Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Seanadóir Murnane-O'Connor.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Beidh ceithre nóiméad ag an mbeirt agaibh.

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an Taoiseach agus, ar son Sheanadóirí Fhianna Fáil, gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis as ucht teacht anseo inniu chun labhairt linn.

I wish to address the Taoiseach on two issues, namely, Seanad reform and Brexit. After over a dozen reports on Seanad reform, it is now incumbent on the Taoiseach and the Government to meaningfully engage with the Seanad reform process. Fianna Fáil supports the Seanad 2016 Bill which implements the Manning report on Seanad reform. The Bill is in keeping with our explicit commitments in our manifesto, An Ireland for All. Fianna Fáil was the only parliamentary party to oppose the abolition of the Seanad in 2013 and to set out detailed reform proposals at that time. While affirming the importance and value of the Upper House, Fianna Fáil recognises the need for expansive reform in the Seanad to revive its popular legitimacy and to restore its important role in the legislative process. This stance has been supported by the recent report of the working group on Seanad reform, which echoes many of the recommendations made by Fianna Fáil in 2014.

One of the key points we made at that time, which were raised in the Manning report and which our leader was able to implement was appointing three Independent Senators. We have been able to appreciate the value of the contributions these Senators have made to this Seanad. The Bill draws on the Manning report and reflects much of previous 2014 Fianna Fáil Bill in the area. After 12 reports on Seanad reform, we now need real action not more idle talk. This Bill provides a clear route forward to reform the Upper House. It is vital that, following his failed campaign to abolish the Seanad, the Taoiseach should engage with he process in a meaningful fashion and ensure that the legislation passes through the Dáil on this occasion.

The outcome of the referendum on Britain's membership of the EU is hugely disappointing. While we respect the views of the voters, we regard the outcome as a bad result for Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Union. What is now needed is a calm, stable and measured approach. Our focus should be on showing that Ireland plans to remain a committed member of the EU, making Brexit an absolute priority in our public business, pushing for the unique position of Ireland to be recognised in negotiations and working to reform the EU so that it lives up to the principles upon which it was founded.

The long-term outcome of this referendum for Ireland will most likely depend on the relationship that Britain establishes with the EU and the terms of such a relationship. We must ensure that Ireland's interests are to the fore in any negotiations. Britain is our nearest neighbour and largest trading partner and the implications for trade, travel, tourism other facets of life will be affected. The uncertainty about borders is a huge concern for the whole island, with massive effects on trade and the agribusiness. It is crucial that the Border is central to the negotiations on the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. We need political, economic and legal certainty as soon as possible.

What does the Taoiseach hope to achieve with the all-Ireland forum and how does he plan to make it as inclusive as possible, given the Democratic Unionist Party's reluctance to participate? Given that Brexit, when it eventually happens, could take many forms, how is the Taoiseach's Department planning for all of the possible scenarios? What is the Taoiseach doing to convey to other member states that Ireland's position on Brexit is unique and distinct and that there is a need for sensitivity, particularly in respect of Northern Ireland?

We have already seen the impact on the mushroom industry as a consequence of the referendum result, 90% of all mushrooms grown in Ireland are exported to the UK. What efforts are being made to protect industries that are particularly vulnerable as a result of the Brexit vote? What are our embassies doing to promote Ireland as a destination for business and to lessen our dependence on the EU market?

In respect of the budget, what are the Taoiseach's plans to ensure that it is weighted in favour of those who have suffered most during recent years, particularly lone parents, the elderly and households with children? Will he commit to restoring the Christmas bonus in the upcoming budget? Why are there no Senators on the Committee on Budgetary Oversight?

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Taoiseach. I am my party’s spokesperson on housing and there are one or two issues about which I am very concerned. We have had four months of meetings with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Coveney. Arising from those meetings, we have been told there is an 84-point action plan. One of the only two results to emerge from those meetings is that the pre-planning and planning process will be hastened for local authorities that are building over 100 houses. That is miles down the road and we are in a crisis. The other result relates to the new housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme, which is not working. It is a rental scheme that all local authorities are introducing. People are given more rent to help with their rent allowance but many landlords are increasing the rent with the result that there is no balance. Unless these problems are addressed, we will not solve the housing crisis.

In my local authority area, Carlow, there is a cap of €27,500 and anyone who earns more than that does not qualify for the local authority housing list. Every local authority has set up a new rent scheme and everybody has been reassessed. Many of the people I deal with do not qualify for the local authority housing list and are becoming homeless. We are not addressing the key issues to help people get homes.

The new tenant purchase scheme introduced in the past four months allows only 50% of tenants to buy their houses. The other 50% - either because they do not work, because they are in receipt of illness benefit or because they are retired - cannot qualify for this new scheme. Apart from these two initiatives, what else on the 84-point plan has been done to help homeless people?

The local authorities are preparing their budgets. Carlow is very small. The town council has been abolished and there have been extra costs for the land aggregation scheme for local authorities. In addition, rates and utility payments from the local enterprise boards have been lost. It is small county which cannot pass a budget because it does not have the proper funding coming in. I have spoken to the Minister about this. If a plan is not put in place to help the local authorities that require assistance, the ordinary Joe Soap on the road will suffer when library services, parks and road maintenance are cut. We need to ensure that everybody gets fair play and that the Taoiseach will help the local authorities that come to him asking for help to reach some agreement. I understand that it is very hard to give so much capital funding to local authorities but the Taoiseach needs to make an agreement with them because the working person will suffer the cuts.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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Tá mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis an Seanadóir Lawless.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Ceart go leor. Ar aghaidh leat.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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Cuirim fíor fáilte roimh an Taoiseach, atá anseo linn inniu, agus roimh an méid a bhí le rá aige. Táim dóchasach go bhfuil spiorad nua ag teacht chun cinn sa Teach seo i dtaobh athchóiriú an tSeanaid as seo amach. In his extensive speech, the Taoiseach covered many matters, including very important issues like Brexit and the future relationships between Ireland and the United Kingdom, and between the North and the South. The one thing I would say in relation to all of that is that there are many domestic squalls surrounding this Government. As the Taoiseach pointed out, it is in an unusual position. I want to express my hope that the Government will keep a firm hand on the tiller. Both the economic situation and the position with regard to public sector pay need to be kept under control. We should not allow ourselves to be buffeted too much.

I welcome a number of things the Taoiseach said about the reform of this House. I welcome his reiterated support for the implementation of the Manning report and his commitment to making that happen. I was particularly struck by two features of what the Taoiseach had to say. The first relates to the formation of the implementation group. Those who have read the Manning report will be conscious that it sets out ambitious reforms for the future conduct of elections to this House and the future business of this House. Such reforms will require a huge amount of preparation and groundwork to be put in. The extension of the franchise to citizens who are normally resident in Northern Ireland and citizens who live abroad will be a hugely ambitious task in a short timeframe. I would like to say in that context that the Taoiseach's comments about getting a consensus in the Dáil were very important too. This Chamber is not the only one concerned with this issue. We must ultimately have a broad consensus based not merely on what Members of Seanad Éireann think about how Senators should be elected in the future, but also on what the people of Ireland, through their public representatives in Dáil Éireann, think about the issue.

When the Minister of State, Deputy English, came in here to respond to the debate on the Seanad reform Bill, he outlined in a robust enough way some of the difficulties that are implicit in these reforms. Some people might have seen his remarks as throwing cold water on the matter. I think they were an expression of the Government's desire to see us address this matter in a realistic way. Given that many Members of this House have been well served by the current system, under which they were elected, it would be naive of us to think they would be universally enthusiastic about the adoption of a different system. I emphasise that barring a miracle, the arrangements for the Manning report to be implemented in full will probably not be put in place in time for the next general election. They may be put in place on the Statute Book, which is my hope. From a practical perspective, a register of people in Northern Ireland will have to be compiled and voting arrangements will have to be extended to cover Irish citizens in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In such circumstances, it is highly unlikely that these arrangements will be fully operational in the near future. I say that to underline the point that those who are reluctant to embrace change should realise that it will take time. It is important to put the new arrangements on the Statute Book now so that they can be implemented with the backing of an Oireachtas implementation group.

Billy Lawless (Independent)
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I welcome the Taoiseach. Irish people who live abroad are delighted that he appointed a Senator with a specific brief to advocate for their concerns, particularly with regard to the undocumented status of many of them. Two weeks ago, I attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Harp and Shamrock Society in San Antonio. I stayed directly across from the Alamo, where many Irish people died. Twelve of those who died there were born in Ireland and a further 20 were of Irish descent. Thirty of the 300 people who attended the event a fortnight ago were born in Ireland. This shows how diverse the Irish community in that region is. The same thing can be said of every state in the US.

