Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding arrangements for the sitting of the House on Monday, 15 December, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, Finance Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to be adjourned not later than 2 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 3, Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 2 p.m. and to be adjourned not later than 3 p.m. if not previously concluded; and No. 4, Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014 - Second Stage, to be take on conclusion of No. 3, with the contributions from group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all Senators not to exceed five minutes.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Today the Taoiseach is meeting the British Prime Minister in the North to try to find a solution to three issues - flags, parades and the past. I hope that he will raise the issues on the current and ongoing tapping of communication systems in Ireland and to the outside world from Ireland that appears to be going on as revealed by Edward Snowden.

In terms of the past, the Taoiseach should also raise the issue of hooded men, a case that the Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the courts by those victims of torture, to ensure that the Irish Government prevented future torture and victims of torture. The British Government used the justification of the EU court ruling almost four decades ago. Also, I wish to mention the BBC "Panorama" programme that raised the issue of a previous Prime Minister having knowledge of killings by British army units in the North. I hope the Taoiseach will raise those issues but his track record in standing up for the Irish people is not great. As we have seen, the Government has failed to burn the bondholders and failed to get a write-down in the debt.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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Fianna Fáil had better opportunities to resolve those issues.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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If the Government had secured a write-down in the debt it would not now have to impose water charges. A government is supposed to represent all the people. That is what the Government is supposed to do but this Government does not represent all the people. As the Minister for Finance has said, they "govern for reasonable people". That means they only govern for people who agree with them and we know, from the opinion polls, how few people agree with the Government.
The Minister for Health is not bothered about people protesting over €3 per week because he has bigger problems to solve. I agree he has bigger problems but there is homelessness, and people are fearful and people are hungry. The Irish League of Credit Unions would tell the Minister that 500,000 people have no money left at the end of the month. Where will they find €3 per week to pay the Minister's water bills that he will send to himself next year? That money is simply not there. Some would say that the Minister is arrogant but I would say he just does not care. There is evidence, if he would like to see it, that half a million citizens of this country do not have any money at the end of the month to pay Irish Water bonuses which is what they would be paying for. The Minister for Finance has said he only governs for the people who agree with him. He does not govern for the people who protested yesterday. He does not govern for the 500,000 citizens of this State who do not have the money to pay the Irish Water bills. The Government has lost the trust of the people.
Eamon Gilmore is no longer a Minister because of the following statement. He said:

I’m against water charging. Water is a necessity, I've always believed essential services like water should be delivered as a public service. A flat household charge would be unfair and does not discriminate between houses with five bathrooms or none.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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That is a change in party policy for the Senator.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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What about people who have five houses, five homes, five bedrooms or one bedroom? Eamon Gilmore continued to say "metering is unworkable". That is what Eamon Gilmore is quoted as saying in the Irish Examineron 28 June 2010. He lied and that is why he lost his job; the Government continues to lie and that is why its members will lose their jobs.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We all know how selective Senator Daly is capable of being in regard to who he represents. In any event, I shall not pursue the issue further.

The Senator mentioned the Belfast Agreement and talks taking place today. I wish the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Prime Minister Cameron, Secretary of State Villiers and others the very best in seeking to reach an agreement. So far agreement has eluded them but, please God, further progress will be made today.

I was very surprised yesterday at the comments made by my good friend Senator Darragh O'Brien on the reduction of 1% in the higher rate of tax the Government is introducing. He voted against the relevant section of the Finance Bill yesterday. Let us remember that the higher rate of tax begins at €32,800 which is €3,000 less than the average industrial wage. How the blazes does that favour higher earners? It does not. This Government intends to push that figure up over the coming budgets.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We can debate that issue when we deal with the Report Stage of the Finance Bill later today.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We dealt with the section yesterday and the Opposition voted against the section.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We will take Report Stage today.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Yes, and I will allow people to comment. I will not infringe on anybody's rights so the Cathaoirleach need not worry.

I want to answer some of the points made by my good friends opposite yesterday, and by Senator Cullinane and his colleagues as well. Perhaps Senator Cullinane did not mention it and instead it was his colleagues. I shall leave the issue at that for the moment.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Senator.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Any time.

Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)
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I would like to add my voice to those who were ashamed and horrified by what we saw on the recent RTE "Prime Time" programme. I want to update the Seanad that at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children this morning we decided to invite representatives of the HSE to a meeting next Tuesday to examine care home settings. I am sure all Oireachtas Members are welcome to attend. I advise the House about the meeting because we should have more people debating the issue. Early in the new year the committee plans to meet individuals, organisations and groups on the issue in order to have a wider and more proactive discussion about systemic issues, not just in Áras Attracta, and to provide recommendations and guidance. I would like to see the capacity legislation and advocacy service legislation progressed. I would also like to look at the potential role of the Human Rights and Equality Commissioner and the Ombudsman in order to see where those roles would be appropriate.
I raised the following issue in the Seanad a month ago and know that many Senators concur with my viewpoint on the issue of Childline and its funding. As we approach Christmas its funding situation is becoming more desperate. Childline has conducted a very public fundraising campaign for a vital listening service. The Irish Examinerhas run several articles this week on the importance of Childline's work and added to the voices calling on the Government to find a way to ensure the night service does not close down. Childline's night service is staffed. The majority of Childline's services are provided by volunteers but one cannot expect volunteers who have other jobs to staff the night time service. We also know that night time, by its very nature night time, is made up of the darkest hours. Are we saying that when a child picks up the courage to pick up a phone and say "I need help" that we will respond with "Please call back at a time that better suits us"?
Childline deals with issues of child abuse and neglect but it also deals with everyday issues such as loneliness. I have heard that children have telephoned Childline just to hear an adult be present in their lives. A volunteer told me that one Christmas Day a child rang because he wanted somebody else there when opening a present. Bullying is another issue which we have talked about here in the House. Who is a child supposed to reach out to if he or she is not getting help at home? Who does a child turn to when he or she needs help or guidance? Such children work up the courage to pick up the phone and call Childline.
I ask the Leader to convey to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste the urgency of this issue because the service will close. On previous occasions Senators have come together as a Seanad on the issue of Childline and the missing children's hotline. This is an essential service if we really want to ensure that children's voices are heard and we that we do not say to them to call back at a more convenient time.

David Norris (Independent)
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The word "torture" has been invoked this morning in the case of Irish prisoners and torture was used in Áras Attracta. A much worse condition was discussed in the House and attempts were made to rectify it. I am talking about so-called rendition flights. Members present will recall that I consistently raised the issue. For the first time in history, a special committee of Seanad Éireann was established to investigate it, but it was collapsed as a result of the intervention of Fianna Fáil councillors from Shannon. They were concerned about their jobs, but we now have the proof that it was torture. Diane Feinstein who compiled the report of over 6,000 pages after seven years of considered investigation said it was definitively torture in any meaning of the word, but this was denied to our ambassador. President Obama said, "One of the things that sets us apart from other countries is that when we make mistakes, we admit them." Let us hear it in the case of rendition flights and the bombing of groups of people without warning using drone aircraft, which happens every day. What happened to the rule of law, habeas corpusand the right to a defence for civilians? Americans can just choose who they want to blast off the face of the earth, but these are not the values for which I stand as a western politician. They do not represent the ordinary decent people of Europe, America and the West generally. Despite the fact that the former Polish President, Mr. Kwasniewski, has admitted to the presence of black sites in Poland, our wonderful Department of Justice and Equality has admitted that what it calls a small number of commercially leased aircraft that have been involved in legitimate commercial activity may also have been involved. We know that the Government and the Civil Service are not very good at arithmetic. Is 200 instances a small number of aeroplanes, the registration numbers of which are known? Were there continuous circuits of rendition flights whereby people were delivered to externalised torture sources?
What was the nature of this torture and what were its results? The results so far are completely meaningless. Not one fragment of useful information has been accessed by the CIA as a result of this disgraceful breach of international law. The Republicans have claimed useful information was obtained, but there is not one case among the 20 serious cases examined by Senator Feinstein. They suggested they had obtained information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, but this is another lie, just like the lies told to us by the previous Government and the Department of Justice and Equality.
I invited the President, Michael D Higgins, to a meeting with the then Garda Commissioner. He told us one thing, while the Government told us another and they never reconciled. I made a complaint to the Garda Commissioner and asked for it to be investigated, but gardaí never went on board the aeroplanes, saying there was no evidence. From where do we get the evidence, except on board the aeroplanes? We have the aeroplane numbers and flight plans. Everyone knew and this country was deliberately complicit in the torture, arrest and detention of the people concerned. We know that one person died, having been chained to concrete outside in freezing temperatures. The person responsible should be held up on a charge of murder if we are to believe the American President. One man was in such pain that he chewed off part of his arm. They attempted rectal feeding and, after forced rectal feeding, the recipient of torture tried to chew off his arm.
These are the things we are confronting. Are these western values? Should we not protest? Should we not have a debate at long last?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is way over time.

David Norris (Independent)
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This is an important matter and we should have a debate in the House about our standards. How dare the United States pose as a protector of western standards when it behaves in this utterly shameful, degraded and disgraceful way?

Aideen Hayden (Labour)
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I support Senator Jillian van Turnhout's request that the issue of Childline and its services being available 24-7 be brought to the attention of the Taoiseach.

I bring to the attention of the House the report of the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB. Its rental index shows an increase of 10% in rents in the Dublin area and there is a recognition that rents have been increasing outside Dublin by a significant proportion. This, therefore, is no longer a Dublin problem, as it has extended all over the country. I expected the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill in the House before Christmas, but we have not yet seen it. Where do we stand on it? I welcome the announcement made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, on the additional funding for emergency beds and his guarantee that no one will be without a bed between now and Christmas. He has recognised the importance of protecting people in their homes by extending the tenancy protection service to Cork where it is recognised that it is way beyond an issue for Dublin and surrounding counties only. It is extending to other large urban areas. I would like to have a debate in the House on the issue of rent regulation. As long as rents continue to rise, no matter what the Government does, we will see people being pushed out of their homes because they simply cannot afford to remain within them. I ask for a debate to be held as early as possible in the new year.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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I support Senator Aideen Hayden because we know how serious it is when people are being put out of their homes through the issue of the rise in rents not being dealt with.

