Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to adjourn not later than 3 p.m. if not previously concluded, with contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes; and No. 2, Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2015. This is a Fianna Fáil slot and the party proposes to take Committee, Report and Final Stages of the Bill. I am sure if we were taking those Stages on this side, there would be many objections about us taking all Stages in one day.

David Norris (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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If the Leader allowed time, there would be no problem.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I will accede to the request and I hope Fianna Fáil Members will consider it when I put something similar forward and will not be jumping up and down about it.

David Norris (Independent)
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The inconsistency is well spotted.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Bill is to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude no later than 6 p.m. The final matter on the Order of Business is No. 3, Minerals Development Bill 2015 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 6 p.m. and to adjourn not later than 7 p.m. if not previously concluded.

Due to the State funeral and as a mark of respect to the family and Garda colleagues of the late Garda Anthony Golden, the Seanad will not meet tomorrow.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I accept the Order of Business and note the Leader's comments regarding time. If Senators were given more time to discuss our Bill, we would have taken Report and Final Stages next week. I am sure the Leader chose not to accede to the request. As such, he is partly responsible for Committee and Remaining Stages being taken together. We have no choice in the matter.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I was not asked.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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We will remember that in future. Sometimes there is nothing more consistent than inconsistency.

The Leader's recommendation that the House should not sit tomorrow as a mark of respect to Garda Tony Golden - whose State funeral will be held at noon tomorrow - is appropriate. Garda Golden sacrificed his life for his country and it is in order that this House and the Lower House should not sit tomorrow and that those Members who are available to attend the State funeral do so. Those who are not able to attend will remember Garda Golden tomorrow.

Yesterday's budget was aspirational and geared towards a November general election. It was a manifesto of sorts without much content. Senators will be amazed to learn what will not take place as a result of the budget. If I was giving advice to the Taoiseach, I would tell him to run because this budget will unravel in the next few weeks when people see exactly what is in it.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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Is Senator Leyden being serious?

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Yes, I am being very serious.

I ask the Leader if he will ask the Ministers for Social Protection, Health and Children and Youth Affairs to come before the House to explain exactly what budget 2016 will mean for their Departments. One of the clearest examples I can give is the weekly increase of €3 in the old age pension. That amount is a pittance and it would not allow a person buy three quarters of a pint of Guinness in one of the cheapest pubs in Ireland.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Is the Senator referring to his pub?

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The increase amounts to €156 per annum. Senators should bear in mind that €1,200 per annum has been taken from pensioners through the removal of free telephone allowance and other allowances.

On child care, the expansion of the early childhood care and education scheme is not what it seems because the scheme only applies for three hours per day and 38 weeks of the year. This measure is completely unsatisfactory as it will not suit single parents or anyone else. It is a fraud. The announcement regarding the National Asset Management Agency is only one side of the coin.

The other blatant issue is the free medical cards that will be provided to children aged between six and 12 years. The Government did not engage in negotiations on the issue with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO. I recall that the current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly, was president of the IMO when a Fianna Fáil-led Government introduced a free medical card for people aged over 70 years. He ground down that Government by securing gold-plated medical cards and ensured that it paid for its decision to make an announcement before negotiations had taken place. The current Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, will not be in situto implement the decision on medical cards. He stated yesterday that implementation will be subject to negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation. The IMO will screw the next Minister, as Dr. James Reilly screwed the then Fianna Fáil Government. That is my warning on this matter. This budget will collapse because-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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At this stage, the only advantage for the Government would be to go before people and discover the truth.

Migrant Syrians on Europe's borders are in dire straits and are looking to Ireland. We are supposed to accept 4,000 of them, yet we cannot look after Travellers who are living at the side of the road. It is expected that we will take 4,000 migrants from Syria. I would advise those migrants to go to Germany, Sweden or another country because this Government is incapable of looking after its own. How in hell would it be capable of looking after migrants?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I find so much of Senator Leyden's contribution disagreeable that I do not even know where to begin. I will leave it to the Leader to respond. It was dreadful to see the opposition to the site provided by the local authority - on behalf of the State - to the families who were horrifically bereaved at the weekend in Carrickmines. It was despicable to see people obstructing the provision of temporary accommodation to those families. The Government, notably through the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, made clear its view on the actions of those who blocked the provision of temporary accommodation for the unfortunate families concerned.

I thank the Leader for his indication regarding the cancellation of tomorrow's sitting and the State funeral of Garda Golden. I also welcome in respect of today's business that the House will take Second Stage of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill after the Order of Business. This long-awaited and welcome legislation made agonisingly slow progress through various stages of drafting under the previous Government. I welcome the fact that it will finally come before the House today in line with long-standing Labour Party policy and with the full agreement of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

I remind Senators that I introduced a Climate Protection Bill in 2007 in Private Members' time. The Seanad was the first House to debate climate protection legislation. It is welcome that climate legislation will be debated later today when we will be joined in the House by members of Friends of the Earth and others.

