Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank colleagues for their contributions. On Senator Carrigy's request, I am very happy to send a letter on our behalf thanking the Minister for the inclusion of the additional tests in the heel prick test and asking for expedition in ensuring the change is implemented sooner rather than later. Having had four babies, it was a test I always hated. It is an awful test to do to a child but it definitely has positive outcomes. I also acknowledge Senator Carrigy's support for Senator Cassells's request for a debate on media.

Senator Crowe asked me to send a letter to the Minister on what probably are anomalies in the vacant property refurbishment grant. If what the Senator says is true, that nobody in Galway has applied for it, then there certainly is an issue. It is a really good grant that has very good outcomes in terms of what we want to achieve, which is to increase the housing stock. I will happily write a letter from the Leader's office today.

Senator McDowell asked for a debate on what is a very apt issue. Our feelings are very heightened in the past week arising from the two incidents that happened last Thursday. The knee-jerk reaction is to say we must get tough on crime and we must have stronger sentences. That is an understandable response, which has come from a lot of people. The obvious question, however, is where the people sentenced to prison will go. I drive past what should be Thornton Hall twice a day. It is the best serviced site in the country, with roads leading up to a field, security gates and lights that are lit every night and lead into a field, going nowhere. There is a fine farm surrounding the site on which the farmer, I assume, is growing something. It is an absolute shame that we did not take advantage during the years to advance that project. However, the best time to do something is now. I very much support the aim of modernising our prison system because what we have probably is not fit for purpose. We saw the response to the Minister for Justice when she went to Limerick recently to open the new women's prison there. People who are incarcerated are entitled to human dignity, which is not the case at the moment. I support the Senator's call for a debate and will ask the Leader to organise it as soon as possible.

Senators Murphy and Boyhan acknowledged the real positives in the review that was issued this week by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Agriculture absolutely is a vital part of our industry and the fabric of our society. In the face of the challenges that are there, we really need to support the 145,000 jobs. We need to support our farmers, who are the custodians of our land and have been so long before we started to realise we were doing things that were harming our planet. We must ensure the areas that need support get it. Senator Boyhan is right in noting that one of the Seanad electoral panels is the Agricultural Pane and that we should be talking about agriculture, horticulture, marine activity, fishing and forestry much more than we do. I will try to organise that.

I acknowledge Senator Murphy's support for the debate on media proposed by Senator Cassells.

Senator Warfield spoke about his dismay at the Sinn Féin motion on neutrality being defeated. Democracy is all about the numbers. Regarding the Tánaiste's recent announcement, I very much support Ireland taking control of its own security and defences. I look forward to the debate when he publishes the legislation.

Senator Boyhan asked that we take a particular look at the Brexit adjustment fund, which he feels is not being spent appropriately to support agriculture.

Senator Conway commended the Minister for Justice on her response in what has been a tough week and welcomed the announcement of the provision of safety equipment for the Garda.

Senator Cassells opened with the extraordinary statement that X, formerly Twitter, refused to support the Garda last week in respect of the dissemination of huge amounts of disinformation and distorted information, with its representatives then refusing to attend the committee meeting this week. They really do not understand democracy. Elon Musk, however, had no problem telling all his followers on X that the Taoiseach hates the Irish people, which is the most bizarre statement among the very bizarre statements that have come from him. I look forward to scheduling that debate. It is an issue for which we all need to take responsibility because the outcome, if nothing changes, will not be good.