Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We started this morning with Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee who, along with many of my colleagues, welcomed the news overnight that Stormont will be re-established. It is very important not only for the people of Northern Ireland but particularly for them. It is sad to think there were elections in May 2022 but Stormont has not sat since. Many communities and public services have been let down because of this. Let us all hope this will lead to good stable government for a period of time.

Senator Clifford-Lee also spoke about the January bonuses and the double payments which are part of the budget package this year, and the fact the extra money paid out in the double bonus adds to the circular economy in terms of money being spent in the locality. She highlighted an obvious gap for those who receive maternity leave benefit, which is sometimes their only source of income during that time. In some cases employers top up the payment but in many cases they do not. Senator Clifford-Lee believes it would be worthwhile to speak to the Minister about this.We shall certainly do that.

Senator Doherty spoke very eloquently in what was a very heartfelt tribute to John Connor. I am sorry I did not know him because just from listening to all of the accolades, he was clearly a very fine, distinguished person. Apart from his distinguished political career, he was a person of great integrity and talent and had great interests in so many different areas.

Senator Craughwell spoke about cybersecurity, the work he has carried out with some local councils and education centres, and his work in Estonia. He believes Ireland should be at the forefront of this. We will request a debate on cyber-awareness with the Minister, Deputy Harris.

Senator Flynn spoke about the need for strong hate crime legislation. I completely agree with her. Ireland is an outlier in that respect. I believe we are waiting for the Department to schedule Committee Stage. The Seanad is ready to schedule it. I hope it happens soon.

Senator Gavan spoke about the situation in Stormont and said it is very good news. It is also very good news for the re-establishment of the North-South bodies.

The Senator also referred to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE, where both he and I spoke on the same page last week on supporting Palestine. Like the Senator, I was very concerned about the lack of empathy in terms of what is happening in Palestine. He is right in saying the International Court of Justice's finding is very significant. I understand the Tánaiste is going to come to the House on 20 February and we are going to have a debate on the situation in the Middle East. The Senator also mentioned the fact that ten countries have withdrawn funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA. Thankfully, Ireland is not one of them. Ireland is absolutely steadfast in its support for the people of Palestine and any funding that can be put in place to support them. It was a shocking decision by those ten countries. We can only hope they will change their minds in that regard.

Senator Davitt spoke about the costs for businesses. He is right they are escalating. In budget 2024, an agreement was put in place to ensure funding will be available for businesses to help with the cost of rates and the cost of the rise in the minimum wage. The Senator also spoke about the cost of administration, for example, in auto-enrolment for pensions. Certainly, we have to simplify the grant processes for businesses. We absolutely have to help support them. They are the lifeblood of all the towns and communities we represent.

Senator Dolan also spoke about John Connor. I know his death must be a big blow for her as he was from so close to her own area. Obviously, he was a very fine person and the people in the area are, sadly, bereft by his sudden death.

Senator Boyhan spoke of meeting the Taoiseach in Athenry and the importance of women in agriculture and food. I know the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is releasing a report quite soon on that issue. The Senator congratulated Rachel Brown from Ballina, who has been elected president of the Veterinary Council of Ireland. All our congratulations go to Rachel.

Senator Burke spoke very eloquently about the late John Connor. I thank him for his contribution.

Senator Keogan spoke about the 520 approved housing bodies that administer 30,000 housing units. While the approved housing bodies were brought in to fill a gap that existed at a particular time, I agree they tend to manage most of the social housing we have now. The responsibility seems to have shifted from local government and the local councils to the approved housing bodies. I agree we should try to refocus all of our local authorities and bring them right to the centre of that situation.

Senator Joe O'Reilly also spoke about John Connor and extended his deep sympathies.

Senator McGreehan spoke on Stormont and about the courage of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. Indeed, we thank him for his leadership.It is important to have leaders who step up to the mark and he certainly did that. Now we have an opportunity for normal discourse in any chamber. We want to renew faith in democracy in Northern Ireland.

Senator Seery Kearney spoke about X, formerly Twitter, and the action it took on the deepfake photos of Taylor Swift, but not until they had amassed 43 million views. These are absolutely abusive images and we need to have much stronger and better measures in place. I understand that, as Senator Carrigy noted, the Oireachtas media committee is holding a series of meetings on misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and so on, and I know that representatives of X have agreed to appear before that committee. This is something we all need to be concerned about. Approximately 75% of the world will have elections this year and we will have at least two referendums, two sets of elections and possibly more, so we need to be mindful of it.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about beaches being an integral part of tourism and about the need for access for those with a disability. It is good to see the work happening in Curracloe, and I believe some work at Rosslare was rolled out last year. We also need to look at coastal erosion. We will ask the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to appear before the House in respect of that.

Senator Conway spoke about the deposit return scheme, which will start on Thursday morning, and I agree with his analysis. I have called for grants for smaller businesses to enable them to afford the machines because it is wrong to be sending people who buy goods in a small shop to a bigger business that can afford to have those machines. It was a good suggestion to look at the local authorities also having them.

Senator Currie added her voice to the congratulations regarding Stormont and spoke about the importance of hope and stability. The reforms of the North-South Ministerial Council are certainly something we can speak to the Tánaiste about because, as she pointed out, appointments are made to North-South bodies and that is important. We want to see a new era on the island of Ireland and we want to see collaboration. I have no doubt the Government and the Tánaiste's Department will engage constructively with the new executive to assist it and work together in areas where North-South co-operation can make a positive difference to the economic and social life of the island of Ireland.

Senator McGahon spoke about social welfare and the fact those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome need to have proper entitlements and the invalidity payment. I think that is a good case to take up.

Senator Carrigy spoke about the schools building programme. I was surprised when he said an answer was given suggesting that no more building projects were going to be taken by the Department. Only last Friday, there were two significant announcements in my constituency under the schools building programme, relating to Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge, and the school in Milltown. I will investigate it further because we need to get to the bottom of a response such as that. I undertake to take it up with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and we will look for engagement with her on the schools building programme, which we recently dealt with at the education committee.

Senator Kyne spoke about school transport. I understand the review was published with recommendations but that we are not going to get sight of it until the Cabinet has had the opportunity to look at it and costings for it. It is an onerous task, without doubt, and the majority of children are well served by it, but where it does not work, it simply does not work and that is wrong. Given Bus Éireann is handsomely paid for its operation, there should be penalties where the terms of the contract have not been complied with. I agree with the Senator on the issue of the age of drivers. That is totally outside the remit of the Department, as he knows. Bus Éireann has those rules and it is up to the organisation to change them.