Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

This morning's business started with Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, who has been consistent in supporting the people of Gaza and calling out the genocide and war crimes of Israel. The lack of progress and unanimity as to how Europe can support those living in Gaza and the West Bank and call out Israel on its war crimes is, as the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said, a stain on Europe's conscience. The fact that children are being starved and do not have enough water to drink in this century and this modern world is shocking and crucifying. The fact that there are mass casualties where there are food distribution banks is shocking. The first set of casualties numbered 21, I think. Waking up that morning and hearing that 21 had been killed while they were trying to get food for themselves and their families was appalling.

I met the Palestinian ambassador and her deputy head of mission on Tuesday. They are genuinely appreciative of the sentiment from all parties as regards the support for Gaza. The ambassador told me very clearly that the Palestinian people themselves were very aware and appreciative of the support of the Irish Government and that they recognised that our Government, led by our Taoiseach and Tánaiste, is leading the charge within Europe and across the world in terms of support for Gaza.

Senator Fitzpatrick also raised the issue of the naming of the children's hospital. I read the newspaper report with a sinking heart because that debate was informed by a lot of really good public sentiment recognising a very fine woman who was way ahead of her time, Dr. Kathleen Lynn. We had conversations with the previous Minister for Health and, while a clear commitment was not given, there was a sense that the people of Ireland, and we representing them, were being listened to. I agree with the Deputy, therefore, that it is very disappointing and disheartening. We will ask the Minister to come before the House and explain the decision to call it just the National Children's Hospital. I feel it is quite a bland statement. It is a national children's hospital - we all get that - but losing the opportunity to name it after a female icon who did so much to care for and support children is an opportunity missed. We will bring that message back to the Minister.

Senator Fitzpatrick also raised the issue of insurance premiums, as did our colleague Senator Linda Nelson Murray, and again Senator Fitzpatrick has been consistent in that regard. I raised this myself when I first saw the report that the Judiciary had recommended 17%. I had hoped that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, would not accede to that. We need to make a stand on it. We need to look for an urgent debate not just with the Minister for justice, but also with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, who, to be fair, has been doing a lot of really positive work on this.

I will blend that into what Senator Nelson Murray said. I appreciate that insurance is quite complex as to how payments are made. I read a report recently that said that the balance had shifted such that, where it had been 70:30 between personal injuries and vehicle damage, it had shifted to 50:50 since the cost of vehicles had gone up so much. The report said that was one of the reasons insurance had gone up. We still should not go to 17% for personal injury. There was a previous action plan for insurance reform. The last date for submissions was in late May, I think, and over 70 submissions had been received. That is important. We need the new action plan urgently, but in the interim - and I will respond to Senator Crowe, who brought this up as well - we need to make a very strong stand on this. I think that would be unanimous across the House, no matter the party. We will write to both the Minister and the Minister of State, express our very strong views and look for a debate in the House about it.

Senator McDowell spoke about what was happening in Gaza and the need for Israel to be decent. This is about more than decency, however. It is about survival, life and death, and human rights. The Senator spoke about the report he had read about what Trump had said about the President of Israel. I had read that and was quite shocked myself. Really, the whole Israel-Iran thing has been a distraction. It is good there is a ceasefire there, but it took the spotlight off what was happening in Gaza. For President Trump to talk in such glowing terms about the President of Israel was quite shocking and it needs to be called out in different ways.

Senator Conor Murphy spoke about the vision of a united Ireland that former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Wallace Thompson gave. I did not get an opportunity to read or see that, but apparently it was a good vision as to how we needed to go forward and how constitutional reform could come about. It is important to acknowledge the excellent work of the shared island unit we have in the Department of the Taoiseach. I know we have called for the Taoiseach to come in before and I know that he plans to come in, but having a debate on the shared island unit is really important in terms of the work it is doing and plans to do. I commend the Good Friday Agreement committee on the work it has done and the comprehensive reports it has produced.

Senator Murphy also called for movement on the presidential vote being extended beyond the Twenty-six Counties.