Yesterday's budget included some welcome announcements setting out the Government's prioritisation of education and child care. While I accept that the House debated the budget last night, I ask for a specific debate on child care. I do so in light of the welcome announcements to increase child benefit and introduce an additional year of the early childhood care and education scheme, which so many of us had sought, and the welcome measure on statutory paternity leave, which marks the first recognition that fathers have a role in the workplace. These are important and progressive steps for child care.

Last week, the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, launched a Labour Party report on child care which recommended not only that we take initiatives such as those taken yesterday but also additional measures to make child care more affordable for parents and professionalise the child care workforce. These are the two additional focuses which must be taken up in any debate on child care. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the issue in recognition of the major advances made in yesterday's budget for families, children and, in particular, working parents, and in view of the need to do more.

I very much welcome yesterday's news, which may have been overlooked because of the budget, that the Taoiseach made a commitment to sign and ratify the Istanbul convention, the Council of Europe's convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality produced a report on domestic violence and sought the ratification of the Istanbul convention. The Government's commitment to do so is very welcome as it is very important in terms of the provision of supports for women who have suffered from domestic or other forms of gender-based violence. It will also bring Ireland up to speed in the context of its international obligations in that area.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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I welcome the statement by Professor John McHale of the National University of Ireland Galway, who is also chairman of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, in which he expressed caution about the budget. The very large increase in corporation tax revenues this year may not recur. The problem in the past was that non-recurring revenues mostly associated with the construction industry became built into the system. It is important to have a divergence of views. One of the things we found at the banking inquiry is that the so-called consensus that existed in the past decade was substantially contrived and that individuals such as Morgan Kelly and David McWilliams were not listened to. Professor John McHale has a very valuable role to play, particularly as the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council was not in place during the period to which I refer.

As I indicated last evening, in recognising that the increase in public expenditure from 2014 to 2016 was 4%, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, stated, the Department of Finance sometimes needs to have the equivalent of a shoebox in which to keep one-off receipts it does not get in the general income stream. As I did recently, I wish to draw the attention of the House to the pupil-teacher ratio. In the Dáil yesterday, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, referred to a 28:1 ratio in primary schools, but the numbers on the website of the Department of Education and Skills indicate that the current ratio is 16.2:1. I am delighted that 2,500 extra teachers will be recruited, reducing the ratio, but wrong numbers that exaggerate the problem appeared in the Minister, Deputy Howlin's speech and are contradicted by the website. We all want smaller class sizes and may be closer to it than we believe. According to data up to 7 July 2015, the ratio in primary schools is 16.2:1 and, in secondary schools, it is 13.9:1. I do not know from where the higher numbers came. They artificially make the situation look bad, which is not the basis on which policy should be made. Yesterday's decision was correct, but the numbers reported to the Dáil need revision.

Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)
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I wish to refer to yesterday's budget announcement, in particular as regards the focus on child care and the investment of €85 million, an excellent first step in supporting children and families with quality and affordable child care. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on child care with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs? Many positive measures were announced yesterday, such as the extension from 38 weeks by 23 weeks of the free preschool year, a €15 million investment in preschools for children with special needs, two weeks of paid paternity leave, €1.3 million for inspections to ensure the quality of our child care and the restoration of the capitation grant to pre-recession levels. There will also be investment of €1.2 million in a fund elsewhere and an increase in child benefit. These important measures will help people to return to work and training and support families. For many, the cost of child care is equivalent to a second mortgage. It is important that we invite the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the House to expand on the question of how he will invest in child care in the next five or six years. This budget is the start of that process and I welcome the measures that the Government has introduced.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to express my sympathies to the families in the Traveller community of those who died tragically early on Saturday morning: Thomas and Sylvia Connors, their children, Jim, Christy and Mary, who was aged just six months, William Lynch, his partner Tara Gilbert, their children, Jodie and Kelsey, and William's brother, Jimmy. Tara was also pregnant with the couple's third child. The relatives of those who died, the whole community in Carrickmines in south County Dublin and people from all over Ireland are devastated and numbed by this enormous loss of life, which saw an entire family taken from us. We cannot fathom the depth of the grief felt by the friends, families and colleagues of those who lost their lives. Images of the smiling families have been printed across every newspaper in recent days, showing how close and happy they were, and truly put into context the enormity of the loss. It is particularly heart breaking for members of the Traveller community, who cherish family connections strongly.

I also wish to express my sincere sympathies to Nicola Golden, her children, Lucy, Alex and Andrew, and the extended family of Garda Tony Golden, in particular his parents, David and Breege, his sister, Mary, and his four brothers. Garda Golden was taken from us in the line of duty in Omeath, County Louth, on Sunday. We were all moved by his bravery. Garda Golden's last act was to help a person in dire need, a woman who was a victim of domestic violence. As a result, he made the ultimate sacrifice, losing his own life. His colleagues cannot speak more highly of him, his dedication to the Garda and his absolute commitment to public service and people in all circumstances. He was known as a true gentleman who showed professionalism in all aspects of his duties. The Golden family deserve every support that we can give while its members try to come to terms with their enormous loss. I wish to extend my sympathy to the Dundrum Garda station and its gardaí, who have helped me with my public meetings on crime, including burglaries. I know how dedicated they are to public service.

