Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their contributions. We started with Senator O'Loughlin, who spoke about the highs and, unfortunately, lows of sporting life. We acknowledge the great success of Sam Prendergast and Michael Noonan, but we also remember the tragic loss of Michael O'Sullivan and John Cooney. Galway endured a double tragedy this week in light of the loss of Michael Coleman, a former all-Ireland hurling star. We certainly remember them here today.

She also spoke about the excellent work being done by LAMA and the AILG in supporting the work of councillors and about councillors supporting work in their communities. She talked about good practice and has asked for a debate on day care centres which play an important role for elderly people. I will ask for a debate on that matter.

Senator Duffy referred to football and the League of Ireland. We wish Shamrock Rovers well in their endeavours in Europe. The Senator called for investment in football at grassroots level.The sports capital fund, which was relaunched by his fellow countyman, Michael Ring, as Minister after the downturn, has laid foundations in many clubs throughout the country but there is a need for ongoing investment in the League of Ireland in terms of clubs' facilities and making it attractive to attend matches. The Senator also acknowledged the benefits that all sports, including the League of Ireland, had to local economies. He called for a debate on that and I will see what I can do.

Senator Tully raised the issue of special education and the lack of appropriate school places, which is an ongoing issue. A number of people have called for debates on a variety of special education issues such as speech and language therapy and waiting lists for assessments, which Senator Joe O'Reilly spoke about. We will try to bring in the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to debate these issues.

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Joe Conway agus cuirim fáilte chuig an Seanad roimhe. He spoke on matters regarding rural education in primary and DEIS schools. I will try to get in the Minister of State at some stage to talk about these issues. It is an important area.

Senator Harmon talked about overcrowded accommodation for international students, scamming and the unfortunate situation of students, mainly female, being propositioned. There is a commitment on this matter in the programme for Government. I will see if I can get an update on when that might be pushed through. This is a very important area. The Senator also talked about student housing. There has been investment in different parts of the country and there is support for and acknowledgement of the technological universities. Where student accommodation is built on university lands, it is an asset and alleviates rental pressures in the housing market. The more investment there is in student accommodation, the better, and we have seen some good progress on that.

Senator Black touched on her own work on the occupied territories Bill. If ever anybody wanted to know about the work of the Seanad and individual Senators, her work on the occupied territories Bill is to be acknowledged and commended. She wants to see the Bill progressed. I will ask An Tánaiste to come to the House to talk about it at the earliest opportunity. It is an issue of great concern among people.

Luaigh an Seanadóir Ní Chuilinn na feachtais atá ar siúl ag grúpaí áitiúla maidir le Gaelcholáistí do Bhaile Átha Cliath 2, 4, 6 agus 8 agus do Bhaile Átha Cliath 12, an ceantar ina bhfuil an Seanadóir féin ina cónaí. Tá sí ag lorg go dtiocfadh an tAire Oideachais, an Teachta McEntee, os comhair an tSeanaid chun na fadhbanna, na deiseanna agus na dúshláin atá anseo a phlé. Beidh mé sásta é sin a dhéanamh. Tá a fhios agam go raibh cinneadh déanta ag an iarAire maidir le Gaelcholáiste ach gur thit rudaí as a chéile. Is mór an trua gur tharla sé sin ach tharla sé agus caithfidh an Roinn agus pátrún na scoile déileáil anois leis na fadhbanna a bhaineann leis an ábhar sin. Beidh mé sásta an méad atá an Seanadóir ag lorg a dhéanamh.

Senator Flaherty spoke about the long-term illness scheme and the expansion thereof, on which I will try to get an update. He also spoke about Jude Flynn from his community, who, unfortunately, passed away. It sounds as though great work is being done in collecting his recordings for posterity.

Senators Collins and Cosgrove spoke about section 39 workers within the disability sector. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has stated this is an urgent priority, so we will try to get her into the House to talk about the issue. It is very important and there has been great concern for some time regarding the disparity with other workers. No part of the State should feel less valued than another for doing the same job.