I draw the attention of the House to the abuse of power. It is insidious and I see a parallel between the physical and psychological abuse of vulnerable persons at the Áras Attracta centre in County Mayo and the torture of detainees by CIA interrogators. Recent revelations in both cases raise the question of how widespread was the abuse. The CIA used poorly trained, non-vetted personnel and deployed individuals without the relevant training or experience. Detainees were subjected to the most aggressive techniques, stripped naked, diapered, physically struck and put in various painful stress positions for long periods. RTE and "Prime Time" have done us a favour, as has Diane Feinstein, the senior Senator in California and the most senior Senator in the United States. I do not like to mention people's ages, but she is 81 years old, having been born in 1933. I have met her a number of times. She had the courage, as Senator David Norris said, to keep at it and speak out, despite pressure and everyone else being in denial about the treatment of detainees. The United States and Ireland are looking at themselves on both issues. Where are the morals and values of the people concerned? As far as I could see on the television, there were Irish people mistreating vulnerable persons. Where are our national values? If it is supposed to be fabulous in getting the economy back in place, these personal compassionate values are far more important. The Celtic tiger in Ireland drove them out of many. We never heard as much about profit, money and material success as we did then and we are now paying the price. These are serious issues for Ireland and the United States and we need more people with courage to speak out.

John Kelly (Labour)
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In the past few days we have heard in the media about people's right to protest.

I compliment those who protested on Merrion Square, where the protest seemed to be more like a concert. The peaceful nature of the protest resembled protesters who were more or less welcoming water charges. However, on O'Connell Bridge at 2.30 p.m., a few hundred people decided to bring the entire city to a standstill, with the result that people on their way to hospital appointments could not move. At 6 p.m., almost four hours later, I met elderly people accompanied by their grandchildren who could not get home because buses were not running and taxis were not moving. This was outrageous and unacceptable behaviour. When gardaí eventually arrived to move the protestors off the streets, they were spat on by thugs who want to do nothing but create anarchy. Their behaviour was absolutely outrageous.

David Norris (Independent)
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Could the record show that yesterday's protest was completely peaceful, as has been acknowledged by the Garda?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Please allow Senator Kelly to continue without interruption.

David Norris (Independent)
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To characterise the people who peacefully and democratically protested as thugs is ridiculous.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Norris should resume his seat.

John Kelly (Labour)
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Unlike Senator Norris, I was on O'Connell Street yesterday and saw the thugs who wanted nothing other than to cause anarchy in this country.

Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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I congratulate Senator van Turnhout on bringing representatives of the Health Service Executive before the Joint Committee on Health and Children in response to what occurred in the Áras Attracta facility in Swinford. Would that the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection could be so proactive, alive, urgent and relevant. I congratulate the Senator on her achievement.

Two or three weeks ago the House passed an amendment relating to Irish Water, specifically on the issue of not privatising the company. I argued that the legislation in place did not protect Irish Water in any respect and was weak, loose, wayward and thin on protection. The Seanad decided that the legislation should be enshrined in the Constitution on behalf of the people of Ireland and, failing that, it should be tightened up in order that it could never be undermined.

The visitors from Detroit, the most articulate people I have met during the water debacle, provided examples from their city. The history of privatisation in Detroit provides an illustration of what we should not do here. Nothing has happened in the meantime. Where is the great tightening-up legislation that can never be changed in the future? I would like the Minister to come to the House with the Bill under his arm. That is the only thing that would satisfy me.

While I believe people should pay for water, Irish Water should not be privatised, and I will not support the Government in any way in the next six or 12 months if the legislation is not enshrined in the Constitution or rendered immovable. I am putting down a serious marker on the issue. I want to see the legislation, which must be written out. We must have something we can hold onto and that cannot be torn up in the middle of the night, as occurred in the case of the previous legislation on the issue.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I wish success to all of those involved in the talks process in the North. I hope the many issues that have remained unresolved in recent years will be successfully brought to a conclusion in the days before Christmas. I welcome the involvement of the Taoiseach and Prime Minister and hope it will bring much-needed impetus to the talks.

I support Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell's comments on the privatisation of Irish Water. I will not support the Government on Irish Water if there is any doubt about possible privatisation. This issue must be nailed down and watertight in order that the position cannot be changed in the future.

I also want to mention the issue raised by Senator Kelly. A debate should be arranged on how protests are organised, particularly those held during the working week. While I acknowledge and accept the right of anybody to engage in peaceful protest, it is not right that people should be severely discommoded while going about their daily business or trying to get to hospital appointments. Last night, I spoke to a woman who spent an hour and a quarter in a taxi on her way to hospital. The journey cost €45 instead of the normal €15. The taxi driver told her that while he did not like water charges, his income had been severely reduced yesterday. It is not right that people's livelihoods were affected.

Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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On a point of order, none of that would have occurred if the Government had approached the water issue correctly in the first place. Let us not talk rubbish.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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That is not a point of order. The Senator must resume her seat.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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The House should have a debate in the calm of the new year on how protests are organised-----

David Norris (Independent)
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Perhaps we can debate how to get our money back from the German and French banks.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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-----particularly on working days in the capital city.