Aideen Hayden (Labour)
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I add my voice to those of Senators who have expressed their sympathies for the horrific events in Carrickmines. Some home owners - I emphasise that term - in south County Dublin have effectively stood in the way of temporary accommodation being put in place for the survivors of that tragedy. I was struck by the comments of a representative of Pavee Point when he stated that he had never witnessed such depths of hostility and hate towards his community as he did on that occasion. That says it all. I am a member of the Dublin City Council strategic policy committee, SPC. Wider society must examine its conscience as regards the issue of Traveller accommodation, which goes back decades.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Hear, hear.

Aideen Hayden (Labour)
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This problem has not just been facing society since yesterday.

I welcome today's reports that discussions between members of the Government on rent certainty are ongoing. According to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, his officials will continue their discussions with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, and his Department. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, stated that both parties were committed to finding a way to control rents. A comment that I made in last night's statements on the budget bears repeating: 700 families in Ireland are homeless and living in emergency accommodation. In July, Dublin City Council paid €1.5 million to hotels to accommodate homeless people. Undoubtedly, people and, in particular, families are becoming homeless because they cannot afford rent increases. While my daughter sat on a DART yesterday, she overheard a girl crying to her mother on a mobile telephone because of a €200 increase in her rent. That is a fact, and we must act to stop this situation.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

David Norris (Independent)
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Uncharacteristically, I have nothing to add today except to join with colleagues in extending my sincere sympathy to the family of the garda who was appallingly shot and on the dreadful tragedy of the Traveller family. I would be less quick to judge the residents. The council acted outside its own planning system and did so within an hour and without consultation. It is an awkward situation. My wholehearted sympathy goes to the Traveller family, but the residents expressed their sympathies as well. It is a difficult, intractable human problem. It also shows that the original provisions for the Travellers were completely inappropriate. It was a fire trap. Any photograph that one might see of the area shows that clearly. They were huddled into the most squalid and inappropriate housing. It is humanly understandable that residents put in a situation of something being pushed through as an emergency measure within an hour or two would have some hesitations. It is regrettable. There is a long history of neglect of the Traveller community.I would be reluctant, without further knowledge, to sit in judgment on the residents.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I wish to follow on regarding Travellers and Traveller accommodation. As I speak, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is meeting the Traveller group to try to find a satisfactory resolution to the problem that has arisen. Everybody must examine his conscience. It is an emergency and the families are suffering. Money has been allocated to local authorities for Traveller sites but the delay in selection must be taken on board. The Tánaiste said today that if local authorities needed more money, it would be forthcoming. That is very welcome.

With regard to homelessness, I support the remarks made by Senator Hayden. Addressing this is a priority and we must focus on the methodology. When one considers the expenditure of €1.5 million in July alone, one realises there is false economy. One cannot build houses overnight, however. Even if there is to be a solution involving prefabricated housing, it should be made available on the ground as quickly as possible.

I wished to call for a debate on child care, but this has already been done by two Senators. I look forward to the debate.

As spokesperson on the environment, I believe the most important legislation for the developing world and First World, and for the children of the future, is the legislation that will be passing through the House today at 1 p.m., the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill. I hope it will be passed because we have been waiting for it for quite some time. Today is a good day to mark in the Seanad in this respect.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I pass on my condolences to all the families bereaved in Carrickmines and also the family of Garda Tony Golden. I extend my sympathy to all the families, as other Senators have done.

I am sure there will be many calls by Senators for various Ministers to come to the House to discuss budget 2016. I agree with the Senators who have said the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, should come to the Seanad as a matter of priority to take questions on what is a housing emergency in this State.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday the Government attempted to bribe people with their own money in regard to budget 2016. The hallmark of the Government over the past four and half years has been that the top 20% of income earners in the State have benefited every single time in every single budget by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Yesterday the top 14% of income earners gained approximately €900, while the average worker, on €20,000 or €30,000, gained only a fraction, or one third, of that. In no one's language is that fair, yet that is what has been delivered by the Government.

The property tax will remain, as will water charges. The promised free GP care, which is being rolled out on the basis of age, is not being rolled out on the basis of health need, people's ability to pay or income. Rolling it out according to age is not the way to proceed.

