Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and everybody here. I did not realise until recently the value of kindness and how much it means to people when they are distressed, so thank you.

Senators Conway, Ahearn and Dolan, led by Senator Casey, are looking for a debate on the hospitality sector. We hear daily of the struggles, not just from Adrian Cummins, who is famous in nearly every household at this stage, but from so many hard-working people who are not only supplying jobs, but also the services that most of us rely on in our towns and villages. If we did not have somewhere to go for a cup of coffee or a pizza on a Friday evening, we would certainly know all about it. Senator Ahearn made a very valuable contribution, noting that any of the employment rights that we have introduced during this Government, whether increased sick leave or the increased minimum wage, are not something that anybody would give out about. More employment rights mean a healthier and better workforce. Every one of us has a pension and I do not think we would begrudge the people in that sector, the 30% who go out to work, a pension. However, the speed and frequency at which it has all come together have posed major problems. I am conscious that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, is looking at how he can best provide support. The VAT issue is obviously going to raise its head again. A debate would be very valuable to see what our contribution and our tuppence worth might be regarding how we can support that industry. I thank the Senators for that.

Senator Cummins raised the delays in responses from the HSE and sought a debate so he can get answers. I concur with that and will organise a debate as quickly as I can.

Senators McGahon, Conway, Dooley and, probably for other reasons, Senator Warfield are looking for a debate on immigration. It is something that we need to have. If I am to be very honest, and I will not speak for others, it is a debate that I was probably fearful of for a long time because if you say the wrong thing, even when not meaning to say the wrong thing, either you are suddenly cancelled or you have the legs cut off you. It is probably beyond time that we all need to have that conversation. The one thing I know is that the vast majority of people in this country, 99.9%, are warm, hospitable, compassionate and empathetic. We have known for generations the value of emigration and immigration, and we want to be wholeheartedly welcoming to the people who are coming to our shores, who are less well-off and more distressed than we are lucky to be. I am flabbergasted at the volume of such a small number of people and how they seem to attract attention. There is also, as Senator Dooley said, the misinformation that is so easy to believe and is being believed by normal, decent, hard-working, generous and supportive people.

Fearful or not, it is our responsibility to make sure we make the truth known. Sometimes the truth is not exactly honourable. Sometimes there are flaws in a system that we know can be improved. However, hiding behind not having a conversation is not helping any of us and is certainly not helping the people who come here, who must be fearful of the responses they see on television and in some of our towns and villages. It is responsible for all of us to help. I will certainly organise that with the Leader as quickly as I can.

Senator Currie spoke of her pride in the local Garda Síochána force in Blanchardstown, and we can all relate to that. They had an horrendous Christmas but the response was phenomenal. Some of us have seen the photographs of the scene on that awful night, and it looked horrendous. It is only right and proper that seven people have been arrested and four people charged, and, hopefully, there are more charges to come. I acknowledge her support for local gardaí.

Senator Dooley spoke of Johnny O’Meara. The State sometimes does really ridiculous things. I say that because when I was Minister for Social Protection, we did something equally stupid in trying to take a pension off a man who happened to be in prison. We did it and we do it because of the law and the legal position, and we say it cannot be tested, although all of that is nonsense, to be honest. I am so pleased for Johnny and his family that he won yesterday. It is easy to see, however, that he did not win in the High Court, so it is very important that people have the bravery, even in sad times, to be able to tackle the State. Hopefully, he has led the way for many more families. Notwithstanding Senator Craughwell's comments earlier on the two referendums that are coming up, families come in all shapes and sizes, and Johnny's family is no different from my own or anyone else's. I congratulate him and say, “Fair play”.

Senator Boyhan spoke of another courageous lady, Louise O'Keeffe. I am very glad that the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, has taken the initiative because, to be fair, others before her may have delayed and did not work to bring it to fruition. The action plan, when it is published, will show us all leadership. I offer praise to Louise for her tenacity over many years and for doing what she has done.

Senator Seery Kearney spoke about another leading lady, Selina Bonnie, who passed away last week. The Senator made a lovely tribute to her.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about Jackie Fox. We are praising a lot of ladies today but Jackie Fox is a particularly impressive, tenacious and dogged lady. I know it arose from an awful tragedy and loss, and I cannot even imagine what she must have gone through but, my goodness, she has so much to be proud of and her daughter’s legacy is a real testament. We all have a law. I know everybody is associated with success and takes credit for it, but we would not have that law without Jackie Fox. I am so pleased when I see her going to the European Parliament and being welcomed by member states that do not even know the history and only learn it from her. I genuinely think that law will become a European law sooner rather than later. I thank Senator Byrne for that.

Senator Keogan sought a debate on the children of Ireland, which I will ask for. I dealt earlier with the issue raised by Senator Warfield.

Although I missed the tribute to him yesterday, David Norris is a living legend. I have had some really lovely experiences with him over the years, one where he absolutely cut the legs off me, which was interesting. You could not have anything but an enormous grá for him. The Cathaoirleach's speech yesterday was lovely and I watched it online from Brussels. I hope he has a long, happy and sunshine-filled retirement when he moves abroad. I wish him well.

I am sure Niall Ó Donnghaile is at home, laughing at the lovely things that have been said about him here this morning. It is all good.

Senator Craughwell sought the retraction of the National Women's Council of Ireland statement. The only thing I can suggest is that he writes directly to the chair herself. I am sure many people would disagree with many statements. The one thing that is important is whether you agree with the current Constitution and whether you want change or do not want change.It is that the Irish people's opinion matters. We can all tell you what is right or wrong for you but the Irish people's opinion is the one that should be the most important to us. Once we have passed this legislation today, the Electoral Commission will have a body of work to do to give people factual information, not my opinion or the opinion of the Senator or the National Women's Council of Ireland. They will then make up their own minds and we will respect the outcome, whatever it is.

Senator Kyne requested, as he has many times previously, a debate on Inland Fisheries Ireland. He also spoke about the recent WRC judgment.

Senator Casey requested a debate on hospitality and a meeting with the Minister for Transport, which I will request in writing today, specifically about the projects the Senator highlighted.