Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their contributions on the Order of Business, particularly the first-time speakers who made their maiden contributions and thanked the electorate and their families and friends for the honour of being elected here.

Senator O’Loughlin discussed the issues of displacement and the Eyre Powell centre in Newbridge. I hope that alternatives are found, or at least that there can be remediation of that facility, because it sounds like it is a valuable part of the community. When children are in State education, they are a part of the community and deserve to be treated as such.

The Senator also raised issues of violence against women, as did Senator Stephenson. Senator O’Loughlin spoke about the importance of refuges, many of which are full, as emergency centres. There is a commitment to ensure there is a refuge in every county and that is an important issue. Senator O’Loughlin also asked for a debate on housing and alternatives to refuges. The former Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, did a lot of work on the establishment of Cuan, the gender-based violence organisation, which is getting down to work and has an important role to play.

Senators Ahearn, Cosgrove and Duffy spoke about transport issues, including public transport and roads. They sought meetings or debates with the Minister for Transport on a number of issues. Senator Ahearn is a strong advocate for the N24, which runs from Limerick to Waterford through County Tipperary. Again, it is important that we get progression updates on projects like that. Senators Cosgrove and Duffy spoke about the western railway corridor, of which I am a big supporter. I have worked on it in the past with my colleague, Councillor Peter Feeney, who was one of the founding members of West on Track. Many people across the west, such as Colmán Ó Raghallaigh and Councillor Michael Connolly in County Galway, have done great work in support of the western rail corridor. I would like to see that established. I will try to organise a debate on public transport and an alternative debate on road transport.

Senator Cosgrove spoke about the catering trolley on Iarnród Éireann services. I will endeavour to contact the organisation about that. I am not sure what the latest update is. I know there were debates on this subject in the past and a slow response is hard to fathom. It is important that those services are restored.

Senator Boyhan requested a debate on local government, in the context of centralisation, and the powers of local councillors. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, who is a former Member of this House and of a local authority, to come here to debate this subject once he is settled in. I am not sure whether he has got his delegation of functions yet. Certainly, our local councillors brought many important issues to our attention during the campaign and they continue to make requests. I will certainly request that debate.

Senator Conor Murphy made a contribution on all-Ireland economic matters. He spoke about all-Ireland trade missions, the growth of the all-Ireland economy and the role of InterTradeIreland. He requested a debate which I will certainly seek in time.

Senators Noonan, Tully, Sarah O’Reilly, Craughwell and Rabbitte raised the issue of Storm Éowyn. I will request a debate on this very important topic at the earliest opportunity. I believe all Senators would like to contribute. I do not know which Ministers are most responsible and should be invited in, as there have been changes to Departments. There has been an impact on communications with the ESB, Eir and broadband services, on humanitarian aid and on social protection. We will try to organise to bring in the Ministers who can give the best responses.

Senators Fitzpatrick and Maria Byrne raised issues relating to small businesses, such as dereliction and Garda presence. I will certainly request a debate on these important issues.

Senator Fitzpatrick raised the very unfortunate matter of what took place in Stoneybatter last week. I commend An Garda Síochána on its very rapid response. Thankfully things did not escalate. As this matter is before the courts, I do not want to talk about it. In respect of crime and threats, we will ask the Minister for Justice, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, to come to the House at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Keogan spoke about councillor numbers and representation. It is part of the programme for Government to review the possibility of restoring town councils for larger towns and to look at representation across the country. There will be a job of work on that. In time, I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, to come here to talk about that.

Senator Costello gave a heartfelt contribution regarding her own journey with breast cancer. She spoke about her friends, Fiona, Nicola and Ziva, young women who were diagnosed at a young age with breast cancer. It is a very serious issue. We had a Private Members' debate in the last Seanad on cancer services. One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetimes and one in three of us will die of it. We hope those statistics will continue to change in the positive but at present those are the statistics. It is a very serious issue. I will certainly request a debate with the Minister for Health on that matter.

Senator Murphy O’Mahony asked for the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to come in to discuss the SEAI boiler grants. This issue has often been brought up in my office by people who just want their boiler replaced than having to go to the expense and hassle of a full retrofit. Despite the supports that are available, they may not be in a financial position to have the wider works done. It might be better to submit a request for Commencement debate if the Cathaoirleach’s office is able to get the Minister involved. There are always issues in this respect because the Minister does not have direct responsibility in the SEAI. However, we will try that as a first port of call.

