Seanad debates

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

2:30 pm

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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I join in welcoming the French ambassador. As Deputy Leader, I acknowledge the show of unity being displayed by everybody today in absolutely condemning the horrific attacks on Paris last week. They were appallingly brutal attacks on people enjoying sports and cultural life in a great city that is so well known to all of us. It really represents an attack on all of us on our doorstep in Europe. It is an attack on democracy, our way of life, our values and our civilisation. That is perhaps a summary of the sentiments that colleagues expressed today. I join with all of them in such expressions. I also have enormous sympathy and solidarity with the French people and the families of the bereaved and those who are injured. We must also remember those who were bereaved and injured in other attacks on Beirut last week, in which more than 40 people were killed, and the attack on the Russian aeroplane, which killed so many civilians.

It is appropriate that we marked the French attacks with a minute's silence today. I remind colleagues that there is a book of condolences in the French Embassy and I was privileged to be there yesterday, along with Senator van Turnhout and colleagues from the other House, to sign it after it was signed by an tUachtarán, Michael D. Higgins. The President and the Taoiseach have expressed the sympathy and solidarity of the Irish people with the French after this horrific attack.

I agree with colleagues who have asked for a debate in this House on the bigger context and security issues arising from those attacks.I will certainly seek a debate on that issue in early course.

On a more positive note, before I respond to Senators, I wish to again thank colleagues, all of whom, I think, expressed such a warm welcome to our new colleague, Senator Máiría Cahill. I join again in expressing my own fáilte mór to Máiría. She is very welcome here. I welcome her family who are in the Public Gallery. I also welcome the directors of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and One in Four, Ellen O'Malley Dunlop and Maeve Lewis, respectively. We are delighted to have them in the Gallery. We are delighted to have Senator Cahill join us as a member of the Labour Party group of Senators in the Seanad. I know she will make a tremendous contribution here and that she will be a powerful advocate for the rights of victims and survivors of abuse and of violence. She has started already on a very constructive note in that regard.

I again thank all colleagues for their warm welcome and for their lovely words about our new Senator and also about our colleague, Jimmy Harte. I extend a warm welcome to Amy Rose Harte, his daughter, who is in the Gallery. I thank the Harte family for all they have done and all the support they have given all of us. We all very much wish Jimmy Harte a speedy recovery. We hope we will see him soon visiting us again here in the Seanad. I hope he is celebrating the wonderful win, which many of the Senators mentioned, of the Irish team last night in Lansdowne Road and our qualification for the championships. I understand there is also good news from Stormont on the Northern Ireland leaders having reached agreement after two months of negotiations. I hope there is something there for the former Senator Harte and all of us to celebrate.

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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I will now turn to the issues raised by colleagues. Senator Darragh O'Brien welcomed Senator Cahill and sought a debate on the Paris attacks. I would be happy to facilitate such a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality, which he and other Senators sought.

Senator Jim D'Arcy raised the same issues and spoke of how the universal becomes local. That is very true. I think all of us know somebody who was caught in the horrific attacks in Paris. Senator D'Arcy spoke of the Irish couple caught in the attacks on the Bataclan concert venue, Katie Healy and David Nolan. We all wish, in particular, Mr. Nolan a speedy recovery. Clearly, people who have been involved in these attacks will have been hugely affected by them, even if they escaped with no physical injury, and that must be remembered also. Senator van Turnhout also spoke about the issue of the Paris attacks and expressed her condemnation of them.

Senator Norris spoke about the issue of Seanad reform. This House is united on the need for reform of the Seanad and we have had many debates on that over the last few years.

Photo of Gerard CraughwellGerard Craughwell (Independent)
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It is great to see a start.

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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Senator Norris also raised the issue of media reportage of allegations about a former Minister last week, on which a number of Senators spoke. I absolutely agree with Senator Norris and share his concern about the way in which this story came into the public domain at such an early stage of a Garda investigation and apparently before an investigation is properly commenced. I share Senator Norris's sentiments on that. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes it an offence for a serving garda to disclose information in certain circumstances. Clearly, there are already investigations into how this information came into the public domain and those investigations should run their course but, clearly, any breach of due process must be very much condemned.

