Bill in question many years ago. It is finally being incorporated into a Government Bill and we are seeing that legislation advanced. It is great to see the work of one of our Senators making it into a Government Bill and becoming law. Our emergency services personnel deserve that extra protection. It sends a strong message to any potential perpetrators.

Senator Cummins also asked for a debate on the Irish rail freight strategy. We had a debate on rail not that long ago so it may be some time before we get the Minister back into the House on it. However, if we are having a broad debate on transport, it would be an opportunity to raise the issue.

Senator Boylan spoke about the Energy Charter Treaty. It is a challenge. There has not been the focus on the issue that there needs to be. This is probably because it is run from a European level, from Brussels and the European Commission, on behalf of the EU. There does need to be changes to that. We are in a different space now when it comes to energy. It is regrettable the company is taking an action against the State. Perhaps that will be the push that we have needed to reassess our position within the treaty. There also needs to be debate at EU level. I am sure that all parties will work towards bringing about those changes. The treaty was drawn up and we signed off on it but that was in a different era and things have changed and moved. I commend the Senator's acknowledgement of the Minister in terms of not granting certain licences. We are in a different space now. We have come a long way in being able to say "No" to that. The focus is on renewable and clean energy and going green. It is a big challenge for us but at least Government policy is moving in the right direction. That has been a significant change for the country.

Senator Dolan welcomed three additional tennis courts for Ballinasloe and the funding and the benefit to the community.

Senator Conway spoke very passionately about the situation in Inch. I am sure we can all acknowledge, as public representatives, how difficult that situation has been for the public representatives on the ground there. They got information very late in the day. Reasonable concerns were being raised by the community. There were unwarranted attacks on very decent members of that community from people who are not living there and have no knowledge of the area. They had no business putting their noses into it, to be quite frank. As I said last week, space needs to be given to the Minister, the local community and the public representatives to find a resolution. That has happened and it is moving forward. This will be an ongoing challenge for us as a country as we deal with extraordinary numbers of people coming here in a very short space of time. It is putting pressure on all systems and all communities. It is important that the Minister sticks to what he has said. He is trying his best to inform public representatives at the earliest possible opportunity. It has been a challenge in some situations. It is proving difficult, in particular, to get accommodation for international protection applicants as opposed to Ukrainian refugees. There is a different system in place for the two groups. We are well aware of that. There is also a different reaction in communities to people from different places coming in. That just makes it a trickier situation to manage. I commend the Senator on his very balanced commentary on what was a very local issue for him and all the public representatives in County Clare.

Senator Byrne asked for a debate on the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022. In fairness, I think the Senator tabled that Bill over two years ago at this stage. Illegal dumping and dog fouling are big issues in communities, towns and villages across the country. It is a big issue for councillors because they deal with it on a daily basis. There seems to be very little sanction. Unless people are caught in the act, they are pretty much guaranteed to get away with it. That needs to change. There is a greater public awareness of the issue but ultimately, we need to be able to prosecute. A number of prosecutions and momentum behind that will change behaviours very quickly. We will request that debate at the earliest opportunity. It is important for Tidy Towns to be supported in the fantastic work they do in our communities on a voluntary basis which makes everywhere we live look its best.