Senator Comyn spoke about HRT and called for a debate on the issue. International Women's Day is coming up soon. That might be an opportunity to invite the Minister to the House to talk about women's health. As the Senator said, the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, did a lot of good work over recent years. I will invite his successor, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to the House to see what plans she has.The issues the Senator outlined are real. There have been commitments and it is regrettable that there are issues in sourcing the product. I will try to get an update on that.

I congratulate Senator P.J. Murphy, who spoke about the issues in south Galway in relation to settlements. We know the importance and necessity of critical infrastructure. We cannot build housing developments, be they of eight, ten, 20 or 100 houses, without wastewater treatment plants. In the olden days, there used to be more on-site treatment in housing estates which worked to a degree but had a lot of legacy issues. In Galway, those seem to have been ruled out and permission will not be granted unless there is a wastewater treatment. While good work has been done in the past 15 to 20 years, in a county the size of Galway there are obviously critical issues, including in the Senator's area. This was discussed at the Oireachtas committee on housing, or the housing subcommittee, during the week on foot of the issues the Senator raised. He also raised them with the Tánaiste. There are real issues here. The good news is that there were two pilot schemes in Galway and two in many counties throughout the country. However, there was a lack of progress thereafter. Projects in Craughwell and Clarinbridge have not progressed, even though they were funded out of that pilot scheme. I am sure that is the case in many other countries as well. I will seek an update on that.

Senator Craughwell again raised the issue of search and rescue. He has been dogged over the past number of years on this very important issue. Unfortunately, we now see a lack of cover. Whether that is going to be remedied in the short term or not, the old contractor is fulfilling the new contractor's responsibilities. That certainly has to be kept under surveillance, as it were, to ensure that is rectified as soon as possible. I will raise the matter with the Minister to ensure the Department keeps a vigilant eye. I acknowledge the Senator's ongoing work on that issue.

Senator Murphy O'Mahony spoke about hydrogenated vegetable oil, HVO, and the cost. It is valuable in terms of an alternative to fossil fuels. There are about 90% less emissions from HVO versus fossil fuel. It could play a very important role. I suggest that the Senator submit a Commencement matter and see whether the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, would be open to those suggestions. He tends not to pre-empt budgets or make announcements prior to the budget. However, if something is done, it will be in the context of the budget.

Senator Manus Boyle talked about the surgical hubs which are coming on stream over the coming period. One opened in Mount Carmel hospital in the last week or so and progress has been made on other centres. The Senator spoke about the lack of such a facility in County Donegal and the north west. Again, it might be worth submitting a Commencement matter on the issue to talk directly with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on the absence of a hub and the long journeys involved. For example, under the cancer strategy many people are coming to Galway, which is a long journey. For the work that would take place in surgical hubs, which deal with more minor procedures, it would make sense that such a facility be provided in the north west.

Senators Rabbitte and Mullen spoke about cyber security, digital safety, health in education and an online safety programme. I will try to get a debate on this. It is an issue that is hugely important, not just in schools. We know about the fake AI pictures that were used during the general election. There is a real issue in relation to cyber security. It affects real people. We can imagine those issues affecting teenagers. As I have always said, once the picture is taken and put out there, it is not going to come back. Young people need to be aware of the dangers of sending explicit pictures of themselves because, as I said, they cannot take them back. It is a real threat.

Senator Noel O'Donovan spoke about serving the public in his previous role as a member of An Garda Síochána, in his role as a county councillor and now as a Seanadóir. He raised the issue of loneliness. I acknowledge the work of former Senator Keith Swanick, who published a report titled A Connected Island - an Ireland free from loneliness.I was at the launch a number of years ago during a previous term. It is a very important issue. We have always had it but it has been exacerbated by Covid-19 and the changes at that time. People became afraid to go out and socialise. They were prohibited, for starters, but they became afraid to meet. They became unaccustomed to it and to engaging as part of society. It is certainly a topic worthy of debate.

Senator Ruane spoke about the Committee on Drugs Use. I will seek an update. There is always work to be done in that area but if a short period of time is needed, I see no issue with it being brought back. It is vital that it be.