As the Taoiseach knows, the United States is less than 40 days away from a presidential election, the result of which will be as close as any in recent memory. The Irish and immigrant rights community in the US is watching the race extremely closely, as opinions on immigration expressed by the two candidates could not be further apart in substance or tone. I was in New York last week with the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh. We met representatives of Irish community and immigration advocacy groups. I assure the Taoiseach that they are already planning their responses to either a Trump or a Clinton victory in the forthcoming election and are preparing their strategies for the first 100 days of the next Presidency.

The Irish community leaders I met in Ireland House asked me and the Irish Government to petition the next President of the US and the US Congress for new visas for the Irish. They made the case that Ireland lost 18,000 visas a year under the 1965 immigration law, which today results in fewer than 350 green cards being issued to Irish people I feel that the political will exists in Congress. Irish people punch way above our weight. Given that 10,500 visas were secured in a 2013 Senate Bill, I believe an Irish visa Bill could pass if the Irish Government joined forces with legislative allies on Capitol Hill and Irish community groups to make a major push.

Irish companies now employ more Americans in the US than American companies employ here in Ireland. As the Taoiseach is aware, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, is very proud of his Irish roots and is a major advocate of immigration reform. Will the Taoiseach, through his Ministers and the ambassador, make contact with the next President, whoever he or she may be, to ensure a visa Bill for the Irish is initiated? I suggest that any visa Bill should also provide for a path for the undocumented Irish, who would not be averse to coming back to Ireland to secure such a visa at the US Embassy here if it were guaranteed that they could return to the US.

I thank the Taoiseach for his commitment to the diaspora and to the issue of voting rights for immigrants abroad. As the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, alongside Ambassador Anderson, noted in New York, we have a constitutional obligation to the Irish diaspora under the Good Friday Agreement. This statement was wholeheartedly appreciated by the community leaders we met in America. They also wondered about the Government's stance on the voting rights issue. Can we expect that a referendum on this matter will be held and the result implemented in time for the 2018 Irish Presidential election? The subject of immigration reform and the plight of the undocumented Irish are of relevance to the process of Seanad reform that is currently under discussion.

Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein)
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I would like to share time with Senator Ó Donnghaile.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Taoiseach. It is always nice to see a Mayo man in the Seanad. There are far too many Dubs here. We will all be united on Saturday. That is if we can get a ticket, of course. We will have a chat afterwards.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We will be united in victory, of course.

Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein)
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Alex is not here. I hope Alex is more successful than I have been. There are a couple of days left. I welcome the Taoiseach to the Seanad. I am glad he raised the issue of Brexit because I am interested in the Government's plans to protect the best interests of the entire island of Ireland. We are about to enter an extremely difficult period for which there is no precedent. We are now in the calm after the storm and before the next storm, when Article 50 will be triggered. There is no timeline and, regrettably, there is not much hard evidence of planning on the Government's part. We need to see the entire island being proactive, rather than waiting on the Tory Government to make the next move. They created this crisis for their own selfish ends. The Taoiseach should certainly not allow them to dictate how we respond or the pace. It is now obvious that the Brexiteers had absolutely no plan. We still do not know what they want. We need the Taoiseach to work closely with the Northern Executive, with or without the support of the British Government.The Taoiseach should, when necessary, stand up for Ireland and confront the British Government, in the same way as the First Minister of Scotland, Ms Nicola Sturgeon, is doing. I welcome Ms Sturgeon's moves. Also, she has explicitly said that if the negotiations around Brexit are not to her satisfaction and the satisfaction of the Scottish National Party, SNP, she will consider another referendum on Scottish independence.

Mr. David Davis MP has been appointed as Brexit Minister in Britain. Has the Taoiseach any plans for a Minister and Department here to deal with the fallout from Brexit and, indeed, to plan across all Departments here, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine which will be crucial in the Brexit issue? Not a day goes by without a new forecast or concern raised regarding the possible impact of the decision by English voters to leave the EU. I say "English voters" because the people in the North of Ireland voted to remain in the EU. We need a dedicated individual and support staff to formulate responses and come up with solutions in what looks to be a challenging few years ahead. It is vital that the Taoiseach takes personal responsibility to impress upon the British Government that their wishes should be respected. I get the sense that the Government is dealing with all of this as a done deal and we in Sinn Féin will continue to press for the rights of those who consciously voted to remain part of the EU.

I also want to find out whether the Taoiseach, since he was returned in April last, has been listening to the concerns of people. We had thousands of people on the streets again last week over the water charges. They are clearly saying that the water charges should go forever. This means the charges being eliminated. It is time to give up the ghost on the water issue. People will not be fooled into paying their hard-earned money to keep Irish Water in the lifestyle to which it has become accustomed. All the while, we see the purchase of Siteserv and, indeed, the non-implementation of the Moriarty tribunal findings become centre-stage in American politics around the US presidential election. It reflects badly on us, as a country.

I will turn briefly to the Apple issue. There is considerable public concern at the Government's refusal of the €13 billion. My party and I think we are missing a real opportunity for the Taoiseach, as leader of this country, to hold his hands up and come clean. This is a real opportunity for the Taoiseach to admit that we have for several decades knowingly facilitated tax evasion and tax avoidance on a significant scale. We are not the only country to have done this. Billions of euro have been lost to people all over the world but we are leading the charge in it. The Taoiseach's Government and particularly the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government have formulated policy to deprive Irish citizens of billions of euro due to this State from multinational companies. The Taoiseach, with Fianna Fáil, has given away our natural resources, our oil and gas and our fishing industry, and our seaweed industry is even about to be given away.

Nobody is saying we should not do everything we can to encourage inward investment and job creation from multinationals, and indeed they are welcome to be here. Our 12.5% corporation tax rate is highly competitive. Our educated English-speaking workforce and many other factors make this an attractive place to do business. Do we not owe it to the hundreds of thousands who have been forced to emigrate, those children who are not allowed on the school bus, those children and families who are homeless, those elderly and sick patients lying on hospital trolleys, those children with special needs, those with disabilities, those parents crippled by the cost of child care, those on low wages and zero-hour contracts and those farm and fishing families whose incomes have been eroded to have a fair fiscal policy that will drive a fairer distribution of wealth in this country?

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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An uair deireanach a bhí an Taoiseach agus mé féin os comhair a chéile, bhíomar i bparlús an ardmhéara i mBéal Feirste. Seo muid anois in Seanad Éireann agus tá sé deas an Taoiseach a fheiceáil. Ciorcal mór an tsaoil a chuirtear ar sin i gColáiste Feirste, seanscoil seo agamsa.

I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment this week to convene the national dialogue on the Brexit issue. Of course, that dialogue should be national in the truest sense of the word. It should include achan chearn den tír seo and I look forward, regardless of the disgruntled remarks of others, to seeing as wide a representation as possible at that conversation to seek to assist the Taoiseach and the Government in ploughing a way through the choppy waters that have been forced upon us against our will. The Taoiseach, I need not remind him, has a clear obligation to stand up for the best interests of Ireland in her entirety. He has a mandate from the people in the North that is clear in the people's ambition and aspiration to stay and to keep Ireland in her entirety in the EU.

Mura miste leis an Taoiseach, labhróidh mé fosta faoi chearta vótála i dtoghcháin uachtaránachta. It has been rightly referred to by Senator Lawless, in terms of the remarks of the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, earlier this year, that a referendum would be sought to be held early next year to extend the franchise of presidential voting rights to the diaspora. That is the proper thing to do. It is in line with the best practice of other states and countries around the world. I want to know if, as outlined clearly by the Constitutional Convention and by a broad range of civic and political opinion in the North, the same enfranchisement and democratic right will be afforded to me and to the hundreds of thousands of people like me in the North who are Irish citizens and who wish to vote for their President, who of course is not the President of a land mass but the President of the Irish people in their entirety as well. Perhaps the Taoiseach can confirm for me, without pre-empting the outcome of a referendum, although I would be reasonably confident heading in to one, that when that referendum is held, it will not only seek to extend the democratic right to vote in presidential elections to the diaspora but will also include Irish citizens north of the Border.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach go Seanad Éireann. I am happy to have the Taoiseach here in Seanad Éireann.

