Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to clarify that No. 1 on the Order Paper will conclude at 2 p.m. and not 2.15 p.m. as stated.

I thank all Members who contributed. The first to speak this morning was Senator O'Loughlin. She and many others welcomed the Government commitment to ratify the optional protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is a positive step forward. As Senator Carrigy outlined, it is a recommendation from the autism committee in its report, which will be debated later this evening. It is something that has been long sought. The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have welcomed the development and the agreement by the Government.

Senator Clonan asked a question on the ratification process. My understanding is that following a Government decision, the Tánaiste must write to the UN committee. The accession document is laid before that committee and 30 days after it goes before the UN committee it will come into force in Ireland. This is the timeline. Perhaps the December date will follow the 30-day wait once it has been laid before the UN committee. This is the process that is in place. It is quite short.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the briefing she held yesterday with Gareth on the XXY syndrome and male infertility. Senator O'Loughlin has made a number of requests, which are very reasonable, on the VAT charge on sperm and egg donors and has asked that the long-term illness scheme be applied to those with the syndrome. She also said an independent fertility watchdog should be established in the State. We are at the beginning of our journey in this country in terms of a publicly funded IVF system, which is very welcome. We need independent regulation of the sector, particularly to protect couples and individuals who are going through a very sensitive process. It can be a very vulnerable time for them.

Senator Boyhan referenced the "RTÉ Investigates" programme on live exports. It was appalling to watch some of the footage. It was absolutely shocking, particularly when we saw similar footage approximately a year ago. There is no excuse for it. Live export is an important part of agriculture and the dairy sector in particular. It keeps the system working. It relies on having a way to get animals off the island on ferries. These services cannot be jeopardised and the sector really needs to get its house in order. This service could be pulled and it has happened elsewhere. There is only so much that people will tolerate. What we witnessed in the footage was disgusting and disgraceful. Those animals should never have been kept in those conditions. I saw somebody reference those young animals as being waste that nobody wanted. It said it all for me as to how they are looked at and how they are treated. I urge the sector and the Department to get it sorted and not have similar footage appearing again in a year's time.

Senator McGahon raised an issue on widow's benefit and people being precluded from accessing illness benefit and that it should not be the case. He also spoke about the council housing list and the various approaches in various local authorities. People who do not reply to a letter could be taken off the list having been on it for a number of years. I agree with his comments in this regard.

Senator Martin proposed an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 12 be taken before No. 1. I am happy to accept the amendment, which was seconded by Senator Carrigy. I concur with Senator Martin's remarks on local media. This topic was also raised by Senator Carrigy. It is good to see local media being supported. It is very important. There is Midwest Radio in my area. Senator Martin mentioned KFM. There are many other regional stations that perform an invaluable public service.

Senator Gavan raised issues regarding employees' rights and precarious contracts in the university sector.

Senator Ardagh welcomed the optional protocol being acceded to by the Government. She commended and congratulated Senator Carrigy on the report from the autism committee.

Senators Seery Kearney and Maria Byrne asked for a debate on the defective block scheme for apartments. I appreciate the Senator has raised the issue on a number of occasions. It is open to her to table a motion on the issue. I am happy to work with her. There is a Minister of State in the Department who might be more available, and the Senator might be able to have a word with her party colleague. I am happy to work with her to try to get it scheduled. I am conscious of other items we have to progress in the coming weeks. I am not sure how much time we have to progress legislation.

I have dealt with the question Senator Clonan asked about the protocol. He made a very valid point on the IDF moving position. It does clear the way if it wanted to do something. The Tánaiste has been very honest and clear on the position. Our soldiers do train for these situations. They are highly trained and skilled. This does not take away from the concern of their families when they are in a very dangerous situation. The Department of Defence and the Minister are watching and reviewing the situation regularly and are keeping a very close eye on what is happening.We have to trust that those making the decisions know what they are doing, and I believe they do. They are thinking about the soldiers’ welfare and their families at home, as well as their very important role in UNIFIL having them there for so long.

Senator Maria Byrne raised issues related to small retailers and the impact of the sale of illegal cigarettes.

Senator Keogan raised issues around the Summit of the Future and Ireland’s role in that. I have not read the document she referred to. She mentioned action 18, which relates to disinformation, information and hate speech. The Senator has been the subject of misinformation and disinformation, and not in a positive way. We have to deal with that in respect of protecting democracy. The online space has meant that people can say and do whatever they like and put information out there as fact when it is not. We have to acknowledge that will impact the democratic process and our democracy. It has been said in relation to the hate speech legislation that was proposed, which is not being proceeded with. We have had the discussion here over quite a while and I think people have been listened to. We have legislation already in the Statute Book to deal with incitement to hatred. We already have both laws. However, misinformation and disinformation is a huge problem that will only get worse. I think we are all interested in making sure we protect our democracy and making sure that it functions well.

Senator Murphy asked for a debate with the justice Minister on crime in Roscommon. He raised serious concerns for local people and businesses there. I have no doubt the gardaí are doing their best but some of these gangs can be very sophisticated. Things are well planned. They are in and out before they can be apprehended. It might be worth a Commencement matter on the issue as it specifically relates to Garda strength in Roscommon to deal with that issue. I thank the Senator for raising that matter on the floor of the House.

Senator Carrigy spoke about the autism report, which we will debate later.

Senator McGreehan called for increased funding to local authorities through the Department of Transport to try to prepare better for flood in different areas. She highlighted the increased rainfall in Louth and flooding challenges there.

Senator Lombard raised issues around special education secondary school places. Under this Government, there has been much investment in education and a serious amount of investment in special education as well. Senator Ward raised concerns here as well. Two thirds of all special education places have been delivered under this Government, which is a fantastic achievement in a four-and-a-half-year period, considering the first two were dominated by Covid and coming out of that period. To this Government’s credit, we have made huge strides in special education and supporting our most vulnerable students. However, we need to do more. Second level places will now be the pinch point and we need to address the availability of those spaces.

Senator Byrne seconded Senator Dooley’s amendment to the Order of Business. Senator Dooley proposed that No. 11 be taken before No. 1. I am happy to accept that. The Senator asked for a debate on data centres as well. That is an important point. Everything is online now and we are increasingly conducting our lives online. We should be concerned that Amazon will be investing, I think, €30 billion in data centres over the next number of decades, and Ireland will not get any of it because of our regulatory system and the hostile environment we have towards those centres. We have to strike the right balance. We want investment in the State and we want to continue to attract foreign direct investment. We also want to maintain the investment and jobs we have in the tech sector. Our challenge is energy and making sure we have clean, green, sustainable energy so that we are not focusing on how much data centres or other industry are using because we have an abundance of it. It leads well to the debate we will have after the Order of Business on offshore floating wind generation, which I think is the key to dealing with that issue.

Senator Byrne also raised an issue around retail crime and the report from ISME on increased crime in retail and the loss of €1.62 billion to the sector.

Senator Ward congratulated Deansgrange on its new community first responder and wishes them well in that. They perform an important role across communities and are often first on the scene to assist people. It is a good development that they are getting up and running.

Finally, Senator Kyne welcomed the €33 million allocated to cancer supports in the budget. He rightly listed out the supports across oncology drugs, women who are recovering, community supports and other areas. It is significant funding into cancer. We have a long way to go yet. We look forward to the new cancer centre in UCHG getting up and running in the next number of years, hopefully. We are doing well in respect of survivor rates. The numbers are going in the right direction but we need to continue that investment. I concur with the Senator’s remarks in commending the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, for securing additional investment to keep that work going.