Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have no difficulty defending that position.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the meeting with LAMA this morning. Most political groupings met with LAMA today to deal with some of the issues it is raising. I concur with the Senator that the role of a local councillor has developed, expanded and become more demanding in recent years. They have the same safety concerns that we, as Oireachtas Members, experience. They are dealing with the same issues with which we are dealing. It is a full-time job but it is almost categorised as a part-time role. All political groupings are finding it difficult to get people to stay in the job of a local councillor and to find candidates to contest elections. That indicates we have a problem with local government, one that will worsen if we do not address those concerns. I thank LAMA for its work in engaging with all political groupings today, keeping those issues live and on the agenda and representing the views of councillors throughout the country. We also engage with the Association of Irish Local Government. It is important that we hear that directly from local councillors. Most Senators served as members of local authorities and we know very well the challenges of being a local councillor.

Senator McDowell spoke about the reading room. Many Members have supported his call to reinstate the room. There seems to be a conflict behind the scenes between the view of Members of the Houses and what the Oireachtas tends to implement. It seems to have been exacerbated during the Covid period. Many changes came through under Covid and were not undone or things were not reinstated to the same level as before the Covid period. Obviously, there is the role of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, on which Members are represented, and those views are taken back. Give that a clear view has been expressed by Members of both Houses to have the reading room reinstated, I see no reason why that should not happen. That is the express view of Members of both Houses. It would be a sorry state for our national Parliament, the Oireachtas, not to have a facility in which Members can read and keep abreast of what is happening. It speaks to being an informed Parliament. If we are not using those facilities, why are we not using them? That speaks to a broader issue. I concur with the Senator's remarks in respect of the Israeli ambassador.

Senator Boylan welcomed the electricity security review and highlighted challenges that are still being faced by many citizens - individuals, households and businesses - in terms of arrears with their gas bills. The Government has done a good job in the past two budgets in supporting people with significant cost-of-living packages. A huge amount of money has been spent through electricity subsidies and supports for businesses. The Government will not be found wanting in continuing to support businesses and households to deal with high energy prices, which seem to be stabilising and coming back down but are still very high. That is acknowledged by the Government and borne out in its response in the past two budgets.

Senator Sherlock spoke about public service broadcasting and the recently published strategic vision for RTÉ. She highlighted concerns in respect of the reduction in staffing numbers proposed by Kevin Bakhurst in terms of seeking voluntary redundancies. I watched the "Prime Time" programme on which Mr. Bakhurst appeared last night. He was clear the redundancies sought would be voluntary and that efficiencies would be made. We will see greater investment in the independent sector. We have to see how this plays out. It is a welcome move by RTÉ to put to bed issues with which we dealt during summer and move to a new chapter in the national broadcaster's journey. We look forward to the strategic vision being implemented by RTÉ.

Senator Sherlock also spoke about the Holy Family School for the Deaf and the need for additional supports to be given to special schools.

Senator Black spoke about the issue in Gaza. She referred to the business of the other House in terms of a motion, which is not under my remit. It is a matter for the other House. I do not understand why some politicians are seeking to make the situation in Gaza a divisive issue for this country. Listening to Members across both Houses, there is a unified position in wanting a ceasefire and peace and to save lives and stop the killing. This is not and should not be a divisive issue for Ireland. There is a somewhat competitive element to the comments of some Members, as though they have a greater humanity or care more about those losing their lives or about peace. Nobody has a moral authority or a monopoly on caring more about what is happening in the Middle East. We should be united on this issue. It should not be a divisive issue. There is something of a gotcha element to it. It is as though if a person does not say a particular thing in a speech or put it in a tweet, the person somehow does not care about the situation. It is unfortunate that we are having a divided Seanad and Dáil on motions when we all really have the same position.