The Taoiseach spoke about a Government unlike any other. We are also looking at a Seanad Éireann unlike any other because this Seanad, the Twenty-fifth Seanad, is the first which was saved from abolition by a popular vote of the Irish people. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree with me and support me in recognising that, in the people being sovereign, as he himself recognised, those who voted to retain the Seanad in 2013 were voting for reform. When we spoke about a new relationship between the Irish people and their Parliament, they were voting explicitly for the right to have a relationship, both in how this Chamber is elected and in the work that it conducts. I strongly support the advance in the area of Seanad Éireann reform and I very much welcome the commitments the Taoiseach has given today in terms of recognising the Manning report, the valuable work that has been done there, the importance of the proposals, and the transformative and positive nature of many of those proposals within the Manning report. I look forward to the actions of the implementation group. I hope that those of us who are heads of technical groups rather than parties will also be invited to those discussions and I look forward to that in my own capacity as leader of this group.

I would raise one small point. In his speech, the Taoiseach speaks of the Dáil debate as being the first step in the reform process. It is important to note that steps have already been taken in the reform process, be it the vote of the people, the work of the Manning group or the Bill we have put forward and which has reached Second Stage in this House. If we wish to drive forward meaningful Seanad reform and deliver it to the people before the next time we have an election, we need to ensure we do not take any backward steps and that we continue to move forward with that Bill while discussing the implementation together. I would like the Taoiseach's assurances in that regard.

The Taoiseach also spoke of budgetary scrutiny and the new process, and I have a question for him on a specific commitment in that regard. Something I would strongly welcome is the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government on equality and gender-proofing. This is something I and many others, certainly during my time with the National Women's Council, were happy to campaign and press for, and I am delighted to see that it is part of the Taoiseach's commitment. I would like the Taoiseach to outline how he sees the equality and gender-proofing aspects of the budget being delivered, both in budget 2017 and in the future. Will there be an equality statement to accompany the budget, as is the practice in Scotland? I believe it is important that tax measures, including tax reliefs, are also included within that equality budgeting process, and this is something it would be useful to hear assurance on as well.I reiterate the point made by others that we need to be realistic when we talk about tax in Ireland. We need to be real on the figures. When we talk about corporate tax practices, we have to be real. When we talk about tax concessions, the language we use is important. In that regard, we need a reality check. I urge the Taoiseach to give leadership in the discussion around what the squeezed middle actually is. The fact is that the median earning income in Ireland is €28,500. Half of all workers in Ireland are earning that amount or less. They cannot be invisible. We need to ensure that this entire 50% of workers is not invisible in the discussion around the budget. What they need is real investment in wages that are quality wages, work that is quality work, real increases in pay and public services. Investing in public services is the way to give back to and benefit the full population. Ireland has a role also in making the case for public investment in public services at European level.

I make a special appeal in relation to care. Care is the lifeblood of our society and should be recognised in all of our economic processes, including in our summer economic statement and economic dialogues. That would be transformative not only in relation to child care but also in terms of home care and the question of statutory entitlements. We have heard Ministers say they do not want the budget to appear regressive. It must not be regressive and that must be tested. Further to the question of equality proofing, guidelines were issued by the Department of the Taoiseach to all Departments on their new three-year statements of strategy. It is unfortunate that the guidelines have not drawn attention to the public sector duty on equality and human rights. It is important for the Taoiseach to provide leadership to Departments to ensure that they are aware of their duties in that regard. I would like to have statements in the House as to how those guidelines might be amended to include clear reference to that public duty.

The Taoiseach represented the State at the highest level in signing the Paris climate change commitments and the sustainable development goals. In the past, we have also signed up to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It would be appropriate to remind Departments of those key commitments on which the Taoiseach has led and which apply across government and to ensure that those commitments are reflected in the departmental strategies for the next three years. Ireland played a key role in the negotiations around the sustainable development goals, which should be commended strongly.

Ireland also played a key role in the recent summit on refugees. At UN level, Ireland is playing a key role in moving these discussions forward. However, we must also show leadership within Europe where the EU-Turkey deal is not acceptable and the human rights of refugees are in the balance. Leadership must also be shown within Ireland where, sadly, our already inadequate commitment to take 4,000 refugees has seen us receive only 400. I know those figures are moving, but this is an area in which we can lead. The outcome of the summit was a call to all countries to do what they can. I believe we can and should do much more. We must also look at our direct provision system and the right to work. We must examine the way refugees are treated within Ireland. We must also send those positive signals because of the danger of the xenophobic language which drove so much of the Brexit debate. That is why we must send positive signals and messages of inclusion.

On Brexit, I welcome the all-Ireland conversation. Other Members have spoken to the important issues but, crucially, we must not engage in any race to the bottom on conditions in relation to Brexit. We must look to opportunities such as investment in higher education. In terms of the future of Europe, we can be strong European citizens while also being critical. We must be strong in areas like trade and on the CETA agreement which the Government seems intent, unfortunately, on signing this very month. At a time of uncertainty and when we are talking about responsibility, it would be reckless for the Government to agree to the provisional application of this trade agreement with its immense implications.

I do not have a chance to make my other points, but I look forward to the overall debate. I say to the Taoiseach that while the citizens' assembly is welcome as a discussion, it is not a sufficient response to the demands from international bodies or from the street. People want a chance to vote through the ballot box. We need a referendum to repeal, not replace, the eighth amendment. I hope a date for that referendum can be set within the lifetime of this Government.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I wish to share time with Senator Kevin Humphreys.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach. I welcome him back to the Seanad. I am glad to hear of his commitment to Seanad reform now that the question of abolition is firmly off the table. As others have said, we have a blueprint for reform in the shape of the Manning report and I note that the Taoiseach has expressed his support for it. We need to see action, however, and a timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations.

As the Labour Party's spokesperson on foreign affairs, I have a number of issues to raise with the Taoiseach, the first of which is Brexit. We have already spoken a great deal about Brexit and the Taoiseach has addressed it himself. I welcome the stated Government priorities and the announcement of an all-island dialogue. We passed a motion in the Seanad in July mandating ourselves to have a comprehensive dialogue and debate in this Chamber calling in, among others, MEPs and Northern Ireland's First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I hope we will contribute to the debate. We must look at creative ways of moving forward. I had an interesting meeting with Alex Salmond MP earlier today and we spoke about the possibility of a separate legal status for Northern Ireland and Scotland in the wake of Brexit negotiations based, for example, around the Lichtenstein model. We must look at all the options as we move forward in the process.

On our relations with the EU more generally, I noted with interest the Taoiseach's speech in Bratislava. While it is important to commend him for his emphasis on our neutrality, I note the need to hold the line on that in particular in light of Jean-Claude Juncker's speech calling for a centralised common defence policy in Europe. We need to ensure we take a strong stance in defence of our own neutrality.

On the question of refugees which others have mentioned, I welcomed very much the commitment of the previous Government to welcome 4,000 refugees from Syria and through the European hot spots in Greece and Italy. However, I am very concerned by the slow pace of progress, which has been noted by the Tánaiste in recent weeks. Can we expedite the process to ensure that more refugees are brought in and can we see the implementation of the recommendations of the Mahon report on the reform of direct provision, which was a priority of the former Minister of State, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin? I received an e-mail update today from Médecins Sans Frontières describing the appalling situation in Aleppo and the very large number of civilians who face siege in rebel held areas under bombardment from the Syrian Government and Russia. The 250,000 people in question have access to only approximately 30 doctors. The USA announced today that it will take a much stronger stance against Russia and I would like to think that Ireland would take a role within the EU to press for a similar stance given the apparent abandonment by Russia of the peace process.

On an issue closer to home, I ask with other Members that the momentum for the repeal of the eighth amendment be recognised within our political system. I am glad the Taoiseach spoke of the plan for a citizens' assembly which I hope will recommend a referendum for repeal. When will that be held? Can we have a very clear timeframe for the process of referral of recommendations to the Oireachtas committee and then to the Dáil and Seanad? The momentum is clear and we need to see the repeal of the eighth amendment.

Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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The Taoiseach is very welcome. It is welcome that he should come to the Seanad today albeit he should do so on a more regular basis.

David Norris (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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I would like to see the Taoiseach attend the Seanad at the beginning and end of each term so that we would see him back here before Christmas. The level of the debate so far today has been very good and informative and I very much welcome that.

