Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)

I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator O'Loughlin congratulated the Blaney family on 100 years of continuous service to the local authority in Donegal. I congratulate our colleague, Senator Niall Blaney, and hope the family had a good celebration and recognition of their work and service over the past 100 years. Senator O'Loughlin also raised the issue of Cuan and the important work done by refuges in outreach and accompanying people to court. She asked for a debate on the matter. I will try to arrange that. She also announced the LAMA awards for next February. There is plenty of time for groups and local authorities to prepare in that regard.

Senator P. J. Murphy referred to the blue badge parking scheme and called for changes to the onerous yearly or biennial renewal of those badges. He asked that the issue be raised with the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland and I will certainly do that. Perhaps he might get colleagues on the disability committee to raise the matter as an agenda item when they engage in those matters.

Senator Victor Boyhan welcomed the announcement by Government of an investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools. I understand the terms of reference will be brought before the Houses next week and we will arrange a debate on those matters. I am sure he will raise the need to include emotional and physical abuse as well as sexual abuse in that investigation. He also spoke about his concerns about the changes to the size of apartments in order to reduce costs. I suspect if the size of each apartment in a larger development is reduced, developers would perhaps be able to increase the number of apartments. That may be where the cost savings are coming from, but he has raised concerns and it is hoped we will have an opportunity to discuss the matter. We are taking Second Stage of a housing Bill on Thursday. The Senator also welcomed the lobbying of Members of this House and organisations such as the AILG and LAMA on the changes to be announced today by the Minister, Deputy Browne, on security matters.

Senator Andrews discussed the motion of no confidence in Commission President von der Leyen. That is a matter for MEPs. He linked the ongoing issues there to her views on militarisation of Europe. Following Senator Craughwell's comments on the war in Ukraine, recommendations to increase defence spending are partly linked to that war and the concerns regarding the Baltic countries' defence and security. There is general consensus that in this country we should increase military spending, a point I put to the Senator's colleague, Senator Boylan, at the defence committee last week. We should increase defence spending and look after the welfare of soldiers and the equipment they use. Other countries are more closely geographically located to the threat of Russia and those are the countries that wish to increase spending.

Senator Stephenson, like Senator Andrews yesterday and Senator O'Loughlin on another occasion, referred to visas for children from Gaza. I understand the Government anticipates that 30 children will arrive. The first of those children arrived in May. I will again raise the matter with the Department of justice to see what the delays are.

Senator Paul Daly raised the issue of farm safety week, which is outside of our traditional sitting period. I will include a debate on farm safety in the autumn. Others decide when farm safety week is. I do not know whether it is the best week. Perhaps it should be earlier in the year during calving season, the start of silage making season or whatever. The date has been chosen. I acknowledge it. I was in my mother's home on Sunday and saw an annual remembrance service on RTÉ for those who lost their lives or were injured on farms, including the reading out of all of the names of the deceased on an all-island basis. It was a touching broadcast. I understand it was the tenth anniversary broadcast and was given by the bishop of the Kildare area.

Senator Gareth Scahill spoke about the commemoration of the abolition of corporal punishment by former Minister John Boland. His daughter Grace Boland, now a Deputy, attended a commemoration in Roscommon, and I acknowledge that.As Senator Scahill rightly said, it was an unpopular decision at the time, perhaps not with the children but with others. However, it has been seen to be the right thing to do. John Boland was ahead of his time in that regard.

Senator Joe Conway spoke about religious Zionism and the relief work in Gaza. We had the defunding or abolition of USAID by the Trump Administration. I am not sure if it has gone through yet, technically. USAID raised critical concerns regarding the ability of key aid groups to protect Palestinians and to deliver food to them. This is a very serious issue. We see Palestinians being targeted as they queue for food. This is part of the unacceptable atrocities that are going on in that part of the world. Senator McDowell raised the matter yesterday. I will try to bring a motion on Gaza to the House before the recess on which we will seek to get cross-party agreement.

Senator Comyn raised the topic of the Slane bypass in County Meath, which we welcome. She is shocked that Ardee is not included in the national development plan. I am not sure if she is taking about the previous plan or the forthcoming one, because there is still an opportunity for it to be included in the next one. I am sure she and others will lobby for the inclusion of Ardee, or at least that the heading for the Department of Transport would allow for capital expenditure in Ardee, subject to planning permission and agreements in that regard. The Senator also welcomed the developments in regard to the Louth GAA stadium.

Senator Duffy raised road safety and road fatalities in Mayo. He mentioned the need for continued investment on the N17 and the N5. I ask him to engage with colleagues on the transport committee on the matter. From time to time we have statements on road safety, which we had earlier in the year. The Senator also raised forestry in Ballycastle, which he has done previously.

Senator Collins raised the need for continued investment in public swimming pools in Limerick, and I am sure elsewhere as well. She accepted that they cost money and they do not make a profit, but they are part of the investment programme of the State and local authorities. Senator Scahill is a big proponent of swimming and he is involved in the Ballaghadereen outdoor swimming pool. There will be statements on sport next week with the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, so the Senators may be able to raise the issue with him at that time.

Senator Ahearn spoke in support of the Irish Foster Care Association and the invaluable work foster carers do for foster children. He spoke about the need for greater recognition and the inclusion of foster carers as part of caring and the calculation of the State pension. I will raise that with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, as well.

Senator Noonan spoke about the nitrates derogation and the climate and nature fund. He requested statements on the issue. I will try to arrange that in the autumn. Ireland is now the only country applying for a nitrates derogation. An ongoing of body of work is needed in that regard, not just to protect water quality but also in regard to the habitats directive. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, and others will be doing a body of work. I am sure relevant committees will deal with it as well.

Senator Tully raised the issue of student accommodation. I do not disagree with anything she said about the need for better student accommodation and continued investment in universities. If there is more student accommodation on university campuses, that will free up accommodation elsewhere. There has been investment and agreement in regard to technological universities, which is part of the programme for Government, in that they will be allowed to borrow for student accommodation.

In terms of the ongoing discussion on student fees, there is a commitment in the programme for Government and budget negotiations will be taking place on them, among a range of other matters in the Department of further and higher education. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has confirmed that. The budget will be upon us soon enough once we come back.

Senator Craughwell raised the matter of the Srebrenica massacre on its 30-year anniversary. I understand we will have a moment's silence on the matter tomorrow. He also, rightly, expressed concern that the war in Ukraine has, to a degree, fallen off the radar. I understand his concerns in that regard. We will arrange statements or a discussion on Ukraine at a future date.

Senator Mullen spoke about the care referendums that took place last year. The Tánaiste said we will not be rerunning them, but the Senator is right about why exactly they failed. Perhaps there needs to be a body of work done on that. I want to be quite clear that there are no plans to rerun the referendums.