Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for their contributions. Before I begin, I wish to acknowledge that Senator Moynihan's mother passed away. I want to pass on all of our condolences to the Senator at this difficult time. I lost my mother a long time ago - it is 24 years now - and it still hurts. It is raw for the Senator at the moment, but I am sure the support of her friends and colleagues in the House will help in that process of healing.

Most Senators spoke about yesterday's incident involving the Slovakian Prime Minister. Most people were horrified and shocked that it would happen in a European country and was so visible. I was on a delegation that visited Slovakia two years ago and I met the Speaker of the National Council and a number of MPs. It is a beautiful country and one with which we have a great relationship. All Senators send our best wishes to the Prime Minister and everyone else in Slovakia. Thousands of Slovakians are living in Ireland and are horrified by what happened at home. We wish them, their families and their MPs well over the next number of days.

Senator O’Loughlin discussed the funding provided for the blueway between Newbridge and Kildare and how successful that amenity has been for the area, but she also discussed antisocial behaviour. This has become an issue on blueways across the country. I have seen it in Clonmel in my own county of Tipperary where there has been a great deal of antisocial behaviour. This is an issue for the county council and the Garda to address. As a Government, we have put a great deal of money into having these amenities locally. The hope is always that they will be respected and not become areas of antisocial behaviour. Rather than being areas to avoid, they are meant to be areas where people can walk and enjoy their time outside.

The Senator also discussed free travel for epilepsy sufferers, which is a positive change. Epilepsy Ireland has played a key role in this change and I acknowledge its support and its important work with the Government.

Senator Burke discussed school transport and something that is always an issue at this time of year as we get closer to September, namely, kids who will be starting school being unable to get free travel because the schools they will be attending will not be the schools closest to them. Sometimes, there could only be a couple of hundred metres in the difference. That is difficult for families. In the case Senator Burke raised, the two schools are in the same town, namely, Castlebar. I wonder whether the bus drives to both schools. This seems like an issue that could be solved quickly. The Minister has introduced proposals. She wants to make two changes – to distances from schools and to the near-school principle. She has spoken about a pilot scheme. I agree with Senator Burke that there is not much need for a pilot scheme – this is happening right across the country – but if such a scheme is to be set up, the Senator said that Castlebar should be included in it. It should probably include an area in every county. Each county has different demographics and faces different issues, so it would be helpful if that were done.

Senator Keogan asked for a debate on the WHO pandemic treaty. No one wants to shy away from having such a debate, and I believe that is why a Covid inquiry is being set up. I appreciate that the Senator wants the debate to happen before the inquiry’s establishment. I suggest that is a matter for the Senator’s representative on the Business Committee to put to the committee. From this side of the House, I do not believe there would be an issue with having a debate on the issue.

Senator Sherlock discussed the very sad passing of Max Shields, who was only 15 years of age when he died in a canal. I am surprised that 45% of the deaths on our roads and waters happened on our waters. It does not get the same attention. We hear about water deaths, but we do not hear about them to the same degree as road deaths. That our rate is 3.2 times higher than the UK’s shows that we need to make changes. Waterways Ireland can play a key role in that. Extending the lifeguard season is a credible suggestion. Obviously, we would have to work with local authorities and Waterways Ireland on that. The seasons are changing and some of the best days we get during the year are in April or September, not necessarily in June or July. We need to recognise that. If there is a lack of responsibility being taken by local authorities or others, leadership needs to be shown from a Government perspective. This is about saving lives.

Senator Murphy referred to farm safety. From being on a farm my whole life, this is something that I take seriously as well. We are tillage farmers at home. Sixteen deaths last year were 16 deaths too many. A great deal of work on awareness and education has been done in this regard over the past ten years or so. I remember when Deputy Coveney was in the Department of agriculture. A great deal was done back then on the issue of farm safety and improvements were made, but there are still a significant number of deaths. It would be helpful if the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, came to the House to speak on this issue solely. Raising it as a Commencement matter might be helpful. It is something that we cannot highlight to people enough. The farm is a workplace, but it is a home as well. On our farm during harvest season, we do not see it as a workplace. We see it and treat it as our home. That is one of the dangers of a farm.

Senator Carrigy discussed additional temporary accommodation for a school in Longford and raised the issue of a community liaison co-ordinator who is facilitating two schools in two different counties that have increased their enrolments from 200 each to more than 500 each. That person is trying to accommodate 1,000 pupils in two different counties, but that is not viable. It is a serious issue for the area. I suggest that raising this as a Commencement matter with the Minister would be helpful.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the shared civic Ireland fund and the €1 billion investment that has been committed to by the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin. This is something that the Tánaiste has taken a leadership role on, speaking about an inclusive and prosperous future for people in all areas on this island. Be it through sport or the arts, anything that can be done to make this island more inclusive is a positive. The Senator’s suggestion that the Tánaiste attend the House for statements on the subject was a good one and I will bring it to the Leader’s office.

Senator Horkan discussed yesterday's events in Slovakia, a matter that I have touched on, and the Garda Commissioner appearing before the transport committee to discuss road safety. What with water safety and farm safety, the issue of safety has been raised often today. Road safety is a major issue at the moment. I come from Tipperary, a county that had the worst road safety rates per capita at 16 deaths last year. This issue needs to be tackled. Talking and talking does not solve it. We need action. As the Senator mentioned, a quarter of the deaths occurred where people were not wearing seatbelts. Deaths also happen because of bad road infrastructure. A quarter of the deaths in Tipperary happened on one particular road, the N24, which represents just 1% of the roads in the county. New changes are being made and new roads are being built with barriers down the middle to stop head-on collisions. Any new road infrastructure has to have such a barrier. This will be important. A change in mindset and education is necessary, as are improvements in roads and speeds. The simplest thing like wearing a seatbelt cannot be emphasised enough when we discuss road safety. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue.

Senator Black discussed a matter that everyone in the House has had some experience of, namely, abuse, be it verbal or physical. My thoughts go out to Councillors Tania Doyle and Janet Horner on the abuse they got. Senator Black and I are on different sides and we have different perspectives on politics, legislation and so on, but we are united in wanting to do the right thing for the country and wanting to serve. How are we going to convince people to get into a profession like ours when this is what they see? The Senator said it was the far right, but it does not matter. Regardless of whether they are on the far right, the far left or wherever, what these people are doing is wrong. It is clearly the far right doing this at the moment. It is wrong that people are being threatened and intimidated. There are many good people, and I suspect this happens with other parties as well, and not just with my own party, as well as with Independents. We see really good community activists who we believe would be very good in politics and could play a key role. Yet, when we try to convince them to get involved, because they see incidents like this, they wonder why they would bother. Collectively, we need to call that out. We need to strong and united, as the Senator suggested, and call this out for what it is. Certainly, people need to be held accountable when these actions take place. Everyone has a video phone at the moment. When people do this, they often record it while they are doing it and they need to be held accountable for that. Certainly, if there any role that this House and the Leader's office can play in that, we would definitely support it.