I do not think politicians, like the media, have short memories. The reason I ran the campaign to have the Taoiseach attend today was that the terms "new politics" and "reform" were dripping from everyone's tongue. Nobody knew or understood exactly what was meant, however. I was hoping the Taoiseach would put some meat on those bones here today but, unfortunately, I have seen very little of that. What I see constantly are the major decisions of the day being kicked to either committees, reviews or mediation.One of the ones which drove me absolutely demented was when there was an undermining of collective Cabinet responsibility. I very much support the campaign to repeal the eighth amendment, but Deputy Mick Wallace's Bill was clearly unconstitutional. How it was wrangled around to allow people to vote against it was that the Attorney General's advice was not sought by Cabinet, but I do not find that right. One of the Minister's that did not seek the Attorney General's advice was very glad of her advice when he was rushing back from Rio and found himself in severe trouble out there.

We had an interesting discussion this morning when Senators McDowell and Norris referred to delays in the appointment of judges, and asked where the real responsibility lies. We read in various newspapers that a particular Minister will veto the appointment of judges, which raises questions about collective Cabinet responsibility. Whether or not it is true, it was said he went to the papers and announced he was going to veto it. I find that very difficult to accept.

I wish to raise two issues that are close to my heart. I raised one of those issues yesterday, namely, the co-location of Holles Street hospital at St. Vincent's Hospital. One of those issues was kicked to a mediator in the hope of finding a result. When the Minister attended this House he said: "I have no plan B." If St. Vincent's, Elm Park, does not agree to it, it is scuttered and, therefore, 10,000 babies are born in Holles Street hospital in overcrowded conditions and in ten delivery wards when there should be over 20.

An article in The Irish Timesthis morning reports that the State is still owed over €240 million by religious institutions. I suggest that if we cannot get agreement on the co-location of Holles Street hospital at St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, as part of the compensation to taxpayers and the State, the religious order involved should hand that hospital back to the HSE to manage it. Let us build a good quality hospital that the women and children of this State deserve. That would be a fitting legacy.

I constantly hear that the Rural Alliance and different Independents hold the strings of power over this Government. It is driving a wedge between rural and urban Ireland. However, parts of Dublin, Cork and Limerick have suffered equally from this recession. Such areas have also lost Garda stations and post offices. There are huge areas of disadvantage across Dublin that urgently require investment. All disadvantaged areas, whether rural or urban, deserve to share in the recovery.

The sum of €20 million for reinvigorating rural towns is badly needed, but urban areas have suffered equally. They include Dublin's inner city which was kicked to a task force. We need decisions and leadership. Even though it is a minority Government, we cannot let small groups derail the recovery. I am not only talking about economic recovery, but also about the social recovery of communities, schools, hospitals and infrastructure. I ask the Taoiseach not to be misdirected by small vocal groups that are only looking after their parishes. The interests of this country need to be looked after.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I am sharing time with Senator O'Donnell.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Ar dtús báire, cuirim fíor-fháilte roimh an Taoiseach. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas agus mo thacaíocht leis as ucht an chomhrá agus an méid oibre atá le déanamh ar son an ghnáthdhuine ar fud na tíre.

In welcoming the Taoiseach to the Chamber today, I hope his presence here will be a continuing one. His address has highlighted many key issues. Listening to some of the comments in the House today, I am reminded that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I will not go into the parish pump issues that have been addressed either directly or indirectly.

The themes addressed by the Taoiseach highlight the fragility faced by the world and by Ireland within the EU, whether it concerns Brexit or our own existence in Seanad Éireann, including how we are elected. Other issues include the budget and the country's economic outlook within the EU, the eighth amendment, the pressing issue of housing, and the Government's approach to how it governs. That requires leadership and a holistic approach by Members of the Oireachtas. I am confident that under the Taoiseach's leadership, the programme for Government, which is committed to a just society based on a resilient economy, will be achieved. Those who naval gaze should look at how far the country has come in the five short years that Deputy Enda Kenny has been Taoiseach. Unemployment has fallen, our economy is growing and the public finances are secure. We have seen profound change in the social lives of many people, and some of us are now more equal than we were.

When I hear people talking about Apple, I ask them to visit Cork city or other areas where thousands of people are directly employed by multinationals or in ancillary services. Our country is viewed around the world as one whose economy is growing and people are employed at home. We are welcoming home our returning emigrants today.

Earlier today, together with Senator Lawless, I met the Governor of Michigan. We had discussions about attracting people to invest here, which will have a positive outcome. Challenges remain, including Brexit, public service pay and other demands. However, we can see how a growing economy benefits many people with the fruits of that being invested in our country.

The budget in October will probably be the most important one we have ever faced as a nation. We should deal with it prudently and based on how we can improve people's lives in a tangible and meaningful way. It is important to improve people's lives but in so doing there is a duty on all of us to recognise that the Government does not have a pot of gold to float every boat and make everyone happy.

The changed political landscape presents us with a challenge because no party has a majority. I wish to thank all Members of this House for their co-operation and willingness to work together in a spirit that has seen us do business better and differently. I commend all Senators for that. I refer in particular to Senator Lawless as a member of the diaspora and a citizen of this country. Having visited America during the summer, I know that his work is having an impact. I wish him well in his continuing endeavours. Some people criticised and questioned his appointment, but I know from talking to members of the Irish diaspora in the United States that they see his appointment as an important one that values their work. This concerns not only the undocumented Irish, but also the efforts to bring people home to work here, as well as bringing investment to our country.

In his remarks, the Taoiseach spoke about leaving nobody behind. This is a partnership Government and it is important that that partnership reaches beyond the Cabinet room or Dáil Chamber and is also extended to this House. Seanad reform was agreed in the programme for Government. As Leader of the House, I welcome the opportunity to work with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, the Minister of State, Deputy English, other Ministers and all sides of the House to bring about reform.

As a former Chairman of a committee, I recognise the importance of bringing Oireachtas reform to the people. The committee system is the most pivotal part of what we do in this House, yet it gets lost in the cauldron of debate in both Chambers. Nonetheless, the committee system has demonstrated that it can work quite well on behalf of the people.

As Leader of this House, I am committed to bringing in a second Private Members' motion which we discussed briefly yesterday at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Seanad consultation committee has been re-established. It is important to reach beyond the gates of Leinster House to the communities we serve and those whom we represent. They say that Senators do not have a constituency, but we are here to work on behalf of the people. As Seanadóirí, we must go beyond the gates to reach out to the public. I hope the Seanad consultation committee can do so again.Thanks to the initiative of Senator O'Donnell, we will have a continuing Brexit debate. I look forward to working with the Taoiseach on the implementation body to bring Seanad reform, whatever it brings, to the Upper House. It is important that we continue, collectively, to bring reform of the Seanad to fruition.

I will speak to the issue of the citizens' assembly. As somebody who served on the Constitutional Convention and chaired the health committee dealing with the protection of life during pregnancy legislation, I very much welcome the establishment of a citizens' assembly. I spoke in the House yesterday about the benefits of it and the need to be temperate in our language when we approach what is a very sensitive topic. Equally, we must empower the citizens' assembly so it can do its work and bring forward its report. We should give it our support as Members of this House. The ten-year health strategy is important and we all hope it will be successful and we can sign up to it. It is disappointing that no Members of this House have yet been appointed to the group discussing the strategy. In this House we have experts in the health area who are willing to engage and be part of that process.

As the Taoiseach stated, we cannot go back to the old days. We are ambitious for ourselves and our people in this House. The Taoiseach and his Government are the same. I commend the Taoiseach on his work and wish him well in the endeavours he will continue. I hope the people will continue to see increased employment and consequent benefits to all our lives.

Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Taoiseach to the House and wish him well. I will touch on two key elements dealt with by the Taoiseach in his address. The first is Brexit, and as the Leader mentioned, we will hold our own debate on the issue. I very much welcome the Taoiseach's call for an all-Ireland dialogue. The Good Friday Agreement has passed its 18th birthday - the age of consent - and I hope people will see that the agreement has evolved over time, with a natural progression now being an all-Ireland dialogue on Brexit because it has implications both North and South, particularly in the economic sphere. We could have a common approach in viewing Brexit.

The second issue is our interaction with Europe. There is much talk that Ireland, as such, has no direct role in the Brexit negotiations vis-à-visthe UK and Europe. Ireland very much has a role in the navigation, as it wants to ensure our trade links with Britain are maintained. The UK is our largest trading partner and we have many common bonds. There is a specific role for the Taoiseach, acting on behalf of the Republic, to assist in a way that will ensure we can have safe passage through choppy waters.

