Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business. The first to speak this afternoon was Senator Seery Kearney. Given the smile on her face, I can see how delighted she is with the progress of the work she has done in the area of surrogacy and rights for parents. I concur with her remarks. Almost every Senator who rose this morning congratulated her and acknowledged her work.

As Senator Mark Daly pointed out, it is very difficult to make changes to policy and legislation, even for us legislators and policymakers. It is extremely difficult to bring about change of that nature and magnitude. I commend Senator Seery Kearney on her work in that regard. Irish Families Through Surrogacy have been here and have been battling long and hard to get to this point as well. I acknowledge the work of those families in that organisation. Senator Seery Kearney has been very gracious as well in acknowledging the work of other colleagues in the Oireachtas, including the Ministers, Deputies Donnelly, McEntee and O'Gorman as well who helped to get the Bill to where it is today. I say well done to her on that work. Personal experience means a lot when one takes on an issue and tackles it head on. I am sure it is a proud day for Scarlett as well to see her mum bringing that policy change and Bill through.

Senator Dooley spoke about the difficulties and stalemate at COP28, which have been well flagged at this stage. The EU is to be commended on its stance, as well as the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, for standing their ground on this particular issue and being very forceful. The oil lobby has been extremely strong. It is acknowledged for its attendance in large numbers at COP28 because it is finally worried that the wording agreed might refer to the phasing out of fossil fuels, as that is what people want to happen. It is worrying that corporate interests are still so high on the agenda when the world needs to phase out fossil fuels.

Senator Dooley also spoke about floating offshore wind. I concur with his remarks in that we have a lot of planning and groundwork to do first before we even get to put a turbine off the west coast. We cannot wait until 2032 to do the planning and groundwork for that. He pointed to port development and getting ready for when the technology is available for the deep waters off the west coast. It is almost there. That is where the opportunity lies, not just for the west coast but for the country as a whole. We can do great things if we harness that potential. I agree that we have been a bit slow to get off the mark.

Senator Keogan spoke this morning about a brain drain and the decreasing birth rate. The decreasing birth rate is a problem right across the developed world. We are one of the better EU countries, but we are heading in the same direction. We have the benefit of looking to other countries such as Italy and Japan where there is a very low birth rate as well of less than 1.0. We can see what is happening in other countries and try to address it. I read an article in a newspaper at the weekend about the long-term economic impact if our birth rate continues to decrease.The Government will have to look at assisting families. Many are now delaying having children because of housing, job opportunities and women going to college and getting further education. Things have changed and that is having an impact on our birth rate. That is certainly something to be addressed.

With regard to brain drain, as somebody from the west of Ireland, there was always emigration. People want to leave to a certain extent, to get life experience and to work in other countries. I did it myself. I am sure many of the other Senators did as well. I am not as concerned on that front. Young people heading off after college or before doing an apprenticeship and wanting to get life experience is a good thing. Many of them actually come home eventually because home is home.

That is not to say we do not have challenges in the health service. I concur with the remarks of Senators that our health service relies heavily on workers from other countries and it would probably collapse tomorrow if they all left. We have to acknowledge that we need workers in our health service. Of course, we need to improve conditions in the health service for people working in it. That has been a problem over many years. Despite huge amounts going into healthcare in this country we still do not have the health service that we want, deserve and strive to achieve but we are making great progress and it is often pointed out that we have the longest life expectancy of any European country. We have made great strides in cancer care, cardiac care, stroke survival and diabetes, which are the big killers. We have made great progress in the past 20 years in survival rates and improving our services. The health service is really great in some areas but there are pinch points and emergency departments are often the ones we look to. However, there are many fantastic happenings in the health service. When we get in the door, we get the best of care. I want to acknowledge the good aspects of the health service as well as some of the challenges.

