Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We started this morning with Senator Catherine Ardagh, seeking permission to take No. 10 on the Order Paper before No. 1. I grant leave to introduce the Bill. The Senator mentioned that about 60 women a year do not have the opportunity to postpone maternity leave because they are suffering from cancer. As the Senator said, the issue has been raised many times but nothing has been done. She was right to point out that those early days as a mum are very precious. The Senator mentioned Erica Tierney and read out her letter. What a courageous and brave woman Erica is, and to be facing cancer a second time. Our best wishes to Erica. We wish the Senator well with the Bill and hope there will be opportunities in the schedule to ensure it is read a Second Time.We certainly wish the Senator well and hope there will be opportunities to have that Bill read a Second Time.

Senator Mary Seery Kearney spoke about the autism committee and the progress report that followed the anniversary of publishing the report. She rightly paid tribute to Senator Carrigy, who has done sterling work in this area.

Senator Seery Kearney also spoke about meeting the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to make progress on school places and support services. There absolutely needs to be a better and firmly co-ordinated approach. The Senator also spoke about the Taoiseach chairing a weekly committee. We should invite the Taoiseach to come to the Seanad to speak about the committee he has convened. There are very few things more important than the work to put supports in place for children who have autism. The role of SENOs was also mentioned. We need a complete overhaul. I speak very regularly to parents who have to seek places for their children, and all they get is a list. That is not good enough. The SENOs should be playing a far more proactive role. We should ask the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to come to the House for statements on the role of SENOs and how we support parents of children with autism.

Senator Clonan wished the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, well. I know that the House absolutely concurs. The Minister has certainly given much service over his 30 years in public life. We wish him and his family well. When listening to him, I was struck by his comments on the pervasive issue of social media and how he tried not to let it affect him. When you hear that he was the subject of horrible, nasty social media comments when his father died five years ago, you really wonder about people's minds. We were all out knocking on doors during the local and European election campaigns and, thankfully, we noted this does not happen at the doorsteps. However, something happens to people and they change when they are on their phones or laptops, and they feel they have the right to use horrible language. It is absolutely shocking.

Senator Clonan also spoke about the grave situation in the Middle East and our 120 peacekeepers in Lebanon. Circumstances have been very fragile since 7 October and we know that Prime Minister Netanyahu has made threats to invade southern Lebanon. We have to be very concerned, particularly given that two Cabinet Ministers stepped back last week. I am aware that the Department of Defence and the Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, are very conscious of the safety of our 120 troops in the region. Our thoughts and concerns are with them. It is imperative that we see an end to this brutal war. We must urge both Israel and Hamas to accept and fulfil the requirements of the three-phase proposal outlined by President Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council. It is vital that all parties work towards reviving a political process that can provide a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution. That is the reason Ireland, along with Norway and Spain, and more recently Slovenia, decided to recognise the State of Palestine now. In the absence of a political process including the Israelis and Palestinians, the viability of a Palestinian state is literally hanging by a thread.

Senator Gavan also spoke about Palestine and read a very moving letter by Samia in yesterday's Irish Examiner. Samia spoke about her two-year-old niece Massa, her niece Lina and their mum and dad, who were tragically killed. A whole family was wiped out. It is hell on earth and it is just shocking to see the scenes. Unfortunately, we have got a little used to it. We are used to seeing such images now on our phones, in our newspapers and on our televisions. We should never get used to them. I thank the Senator for continuing to raise the matter. The Senator asked that Members of the House reconsider accepting the invitation to the US embassy in light of the US supporting Israel. The following speaker, Senator Malcolm Byrne, called out the hypocrisy not of Senator Gavan but of his party, which hosts dinners in the US for $1,000 per plate to raise money at the same time as asking people to boycott the ceremonies of 4 July.

Senator Malcolm Byrne also concurred with the statements expressing gratitude to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, for his service. The Senator also raised the issue of the graduate medicine programme. It is very difficult for those seeking to participate in it because it costs around €18,000 per year. The State currently subsidises some students to study in Northern Ireland. We should consider the same approach here. I would like to see the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, come to the House to have a debate on medical education.

Senator Maria Byrne hoped Limerick would be included in the negotiations to host a rally in 2026 or 2027. We wish those involved well. The Senator also sought support for Shannon Airport and our regional airports in general.