Senator Crowe spoke about insurance reform and, particularly, how it had impacted the hospitality industry and small businesses. A forum has been set up within the Department of business to deal with the cost of business. We need to ask that forum to look at this. We need to have the SME test applied to the proposals being made, particularly around the 17%. With all the work that went on in terms of insurance reform, it is a concern that the cost has gone down but that has not been passed on to the consumers, be they in the hospitality sector or the type of business the Senator often talks about, namely, the leisure business. That is really wrong and needs to be called out because there are people making money on foot of this. We have no issue with people making profits, but when they are made at the cost of businesses, that is wrong.

Senator Boyle spoke about defibrillators and how we could get them. They are a vital part of communities. I know from our own LBDC group in Kildare that they are fantastic in terms of the training they give, the volunteers there and the number of defibrillators they have.He raised the very valid point that there are times when people do not know where the defibrillators are. We will certainly ask if it is possible for Google Maps to show the location of the defibrillators. Then again, there is an onus and responsibility on community groups and groups that have defibrillators to notify Google if things change. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a sense that something is going to be in place and people can find it on Google Maps when it is not actually there. That is worse because perhaps they have taken time out to find it. There has to be a balance of roles and responsibilities.

Senator McCarthy spoke about the public health issue of the free shingles vaccine. This is I something I support, as many of us do. Dr. Ronan Glynn gave a presentation in the RCSI a number of months ago about the case. It is a very valid case. At the all-party committee on dementia, Deputy Martin Daly spoke about new research that is coming out that shows the shingles vaccine can possibly help to prevent dementia in older people. There is a lot to be said for it. I think of our former colleague, Gerry Horkan, who got shingles when he was serving in the Seanad. He was really very ill. Talking to him and learning about his experience was something that stays with me. We will look for a debate with the Minister for Health.

In response to Senator Rabbitte, it is good to hear about Portumna courthouse. It is amazing the new life that can be brought into a rural area by such a project. For many years, Newbridge had a town hall in the centre of the town that was absolutely redundant. When I was mayor of the county, I was given one project and I said we would do it up. It is still not used as much as it could be but it is beautiful to see it living and breathing. The Senator is 100% right that bringing these iconic buildings back to life is important. We talk about the revitalisation of town and village centres and these are the buildings that can do that. Senator Rabbitte made the valid point that we need the support of the local authorities. However, it takes time to build up the teams that have the expertise to be able to apply for a shovel-ready project. That is what funding is often sought for but there is often very limited time in which to do that. I agree that under the stewardship and leadership of the Minister, Deputy Calleary, we need to look for extra support for those types of projects going forward. Those submissions should go to the NDP.

Senator Andrews spoke about Rathmines post office being sold off. It is a shame that the service has finished in the Rathmines post office but I am glad the community did not lose the service and it went to a nearby place. We are seeing that happen on an ongoing basis. The model would seem to be that it is easier for people to access post office services when they go in for other messages, and I am seeing that. I am not saying it is something we always want to see because, particularly when they are iconic buildings, it is important to keep them.

The Senator is completely wrong when he deliberately said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are not supporting post offices. There is national funding of €10 million going to support post offices. Like Senator Andrews, I and many of our colleagues have been meeting with postmasters around the country and here in Leinster House. I know there is a call for €15 million to support the sector as it is and to look at other services that could possibly be given to post offices, such as becoming tourism hubs for local tourist information and possibly offering a peace commissioner service. Quite often, we see a call for a peace commissioner to do things in communities. We support and have called in the House for extra financial support to be given and for an examination of the other services that could be provided. However, the Senator is completely wrong to say that, because we are Government parties, we are not supporting post offices. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Regarding the sale of these businesses, where they are owned by the State, they are first offered to the LDA and then offered to the local authorities. It is not that they are just going onto the private market. They are there so the State can use them in other ways. For example, I raised the question of the use of the Curragh post office last week.

Senator Costello spoke about it being 15 days since the demonstrations and about the event in the audiovisual room that she organised with regard to children with DMD. Along with many colleagues, I had the opportunity to meet families from across the country. It is a very difficult disease. To see many families with more than one son with this disease is heartbreaking. We need to ensure that givinostat is administered as soon as possible. I acknowledge that the Minister has committed to a meeting. I appreciate that Senator Costello is looking for a timeline and I support that. We will write to the Minister to ensure she gets that.