Senator Vincent P. Martin spoke about the new planning and environmental court that had its first sitting yesterday. A ceremonial sitting was attended by both the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee and the Minister of State with responsibility for law reform, Deputy James Browne, and the Attorney General. This is a good step forward. The Government has been really strong in trying to look at the pinch points in the planning process that are delaying significant strategic projects. It also acknowledges that because of that we are seeing exploitation of the planning process and others using those pinch points for financial gain. Having a new planning and environmental court will fast-track complex planning applications with an environmental aspect but also still ensure due process and an opportunity for people to have their say, which is important.

Senator Gavan spoke about Palestine this morning, as did Senator Frances Black, and the need for the EU to take a stronger stance. I also want to acknowledge that yesterday Ireland, along with Belgium, Spain and Malta, signed a letter to be sent to the European Council urging Europe to demand a ceasefire. We are one of the few countries that can be really proud of our record to date on this conflict. We have been unequivocal in our condemnation of what Israel is doing in Palestine and in Gaza in particular and what is happening to those people. We have repeatedly called for a ceasefire from the very earliest moment. Ireland was one of only four countries to sign that letter yesterday. As a Government and as a country, we can stand over what we are doing. We are very clear in our position as a Government and as a country that we believe in peace. We are a country and a voice for peace. We want the maiming, killing and murder to stop. We have made that very clear on any opportunity that our Minister for Foreign Affairs, our Taoiseach and our Ministers have had to bring that message to Israel and at European Union level, they have taken. As I said previously I do not believe there is any division in Ireland on this issue. We are all united in supporting a ceasefire, a two-state solution and condemning what Israel is doing in Gaza. Nothing short of absolute horror and murder is happening there. The Government has been strong on this and we are doing our best to have a voice at an international level.

Senator Flynn spoke this morning about healthcare. She also spoke about the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas and took the opportunity as we are in our final week to thank all of the staff in the canteen, the restaurant, the bar and across both Houses for all of the work that they do. I concur with her remarks in that regard.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about healthcare workers and about the need to have workers from all over to assist in delivering the service. He also spoke about the tornado in County Leitrim, which was a phenomenal and adverse climate event. He also made a call for Foulksmills in south Wexford to receive the same Government supports because it also experienced an adverse climate event.

Senator McGahan spoke about Hackballscross. I am not fully familiar with the issue there in terms of a piece of land on which the ownership is disputed. However, I urge Louth County Council to focus its efforts on getting that information and trying to resolve the issue on behalf of residents there and ensure that there is mobile phone coverage. That is a basic requirement in this day and age. Senator Boyhan spoke about the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who is in Brussels negotiating fish quotas on behalf of Ireland. The Senator wished him well and asked for a debate on fishing and the fishing industry in Ireland. We will request that debate for the new year.

Senator Black spoke about Palestine, which I have already addressed.

Senator Gallagher spoke about the night-time economy, rural transport, the coalition that has come together to advocate for more taxi services in rural areas, be that Uber or hackneys, and the need to give people a transport option because if they do not have transport, they cannot go out. I concur with the Senator's remarks and will request a debate on that issue in the new term.

Senator Burke, like Senator Dooley, spoke about the wind industry but more about small domestic turbines and the potential that could be harnessed there. I agree with Senator Burke that solar panels are good when the sun is shining, but you probably need quite an expensive battery operation to make it worth your while throughout the year. Turbines, however, could be a good and viable option for many farms and businesses in rural Ireland, where there is plenty of space and plenty of wind, as we know. Senator Burke also commended the work of the SEAI, which is doing great work in administering many schemes and getting those retrofits going.

Senator Mark Daly spoke about the work of Senator Mary Seery Kearney and the difficulties in bringing about change and policy change. I concur with those remarks.

Finally, Senator Conway spoke about a pilot being run in Lisdoonvarna to try to encourage GPs to locate in rural areas. I welcome the establishment of the pilot. It is very worthwhile because this is a challenge in many rural areas. Where an older GP may be retiring, it often proves difficult to get a replacement GP for the area, and we need to address that for rural communities.