If there was ever a manifestation of a reason somebody should be appointed to the Seanad, it is the example of Senator Lawless's contribution on emigrants. He raised new themes and issues today relating to the diaspora. I would like to see the measures fast-tracked, as the diaspora is a major issue. We all have family living in America and Senator Lawless spoke specifically about the US. Something practical could be done and I ask the Taoiseach to engage with the new US President, whoever that may be, as quickly as possible in that regard.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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At this stage I will allow Senator Norris, the father of the House, to say a few words. I will try to confine the other speakers to three minutes and get many as possible into the time. I am trying to be fair to everyone.

David Norris (Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and I greatly appreciate that. I welcome the Taoiseach to the House and I also welcome his remarks on Seanad reform. I have been campaigning for Seanad reform for 40 years and I hammered out some of the well-known phrases about the Seanad over those 40 years. I contributed to every report published during the 30 years I have spent here in Seanad Éireann. The Seanad Bill introduced by Senator McDowell was cobbled together by lawyers hired by Mr. Feargal Quinn. I recommend that the Taoiseach look at the detailed forensic critique which I subjected it to in this House. One of the issues - a parochial matter, I suppose - is the defence of the Trinity constituency. I point out to the Taoiseach that it is the longest surviving parliamentary constituency on this island, going back to the beginning of the 17th century. It must be respected.

As father of the House, I ask the Taoiseach if he would grant me the privilege of a ten-minute interview. I have suggestions to make about Seanad reform. They are not pick-and-mix or about referring issues to committees. It is a really radical and visionary approach that would get the Taoiseach an additional footnote in history. The partisan element of the process bedevils the Seanad. It should be removed but it will require vision. Very few politicians are prepared to relax their control or their power but a Seanad should essentially be an adviser and accomplice to the Government, lending support based on a fully professional approach.

The Taoiseach should forget about all the committees, etc. Why not grasp the nettle and really go for a referendum? We are having a referendum on something to do with the presidency, votes in America and so on, so why not grasp the nettle and have a referendum focused entirely on removing the party political element of the Seanad? It would also entail removing the Taoiseach's option of nominating 11 Members. In a non-confrontational and advisory Seanad composed entirely of professional people - the greatest brains of social reformers and people involved with the community - there would be no need for the controversy involved in wanting to defeat the Government or introduce party-oriented reforms.

I ask for an opportunity to speak with the Taoiseach and give him details of this proposal. There were suggestions of tinkering earlier. There was a suggestion of opening the university seats to 1 million potential voters, leaving 1,000 voters to decide the other 43 panel seats and one vote - that of the Taoiseach - for 11 Members. That is just absurd and does not really amount to reform. Could I have the opportunity at some stage in the Taoiseach's very busy schedule to discuss these matters? I can provide a blueprint in advance of any such meeting.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. He stated that as a result of Brexit, the European Union must prepare for a united Ireland. There is a severe issue between North and South because of Brexit, and it will be detrimental on both sides of the Border if there is not a good result for the UK that could lead to a positive result for Ireland. In many instances, people do not realise there are more Border crossings between the North and South of Ireland than between the European Union and all the countries to the east of it, a border ten times the size of the one between the North and South of this island. There are 30,000 people per day commuting between the North and South. There are 1 million litres of milk coming across the Border to be processed in both jurisdictions. The knock-on effect of a hard Border or any restrictions on trade or people would have a detrimental effect on the North and South. What is the Taoiseach's Department doing to ensure that not only is the European Union prepared for the eventuality of a united Ireland but that we are as well?

The other issue raised today, relating to Seanad reform, is the issue of votes for Irish citizens living in the North and those overseas. The most fundamental right of any citizen in any state is the right to vote.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Nevertheless, 100 years after the Proclamation we still deny that right to so many people on this island, as well as people born on the island who live in other countries. Imagine that we are almost 190 years after Catholic emancipation and 98 years after giving women the right to vote and yet we still deny votes to one in three citizens born on this island. As part of the reform process we must extend the right to vote to citizens wherever they live who claim they are part of the Irish nation. Finally, on the Irish overseas and the diaspora, I welcome the nomination of Senator Billy Lawless to this House as the diaspora Senator. The Taoiseach has made some great appointments but of them all, that nomination is important because Senator Lawless will be able to speak for the Irish overseas in the United States and throughout the world. Fianna Fáil produced the first policy paper by any political party on the Irish overseas and the diaspora. When one considers how many years this State has been in existence, the fact it took nearly 80 years for any political party to produce a policy paper specifically for the Irish overseas and the diaspora does not bode well for our treatment of them. However, I do not merely refer to the undocumented in the United States but one key area of concern must be the forgotten Irish in England who left this country in hard economic times, worked hard and sent back money to their families, friends and relations but who have now fallen on hard times themselves. They are people we must look after and I ask the Taoiseach to so do.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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The Taoiseach is welcome to the House and it is a great pleasure to address him here today. I thank him for his attendance. I first wish to join my colleagues on the nomination of Senator Lawless. I was one of the first people who was sceptical about it, even though I knew Senator Lawless was a good Galway man. It took a brave Mayo man to bring in a Galway man. The Mayo men came down the Curragh Line with their shoes under their arms - saving them for the big town - but we will forgive them that. Senator Lawless was a great and brave nomination by the Taoiseach for which I congratulate him.

The Government is now facing an unprecedented industrial relations crisis and a new approach is necessary to overcome these issues. The Government must realise or understand that it cannot continue to expect workers to live in income poverty and not encounter industrial unrest. There must be an admission that the recovery message, which was oversold for all intents and purposes, created unrealistic expectations given the economic uncertainty still facing the country. Unions cannot be expected to support the recovery unless there is honest discourse, which I would describe as full transparency, with respect to the finances of the State. Different figures are being bandied about all the time, which creates a level of expectation Members are aware cannot be fulfilled. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to state they got it wrong with respect to the amount or level of recovery there was. We are in recovery - the Taoiseach is to be congratulated for that - but the level of recovery does not support the expectations in the country. Once this admission is made, we can then move on to an understanding of realistic margins within which the budget must operate for the security of workers.

The Government must also admit the current hard-nosed approach to the talks regarding the Lansdowne Road agreement is not working. As a country, we are at risk of repeating the worst mistakes of our recent past in which we agreed national pay deals and then agreed a series of side deals and special measures on top of that, which makes a farce of the entire approach. The current industrial unrest can no longer be kept at bay and this requires a strong overarching solution. We need a social partnership again that embraces all and brings everybody on board. It is not enough to ignore some of those unions that have difficulty with the Lansdowne Road agreement while others are mindful of the state of the nation's purse. The Government must reconvene the Lansdowne Road talks and give all unions, whether part of the current deal or not, the opportunity for a renewed chance to put their case on the table. The Government must come to this in an open an honest fashion; admitting it exaggerated the amount of money it had, and with transparent figures on what might be possible. Out of this, a new and overarching deal must be established to bring an end to the current unrest.

We are at risk of ten years of industrial unrest unless we do something. I believe the Taoiseach's previous Government gave leadership and I believe the trade unions will respond to him positively. I ask the Taoiseach to revisit the Lansdowne Road agreement. Let us go back at it and let us get all the unions under the umbrella at the same time. I ask the Taoiseach to take that on board and again thank him for listening to me.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Tá trí nóiméad ag an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt. Tógfaidh mé dhá nóiméad agus tógfaidh an Seanadóír Devine nóiméad amháin. Cuirim míle fáilte roimh an Taoiseach. Caithfidh mé a admháil go raibh díomá orm nach raibh tagairt dá laghad, i ndáiríre, do chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta san óráid a thug sé. An fáth a bhfuil díomá orm, ar bhealach, ná gurb é an Taoiseach atá i gceannas ar straitéis an Rialtais ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Is é an Taoiseach an cathaoirleach ar an gcomhchoiste idir-rannach maidir leis an nGaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht agus is é sin an coiste atá in ainm is a bheith ag cur Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge i bhfeidhm. Is dóigh liom nach bhfuil an Taoiseach ag tabhairt dea-shampla sa mhéid sin os rud é nár dúirt sé focal ar bith faoin straitéis sin ná faoi diongbháilteacht an Rialtais maidir leis.