Senator Andrews spoke of the running battles, as he called them, in parts of Dublin. The Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, has given a commitment to come to the House next Tuesday, I understand, to talk on justice issues concerning the inner cities and street crime.

Senator McDowell wished Ivan Farmer well on leaving the Seanad to go to Brussels and I join with him in that. Ivan has been very efficient in his role in the Seanad. Senator McDowell also spoke about an all-party motion on Ukraine. Different groups are being set up with their leaders and whips. Over that period of time, as groups meet to talk about schedules and so on, there will be an opportunity for a debate on that topic. I agree with the Senator regarding the unbelievable sentiments that were expressed yesterday by President Trump blaming the Ukrainians for starting the war, which is hard to fathom.

Senator Cathal Byrne raised the issues of disability and speech and language therapists, in particular, three vacant posts in New Ross. It might be an idea for him to table a Commencement matter to get an update on those posts. We will arrange a debate on disability as soon as possible.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised the issue of ACRES payments. ACRES is one of the schemes that have caused problems in recent years, in some cases giving money to farmers and then taking it back again. What is worse than not giving something to people is giving it to them and then taking it back. Unfortunately, a number of farmers were caught in that way. There are delays in payments. We have heard the excuses regarding IT systems since before Christmas so it is time for those issues to be sorted out. I will certainly raise this with the Minister, Martin Heydon.

Senator Kennelly raised the Shannon LNG project. The Government is examining the issues pertaining to it. I understand a preliminary analysis by the Government shows that floating storage would be the most appropriate approach to the supply of gas. We are at the end of a pipeline. We saw in recent weeks what a loss of electricity could do. If there was a loss of gas supply, it would affect many parts of the country, so we always have to be conscious of energy security. I will try to arrange a debate on the topic of energy security.

Senator Stephenson referred to the lifting of the triple lock. Any proposals would come before this House for debate. I will try to get the Minister to come to the House to discuss defence matters, and I am sure the Senator can raise those issues then. Obviously, plans or suggestions to lift the triple lock are based on foreign powers having a veto on Irish defence policy by virtue of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. That is the reasoning behind it, as the Senator knows.

Senator Maria Byrne raised an issue that she has raised previously regarding terminal diagnoses and the issuing of medical cards. There is the MC1t form that consultants can issue. It can be expedited for those with a prognosis of less than 24 months, although that may not work in all cases. If there are specific cases, the Senator can bring them to the Minister’s attention or raise them in the House on a Commencement debate.

Similar to Senator Ruane, Senator Clonan raised the issue of an important Oireachtas joint committee, namely, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters. I agree about the maintenance of that committee. We normally have our parliamentary party meeting on a Wednesday evening but we had it yesterday evening instead, so I will raise the issue directly with the Tánaiste again.Similar to the committee on drugs, I see absolutely no reason why this committee would not continue because it does vital and important work.

Senator Scahill talked about the Courts Service and Roscommon courthouse. Again, this is a very important issue locally in Roscommon. I ask the Senator to submit a Commencement matter in order to get a more direct response from the Minister for Justice.

Senator McCarthy referred to the very regrettable case of an arson attack. I am sure that matter is under investigation by the Garda, so I do not want to say anything further. However, I did read about what happened.

I agree with the Senator about the value of the horse racing industry to this country, both in the context of direct employment and its importance to the rural economy.

Senator Brady touched on a very important issue relating to defibrillators of which I was not aware. We know the importance of defibrillators as lifesaving pieces of equipment. They are found in many different places within our communities, including community centres, public buildings and, in certain parts of the country, old telephone boxes. They are very important. The Senator raised an important question as to who looks after defibrillators once they are in place in the context maintenance, checking warranties and ensuring that they are functioning. I am not sure where to go with that matter, but I will certainly follow up with the Minister for Health to see who has direct responsibility.

The Senator also referred to the ongoing issue of telephone outages that are impacting on so many people's lives and to the various broadband and Internet outages that resulted from the recent storms. Again, we will have an opportunity next week to talk about issues pertaining to Storm Éowyn.