Senator Ní Chuilinn gave a personal testimony about her brother Cormac and spoke about the issue of dual-diagnosis when there are mental health and substance abuse disorders. This is very worthy of debate and I will certainly request that as well.

Senator Harmon raised a number of issues, including the proposed privatisation of Bord na Móna Recycling. I ask her to submit a request for a Commencement debate on that matter at the earliest opportunity. It might be the best way to get a quick response, subject to the approval of the Cathaoirleach's office. The Senator also referred to the BIMM music college, with which I am not familiar. She may contact the Minister for arts and culture and submit a request for a Commencement debate on the issue. She also talked about public transport issues. I will try to reach out to one of the Ministers or Ministers of State with responsibility for public transport services. Senator Nelson Murray mentioned Retail Excellence Ireland and also the increases in personal injury guidelines and the cost of business. I will certainly request that the Minister come in to raise the issues regarding insurance. I know we have gone through different phases of impact on businesses and also on families with regard to insurance costs. I know there was a job of work done by previous Ministers to try to change the book of quantum and different things, so it is regrettable to see that the possible costs are going to rise again to that level, which would hugely impact businesses.

Senator Davitt raised our colleague Senator Conway. I have been in contact with him. He is getting help and I am sure he will be back in this House in due course. I am sure he will make his own contribution on issues at that stage.

Senator Andrews has raised issues regarding the rejuvenation of flat complexes. If he has specific issues between Dublin City Council and the Department of housing, they can certainly be raised as a Commencement debate. I hope, once we get Commencement debates up and running, we will try to get six of them per day for a period of time to allow Members to raise a number of issues, as we are starting afresh. That might be a topic as well.

Senator Cathal Byrne spoke about flooding in Enniscorthy. Flooding is such a difficult issue for communities. We see people in housing estates and businesses helpless with regard to the work. Obviously, there are bigger issues with regard to the cause of flooding, why it is happening and the solutions to flooding, whether they be soft or hard solutions. I will certainly request, in time, a debate with the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, or again, the Senator can put down a Commencement matter at a future date on that issue.

Senator Craughwell, who spoke on Storm Éowyn, also talked about search and rescue. I know he has raised this on numerous occasions, and it is very regrettable to see that there are operational issues from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. from Shannon and along the west coast. That is not good enough, and certainly the Minister should be in a position to look into that and see why the contract is not being fulfilled.

Senator Lynch talked about adult disability day services and the funding for those. It is a very important issue, and I will certainly request a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, with regard to disability services.

A number of Senators raised the issue of forestry, some with regard to Storm Éowyn. Senators Brady and Flaherty both raised issues relating to harvesting and trees being felled in storms. They called for a task force or indeed a review on the whole issue of Storm Éowyn, which is a sensible idea as well. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins has sought a debate on forestry with respect to our planting regime and policy, and bringing more biodiversity into Coillte and private forestry plantations. Again, if we have a debate on forestry, that is something we will bring into the debate.

Senator Higgins also called for a debate on international and national law and obligations, the occupied territories Bill, and different regulations that are possibly under threat. I will certainly request, at the earliest opportunity, a contribution from the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on these issues as well.

Senator Nicole Ryan spoke about the means testing for carers, and again this is something that all parties, and certainly the programme for Government, have accepted needs to change. We have to see when that can be put in place, whether on a phased basis or directly. I will request that the Minister will come in to talk about that issue as well.

Finally, and I hope I did not leave anyone out, Senator Sarah O'Reilly, first, made a contribution about Anthony Waldron. May he rest in peace. She also talked about Storm Éowyn and its impact on her communities. A lot of people have spoken on Storm Éowyn. Lessons definitely have to be learned. If we had another storm, God forbid, in a month's time that was of the same severity, what would be different? What lessons would be learned? I hope to see time set aside to debate this at the earliest opportunity. Everyone has communities that were affected by the damage done, and the impact on our communications and the ESB. There are lessons regarding the establishment of hubs, generators, vulnerable people and people being left in isolation. There are a lot of challenges that were seen during Storm Éowyn. Many people did a lot of great work but we need to ensure that if a storm like that happens again, that as a country, as a community, as local authorities and as Government Departments, there is better preparation and better response as well. I will try to arrange that debate at the earliest opportunity.