Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators for their contributions to the debate on the Order of Business and their agreement to it.

I will begin by offering my condolences to the friends and family of Saoírse Ruane. It is very sad news for us to hear this morning. That little girl had more bravery in her body than any of us will ever have. I am sure their hearts are broken. We are thinking of them and her. May she rest in eternal peace.

Senator Casey raised the issue of Garda numbers and recruitment. We commend the Minister for Justice on the work she is doing with the Commissioner and the force to increase Garda numbers. The huge response to the recent advertisement and recruitment campaign was very welcome. The numbers indicate the good standing An Garda Síochána has in our community and society, the value we place on it and the importance of its role and of the roles of individual gardaí in our communities. The specific point he raised was on the adequacy of Garda numbers in Wicklow, especially in front-line Garda positions and the community garda role. The community garda role is hugely valued and it should be promoted more in the force. In the constituency in which I live, Dublin Central, we piloted small-area policing more than ten years ago, which allowed for dedicated gardaí to be deployed on a geographic basis in small areas. It is incredibly powerful when gardaí are dedicated to a local area and know the people who live and operate businesses in the area and the people who come to the area to go to school, work and engage in other activities. The issue the Senator raised is pertinent not only to Wicklow, but to every constituency. I will suggest to the Leader that she facilitate a debate, particularly on the adequate resourcing of community gardaí in all communities.

Senator Currie raised an issue that is always a pain point at this time of year, especially for parents who have children coming towards the end of primary school, namely, the scramble to secure a place in secondary school. In Dublin, we have a particular issue. Senator Currie raised and articulated well the challenge faced by parents in Dublin West, including Dublin 15, and I suggest she raise it through a Commencement matter with the Minister for Education because she made a good suggestion that could be progressed in that manner.

The defender of the Defence Forces, Senator Craughwell, informed us about his recent visit to Europe and the existence of the common information sharing environment, CISE, which is a European initiative the Senator believes the State should be involved in. He specifically called for the appointment of a naval officer to champion that initiative and I wish him well with that.

Senator Gavan raised an issue that has been a topic of significant debate in the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party. We agree that the challenges are significant. In fact, small retailers met us recently. Every Member of this House will know from talking to them that they are under pressure. There are many reasons for those pressures, including competition and the additional costs in delivering quality employment, and there is a challenge in getting the balance right. Everyone will agree about that. The Senator's suggestion to invite the Minister for enterprise to the House for a debate on that issue and a review of how the initial responses have worked is welcome and I will suggest to the Leader that she arrange that debate as soon as possible.

He also raised the issue of Palestine, which is impossible to escape from thinking about. The horrors that are being experienced by the people in Palestine are unforgivable and are to be utterly condemned. There should be no debate about that. The Tánaiste and the Government have been very strong on it. I thank the Senator for recognising the instrumental role Ireland has played, especially in UNRWA, in drawing a line and stopping the complete abandonment of UNRWA by other states and ensuring not only that the funding from other countries did not stop entirely, but that funding is beginning to be restored. It is nowhere near enough. We all see the coverage and this House should resoundingly renew its message, and continue to do so every day, of calling for an immediate, sustained, humanitarian ceasefire, the release of hostages and its commitment to a two-state solution