Tá daoine amuigh ar an talamh ag rá gurb iad na Rialtais a bhí faoi chúram an Taoisigh na Rialtais ba mheasa a bhí ann ariamh ó thaobh na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta de. Chonaic muid lagú ar Acht Údarás na Gaeltachta ar an mbord a bhí ann agus ar an maoiniú atá ar fáil dó. Táimid ag feiceáil straitéise in ndáiríre nach bhfuil á chur i bhfeidhm mar is ceart. Ní léir go bhfuil aon tacaíocht ag go leor de na Ranna Rialtais don straitéis céanna. Bhí an Rialtas ag iarraidh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a chur os ár gcomhair a bhí lag agus ag lagú cearta lucht na Gaeilge. Ba mhaith liom dá ndíreodh an Taoiseach ar sin sa tréimhse atá aige mar Thaoiseach leis an méid sin a chur ina cheart.

As a man from the west of Ireland, there were many expectations of the Taoiseach that things would improve in the west. However, I am afraid that in Galway, being the fourth largest city, people are disappointed at the difficulties they face and that more has not been done under the Taoiseach's watch for the people of Galway. There is a massive crisis in the respect of the accident and emergency service. The Taoiseach visited in 2015 and stated the accident and emergency unit in University Hospital Galway was not fit for purpose but 33 people are still on trolleys in that unit today. I have asked the Minister for Health to consider the possibility of building a new hospital in Galway. While he is completely non-committal, I ask the Taoiseach to commit to at least giving consideration to that proposal now that senior clinicians in Galway are calling for it.

As for the traffic issue in Galway, where the former Minister for Health who is now a Member of this House once got stuck and was obliged to walk to meetings in the city, it is in absolute chaos and nothing really has been done to address that. Moreover, the homelessness crisis in Galway is absolutely diabolical with 56 families and 133 children left homeless this year. Galway and the west of Ireland need a much stronger focus from the Taoiseach to bring us back to where we need to be.

Go raibh míle maith agat. Tabharfaidh mé an t-am eile don Seanadóir Devine.

Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his attendance today. In the few seconds available to me, my guess is I will not get the Taoiseach to agree to solve the multiple emergencies throughout the fractured health system. Consequently, I have decided to go easy on the Taoiseach and to ask him to solve one issue about which I was banging on yesterday and on different occasions, namely, an issue concerning nurses, my colleagues. The Taoiseach should be aware there were hundreds of nurses outside Leinster House on the reconvening of the Dáil to welcome him back after the recess. The issue is about increments and the injustice of the increments for the intern students from 2011 to 2015. While this was agreed on by the Government, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, HSE, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, has reneged on it, does not really wish to listen and is not responding and consequently, I appeal to the Taoiseach. It is an easy-peasy thing to do and I am not asking for the sun, the moon and the stars. That is another debate for another time but I really would like the Taoiseach to attend to this issue.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I will try to facilitate as many speakers as I can. I call Senator Dolan.

John Dolan (Independent)
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I dedicate the couple of minutes allocated to me to the memory of Michael Corbett, a strong disability advocate from County Mayo. He was my colleague and friend and a great champion of people with disabilities throughout Ireland. I thank the Taoiseach for his attendance and his attention. Disability comes to every door and has a couple of hallmarks. It drives people into poverty and causes exclusion and these twin imposters conspire in a potent way to ensure people's hope and possibilities for the future are diminished. Ireland can and must work against these twin evils. In budget 2017, the Taoiseach has the modest but significant resources to make a strong start in respect of this matter.

Disability wreaks havoc in every community and group: urban and rural, among children, young people, adults and older people, as well as among poor people, those at risk of poverty, the squeezed middle and those who are well off.It does not spare any such categories. The Taoiseach has committed to ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the end of this year and to commence strong implementation. I ask the Taoiseach and his Government - and he has the choice to do this - to develop a good, robust social infrastructure that will underpin our economy and serve all the people when they have needs. Something like 50,000 or 60,000 people who are not disabled today will be disabled by this day next year. It is something that comes to every one of us. We know this in our own lives.

A good start in 2017 is vital after the years of difficulty that we have had. The Taoiseach should harness the resources of his Government and Cabinet and get to grips with this terrible dilemma, this running sore. Areas such as health and community services, income supports, cost of disability payment, employment and housing are the issues that will have to be tackled in faith when we sign. The Taoiseach will ratify with his signature the UN convention within the next couple of months. To do that with confidence and strength, he should make a good start in the budget. If he marshals €300 million of the almost €700 million available to him around this area, he will distribute and triage much-needed support for people and families all over this country. Restoration needs to happen across our public service. This is a potent way to do it. Michael Corbett was laid to rest today. It is our job not to rest until people with disabilities can take their full place in the values and participation in this republic of ours.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
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I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. In fairness to the leader, Senator Buttimer, it is incumbent on us in this House to work together to try to solve problems, a few of which I want to raise with the Taoiseach in my short contribution. Senator Ruane and I work in the drugs area and want to have good engagement with the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. Senators Kelleher and Mac Lochlainn and I, who work on the Traveller ethnicity issue, hope to get good co-operation from the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton. However, I must ask the Taoiseach about the issue of direct provision and my contribution will be solely on that issue.

In this House, when I was Minister of State, there was uniformity of opinion on the issue of direct provision. I see Senator Conway, who is one of the most vocal on it, in front of me. We came to speak with one voice and the need for action on it. A report was commissioned. At the time the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and I worked very hard to commission that report. We worked to implement it. It was said on national radio last week that of the 2,000 people in direct provision over five years, as a direct result of that report, 1,500 are no longer in direct provision, which is a good day's work.

However, the draft programme for Government that was released had a commitment to implement the McMahon report, which took nine months to put together. It was compiled by NGOs and Department officials, so when it was signed off on, the assumption was that it would be implemented. To my horror and to other people's horror, that sentence regarding the implementation of the McMahon report was dropped from the actual programme for Government. I therefore ask the Taoiseach, because of the nature of the vulnerability of the families and children living in direct provision, that we implement that report. We are not asking for a new report. We are not asking for action to be taken which has not been already cited. We are asking that the Taoiseach give a commitment to implement the report, which was commissioned by the Department with officials from many different Departments and NGOs in good faith and which has been published and was being implemented. The Minister of State was here and was not in a position to give the commitment that it would be implemented. The Minister for Justice and Equality is not in a position to say that she will implement it. I would love if the Taoiseach could stand here today in this House and make such a commitment to the Members who collectively, in a cross-party manner - this is not a divisive issue in this House - are all committed to the implementation of the report.

The Taoiseach stood as a proud Irishman in the Dáil and spoke in a tearful way of the issue of the Magdalen women. He was commended for doing so. I commended him - we all did - because it was an emotional day for everybody in the Oireachtas. However, I am fully convinced there will be a Taoiseach in 20 or 30 years' time who will have to make a similar apology over the issue of direct provision. It is within the Taoiseach's gift today to stand in front of us as a collective and say: "I, as Taoiseach, will oversee or insure that the McMahon report will be implemented."

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I join in the welcome to the Taoiseach and in the recognition of the exemplary leadership he has given this country in getting our people back to work, restoring our public finances and now setting about rebuilding a normal society.

I want to address the Brexit issue. If I may, I will address it on a micro level first. In the context of the budget and governmental policies in the short term, there are a number of businesses and industries, notably in the agricultural sector - the mushroom industry being highlighted - that are suffering hugely because of the fluctuation in the value of sterling. Jobs will be dislocated in these sectors if we do not do something to help such sectors. Ultimately, that would involve a social welfare bill and a loss of dignity for people, which is not a correct policy. I therefore ask the Taoiseach, in the context of the budget and flexibility within the taxation system, that an effort be made to address the difficulty of sectors hit by the fluctuation in sterling in this budget and in the future.

On a broader level, regarding Brexit, I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach wants to have an all-Ireland dialogue. It is so important, and it was mentioned earlier, not only that there is a recognition that the people of Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU, but also that there is a national approach to this because we do not want a return to a hard Border. We want free movement of people, services and goods right across this island and we want a normal society to continue here. The Taoiseach's attempt to achieve consensus nationally in that regard is great.

Regarding the arrangement with the UK, we need the UK to have a kind of Norwegian model. I know that the Taoiseach cannot personally or directly influence this but perhaps he can create conditions or assist to create conditions that would lead to it. We need the UK to maintain as many links and as much business and movement of goods, people and services as possible, with a certain adaptation, as in the case of Norway, which would suit its particular needs. We need as much normality as possible to continue after the result.

In a budgetary context, the 9% VAT rate, which was revolutionary and was one of the great planks in restoring our economy, has now become very important. The prognosis is that sterling will continue to fluctuate downward. As sterling weakens, our UK visitors will have less spending power when they come here. To attract tourism, our hotels and businesses need the 9% VAT rate. In that context, I would be the first to support the view that has become common, anecdotally and otherwise, that hotels must measure up in the prices they are charging. This is a Dublin issue specifically, but along the areas where I live it is very important just to keep the tourism sector alive.