Feargal Quinn (Independent)
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I add my voice to the comments on Childline. There is little doubt that the service requires attention. Although Childline does not cost much, it may be suspended for a long period next year. The issue could be easily resolved.

The House had a good debate last week on prescription drugs. If figures published in Britain today had been available, the debate would have been even better, especially if the figures correspond to the position in Ireland. They show that half of people in the United Kingdom take a prescription drug every day and one in five British people take free prescription drugs every day. The danger is the lack of certainty about whether the issue can be controlled.

One aspect of the discussion on medicines that the House did not have an opportunity to raise last week was the problem of misprescribing as a result of poor handwriting on prescriptions from doctors, who are not known for good handwriting. In some parts of the world, it is estimated that one in 15 prescriptions is incorrectly dispensed because the medicines are misidentified in the pharmacy. Bar codes have been introduced to avoid this problem. It is worthwhile to draw the Minister's attention to this issue, although I doubt we will have another debate on it so soon after last week's discussion.

On Palestine, I was concerned about a newspaper report mistakenly indicating that last month's Seanad vote on recognition of Palestine was unanimous. Some Senators indicated that we should take the rights of Israel into account and provide some balance on the issue. It is necessary that I confirm this was the case. While the House should by all means identify Palestine as having a right to exist, the Palestinians should identify that Israel also has a right to exist. When one reads about what took place in Northern Ireland and how long it took to reach agreement there - work is still being done on the issue - it serves as a reminder of how difficult it is to reach agreement in disputed areas. Let us ensure we get the balance right.

David Norris (Independent)
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On a point of order, I remind my learned friend Senator Quinn that the Dáil passed a motion recognising Palestine yesterday, when a Palestinian Minister who was peacefully planting trees was murdered by the Israeli military.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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That is not a point of order, as the Senator is well aware. He should resume his seat.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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It is interesting that a number of Government Senators this morning called for a debate on the right to protest. It is not surprising given that over the last two months we have seen three of the biggest protests that have taken place in this State in decades. In October we had the big rally in Dublin, when 100,000 people marched. On 1 November, we had the local and regional rallies, when people in towns, cities and villages came out in their own communities. Yesterday we had a really uplifting rally, with tens of thousands of people coming on a cold night in the middle of the week to march and engage in protest in a very peaceful and family-friendly way.

John Kelly (Labour)
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On O'Connell Street there was havoc. Was that very peaceful?

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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The Government says it is in listening mode. There was, yesterday, a small group of maybe a hundred protesters that had a different agenda and broke away from the Right2Water group. The Right2Water group would condemn the actions of anyone who did not engage in peaceful protest yesterday.

David Norris (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I was at the protest outside Merrion Square. There were music and songs, but that is part of a rally. Rather than talking about the right to protest, what we need from the Government Senators is a call for a debate on the right to water. That is what people were protesting about. They see water as a human right. There are people within the Right2Water campaign who are against water charges. There are people who may not be associated with the Right2Water campaign who have a fear of the services being privatised. However, rather than calling for a debate on protests and whinging about tens of thousands of people marching against the Government, why do the Senators not listen and act? That is what they are here to do. If they did that, they would not have the unprecedented rallies.

Whatever about the numbers yesterday, RTE said 50,000-----

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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Thirty thousand.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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-----and the protesters said 100,000 - it was the biggest midweek rally or mobilisation of people, possibly in decades, in this State. That says a lot about how people feel about this issue. People are energised, mobilised and determined not to allow this or any future Government to privatise our services. There was also a very real anti-water-charges sentiment. The majority of those on the protest want the charges scrapped.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I join with those on all sides of the House who have been calling for extra funding for the Childline service. It is intolerable, in a civilised society, that domestic abuse should take place and for children to be involved. It is such a sensitive issue. This Government has been signalling over the last few months that it has more money in the kitty than in previous years. It is doling it out, particularly coming up to Christmas, by introducing Supplementary Estimates across various Departments. It is incumbent on any Government, but particularly this one, to find the necessary funding to ensure that Childline's night-time service is maintained.

One has only to think of any one child. Let us not talk in multiples, because sometimes a person gets lost in that. Let us talk about just one child, a child the Senators might know, who may or may not be subject to abuse in his or her home. We do not know. I was thinking about those vile people - that is all they are - in Mayo who abused patients with special needs or who are mentally challenged. What sort of attitude do they have to their children in their own homes? We do not know. However, on the evidence of what I saw there, I would have serious concerns. If that is the attitude they adopt towards poor, vulnerable people - if they treat them like animals - perhaps there is something else going on. That is what I kept thinking about, in terms of supporting this view across the House. Senator van Turnhout, of all the Members of this House, is probably the person who is most familiar with and experienced in this because of her background in the Children's Rights Alliance.

It is incumbent on the Deputy Leader to convey to the Government the need to urgently fund the Childline service and to ensure that the night-time service continues. There was a quote from the Taoiseach that was recently used to bolster this argument. He spoke about cherishing all the children of the nation equally, paraphrasing the Proclamation of 1916. There is no excuse for this from a Government that has an extra €2 billion as a result of the EUROSTAT statistics being changed over the last couple of months. There is an extra €2 billion in real money.

