Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

For Senator McDowell's information, the Taoiseach is coming in to hopefully talk to us about Seanad reform on 27 September, arising from the invitation issued last week by the Senator’s colleague, Senator Boyhan. I note Senator McDowell's request for a debate on illegal gambling and slot machines. He explained this to me before. I will ask the Minister to come in for a debate but, as we are to get the gambling Bill, I assume she will tell us that Bill is coming. We might put down joint Commencement matters to ensure the Minister comes in beforehand to talk to the Senator. I will request a debate, as there is no harm doing so.

Senator Gallagher asked for a debate with the Minister for Transport on allocation or non-allocation, as the case may be, of funding for our roads. We had representatives of the National Transport Authority in front of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications a number of weeks ago. I was astounded when they told me the NTA's remit, other than building and maintaining roads, was to reduce the number of cars on the road. How do you reduce the number of cars on the road? If you do not maintain the roads or build new ones, that is one way of doing it. There is a lack of funding going to projects that have been much needed for many years. I will ask the Minister for a debate in September.

Senator Ó Donnghaile welcomed the call of Senator Kyne for the all-Ireland rail review to be published. I will organise a debate on that in the House once that has happened. I acknowledge the Amazon Bill produced by the Senator's colleague, Senator Boylan. I spoke to Senator Boylan on this before. I did a master’s dissertation on Amazon and the disgraceful behaviour it engages in. It is not the only one. I wish the Senator good luck on the Bill and hope it gets passed sooner rather than later.

Senators Carrigy and Lombard spoke on the school transport review and asked for it to be published. I will contact the Minister and ask for that. Senator Carrigy asked for a review of the Disability Act. I will ask the Minister for that. It might be something for us to do in the public consultation Act, given it is such wide-ranging legislation. The Senator also asked for a review of the tests incorporated in the heel-prick test because there is far more that we could be testing for.

Senator Keogan spoke of the need for a debate on the shocking report into children in care. It probably should have happened this week or last but was overtaken by other events, which is a real shame given the serious allegations made. I will make sure it is done within a week or two of getting back in September. We will look for a briefing document from the Department on the current status of that response so we are well prepared for the debate. The Senator spoke of her displeasure, which I know other Senators share, with the hate speech Bill. I do not think that legislation will be back before us until October so there will be plenty of time for amendments and, hopefully, meetings with the Minister beforehand.

Senator Conway spoke of the need for the pilot sewage schemes to be sped up and said he was looking forward to welcoming Ryan Tubridy back on air.

Senator Hoey spoke about the horrendous programme on RTÉ on Monday night. I do not have a background in farming. I viewed it as a horrendous way to treat a young animal, with such disrespect and no sign of dignity. I do not understand the fact there is no value in a life because there has to be value in every animal. If there is not, we have to find it. The disrespect was hard to watch. I am not sure I blame the men, even though they obviously are the actors in it. I blame the inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We have a significant number of them and if this practice is going on continuously, we should have caught it before now. We should not have needed RTÉ to go in. I wish the Garda well in its investigations and thank the Senator for raising the matter.

Senator Lombard spoke about the 200 extra special classes for our children which will be open in September. That is welcome news.

On Senator Murphy’s point, I do not know how to fix this other than by writing to the CEO of Eir to highlight the issues and maybe we will also highlight them to the Minister for Transport. It is concerning that older people’s security pendants will not work if they do not have a landline. I will raise that issue.

Senator Craughwell spoke on the tribunal of inquiry. I welcome the Tánaiste’s decision to have a public inquiry. The Women of Honour have had all of their dealings, negative or otherwise, in secret in the past ten, 20, 30 years. It is about time they got their day in the public eye to be able to say the truths of their experience and receive justice.

Senator Kyne welcomed the expansion of facilities in the Saolta hospital group. Senator Ardagh asked for further funding for high-tech drugs and that the speed at which they are approved increase.

Senator Sherlock brought up the Not Our Fault campaign, which is outside the doors of Leinster House week in and week out looking for the money promised in February, which shows no sign of coming. I extend my support to that. She also spoke of the need for a public inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell. The saddest thing about Judge Haughton's report was that he laid responsibility on Shane for his own death. That is the most hurtful and saddest thing to hop out of the 400 pages and it cannot be left on the public record.

Senator Martin spoke about the Palestinian war. Senator Gavan spoke about the good outcome in Rehab, for which I am glad. What is sad is how the people in question were treated in the first place. They probably would not have got the outcome only for intervention of people like the Senator. Well done and thank you, Senator.

Senator Boyhan spoke about mother and baby homes and I have no doubt he will continue to fight for them. I thank him for raising that issue. Senator O’Reilly sought a debate on student accommodation and reminded us to stay safe if swimming in the summer.

Senator O’Loughlin talked about the new senior cycle SPHE, which was published this morning. We have public consultation for a couple of months and we will have a debate in the autumn. The Senator also spoke of the need to scrap voluntary contributions in all schools.