Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I assume the Deputy would like a response to the issue he raised. The point is that there is sometimes a particular individual interpretation of what co-operation is and what it looks like. It is the right of other Members to disagree with that. The Government would obviously disagree with that particular interpretation. I have no difficulty scheduling a defence debate in this House. I have no issue with that at all. I think it is important that we discuss those issues, that all views are facilitated and that people are not shouted down when they express a view not to the liking of somebody else. It is unfortunate that many debates seem to be moving in that direction, where you cannot make a point unless it is particular point. We need to refrain from doing that on what is an important national security issue as well. Senator Warfield also spoke about referring these issues to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. I think both Houses are free to debate the issues. As I have said, I am happy to schedule a debate on them.

Senator Flynn spoke about the backlog in driving tests. She acknowledged that 75 new testers have been employed to try to address that backlog. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Chambers, has acknowledged that because of the training period it will take until October for the backlog to be addressed by the new testers. However, the issue is recognised and acknowledged. It is a significant issue for young people trying to get on the road. The Minister of State is determined to address it and is actively doing that.

Senator Seery Kearney spoke about the approach to mobile phone use being taken in primary schools in Greystones, County Wicklow. I was glad to hear that she was on Midwest Radio this morning. I was on the same station, when the schools in Greystones took that initiative, to advocate that schools in County Mayo would do the same. I got a positive response. I think parents are looking for guidance and support in this area. The Senator is right to say that parents must come together to do it collectively so that no parent finds himself or herself being the only one telling his or her child "No" when every other child might have access to a phone. She is right that it is important to learn basic social skills like how to speak to another person, strike up a conversation and play and be a child, as opposed to being glued to a screen. It is great to see parents taking action in this ground-up initiative. Schools should definitely be supported. There seems to be a positive reaction from schools, which would love to see this implemented. There is no reason parents cannot give their child access to a phone when they are away on a school trip or a sporting event. There are phones that just do call and text. There is no need for access to the Internet. That is the compromise or solution to address that because connectivity is important.There are solutions to all the issues that are being raised. I commend the Senator on her work in that area. It is an important issue for us as a society to tackle. The digital age of consent in this country is 16. One should not be able to sign up to a social media platform at a younger age. Clearly, children are signing up to these platforms. Despite having access to the technology, those platforms choose not to verify age when they could do this. Therefore, how we regulate this space is a challenge for us given that borders do not really come into it because it is the online space.

Senator Craughwell spoke about the public service performance report. The Senator wants engagement with the Taoiseach in terms of oversight and accountability. The Taoiseach will be in the Chamber in September. He will be focusing on areas of responsibility within his Department but it might provide the Senator with an opportunity to raise that issue with him.

Senator Cummins raised the issue of the sports capital and equipment grant programme. Senator Gavan spoke about the motions on planning and development. I know the position of the Senator's party on the motions on the agenda today. They were discussed in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage where Sinn Féin Members would have been present and the schedule would have been published last week and no issues were flagged with me at that point. However, I note what the Senator put on the record today.

I also note the comments on retained firefighters and the Labour Court recommendation being rejected by SIPTU. I still have hope a resolution will be found. We must resolve the situation because it is a hugely important service in every community across the country. The political will is there to resolve this issue. It was a Labour Court recommendation but the Government is eager for this to be resolved to the satisfaction of those working in that space. I do think that, ultimately, it will be resolved. The process is making its way through.

Senator Paddy Burke mentioned the sports capital programme and the fact that occupational pensions are falling behind the State pension. The Senator might raise a Commencement Matter on that matter. It might be worth looking at a further debate in the new term. Engaging with the Minister for Social Protection will be an important aspect of that.

Senator Boyhan raised the sports capital programme, welcomed the progress on Senator Clonan's Bill yesterday, highlighted the request from the Disability Federation of Ireland regarding the upcoming budget and commended John Dolan on his work with this important organisation. Senator Martin spoke about the quiet co-existence, as he put it, of communities in Northern Ireland and the respect that was shown to the Derry minor team when it brought its bus through a loyalist area. It is a lovely story. It is important that we hear those stories. Often it is the negative stories we hear about but there are plenty of positives as well and that is a nice way to end the Order of Business.