One Childline worker said on the radio earlier this week that the Government could find a couple of million euros for the museums of this country but could not find a measly few thousand euros for the children of this country. I am not sure that I would necessarily agree with the parallel she drew, because it is important that our cultural institutions are funded properly. However, this is not the old argument of either-or. It is not a case of saying we could build more schools and more hospitals if we were to take money away from some other sector. That is not the way the Government works. There is a need. I ask the Deputy Leader to address this issue.

I support Senator Quinn in the comments he made about the need for balance in debates on the Middle East in this House. It is not all about Palestine being good and Israel being bad. An indication, perhaps, is the interventions of Senator Norris. He is the very man who would defend the right of people to express their opinions freely outside this House. He should also adopt the view that they are entitled to express their opinions within this House.

David Norris (Independent)
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Can I confirm that I completely accept people's right to express their opinions? However, I reserve the right to correct them when they are wrong.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Norris will resume his seat.

David Norris (Independent)
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It was unanimously passed because there was no vote called. Nobody's conscience troubled them to such an extent that they called for a vote. It went through unanimously.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I ask Senator Norris to respect the Chair and the House.

David Norris (Independent)
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I beg the Chair's pardon. I respect the Chair very deeply.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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The first thing I would like to do is to support Senator van Turnhout with respect to Childline. Last week I said here that because of the teachers' strike there was €4.81 million sitting in the Department of Education which would not now be paid to teachers. I asked that it be diverted to the homeless. That has not happened. We talk about cherishing our children. Our record is abysmal when we talk about looking after our children. We have cut guidance counselling services in schools. Children in a state of crisis in schools now have nobody to turn to. Principals' offices are dominated by children self-harming and children with all sorts of psychological problems. I ask that we look seriously at that zero-sum option of moving €4.81 million over to Childline. If we cannot give it to anyone else, let us do that.

I rise today in support of Senator Hayden's criticism of the private rental accommodation system in this country. Rent in Dublin is increasing at a rate of 10% per year. Rent throughout the remainder of the country is increasing at a rate of 5.6%. In Ireland, the animal instincts of capitalism are alive and well and they are sucking the life and soul out of this country. There are screams every day of the week for the cap in the rent supplement to be increased. Why would we increase that to make fat cats fatter?

David Norris (Independent)
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Exactly.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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It is my view that we must immediately have a debate in this House with the Minister responsible and demand that we have not just a cap on rental income but a cap that reduces rental income by 10% in order to bring it back to a liveable state. I am putting the House on notice that I will call for an amendment to the Order of Business next Wednesday. That is giving plenty of time. If the Minister is not brought here before then, I will seek an amendment to the Order of Business so that we can debate rental income. I am sick and tired of hearing that we are waiting for a report from this organisation or that organisation. There are people out there who are struggling, and please do not tell me we are going to make everybody happy for Christmas. Christmas is one bloody day of the year. Think about the rest of the year, when people are lying on streets and families are being kicked out of bed and breakfast accommodation and told not to come back until eight o'clock at night. It is simply not good enough. I ask the Leader to bring that request to the relevant Minister and see if we can organise something before Wednesday.

Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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Senator Craughwell will have great support.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I rise today for two reasons. The first one is, funnily enough, in agreement with Senator Norris.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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Is that funny ha-ha or funny strange?

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I am a Clare Senator but I do believe flights should be inspected. We should have the confidence in ourselves, as an independent sovereign State, to be able to tell any of our international visitors, whether they are friendly nations or not, that we are going to inspect their planes.

David Norris (Independent)
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Well said.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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While of course we take people's word on things, we must have proper checks and balances. I always have made that point and as a member of Clare County Council, I tabled a motion to that effect. Although I lost that motion, I felt I had done the right thing.

David Norris (Independent)
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Good man.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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That is what is important in politics.

Second, Christmas is coming and the Seanad has discussed homelessness and various other challenges many citizens face. However, another group in society in Ireland are those people in direct provision who will spend a further Christmas in that system as a result of Government inaction. I sincerely hope this will be the last Christmas in which people will suffer in direct provision centres. However, those people who run the direct provision centres will have a great Christmas because recent media reports suggest they are making an absolute fortune. I ask the Deputy Leader to request the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, to carry out an investigation to ascertain exactly the degree or level of profits these concerned are making. Much has been privatised with which I do not agree and for example, I refer to the shambolic mess that was made of privatising Eircom. However, privatising the treatment of human beings is a completely different matter. I believe the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, must be brought back into this House after Christmas to find out what progress he has made in dealing with the absolute obscenity that is direct provision.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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First, I thank colleagues present, starting with the Cathaoirleach, who attended the awarding of the inaugural Human Life, Human Rights, Human Dignity award by the Ceann Comhairle this morning. Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow and Mary's Meals were worthy recipients of that award and Members nominated them because of the fantastic work they are doing in 13 countries in the developing world. They provide more than 920,000 daily meals in a school setting to severely impoverished children. Feeding a child in a school setting will both encourage the parents to send the child to school and will help the child to do better at school. Hopefully, this then will give him or her a gateway out of extreme poverty. Members rightly talk about the challenges our own country faces at this time and rightly celebrate the great people who are doing so much with the homeless and in other areas at this time. Moreover, they rightly deplore the wrongs inflicted on vulnerable members of society, as has been seen in recent days. However, one must never forget that so many problems are global and the need to show human solidarity is a global need. That is why the Human Dignity Group honoured Mary's Meals today and I thank colleagues for their great support for this inaugural award and hopefully, it was the first of many such awards that will be given from the Human Dignity Group in this House.