The real tragedy, however, is the housing crisis. How is it that €181 million can be found to give to the people with the deepest pockets in this State? The top 14% of income earners walk away with €181 million while there are people dying on our streets and in dire straits. The Government should listen to Senator Hayden, an authority on this issue. This is a national emergency. I agree with Senator Hayden and am not doing so to play politics. I genuinely believe she is sincere in what she is saying. We do not need to overhear conversations on buses or trains to learn that there is an emergency; it has been evident for a long time. It is about time that this State, all the Government representatives and the Opposition got their act together on this issue and sorted it out. I ask for a debate on housing in the context of what should and could have been in the budget, but was not, to deal with the emergency. If I were to prioritise the invitation of one Minister to the House, it would be the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I am very concerned about Senator Leyden.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator should not be.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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He seems to have had a serious change of heart overnight. I sat with him yesterday in the Chamber watching the budget speech and he seemed very impressed. I just do not know what happened to him overnight. In any case, he seems to have been got at.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I assessed it in depth.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I would like a debate in the next week or ten days with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, on the job creation measures in the budget. All fair-minded people would accept that this budget very much targets job creation and work and attempts to make work pay.

I very much welcome the fact that the universal social charge has been reduced from 7% to 5.5% on earnings between €18,000 and €70,000. This will make a very significant difference to people at work, who have borne the brunt of the cuts and hardship over recent years.

Yesterday, after the budget statement, we noted for the first time in five years a real sense of hope and real concentration on driving the economy forward now that we have exited the bailout and are in a position to start repaying our debts. I very much welcome the fact that the self-employed are at last being respected and treated fairly in this budget. The introduction of the tax credit of €550 for self-employed workers and farmers is very much to be welcomed. It is a start. I hope we will see the self-employed gaining equality in forthcoming budgets.

The transportation sector, which creates very significant employment, got significant relief in the budget with the capping of the tax on transport vehicles at €900 per annum, bringing the rate into line with that in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. I hope we will now see many of the companies that have registered in Northern Ireland registering in the Republic and bringing in much-needed revenue.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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That is not correct. The Senator has got it wrong.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I very much welcome the 7% increase in overseas development aid. Now that our economy is improving, we are ensuring there is an increase in support for the most deprived people in the world. The increase is a start and I hope that, over the coming years, we will reach the target of 0.7% of GDP.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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Like others, I would like to be associated with the words of sympathy on the very tragic death of Garda Golden. By all accounts, he was a man with a big heart. He responded as a garda as he was expected to do, but sadly lost his life. I extend my sympathies to his family on their great loss. I commend Garda Golden on his service to our nation. I extend my sympathy to the families bereaved by all the tragic deaths in Carrickmines.

Yesterday when I commented on the budget, I said there appeared to be a little something for everyone except third level students and their families. I have thought about this since and must reiterate that I am really disappointed there was no move on the student contribution charge of €3,000. Within a few years, all the youths in the Visitors' Gallery will be going to college. Every year during the recession, the charge has increased by €250. It would have been nice to see a small dent in that. I am saying this because the families and students affected are the very ones who were hit by an out-of-control rental sector. There is no rental certainty for our students, including in Galway. Every day I receive a call from a family in trouble in Galway. Individuals tell me they are due to leave their house in January but have five young children, including a baby who is sick. They ask what they should do and I actually say that I do not know. The council has no houses to give them. I knocked on a man's door the other day and asked him how things were and whether there was anything he would like to say. He said he was fine because he had got a house and was finally a homeowner. He said he was saying that because all his friends are in the rental sector.In Galway, we have the largest percentage of people relying on the rental sector in the country. Of our homes, 40% are in the rental sector. Think about how fragile that base is. We have had 10,000 people on the housing list for years in Galway. As such, I support Senator Hayden and others who have been flying this flag for the longest time. Let us start a campaign in the Seanad to get rental certainty for our families and students. Let us do that before this Seanad term expires. I ask the Leader to secure the attendance of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, or whatever Minister is in charge, be it the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. They need to work together on this, because we are talking about expenditure but we are also talking about imagination. A Bill is ready to be brought to the floor of the House to deal with the rental sector and rent certainty. Let us do it.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I need to reply to Senator Cullinane on the budget.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator will be replying to the House.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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Incorrect information is being furnished and it is part of the debate we are having. A married couple with two children on one income of €25,000 will be €1,000 better off as a result of the budget. That is over €21 per week. A married couple with two children earning €55,000 will be €30 per week better off, or €1,500 per annum. That is the reality of the budget. It is about looking after people with young families. That is what this budget did.

I am a bit concerned about Senator Leyden's contribution. While I agree with him that we need to negotiate with GPs, we did not promise to give medical cards to children aged between six and 12. We promised to give GP cards. I will discuss the matter with the Senator after the Order of Business to explain what the difference is.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I know the difference well.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator said we were giving medical cards.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I was in the Department of Health for a longer period than Senator Colm Burke.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Burke without interruption.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I want to correct that. I know exactly what GP cards and medical cards are.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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It is GP cards we are talking about.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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On a GP card, one cannot get free prescriptions.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Allow Senator Burke to speak without interruption, please, Senator Leyden.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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What I am saying to the Senator is that it is an important step in providing health care for our young people and it is all part of our programme to move eventually towards GP cards for people up to 18 years of age.

