Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their contributions. The first speaker was Senator O'Loughlin. She initially talked about dementia supports and welcomed to the House the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, which is holding two workshops here later today. I acknowledge and commend the Senator's work on the all-party group on dementia over the years. Dementia is a very serious illness. It is a sad illness in that people's memories of loved ones and families are greatly impacted. The all-party group does great work. Obviously, the research into finding what causes Alzheimer's disease and finding a cure for dementia is something we would all support. The latest research, and you cannot believe everything online, suggests that dementia is in some way linked to gum disease. I am not sure if that is the case but it is promising that research continues and I hope researchers will find the cause of and cure for Alzheimer's disease.

The Senator asked me to invite the Taoiseach to the House, which I will initiate. Obviously, the shared island scheme has been hugely beneficial, both financially and in bringing both parts of this island together.The importance of an all-Ireland economy is evident, and it is important we invite the Taoiseach in to let us know his plans and the Government's plans regarding the all-Ireland economy and our shared island. I will certainly initiate that.

Senator Boyhan talked of the Irish Cancer Society and mentioned that former Senator Averil Power, its CEO, is here in the Houses. I wish her continued success in very important work in terms of research into cancer and the supports for cancer sufferers and their families. I refer to the works of, for example, the facility in Galway, and I am sure there are other facilities across the country. Community support or cancer support facilities were funded on a permanent basis, or at least for the coming years, in the recent budget and they do tremendous work in supporting families and those who suffer from cancer.

Senator Boyhan also talked about Home and Community Care Ireland and waiting lists for home care. Fine Gael had Private Members' Business a number of weeks ago that was supported across all parties and none within this House. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, was here to talk about these issues of home care. I think most of us would want to spend our last days, our later stages of life, at home and we want that to be the case for people. As I have said before, however, not all families are the same. Not all families are the same size. Some older people have a lot of family and some may not. Some may have family abroad or in other parts of the country and they just cannot be there 24-7 or for the most part. Home care is therefore so important. The Minister of State made the point, and it needs to be brought up, about having a more geographical focus on the provision of care. There are carers having to drive long distances to care for somebody and then drive back, whereas if there were somebody more locally based, I think it would alleviate those issues. What we want is not to have carers having to drive long distances but to be spending that time caring for and looking after people. A lot of additional work needs to be done there. Senator Boyhan talked about the postcode lottery as well.

Senator Tully raised the humanitarian assistance scheme. I welcome the fact that we tried to get out a scheme as fast as possible and that it was not means-tested because that can sometimes complicate and delay issues. However, we have seen a standard refusal letter being sent to too many people. I urge people to appeal those, to provide as much information as possible, to provide where possible through their local ESB offices accurate data regarding the number of days they are out and to provide all the additional information if they have had to go out for meals, if they have had to spend money replacing the contents of a freezer and so on. I take the point about the insurance excess and covering the cost of the freezer. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to come in and perhaps answer this and provide the up-to-date data on the number of applications received, the numbers granted and the numbers that are under appeal or refused. I will ask him to come in on that.

Senator Ahearn sought that the Minister for sport come before the House to address matters pertaining to sports capital grants. We know the importance of sports capital grants and their benefit to communities up and down the community. His party colleague Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn yesterday talked about the GAA and the tremendous work it does regarding the one-team initiatives, and there are so many other clubs that benefit. It is a very valuable scheme. For the last number of years, all clubs that were valid were supported, but there are also sometimes shortfalls as to what they request, and that puts huge pressures then on some of the smaller communities in trying to raise funds to complete very important projects. I will certainly invite the Minister for sport, Deputy O'Donovan, to come in to see what his vision for this is. I know he was in Galway on Saturday with the GAA president, Jarlath Burns, at the turning of the sod of facilities in Oranmore-Maree. He spoke about the difficulties that communities have in, as is said, shaking the bucket to buy land and then trying to co-fund or match-fund Department funds as well. There is a bigger issue here in this regard. I will certainly invite the Minister in at the earliest opportunity to talk about all matters sport.

Senator Keogan talked about the surrogacy legislation. She talked about loopholes. I am not sure exactly what loopholes she has indicated. Perhaps she could put those down to the Minister directly or in a Commencement debate. The surrogacy legislation went through these Houses and was supported by the vast majority. I do not agree that surrogacy is exploititative. Surrogacy is about creating life and giving life and happiness to families up and down this country, many of whom have gone through IVF and not just the cost but the emotional trauma those life-giving issues can cause. I urge the Senator, if she has the basis to her claims about loopholes, to put those directly to the Minister and they can be dealt with.

Senator Craughwell talked about the goings-on in the Dáil. There was a vote yesterday, and hopefully that can put matters to rest. We will know in about five minutes how things will go for the next while but, seriously, the goings-on yesterday were not good. They did not paint a great picture of the other House, and it is very important that we establish the committees to do all the very important work of the pre-legislative scrutiny of legislation and the questioning of Ministers, departmental officials, State agencies and interested advocacy groups in all areas. That is very important work that we have not had since last November or late October. We need to get the committees back up and running as soon as possible and for that we need the speaking rights issues and the groupings to be sorted to allow for the establishment of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and the committees. I hope that can be put in train this week.

Finally, Senator Joe Conway spoke of the delivery and the ongoing work of the second cath lab in Waterford. It is good news that lives are being saved, that the groundswell of support for and campaigning for a second cath lab bore fruit and that the results are being seen now in lives being saved. It is very important that we have as close as possible access to healthcare. There is always that conflict between centres of excellence and having sufficient consultants in an area who can provide the maximum care, that they have the best use of their skills and that they are not waiting around for patients. There is always that balance in all this and we have seen that in debates on cancer services and some of the smaller EDs that, unfortunately, were closed. We see the pressures in Limerick as well. It is good news, and I will certainly ask that the Minister come in at a later date to talk about capital infrastructure and capital plans across the country because it is a very important area.