Senator Sharon Keogan raised the issue of Independent councillors and co-option. Some councils do not have an agreement whereby an Independent councillor may nominate a successor in the event of having to step down or other circumstances requiring the nomination of somebody else. I understood there was such an agreement in place. We certainly honour that in Kildare. I had not realised that the agreement was not in place for Independent councillors, but we would all support it. Those brave enough to put their names forward and win a seat should have the option of saying who should take their place if required.

Senator Murphy formally seconded Senator Catherine Ardagh's proposal on her Bill. I thank him for that. He spoke movingly about the challenges that face parents of children with special needs and how these challenges affect their lives.

I have often thought about the awful photograph of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, nodding off in the convention centre when negotiations had been going on all night to put a partnership together. I always felt he was very unfairly ridiculed for that. I thank the Senator for calling that out.

Senator Murphy also mentioned the just transition funding, as did Senator Dolan. It was really good to receive the news in this regard this morning. I am delighted parts of Kildare are to get funding also. These include Emily Square in Athy, Donadea Forest Park and the greenway.

Senator Currie spoke about the updated procedures concerning the reuse of school buildings. What has been occurring to date in this regard has long been a bugbear of mine. We have very fine school facilities, and new schools have quite incredible facilities. It is only right that a community should have access to and the use of these buildings and facilities. It is good that the policy has been updated and that clarity has been provided. The vast majority of school boards of management want to work with their communities in this regard. The Senator raised the point that, alongside the sports capital grant, we should have a similar grant for childcare supply. We certainly could consider that, particularly regarding schools with spare classrooms. In some areas, this is happening in a very positive way. It is a good idea and certainly something we should suggest.

Senator Dooley spoke about migration and the circumstances in Shannon, where Ukrainians staying in refurbished office accommodation have been told they have to move to Lisdoonvarna. That is having a negative impact, particularly on schoolchildren who are well settled. They do not need this upheaval. By way of addressing a secondary issue, we are trying to get hotels back into tourism, particularly now as we are facing into the summer.There is a need to review and renew processes and procedures and I absolutely agree with him on this.

Senator Dooley also spoke about discussions on migration. At the count, I was shocked to speak to someone who had occasion to bring her husband to the accident and emergency department in Naas hospital. He was there for eight hours and was then able to leave. When he thanked his doctor, who was black, the doctor said "thank you" and mentioned that he had been called a black B four times that day. This is someone who cares for our people. I was upset and shocked when I heard that. In the context of the discussion about migration, we know that 20% of healthcare staff are migrants. We would not be able to run our hospitals or any of our medical services without them. I was shocked. That happened four times in one day. It was so unusual for him to be thanked that he had to make that point. We have to have a big debate in society about that.

Senator Lombard spoke about the need for females to get involved in agriculture. He told us three times that there will be a meeting between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Timoleague. I encourage anyone who lives near Timoleague to go to that meeting. It is important that we empower the female population to get involved. The Senator is looking for a debate with the Minister. When I was a child growing up on a farm, we had farm-home advisers. We do not have them now. They were terrific women who supported farmers' wives and farmers' homes. Perhaps it is time to bring them back. The Senator is right. Certainly the women I know in farming households are the backbone of the farms in helping to support us and we need to see them coming up to the front.

Senator Dolan spoke about just transition, the combined State and European funding and the difference it makes to Aughrim, Roscommon and Clonmacnoise.

Senator Ward spoke about Pride month and the shocking situation of people still being abused and attacked. I thank him for remembering such people as Declan Flynn, Michael Snee, Aidan Moffitt and others. It is shocking that this is still going on. The situation he outlined where three men were chased by six men in the Phoenix Park is shocking. We have changed our legislation. Unfortunately, there are people who have not changed their minds and hearts. That is what we need to work on. Pride is so important because we can celebrate and empower those in the LGBT community. It is shocking that people were elected earlier this month who hold anti-LGBT beliefs. I have seen evidence of one such councillor being homophobic and calling people names I will not repeat in this House. We have a big task in society and we have to do what we can. The Senator is right that we need a debate. We should have it during Pride month. On Saturday week, we will all be getting involved in Pride parades in Dublin and around the country. Well done to Councillor Mick Cahill who organised the first Longford Pride parade last Saturday. We need to see more people standing up and being counted. We will certainly look for that debate.