The fluctuation in the value of sterling is a real issue right along the Border and right across the agricultural sector, particularly in intensive agriculture. We could lose jobs and a whole lot of progress there. I appeal to the Taoiseach to see how this could be headed off in the budget. It should be borne in mind that the ultimate cost of allowing a collapse in these sectors, which I know he does not want to see happen, is enormous in terms of social welfare, health and societal problems.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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A number of people are offering to speak but I cannot fit them all in, so rather than start the rounds again, I ask the Taoiseach to respond. We must finish at 4 p.m. and we have only nine minutes to do so.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have enjoyed this experience and I thank Senators for the contributions they have made. Some of them have been very valuable and very constructive.

My agenda for the future is immediately to deal with the budget and public finances, Brexit, the common travel area, Northern Ireland, our relationship with Britain, the protection of our own national interests and housing and homelessness. Regarding the latter, we have produced an action plan in 100 days, with €5 billion on the table, which is now being implemented.There are challenges in health. The budget is €14 billion and we have waiting lists and issues with emergency departments. Our strategy is to have a ten-year focus on health.

I was asked when the citizens' assembly would report on the eighth amendment. It is the first issue with which Ms Justice Laffoy and the 99 citizens will deal. Obviously, I expect the recommendations or whatever report is produced to be available to the Oireachtas probably fairly early in 2017. I cannot put a date on it because I am not in a position to direct that the assembly has it back by a particular date. It is important that ordinary citizens be entitled to have their say at a public forum in respect of an issue which has divided Irish society for well over 30 years. I look forward to the engagement and participation of people from throughout the country, and various groups will have their say. It will eventually come back to the Oireachtas. I cannot give a date as to when the assembly will report, but it is the first item with which it will deal.

Senator Craughwell referred to public pay. This is a serious issue. Having gone through budgets since 2011, I know just how desperate the situation has been and still is in many cases. I take on board Senator McDowell's words. We are not going to blow the Irish economy off the rails on which the people have put it in recent years through their hard sacrifices and difficult political choices. There is a finite pot of approximately €1 billion and this has been set out by both Ministers. It will be two to one in favour of public services as against taxation matters. We must make choices that are based on fairness, equality and priority to try to improve the lives of people where we can.

In many cases, when I sit at the European Council table people look at Ireland in a very different way now and they see the growth rate and the deficit falling - to be eliminated by 2018. They see employment at over 2 million for the first time since 2009 and they see the improvements. However, there are challenges. The Senator raised a very particular point on the follow through from the Haddington Road agreement and Lansdowne Road agreement, which is to end in 2017. I am a realist, as everybody must be in this business. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is acutely aware that there must be an arrangement to follow on from the Lansdowne Road agreement in due course. I will say no more about it now, except that the Minister is acutely aware of the importance of the public services in which people engage and the services they provide. I hope that, in the current situation, people will involve themselves in the mechanisms of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court, and that we continue to keep our country going in the direction it is now heading, which is for a rising economy with the capacity to spread its fruits throughout the land where they are needed, where there is inequality and where people have been left behind.

The north inner city is an issue on which I intend to prove the Government actually takes an interest and that an area that was neglected, left behind and in which there is not that equality of opportunity, can respond in such a way. I have been there on many occasions. There are very strong, resilient and persistent people living there who are committed to their families, their streets and their homes. They do not want their area blackened by a small percentage of criminal gangs that involve themselves in power, money and territory with a ruthlessness that is savage in how it imposes itself on communities. This is why the Garda has been given the resources and the opportunity to deal with this. It is also why Mr. Kieran Mulvey is speaking to all of the groups. We will receive his report in November and I hope we can deal with it and demonstrate that where community leaders and people want to get on with their lives, we are there to help them. When I say "we", I mean everybody involved. This is a cross-party issue and not a party-political one.

The question of education interests me. We do not have the money to invest where we know we could. We must look to the Cassells report. We have shorter-term issues. We have paternity leave and the second free preschool year. We must deal with the question of child care costs and the particular issues involved.

I am concerned about the fragility of the European Union. Thirty five or 40 years ago, a number of very strong leaders were recognised Europe but now we have a single, serious economic power. For all of those years, it was a case of countries applying to join the European Union and now a country has decided to leave it. I want Senators to understand that the European Commission has always been the body which has dealt with applications to join because it has had the experience and expertise available to it. This is the first time a country is leaving and the Commission will still deal with the negotiations and discussions. It will be the European Council which will make the ultimate decisions because its members are the elected leaders and Heads of Government of the countries involved. There is fragility about the structure of Europe that needs to be focused on with clear political thinking and a picture of where we want to be in five, ten, 15 and 20 years time.

There are concerns about trade deals, but there is also the prize of being able to set down the standards for world trade for the next 50 years. People should not be afraid of globalisation. Socrates said he was not a citizen of Athens or a citizen of Greece but a citizen of the world. It is more important now to understand the interdependence of people and the international aspect of who we are in Ireland and the impact our people make worldwide every day. I am very proud of this.

We have the challenge of continuing to keep the country as a place that is attractive for foreign direct investment and that is recognised as being open for business. We are first in the world for skilled labour and, according to some of the world reports, seventh in terms of competitiveness. We have moved up this line and this is where we need to be.

The forthcoming budget on 11 October will contain Brexit-proofing in respect of issues that we know are important. People have mentioned the industries under pressure, and some have already gone under, and currency fluctuations, which Senator Reilly mentioned, are an issue. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are examining this and the Minister is very cognisant of what it means. It also means there is an issue in respect of price increases from some manufacturing exports to England. These matters will impact on British consumers in due course. This will be an issue. It is right and proper that the Prime Minister should have the opportunity to reflect on the issues the United Kingdom has to focus on before Article 50 is triggered. Otherwise we are into a complete mass of confusion. We cannot have a fix at present on what the proposition is, as it is the legal right of the Prime Minister to move it. When it is moved, Europe must respond on where it wants to be. Believe me, the complications that will arise from this are absolutely complex. We have had some initial reaction to this.

People have asked whether we have a plan here. Long before the vote, we established a unit in the Department of the Taoiseach to examine the contingencies that might have to be dealt with. There is a dedicated Cabinet committee. I was asked about appointing a Minister. This is bigger than one Ministry and we need everybody involved. This is why I chair the Cabinet committee and bring in Ministers as necessary. I have asked all Ministers to look in detail at what is involved in their Departments in so far as their counterparts in Northern Ireland are concerned. The next meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council will be held in November and this will be an issue. I hope we will have held the first of a series of all-island discussions before then because it is important that the economic voice of Northern Ireland is also heard with regard to cross-Border activities. It is very important that we hear all of these voices. The North-South Ministerial Council is well able to deal with the politics and political discussion, but there are other voices that also need to be heard.

In respect of homelessness and housing, we have a €5 billion programme that is unprecedented in its scale. Some people remarked that not much is happening. The plan was produced within the first 100 days. The main aim with regard to family homelessness, which was set out in the action plan, is to ensure that by mid-2017, which is an ambitious target, commercial hotels will only be used in exceptionally limited circumstances to accommodate homeless families.For instance, the €200 million infrastructural fund that is being put in place is to open up sites that are held in public ownership but are not accessible. There is an intense interest in this already and I believe that it will bring about an increased access to about 11,000 to 15,000 houses when they are built.

We also need new ways of thinking like the private sector building after the Dublin City Council voted in respect of the site at O'Devaney Gardens, which is a massive operation. Bigger companies, where they are publicly quoted, have a capacity to have very low interest rates in terms of the repayment of loans that they borrow to build houses and can come on stream. We will accelerate the rapid building programme. By the end of 2018, there will be at least 1,500 provided. Look at these sites - much of the material comes in already manufactured elsewhere and grows exponentially in a very quick time. HAP homeless tenancies are to deliver 550 in 2016 and 1,200 in 2017. So far, they have delivered 450 this year. Two hundred extra emergency beds for rough sleepers are to be put in place before the end of this year at a cost of €4 million. The Housing Agency will purchase 1,600 vacant properties and a number of these will be used to provide permanent homes for homeless people. The agency has acquired 171 properties on behalf of the local authorities. In addition, in excess of 730 homes have been offered to the agency for sale. So far, bids have been made on 96 of these. Of those, 49 have been accepted, and that work is going on. The supply of social housing will increase to 47,000 houses by the end of 2021. It is an ambitious target, but it is one that I believe will be achieved. Under Rebuilding Ireland, housing first teams in Dublin will increase from 100 tenancies to 300 tenancies. The point made here by those dealing with homeless people is that the housing first team capacity is very good. Get the house first and then provide the wrap-around services for people who will live in those and occupy those things. It seems to be very successful. It is now being expanded here and we hope that it will be a big success.

