Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator Cummins spoke on search and rescue, as did Senator Craughwell, and on the awarding of the contract and the bases it will cover. It is an important service for the State.

Senator O'Loughlin acknowledged and remembered Private Seán Rooney, as did Senator Clonan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Our thoughts are with his family. Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the census results, details of which are on the front pages of the newspapers today. She pointed to some interesting figures for County Kildare, including 10,000 new Irish speakers; an increase of 35% in the elderly population and the need to provide services in that area; and the general increase of 11% in the population of the county, which is above the national average, and the need to provide amenities and services for those additional persons.

Senator Clonan asked about the consultative forum announced by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence to look at security, defence and foreign policy. It will meet across three locations on four dates, once each in Cork and Galway and on two days in Dublin. I have just made the Senator aware that details of all speakers will be out today on the Department of Foreign Affairs website. An opportunity to contribute to the forum will also be available on the website. All Oireachtas Members received an invitation today to register for the event and are invited to attend any or all of the four days. It is fully transparent and open to all. The forum is about listening to the views of the public and those who want to contribute. The speakers' details will be available for all to peruse.

Senator Garvey spoke of the need to prevent health issues. She zoned in on the area of neuro-physiotherapists and the lack thereof. She asked that more facilities and services be made available in this area because it has a knock-on impact, particularly on elderly people.

Senator Boylan spoke of the number of eviction notices served and asked for a reinstatement of the eviction ban. I point out to the Senator that Sinn Féin only wanted the eviction ban in place until January next, did not have any plans in place after that and had initially asked for the ban to end at Christmastime, which I am not sure would have served any good purpose. It has been well documented and discussed that it would have been easy, and probably quite popular at that point, to extend it but we know from the advice we have been given that it would have a detrimental impact on the rental sector in the medium to long term. That is why the decision was taken to lift the ban, which was intended to be temporary in nature. The Senator also spoke of animal welfare and stated many rental properties do not accept pets. I acknowledge that is a challenge. There are rights on both sides. It is the right of property owners to protect their property and they may feel a pet would cause damage. I have a dog and have huge sympathy for anybody who may have to give up their pet when moving. Perhaps there is scope to do something in this area. The Senator pointed to new legislation, which I am not familiar with, in the UK which gives tenants a right to a pet in the house. The Senator might want to bring similar legislation to the House.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke of the memorandum the Minister for Health brought to Cabinet yesterday to ban e-cigarettes and vapes for sale to under-18s. I believe it is World No Tobacco Day today. Lots of people are not aware that many of the tobacco companies are also vape companies that sell those products. If a vape product is pink and bubblegum flavoured, who is being targeted? In my view, it is children. That needs to stop. I take on board what the Senator said about the regulations coming out to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and vape products to under-18s but not yet extending to flavours and packaging. Work is taking place at EU level. The Minister has said he expects that work to conclude by next year and hopes for an EU-wide ban of certain packaging and flavouring of vape products. He has said if the EU does not move at that pace, Ireland will go on its own path and do it anyway. That provides reassurance. I would have loved to see that ban today. If there are flavours and fancy packaging, it is there to target children. There is a reason the companies are doing that. It is regrettable that many young people in primary school are vaping. It flies in the face of all public health initiatives to try to ban smoking. It seems many tobacco companies have pivoted to a new product to maintain profits.

Senator Seery Kearney asked for an update on the defective apartment blocks scheme. I might speak to the Senator privately about that and see if we can get some more details on it. It has been raised with the Minister. He is very aware of the pressures there. There is a scheme and funding in place but there appears to be a delay in getting that process moving at the pace apartment owners would like.

Senator Keogan welcomed the announcement that the Government is running a pilot scheme across seven counties to provide counselling services through NEPS, working with schools at primary age. It is important and comes on foot of work done following the Covid pandemic and the impact that had on young people and children. The Senator is right about getting in early where children have worries and providing support. Schools working with NEPS will identify children most in need. I welcome that the pilot scheme will include primary school students across my county of Mayo, as well as Leitrim, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan and Laois. It is a fantastic initiative. I have no doubt it will be a success and we will see it rolled out across the country. The pilot scheme is to provide an evidential basis to justify the expansion of the scheme. That is the Minister’s intention.

Senator McGreehan asked for a debate on the cost of living, particularly electricity costs. We will request that debate at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Burke raised the Croí Cónaithe grant and the clawback that exists for those who sell the property within ten years. The clawback is 100% if the property is sold within five years and 75% if it is sold after between five and ten years, with no clawback after ten years. I was under the impression, having spoken to a number of people, that the issue had been resolved with the banks but clearly it has not. If it cannot be resolved with the banks, the scheme will not be operational. That needs to be resolved. The Minister has been made aware of it. Changes were made to the scheme. The grant has gone from €30,000 and €50,000 to €50,000 and €70,000. Those who vacate the property can rent it and there is no clawback in those circumstances. That was a significant change but the other issue needs to be dealt with. Senator Gallagher spoke about the firefighters attached to local authorities and the proposed strike action. He also highlighted concerns around the moving of staff from local authorities to Irish Water. Those views were supported by Senator Carrigy as well.

Senator Lombard spoke about the blue flag for Garretstown Beach and the Cathaoirleach made comments on it as well. I am not familiar with the area, but I acknowledge the importance of the blue flag status. We have many blue flag beaches in Mayo also and any question mark over a flag causes reputational damage to an area. There must be great caution when removing a flag from an area because it really knocks the reputation of the area.

Senator Craughwell spoke about the Department of Transport's tender process for search and rescue and welcomed the awarding of the contract to Bristow and the fact CHC did not get over the line, as he put it.

Senator Carrigy spoke about his work on autism and many Senators have congratulated him over many weeks. There was the autism training to provided to Members of this House. A fantastic body of work has been conducted by the Senator and the autism committee.

Senator Boyhan has asked we all make it a priority to try to get to Bloom this year and has congratulated all those working on it, as well as commending Bord Bia on its work. He raised the need for a debate on horticulture and food security in Ireland and mentioned how we import so much food and have the ability to produce much more.

Senator Ahearn spoke about flat-rate expenses. He wants a debate on that issue and the need to expand the eligibility criteria for such expenses to encompass all professions.

Senator Maria Byrne congratulated Munster Rugby and I, too, congratulate the team on a fantastic win. I also wish the women's shed well. It is a fantastic initiative for women across the country and has been hugely successful. It is in every corner of the country now and is providing so many things to so many people. It is a real social outlet. It might be prudent to put down a Commencement matter on the €500, but I will ask the Minister for Health when that payment will be forthcoming.

Last of all, Senator Dolan spoke about the HSE capital plan. There was significant funding across the country. It is an investment in health infrastructure countrywide. She spoke in particular about Portiuncula hospital, which is a really important facility. It is great to see. We have significant money available. It cannot be spent on certain things, but capital expenditure is where we want to see it going. The health capital plan will make a real difference to the lives of so many people, chiefly our patients and healthcare staff. There was significant funding. We saw €7 million in County Mayo as well, with most of it going into Mayo University Hospital. It is great to see that money. I commend the Government and the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, on that funding for our health services.