It is important to note that the budget is a balanced one. I was talking to one person yesterday who is on an old-age pension, as is his wife. He is caring for her because she requires full-time care. He worked out that he will be €1,000 better off because of the increase in the respite grant, the increase in the pension and the increase in the fuel allowance. As a result, he feels that is important for him. It is the first step in trying to restore what we need to provide in terms of assistance to those who are retired and those who need our support otherwise. This is the first step on that road and it is a very important one. If Senator Leyden thinks we can achieve it all in one year, I note that we cannot. This is the first step on the road and there are many more that must be taken to redress what had to be done to deal with the huge growth in expenditure over a short period. We had to pay the price from 2009 on.

Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the measures in the budget. From the point of view of jobs and small businesses, it was a great budget. Every sector of society was positively helped, particularly in the area of health. As Senator Burke mentioned, GP care for the under 12s is a great move. I welcome the extra nurses and extra investment generally in the respite grant and so on.

There are two areas I wish to highlight that should be emphasised in future budgets, or sooner, if the funding becomes available in the short to medium term. Recently, Roy Keane made amusing comments about breastfeeding. It was all very funny, and I did a press release referring to "Keane on breastfeeding" because really we perform very badly in this area. An AIMS Ireland survey found that only 56% of new Irish mothers breastfeed, compared to 80% in the UK and 90% in Scandinavia. Most women cited a lack of support as the reason a lot of them chose to give up trying. I did some research and it seems that we need to have a great deal more emphasis on the supports required by new mothers. For instance, we need lactation consultants in hospitals. It is an area we could do with funding in the medium term.

The other area that needs funding is IVF. Many couples suffer infertility in this country and it is recognised as a disease by the World Health Organization. Even plastic surgery is supported on the public health system in a lot of cases. The €4,000 to €5,000 minimum cost per cycle of IVF is very expensive for couples trying to have a baby. In Belgium, it has been funded since the 1990s and in the UK it has been funded since 2000. In Wales and Scotland, there is an entitlement to two cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS. Now that we are starting to see the economy settle and grow and the worst days are behind us, we must start to invest in things like IVF and breastfeeding. It is a hugely positive thing for babies to be breastfed. While it is not necessarily a matter that is very comfortable to talk about, that may be part of the problem. Certainly, I would like to see an emphasis on these areas.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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There is no question that the budget is rounded, balanced and fair. Like Senator Mullins, I am a little concerned about Senator Terry Leyden this morning. Maybe it is no wonder he is reeling. He is going around in ever-decreasing circles. The budget is about making work pay. There is something in it for everyone right across the board. The Senator should not be smiling. He can read any newspaper he likes this morning and he will get the truth of the matter.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Does Senator Coghlan rely on the papers for opinion?

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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There is a fair and balanced summary in all of the papers this morning and a general welcome.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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It is all a PR exercise.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Senators can read the editorials and anything else they like.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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It is spin.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We are fond of the Senators opposite, but they are codding themselves this morning.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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It is not going to go down well with the Senator's council. Why did the Minister not extend the social welfare provisions to councillors?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Coghlan without interruption.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We will talk to the Senator afterwards, because there is no point in gibberish in here.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Do not forget Abbeydorney.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I agree with Senator Hayden on the situation in Carrickmines and I hope the residents will see their way to accommodating those people in their own area, so to speak, for what is a temporary measure. They have suffered an appalling tragedy.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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Last week, I made reference to a debate in the Seanad on a sports strategy. I also alluded to the fact that the weekend would be bookended with our Irish soccer team playing against Germany in Dublin and our rugby team playing in the Rugby World Cup. We enjoyed the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat on both ends, but sadly the weekend was tainted by the catastrophic fire in Carrickmines, with the loss of ten lives, and the gunning down of Garda Anthony Golden. It really puts into perspective what life is all about. While we had sympathy for those affected in Carrickmines over the weekend, I was disappointed to see neighbours in the same area block the identified site to which some of those affected are to be moved. On the other hand, we saw a perpetrator and a murderer, the thug who was out on bail. This should not be happening in our society. Lives are at stake in rural Ireland, and in Ireland in general, from these thugs who are out on bail.

This weekend we face another weekend of exceptional sport, and I wish the Irish rugby team the very best of luck in the quarter finals against Argentina. It is appropriate to pay tribute to our great captain and leader, Paul O'Connell, whose international career was cut short by a catastrophic hamstring injury. He has made a phenomenal contribution to Irish life through his dedication to Ireland and leadership of the team. When all 15 players step out onto the pitch in Cardiff at the weekend, his loss will be an inspiration to them.We must not forget that tonight another Irish sportsman will be going for gold. We hope that Michael Conlon will become the first Irishman to win a gold medal in the World Boxing Championships.

I will conclude by making some points on the budget. I understand that budgets cannot please people all of the time. I realise that we have very short memories. If Senator Hayden could look back to three, four, five or six years ago, where were we then?

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Hayden might not be happy with Senator Eamonn Coghlan’s comments.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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It is time to give credit where it is due. In that context, I wish to give credit to the Government because it has increased funding for sport by 40%. This is up from the 2015 figure and it will assist with the completion of the national indoor arena at Abbottstown. I say "Well done" to the Government and that it is time to give credit where it is due.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Another slush fund.