Senator Hayden welcomed Senator Cahill and condemned the Paris attacks and pointed out the need for balance. I agree with her that those refugees who are fleeing Syria are fleeing ISIS and fleeing terrible brutality and atrocity there, and they should not be scapegoated in the response to the horrific attacks in Paris.

Senator O'Donovan spoke about the Parish attacks. He shared Senator Norris's sentiments on the issue of the smear campaign in the media reportage. The investigations, in particular by Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, into this incident must run their course. Senator Naughton welcomed Senator Cahill and also spoke about the Paris attacks. Senator Barrett commented similarly.

Senator Moloney also commented similarly. She noted the drop in unemployment to 8.9%, which is very welcome and positive news. This is the first time the rate has fallen below 9% since December 2008.

Senator Cullinane expressed his welcome for Senator Cahill and remembered our colleague, the former Senator Harte. He pointed out that Islamic groups in Ireland have condemned the Parish attacks, which is an important point. An article in today's edition of the Irish Independent by my Trinity College colleague, Dr. Neville Cox, points out that this is not about Islam, that this is a twisted ideology that led to those attacks.

Senator Conway congratulated Senator Cahill on her election to the Seanad and also spoke about the Paris attacks. Senator Wilson commented similarly. He also referred to the Bill on Seanad reform which apparently Fianna Fáil will put before us next week in its Private Members' time and in particular on reforming the process for filling the casual vacancy through a by-election. I should remind Senator Wilson that Fianna Fáil had 14 years to carry out Seanad reform.

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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It is a very complicated Bill, very complex.

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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If I may be allowed to make that point, clearly, we all await the Bill with great interest. I thank the Senator for informing me about it.

Senator Landy welcomed Senator Cahill and mentioned the Paris attacks. He also noted the school programme announced just today and commended the Minister, Deputy Jan O' Sullivan, on her commitment to ending the practice of housing schoolchildren in prefabs. We all very much welcome that and the extensive building programme, which will ensure proper facilities for all children.

Senators Mullen and Mullins welcomed Senator Cahill and referred to the Paris attacks. Senator Ó Clochartaigh also welcomed Senator Cahill and referred to the Paris attacks. He asked specifically when the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill will be before us. I can give the Senator a very clear answer that Second Stage will be taken in this House on 1 December. Colleagues will welcome that development.

Senator Catherine Noone welcomed Senator Cahill and condemned the Paris attacks. She noted the school programme and the good news in that respect. Senator Bradford also welcomed Senator Cahill and condemned the Paris attacks. Senator Burke did so also and welcomed the drop in unemployment.

Senator Craughwell referred to Seanad reform. I responded on that already. He welcomed Senator Cahill and mentioned the Paris attacks. Senator Coghlan referred to the same issues and also noted that we have two football teams on this island. We will have to await the draw for the championships. Senator Heffernan welcomed Senator Cahill and mentioned the Paris attacks.

I thank Senator Cahill for her words. She is very welcome. As she said, she carries on a very noble tradition of Northern Ireland representation in the Seanad. We all very much appreciate that. Specifically on her point on the sexual offences Bill, I am very hopeful that Committee Stage will be taken in the Seanad in very short course, in a number of weeks' time. A number of amendments have been proposed by a number of Senators and the Minister is considering them at present. Our colleagues in the Visitors Gallery will very much welcome Committee Stage. The Bill was initiated in the Seanad and we are very hopeful that it will be passed into law in the lifetime of the Government.

On such a sombre day, it is really welcome that we have such a display of unity in the face of the horrific Paris attacks. I thank the French ambassador for being here with us. On her first day here, Senator Cahill should note it is not normal for Senators to be so united that the business would send a child to sleep. I am sure that will change over the coming weeks.

Order of Business agreed to.