I have mentioned the eighth amendment.

I would be very happy to recognise Senator Lawless. I know the Senator for many years, but the reason - to be clear on this - for his appointment was because I had seen him in action in the United States, on Capitol Hill in particular, talking to Republican Senators and Congressmen and Democratic Senators and Congressmen. Better known than many of those who serve on Capitol Hill in the White House is Senator Lawless. His connection there on behalf of all of the Irish will be most fortunate for whoever is elected President in November and the new structure that will apply on Capitol Hill. I wish the Senator well in his endeavours for the diaspora in general, but also in respect of undocumented Irish and elderly Irish who find themselves now stranded in condominiums far from their friends and their relations, unable to move out. Our agencies and those who look after the needs of the Irish can be led by the Senator. They are in very good hands in that regard.

I want to thank the father of House for his inspiring words. I will be most happy to grant him an hour of my life to discuss his proposals for Seanad reform.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Afternoon tea, coffee or whatever is the Senator's liking. We will choose an appropriate location, visible of course and-----

David Norris (Independent)
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I thank the Taoiseach. He is most gracious.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Senator Ó Ríordáin raised a particular matter here.

I would like to come back to the Seanad here before the end of the year if I may. We might refer to a number of-----

David Norris (Independent)
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Splendid. Bravo.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----the issues that were raised here, including the McMahon report. We commissioned this report and the learned judge did a fine report. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, is dealing directly with refugees. We have had problems with this, not just in Ireland. We have been ready and committed to take 4,000 between relocation and resettlement. It has been very slow starting off. That has been streamlined now somewhat, particularly in Italy where there were problems. Obviously, we have had problems in other locations as well. I think he might be quite happy to come here and give the Seanad an update. I know that he was answering questions in the Dáil yesterday about this. Much better progress is being made. Actually, he has been around to visit quite a number of the locations where refugees or asylum seekers have been. By and large, where they have moved from direct provision into housing in Ireland, they find our country most welcoming and they strive very hard to make a contribution to Ireland. I would be happy to follow up on that and see what we can do.

A Senator mentioned the disability situation. I would like to think that we could sign that convention as soon as possible. When we set out the roadmap here, there were a number of pieces of legislation that had to go through, and they were stacked up. In Ireland, we prefer to do the legislation before we sign. Others have signed and not dealt with the legislation, so maybe we should discuss that as well.

Bhí an Seanadóir ag caint faoi chathair na Gaillimhe. Sure, the situation now is that the traffic jams are horrendous in Galway.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Exactly.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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These are not driving around for nothing. They are people working. The largest cluster of-----

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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That will be of great comfort to the people of Briarhill.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----medical device centres in Europe is in the Galway area, and I have been caught in those jams myself. NUIG has expanded beyond all recognition. It is a university that has actually climbed up the rankings despite many criticisms, but I take the Senator's point. Obviously, we put €900 million into the capital programme for a relief road for Galway. It is difficult to get agreement on these things - environmental, social, people impact and so on like that - but it is a location that is going to be the city of culture for 2020. I think that is going to mean so much for the west of Ireland and be an opportunity for Galway to show its capacity to be recognised as a European city.

On Stráiteis na Gaeilge, we have the new coiste. The draft recommendations will be before it shortly and Senators will be entitled to participate and help us in that regard.

I have mentioned Lansdowne Road, which the Senator over there mentioned.

As to the forgotten Irish in England, we have seen the "Men of Arlington" and the programmes on that over the years. This is a situation, but I have to say that there is a great connection with the Irish agencies in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and so on that look after those who left, particularly in the 1950s, and some of whom fell on hard times in the more difficult years.

I mentioned Senator Norris and his invitation.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Voting rights.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Ná déan dearmad orainn.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In respect of the all-island conversation that the Senator mentioned, obviously that is a part of where we are. We are going to follow through on that.

Let us see whether we can make real headway in terms of the Manning report. I hope that all of the parties will agree to participate. Rather than have this vested in just one Department, it will be the responsibility of the implementation committee. The former Senator Manning and his people have said that they will be available to work with that implementation group in terms of any technicality or issue that might arise and on which it wants further background information.

Senator Conway-Walsh mentioned Article 50. When it is triggered is the right of the Prime Minister. Obviously, I have met the Secretary of State, Mr. Davis, and the Secretary of State, Mr. Brokenshire. Most Ministers have met their counterparts and we are obviously looking at the contingency issues that are going to have to be dealt with here, but remember this - of all the countries to be affected by Brexit, Ireland is the most critical. This does not affect other countries in south-eastern Europe to the same extent. Given our connections with Britain over the years - social, economic, political and so on - and the working relationships that we have, we need to maintain those. The common travel area affected both countries to their benefit before we joined the Union and since we joined the Union, but it has not been tested with one in and one out. Clearly, we do not want to return to a hard Border here. It is my intention not to have that. It is also the intention of the British Prime Minister. There may be different views in Europe. If one has a land border between Dundalk and Derry, obviously we need to be able to look after our national interests, and our national interests were voted on in 1998 when the Good Friday Agreement was voted on and people North and South voted for the right and the opportunity to be able to travel on this island freely.We do not want to see a situation whereby people in Northern Ireland who are entitled to Irish passports would be required to have visas to visit a part of this island that is a member state of the European Union when the UK has eventually pulled out of it. There are issues that need to be examined. I have spoken to a number of people about imaginative ways of ensuring that we can retain the best of what we have and move on. From a European perspective, we need to face the future in a way that allows Europe to move forward with its almost 500 million people and all of the opportunities that presents. Europe has evolved over the years out of the slaughter of two world wars. Peace in Europe has been, possibly, taken for granted. In the context of the human catastrophic events happening in Syria and Aleppo, that peace should never be taken for granted. For this reason, it is important that the politics of Europe is focused on what we can do to deal with immigration and the prosperity and development of members countries.

Senator McDowell made an important point. We are not going to play around with the public finances. All of the people of the country have made sacrifices and we have moved to a point where we are in a better position than we were but we are not yet where we would like to be. Careful management of and continued growth in the economy allows for expenditure to deal with those who have been left behind, those who have been neglected and those who have been treated unfairly. We need to get those people out of poverty and on to higher incomes so that they can contribute fully to their communities and areas.

Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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The point I made is that the Cabinet has collective responsibility in that regard.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Senator that collective responsibility of the Cabinet remains as it always was. There is no change in collective responsibility. That has been around since the foundation of the State and I do not intend to change it. When the Government and the Cabinet make decisions by collective responsibility, that stands. That is important. As I indicated in the Dáil to the former Leader of the Senator Humphrey's party in recent days, I do not intend to change that.

I hope I have dealt with most of the issues raised.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Perhaps the Taoiseach would address the issue of voting rights for people in the North in presidential elections.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Following on from the appointment of the first Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Deenihan, a new Minister of State has been appointed to that role. I will shortly be meeting the officials who deal with this area. I want the issues of voting rights for people in the North in presidential elections and the voting rights of emigrants to be addressed. There are complications and challenges.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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I am not an emigrant.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Please allow the Taoiseach to respond.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I did not say the Senator is an emigrant. I said I wanted to deal with the issue of voting rights for people in the North in presidential elections and the voting rights of people who live in countries outside of the island of Ireland. I hope I have made myself clear.

I will be happy to return to the House again before Christmas to deal with some of the other issues raised, if that is the wish of the Seanad.

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach might address the issue of the Christmas bonus.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I hope he comes back with good news.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That issue has been raised in the Dáil and elsewhere. These are matters for the budgetary announcement on 11 October, in the context of which discussions are ongoing between the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform and the other members of the Cabinet. As I said, we have a finite pot. All of these matters will be subject to the budgetary announcement to be made on 11 October.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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We have gone well over time. I thank the Taoiseach for his visit and for what has been a very interesting debate. We will hold him to his promise to return to the House before Christmas.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will be happy to do that.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach can discuss the Christmas bonus at that point. When is it proposed to sit again?

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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On Tuesday next at 2.30 p.m.