Mary Moran (Labour)
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I welcome the budget. One cannot please all of the people all of the time but I believe last night's debate was very well rounded, particularly in the context of the areas for which I am a spokesperson, namely, education and disability. We have greatly improved. One of the most difficult things that occurred since I became a member of the Seanad was the cut to the respite care grant. I have lobbied to have it restored to the full amount of €1,700 and I am delighted that this will be done on foot of the budget. I am also thrilled that €15 million in funding has been provided to facilitate full participation by children with disabilities in the child care scheme. This initiative will really improve access to education for children with disabilities. There is no doubt they should have such access. It was also good to see in the announcement yesterday that there will be a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratios which obtain in primary and post-primary schools. From speaking with school principals in my own area, I know they are delighted with the announcement and also with the confirmation that the schools minor works scheme - the summer works grant - is to be paid in the coming weeks. We realise that this will be a long process but it is a step in the right direction. There will be an additional 2,260 teachers, including 550 posts to support improved guidance counselling, something we have all lobbied the Minister for. I welcome the news of 550 posts for improving managerial structures and guidance counselling. That is a great move. The Christmas bonus is going to be restored to 75% and there will be an increase in the State pension for the first time since 2009.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Mary Moran (Labour)
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There is also the funding for travel, which is great. While there are plenty of pluses, there are other things we would all love to have seen included. However, I think it is a well-rounded budget and that it has something for everybody.

Reference was made to housing. I would welcome a debate on this matter with the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Alan Kelly, and suggest that he be asked to come before the House to engage in such a debate. I would particularly like to discuss a case which I have raised at meetings of my party and which I have tried to raise as a Commencement Matter. I refer to the case of a family which has been struck down in the last few months. They have a young child of four years of age who will have his leg amputated due to bone cancer. His mother is expecting her fourth child. I have made representations since August for immediate consideration of a housing transfer for this family to an adapted unit that would suit its needs. I am still waiting for initial contact to be made with the family in order for someone to assess their situation. I ask the Minister, Deputy Kelly to come before the House to discuss this matter.

John Kelly (Labour)
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Every time Senator Leyden stands up in this House he brings a smile to my face. He might have lost his vocation-----

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I am glad I bring a smile to Senator Kelly's face. The Senator will not have much to smile about next year.

John Kelly (Labour)
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The Senator might be better suited to stand-up comedy since he cannot read a newspaper and does not know what this budget has brought about for people.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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That is nasty. Senator Kelly is jealous because Senator Leyden has a sense of humour.

John Kelly (Labour)
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I campaigned on the issue so I welcome the restoration of the €350 respite care grant. I also welcome the restoration, to 75% , of the Christmas bonus, the extra year for child care and the reductions in universal social charge.

John Kelly (Labour)
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It is a fantastic budget. I was the first person in the Oireachtas to call for the abolition of the universal social charge three or four years ago. At the time, we were told it was here to stay but I am delighted that the process has taken place and that it will eventually be a thing of the past.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Is that Senator Kelly’s election manifesto?

John Kelly (Labour)
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I support what Senator Eamonn Coghlan said with regard to the bail laws in this country. There is something seriously wrong with those laws. If a person has 12 penalty points on his or her driving licence as a result of exceeding the speed limit on a few occasions, he or she is off the road. That is it, there is no room for debate. The killer of Garda Anthony Golden had 70 previous convictions but he was out and about, carrying a gun. There is something seriously wrong when this is allowed to happen. The bail issue must be debated in this House.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Well said.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Hear, hear.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I agree with Senator Kelly’s point on the bail laws. I understand the process relating to proposed legislation has begun but it probably does not go far enough. I join Senator Heffernan and others who paid tribute to Paul O’Connell. He is an iconic Irish sportsperson who hails from Munster. Paul O’Connell epitomises everything that is good about Munster, sport, rugby and Ireland. It is a pity that his international career ended with injury in Cardiff last weekend and that he will not get to see out the Rugby World Cup as captain of our great team. He is not only a great sportsman, Paul O’Connell is also a thorough gentleman. He comes to Lahinch in County Clare on a regular basis. Paul recently purchased a house in the area so I look forward to welcoming him to Lahinch on a much more regular basis, given that he might have a bit more time on his hands.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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He is going to play in France.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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He is a great ambassador for the mid-west and on each occasion he comes to Lahinch he is very generous with his time. He is never shy about having his photograph taken, giving out autographs or chatting with children, villagers or visitors. Sport is losing a consummate gentleman but I know that gentleman will continue to promote everything that is good about Ireland.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I rise to ask the Leader if we could have a debate on commercial rates. Today I met some contractors and had a Commencement Matter debate with the Minister. I also met retailers whose businesses are being closed. One told me that when he visited the local authority to explain that he had difficulty finding money to pay rates, but could keep his business open, he was told to close it. When one visits any village or town in rural Ireland one will see retail space that has been closed. We have to find a way around this problem. There are solutions in the UK and Northern Ireland, from what I understand.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and others who sit in his seat for trying their damnedest at all time to give me speaking time. Yesterday, we had a very important debate on the budget. I was in the Chamber in plenty of time and sat through many presentations by different Members on both sides of the House, but the clock ran out and I never got to speak. Sadly, the Government side will never know how much I was going to praise the budget it produced yesterday, or maybe criticise one or two small points, particularly the provisions relating to lone parents, the low paid, etc. We have to find a way in which democratically elected Members of the House who are not members of groups get an opportunity to voice whatever it is they want to say. It is something that has been a bugbear of mine for some time. I have always appreciated the way the Cathaoirleach has found a way to give me time to speak. Others who have taken the Chair from time to time have done the same, but when the clock runs out that is it. We have to examine the matter.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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In all of the euphoria surrounding the budget, I want to put on the record moneys that should have gone into social housing over the past number of years, particularly during the tenure of this Government. The leader of our party raised the question of homelessness in the other House today and noted that nothing significant had been done about it. In fact, the figures prove there is something radically wrong with the Government's priorities in this regard. There has been a massive fall in funding for local authority housing, voluntary housing co-operatives and private housing grants. In fact, in 2009 the annual figure for local authorities was €670 million, which fell to €88.5 million this year.