I spoke briefly in the debate last night about the terrible revelations in Áras Attracta, Swinford. One irony I noted was that Swinford is one place in which families who have children affected by autism are discovering the potential of the rapid prompting method, RPM. This method has enabled children with autism to communicate their feelings for the first time, which is a really liberating experience. Most of what one saw happen in Áras Attracta would not have happened had people been in a position to communicate effectively with their families. Sadly, that is not always possible but in the case of children and adults who can now express their thoughts through RPM to perhaps communicate the terror they once endured because they were treated as having lower cognition when they had not, the State needs to support and encourage this and to provide resources in this regard. I know Seosamh Ó Láimhín, a young man who is affected by autism who is not in Áras Attracta. However, when asked recently how he felt before he could express himself through RPM, he spelled the word "terrified" on the computer. When asked how he feels now that he can express itself, he uses the word "liberated". It is similarly hard to imagine what residents in Áras Attracta must have felt and as a society, we must work hard to restore ethical non-oppressive care in the treatment of persons with severe intellectual disability and in care homes. I wished to note again in this forum, as I did last night, the irony that the investigation has taken place in the same town in which families are pioneering a new and positive approach. I hope the Department of Education and Skills and the Health Service Executive will take on board the potential of RPM.

Finally, I support Senator Conway's comments on direct provision. It appears to me as though people undoubtedly are profiteering on a large scale. I have no problem with people making profits but it must not be at the expense of there being a high equivalent standard across the country for any person or family who is in the direct provision system. As long as the State is paying, whether directly providing the facilities or paying others to do so, one cannot be without a minimum set of required standards that would include things like families and people having access to their own door key in order that they have their own quarters and are not forced or confined to be living with people for indefinite periods or to be in the same room with people they do not even know. This of course is all the more important where people have suffered abuse or some kind of other trauma in the past. Similarly, parents must be able to cook a meal for their children. There needs to be space for recreation-----

Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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On a point of order, I suggest the Senator would start with the banks because they have taken the front door key from half of the country.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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That is not a point of order.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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----- and it must be provided in a consistent way nationwide.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator, you are way over time.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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The time when one could lump people into a hotel in the middle of nowhere and subject them to sub-standard conditions should be long past.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator, you are way over time.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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I apologise to the Deputy Leader for being unable to be present for the statements on the care home yesterday evening. My one question, which the Deputy Leader might put to the Minister as something that would form part of any inquiry, is to establish in some way why staff acted like that. It is unbelievable that so many coalesced in that and as to why the staff acted like that, I heard someone on "Morning Ireland" suggest they simply were there for too long. However, feedback in this respect will be important to ensure this culture will never be repeated. The question on everyone's mind at present is, in how many other places is this going on? I was really pleased to hear the Ombudsman, Mr. Tyndall, speaking on radio this morning. He has a huge amount to offer this country-----

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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----- and with the experience he is bringing is an amazing man. However, it really has touched me that at present, there is no one to check any private health establishment in Ireland, including private hospitals and private nursing homes. I have approached the Ombudsman about something else in this area over which he had no remit. He has come back with a different slant this morning and I would like to know more about it. Will the Deputy Leader follow up on this? I cannot emphasise how important this is and have found it difficult to speak on it. The issue of what happened at St. Attracta's home, Swinford, has silenced me.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It is Áras Attracta.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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Áras Attracta, gabh mo leithscéal. The Deputy Leader is dead right as it is important to be correct.

Finally, I note the Cathaoirleach was present this morning and I wish to compliment Senator Mullen on the fine job he did and the experience he brought to Members this morning in telling them about Mary's Meals.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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To be honest, I was deeply touched by it and I hope to be able to do something for this in Galway in the future. It is about human dignity and is about human rights in action. It is about a meal a day and with a breakfast being the route from poverty into education to freedom. I say well done to the Senator.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Out of courtesy, I will of course respond to everybody who raised an issue on the Order of Business but in recent days, it has been striking me how frequently people come into the Order of Business, speak and then leave. Both the Leader and I have been responding consistently to everyone who speaks but I am conscious that this is extremely tedious for the few Members who remain to hear the response to their contribution and who must also sit through responses to comments, statements, questions and so on made by people who are not present. I wish to put that on record because I have noticed it as a particular feature in recent weeks. I do not believe this to be courteous to the Leader, whoever may be standing here as Leader.