When the Government took over in 2011 the figure for local authority housing funding was €189 million, which was down from the previous two-year high of €670 million. During the period of office of the Government, a further reduction took place. The funding decreased drastically from €417 million in 2010 to €189 million in 2011. There were corresponding reductions across the voluntary sector, particularly the voluntary and co-operative housing area, which has proven to be a very significant contributor to the provision of social housing in Ireland, whereby funding of €158 million was reduced to a measly €34 million this year.

They are the realities of the figures facing the Government. The Taoiseach said it is not about money, but despite the spin the Government is putting on how wonderful everything is and the money that is being allocated, if we really want to tackle this serious issue we need to consider the money being made available. If €670 million was provided in 2009 and only €88.5 million has been allocated this year, that has to have an effect on local authority priorities throughout the country in terms of what spending they have to address homelessness. Examining the funding mechanism should be an urgent priority for the Government.

It has been said that the Government is dishing out money left, right and centre. The fact that some people this very night, particularly children, will not have a bed in their own home is a national scandal. According to figures provided by our party leader in the Dáil today, some 50 or 60 people will be made homeless every month. That is happening in modern Ireland, where the spin over the past 24 hours has been about how wonderful everyone in government is and how great things are, and that we should all be down on our knees thanking the Government.

I wish to finish on a somewhat lighter note and endorse the birthday wishes of Senator Heffernan to his mum. We share the same date - I emphasise the word "date". Perhaps she does not know this, but we share the date of 14 October with some very distinguished people, not least Sir Cliff Richard and Éamon de Valera.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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I wish to pay tribute to the contribution to sport made by Paul O'Connell, the captain of the Irish rugby team. He is an exemplary sportsman, known throughout the length and breadth of the entire world, and one whom many young men in this country will try to emulate.

Tomorrow is a day of national mourning for the death of local garda Anthony Golden. I suggest that a book of condolences be opened in every Garda station in the country. Many people would like to express their sympathy to Anthony and his family. Perhaps every regional headquarters could consider opening a book of condolences in his honour.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The acting leader of the Opposition, Senator Leyden, described the budget as aspirational. That is quite true; it is aspirational. We aspired over the past four and half years to secure the recovery on which we have been working in terms of trying to tidy up the mess we inherited. It is to be hoped that will continue to be the aspiration for the next four years.

I refer to items such as the €3 per week extra for old age pensioners, the additional Christmas bonus and the fuel allowance, all of which we will have an opportunity to discuss when we debate the social welfare Bill that will come before the house in the next couple of weeks. People will have ample time to discuss all social welfare issues. I am sure we will have a very constructive debate, as we always do.

Senator Bacik raised a number of matters to which other Members alluded. She referred in particular to temporary Traveller accommodation and the problems that exist in that regard. She noted the strong Government response to those issues yesterday. She also referred to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill, which will come before the House after the Order of Business. I hope we will have a very constructive debate on a Bill that many Members have sought a debate on over the past number of months. She also referred to child care, as did many other Members, and called for a debate on the issue. We will certainly try to bring the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to the House to discuss the matter. She welcomed the signing of the Istanbul Convention on domestic violence, something which is to be welcomed by all right-thinking people.

Senator Barrett referred to John McHale and the caution expressed by the fiscal council on budget provisions. He welcomed the extra 2,260 new teaching posts, including 600 new resource teachers, but questioned the pupil-teacher ratio figures mentioned in the budget speech. I am sure they will be rectified.

Senator Naughton welcomed the child care provisions, especially the €15 million in new funding for children with disabilities, to which Senator Moran also referred.

Senator White and several other Members extended their sympathies to the families of the deceased in Carrickmines and the family of Garda Anthony Golden. All other Members expressed their sympathies on the Order of Business yesterday.I know that some Members were not here yesterday but have conveyed their sympathies today.

I am surprised that Senator White did not welcome the budgetary provisions on inheritance tax, which she was calling for last week. They have been attended to now by the Minister for Finance, and I thought she would refer to that matter this morning.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Her memory is selective.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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She was successful on paternity leave as well.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senators Keane and Hayden referred to Traveller accommodation. I also note Senator Hayden's point on rent certainty and her call for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Kelly, on that matter.

Senator Cullinane also called for a debate on housing. He spoke about people with higher incomes getting a greater benefit from the budget, but he did not mention that we have now taken more than 700,000 people on low incomes out of the universal social charge net. The Government's aim is to get people back to work and assist them in that regard. That is the best policy to take and one in which we are beginning to succeed. Some 125,000 extra jobs have been created since the Government took office.

Senator Mullins welcomed many provisions of the budget, especially those dealing with the self-employed, including the farming community and road haulage contractors. It was costing over €5,000 to tax a truck here compared to €900 in the UK, but that matter has now been rectified by the Minister for Finance.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Well done on that.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Mullins also referred to the increased figure for overseas development aid.

I note the point made by Senator Healy Eames, who was hoping for a reduction in the student contribution. Unfortunately, one cannot do everything in a budget, but hopefully this Government will have another four or five budgets in which to rectify that matter in the coming years.

Senator Colm Burke was probably harsh in explaining to Senator Leyden the difference between a GP visit card and a medical card. I am sure Senator Leyden is fully au faitwith the difference between those cards.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Very au fait.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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However, Senator Burke did point out that it was a fair budget which gave something back to hard-pressed people in middle Ireland. For some years, many Senators have been speaking about that sector.

I note Senator Noone's point on the importance of breastfeeding, as well as her comments on infertility. Hopefully we can have a debate on those issues in the House. Senator Paul Coghlan said the budget was about making work pay. Senator Eamonn Coghlan raised a number of issues, including the bail laws, to which Senators Kelly and Conway also referred. I am informed that a review of bail legislation began today at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. I am sure we will have a discussion in the near future on the serious issue of bail. It is a question that will have to be addressed by the Government as a matter of urgency. The public are crying out for the bail issue to be dealt with. It is an absolute disgrace to see people with 200 or 300 convictions being allowed out on bail. It should not be tolerated, and hopefully it will be attended to.

Senators Eamonn Coghlan, James Heffernan, Martin Conway and Terry Brennan referred to Paul O'Connell. There is no doubt that he is a giant of a man in every respect. We all wish him well and hope he will have a speedy recovery so that his playing days will not be over and he will be playing in France next year. It is appropriate that a Limerick man such as Senator Heffernan would speak about Paul O'Connell. I note his suggestion for a system to honour people such as Paul O'Connell. Perhaps the Senator could table that matter as a Commencement Debate issue. In that way, the appropriate Minister could attend the House to respond on behalf of the Government. It is something that was previously mooted but it might not be a bad idea to have an update on it.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan also mentioned our boxers at the world championships, including Michael Conlan, who is going for gold. Boxers always do us proud in the sporting arena, and we wish them all well. He also welcomed the 40% increase for sport in the budget.

Senator Moran mentioned the budgetary provisions on education and disability. She also welcomed the restoration of the full respite grant, as well as the €15 million extra for children with disabilities attending school.

Senator Kelly welcomed many of the budgetary provisions and spoke about dismantling the universal social charge - the tax that was introduced by Fianna Fáil. Hopefully, a future government will dismantle that tax, which has proven to be very difficult for workers.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of commercial rates, which are a matter for local authorities. Many counties that have undergone valuations by the valuation board have severe difficulties with commercial rates. The Senator is right in that regard, and I will try to facilitate a debate on the matter. Speaking time is agreed on the Order of Business every sitting day and, unfortunately, we cannot change it willy-nilly. It just happens that sometimes Senators cannot get in.

Senator Mooney spoke about the amount of money provided for housing. Some €4.5 billion is available and ready to be spent on housing in the capital plan. That is the amount, so money is not a problem for building. However, getting local authorities up and running and providing plans, even for restoring houses that are boarded up, has proven to be quite difficult. We are beginning to get action in that regard, albeit more slowly than the Government had thought.

This year, additional funding of €17 million has been made available for the homeless in addition to the €50 million already provided. I know that will not solve the problem; it is only a drop in the ocean. Unfortunately, however, one cannot build houses overnight. I know that people do not like to hear it, but it is going to take time. It is very difficult for hard-pressed people who have been made homeless, but we just have to get the housing programme up and running as fast as possible. All barriers that are in the way will have to be removed.

Senator Brennan spoke about the death of Garda Tony Golden and asked for books of condolences to be placed in Garda stations. I am sure that suggestion will be considered by superintendents in the various Garda divisions.