Senator Daly spoke about the talks that are commencing in Belfast today. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have travelled to Belfast, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is returning early from China and of course, Prime Minister Cameron, Secretary of State Villiers and so on also will attend. All Members will join in wishing all the parties to the talks well-----

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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----- and in hoping they will make progress in particular on the three issues Senator Daly mentioned, namely, on flags, on parades and on the past. Senator Daly also raised a number of other issues and I am sure there will be quite a range of issues discussed under those headings and beyond that as part of the talks. However, as all Members are aware, matters are at a critical point in respect of seeing the continuation of the Stormont institutions and it is critical that those talks proceed smoothly and achieve a resolution. In common with Senator Daly, I already have welcomed the Government decision on the hooded men case. I note it was responding to the European Court of Human Rights, not the European Union court and one should be careful in this regard.

I will pass over the Senator's range of other comments on the Government, given that there was a certain degree of selective amnesia in that regard.

Senator Paul Coghlan referred to the Belfast talks and wished all parties involved well. He has also pointed out that up to now agreement has alluded them and we very much hope this will change.

The Senator also spoke about the Finance Bill. As we will be debating the Bill today, I will not come on it further.

Senator Jillian van Turnhout spoke about the "Prime Time" programme on Áras Attracta and commented on the debate last night with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. She also informed the House, for which I thank her, that representatives of the HSE would appear before the Joint Committee on Health and Children next Tuesday to debate the issue and reminded us that any Member of either House could attend such a committee hearing. I welcome the news that the committee will be taking up the issue. As stated by the Senator, these are systemic issues. A number of issues arise from the "Prime Time" programme. One of interest to me as a member of the justice committee is the capacity legislation, on which that committee conducted hearings and published a report some time ago. I will seek an update on its progress, as it seems to be stuck somewhere in the system.

The Senator also raised the issue of funding for Childline, on which she was supported by many colleagues. She has pointed out that there is a real danger that the night service Childline offers may be closed and reminded us of the poignant and sad stories of children who seek the support of Childline at night and how important it is that they receive that support. She asked that I raise the issue with the Government and I will be happy to do so. Given the level of support across the House, I am happy to work with her in drafting a motion to which the Seanad as a whole could sign up. That would give more strength to the issue than my writing to the Taoiseach about it. Perhaps we might in short course get together to draft such a motion with a view to sending it to the Government early next week. As stated by the Senator, there is a precedent in this regard in the case of other issues. It would show the real strength of the Seanad if we were to put forth a cross-party motion on the issue.

Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)
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I will circulate it.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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The Senator might circulate the wording by e-mail and the group leaders could then check to ensure their members sign up to it.

Senator David Norris raised the issue of the brutal interrogation techniques used by the CIA, as revealed by Senator Diane Feinstein in her report for the Senate Intelligence Committee. I am sure we all commend the Senator for her painstaking work in what was a rigorous examination. Like others, I read the details and reports on it with great interest and real horror in the context of the practices carried out which were so graphically described by Senator David Norris with his customary elegance. In that context, he has been raising the issue of rendition flights for some time and I support his call for a debate on the matter. We might, perhaps, debate Senator Feinstein's report in the new year. I also suggest to the Senator who is a member of the foreign affairs committee that this would be an appropriate topic on which that committee could conduct an investigation.

Senator Aideen Hayden supported Senator Jillian van Turnhout on the Childline issue and also called for a debate on rent regulation in the light of the PRTB rental index report published toda which notes a 10% increase in rents in the Dublin area. I will seek a debate on the issue of rent regulation, which would be an important debate to have and which was also sought by Senator Gerard P. Craughwell. I will seek to have the Minister come to the House as soon as possible.

Senator Aideen Hayden also welcomed the announcements made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, on homelessness, in particular the 20 actions on homelessness identified and the sum of €20 million plus which was signed off on this week by the Cabinet. Other Senators asked about expenditure on homelessness measures. In this regard, it is important to point out that the Cabinet approved a sum of €20 million plus this week which will be spent on, among other things, the immediate provision of 260 additional emergency beds for persons sleeping rough in Dublin and a night café. This is welcome. It is a hugely important innovation designed to provide a contact point for homeless persons who do not want to be placed in emergency accommodation or for whom such accommodation is not suitable. The night café will provide them with a point of contact and access to meals, showers and so on.

Senator Mary White also supported the call made by Senator Aideen Hayden for a debate on rents and pointed to the connections between the revelations this week about Áras Attracta and the abuse of detainees, the link being the abuse of power. I agree with Senator Mary White in that regard. I, too, have raised the issue in the context of the detention of persons in prisons. Thankfully, there have been some improvements in prison conditions in Ireland. However, as shown in the case of Áras Attracta, the appalling treatment of persons in institutions of confinement continues.

Senator John Kelly spoke about the protests which took place yesterday. Like him, I, too, compliment and commend all those who came out to engage in peaceful protest. The atmosphere on Merrion Square appeared to be festival-like and was referred to as uplifting. As acknowledged by the Right2Water organisers, small breakaway groups did engage in unfortunate and intimidatory tactics. While I did not witness this, I had visitors who told me they had been intimidated. Senator John Kelly pointed that anyone who found himself or herself on O'Connell Street yesterday had felt this too, which was unfortunate. It certainly did no service to the 30,000 who engaged in peaceful protest. We all wish well the garda who was injured amid the small breakaway protest.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell congratulated Senator Jillian van Turnhout in having the Áras Attracta issue debated by the Joint Committee on Health and Children. I will not comment on her remarks about the education committee, of which I am not a member.

Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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I am.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Any matter relating to committees should be taken up-----

Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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It has been. I was reiterating what I had said at the committee.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I thank the Senator. The Senator also referred to the issue of water services and public ownership of same. The Water Services Bill, the debate on which in the Dáil is due to finish today and which is due to be brought before this House on Monday, contains provisions on the need to hold a plebiscite to ensure Irish Water remains in public ownership. All of us in the Seanad are steadfast in our commitment to ensure it will remain in public ownership. We will have a full debate on the issue next week.

Senator Michael Mullins expressed his good wishes to all those involved in the Belfast talks. He also spoke about the traffic disruptions during yesterday's protest. There is no doubt that there were disruptions to traffic, leading to frustration for those who were trying to get home and collect children from crèches. There is always a balance to be struck in respect of the right to protest.

Senator Feargal Quinn also spoke about the Childline issue, as well as the issue of prescription drugs. I was not aware of some of the figures he highlighted. I was shocked by the statistics for the high levels of prescription drug usage in Britain. The Senator also spoke about the consequences of the poor handwriting of doctors, of which many of us are aware. As stated by him, it can have unfortunate consequences.

The Senator also referred to the motion on Palestine. Earlier this week I welcomed the decision of the Dáil that the Government would support the motion recognising the state of Palestine, which was really important. We are seeing momentum across Europe, with other EU countries doing the same.

Senator David Cullinane also spoke about the protest yesterday. I have dealt with that issue. As I said, we will have a full debate on water services next week when the legislation is brought before the House.

Senator Paschal Mooney also raised the Childline issue and referred to the allegations and revelations at Áras Attracta. It is worth noting that a number of staff have been suspended and that there may well be referrals to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I understand some may be under way. We must, therefore, be careful about what we say when matters are-----

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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My focus was on Childline. I ask the Deputy Leader not to divert.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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The Senator also spoke about the Áras Attracta issue; I am only trying to be fair.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I did so in highlighting the Childline issue. I hope the Deputy Leader will raise the issue of additional funding with the Government.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Ivana Bacik to continue, without interruption.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I have given a full response on the issue of Childline. I suggested to Senator Jillian van Turnhout that we might draft a cross-party motion which we could convey to the Government.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I am asking the Deputy Leader to make direct contact with the Government on the issue.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I will do that, too.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy Leader is very good at informing Members about what she does.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Ivana Bacik to continue, without interruption.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Senator Paschal Mooney will be aware, because I have written to him previously, that I do follow up on matters raised.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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Yes. I have every faith in the Deputy Leader doing what she said she would do.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I thank the Senator. I will certainly write to the Taoiseach. I also believe a cross-party motion would carry more weight.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell raised the issue of additional funding to tackle homelessness, a matter about which I have spoken. He also spoke about the need for additional funding for Childline, an issue, again, to which I have responded.

The Senator also supported the calls for a debate on the issue of rent regulation. I will seek to have that debate held in early course. The legislative schedule for the Seanad next week is full. Senators will note that the House will sit next Monday and may well sit next Friday in order to get that legislation through. Bearing this in mind, I do not wish to make promises today that I will not be able to keep. I will, however, seek to have the Minister come to the House for a debate on the issue of rent regulation, which debate, as Members will be aware, my colleague, Senator Aideen Hayden, has been calling for for some time.

Senator Martin Conway raised the issue of rendition flights and supported the remarks made by Senator David Norris in that regard. He also raised the issue of direct provision. I do not think anybody mentioned the fact that the Human Rights and Equality Commission had published a useful set of recommendations for improvements to the system of direct provision and asked that they inform the work of the working group on direct provision established by the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, and the Minister of State, Áodhan Ó Ríordáin.

The Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, spoke on this issue in the House. Some of the recommendations include that direct provision centres would become self-catering. I think that is of major importance, having visited centres. I think we are all conscious that one of the key issues is that people are not able to cook for themselves. One may have a door key to one's accommodation but not being able to cook is really problematic, especially for families with children. I support Senator Conway's call for the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, to come to this House in January to give us an update on the working group's progress. Our debate would be informed by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission's recommendations on direct provision.

Senator Rónán Mullen referred to the award given to an organisation called Mary's Meals. All of us would commend the work of these charities in encouraging education and lifting people out of poverty. I agree with Senator Mullen on the need for human solidarity across the developing world and that we just do not focus on our own problems at home. Earlier this week I spoke of Comhlámh, having launched one of its funds, and the great work it does in supporting the many volunteers, about 2,000 a year from Ireland, who go to work in developing countries.

Senator Mullen also raised the case of the residents in Áras Attracta and pointed out the irony that in the same town, Swinford, there are families pioneering a new approach on autism. Senator Healy Eames raised questions on Áras Attracta and praised Mr. Peter Tyndall, the Ombudsman. I also heard Mr. Tyndall speak this morning and was very impressed by him. It is important that following the "Prime Time" programme, anyone who is aware of abuse in other institutions would make them known to the Ombudsman. That has been highlighted over the week. If there can be any positive outcome, we could hope that more revelations will be brought forward.