Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 20, motion 11, re the conflict in Syria, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate, and No. 1, Finance (Certain European Union and Intergovernmental Obligations) Bill 2016 - Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken at 1.30 p.m.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence met this morning in the Dáil Chamber. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Statement of Strategy 2015-2017 refers to strengthening our influence in the EU, to the United Nations and so on but makes no mention of Irish neutrality, which is worrying in the context of the EU's relentless progress towards militarisation. The President of the EU Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, has spoken about the need to move towards common military assets, which is about people making money from the sale of hardware. That the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade statement of strategy neglects to mention our stated position on neutrality reflects badly on the Government. There is no point talking about it, it must be stated in black and white. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, was unable to explain why the departmental officials had not included reference to our stated position on neutrality in that strategy. The reply I received when I raised the matter at the committee was that the statement of strategy is not solely a policy document but an articulation of how we intend to implement our programme, which is straight out of the top drawer of Sir Humphrey's manual on how to reply to a question without actually giving a reply.

We have spoken at length in this House on the issue of Brexit. I understand the issue is being discussed in Europe this week. The stance we have taken on this issue is in no way as aggressive as that of other EU countries, such as France, in terms of the manner in which they are pursuing businesses based in London or throughout the EU that are uncertain of their future because of Brexit. EU institutions based in England are also being pursued by other European countries. We need a strategy that will enable us to pursue EU institutions and businesses located in England in the same manner as other EU countries.

On my original point regarding Irish neutrality not being mentioned as a core principle in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Statement of Strategy 2015-2017, members of the Fine Gael Party also expressed disappointment at the lack of reference in that regard in the Department's strategy.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Following on from Senator Daly's contribution, I attended a conference on Brexit in Brussels last week, a central part of which was the need to develop a European army. I recall making the statement at the time that if the EU moves to do that another country, namely, Ireland, will be exiting Europe.

I am calling on the Leader today to discuss with the Minister for Public and Expenditure and Reform the major industrial relations collapse into which we appear to be steam-rolling. Currently, the ASTI, GRA, AGSI, INMO and the IMO are in difficulty with respect to the Lansdowne Road agreement, whether inside or outside it. I have sat around the table of executive committees in unions. Unless something is done the Government runs the risk of the Lansdowne Road agreement collapsing. I agree with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and all of the Ministers who have publicly stated that the only show in town is the Lansdowne Road agreement. If side-deals are done to halt industrial action, they will lead to the leapfrog syndrome creeping into industrial relations and everybody looking for more.

We must re-open the Lansdowne Road agreement, and we have only three weeks within which to do so, if we want to put this industrial unrest to bed. To be fair, the Leader's party, bears the responsibility for overheating expectations within the economy during the election campaign. The peace and harmony in industrial relations has been stalled, with some of the main unions in this country having stepped outside the industrial relations process. Unless we get these unions back into the tent not only will they leave the process but so, too, will other unions. That is my prediction.

I am asking that the Leader engage with Ministers on the need to get all of the unions back into the process. There is no need to be afraid. Trade unions in this country have shown in the past that they are pragmatic and capable of doing a deal. It strikes me that members of the Fine Gael Party are not really labour people. They are not people who understand public service workers. Perhaps Fine Gael should engage with the Labour Party which helped it so much in the last Government-----

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Craughwell's time has expired.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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-----on how to find its way in the public service and resolve the problems therein.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I begin by paying tribute to Senator Bacik for her motion on Syria, to which we have all signed up. It shows what this Chamber is capable of, and the fact that we could all negotiate successfully to agree on such an important issue shows that this House can at times be a very effective unified force for doing the right thing. I will therefore bring up Shannon Airport again. It is the elephant in the room, I am afraid, because we know what is going on at Shannon Airport. I can read the House reports from this week alone on the aircraft, including commercial aircraft, that have come and gone. We know that they are carrying troops and ammunitions. We know that this week the troops had to stay over in Clare because there was a problem with the aeroplane. I do not make this point in a party-political manner, I just want us to be honest with ourselves. How can we on the one hand quite rightly demand peace in Syria while on the other turn a blind eye to the use of our civilian airport in Shannon to carry troops, munitions and weapons being used in the wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq? In all honesty, how can the excellent motion on Syria have real standing when the world can see that we are turning a blind eye to what is continuing to happen at Shannon Airport?

I am delighted to hear Senator Mark Daly raise the issue of neutrality but I have not heard him say anything about Shannon Airport. There was a time when Niall Andrews and other good people such as Dan Breen in Fianna Fáil were prepared to stand up for our neutrality, not just talk about it. However, there is now a gross hypocrisy - those are the only words I can use - in this regard because we all know what is going on in Shannon and we all know that we are turning a blind eye to the transport through Shannon Airport of military troops, weaponry and munitions that were used to blow up women and children in Yemen last Saturday, which continues to happen. I therefore ask the Leader whether we could have another look at this issue. I ask that we be very serious about this and not decide we are only in favour of peace when it suits us.

Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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I would like to raise a number of matters today. First, I congratulate the Union of Students in Ireland for having got more than 10,000 people out on the streets yesterday in the fight for both free education and access to education and to show students' distaste at the possibility of third-level loans. I know the education committee is due to discuss the Cassells report, but something must be done in the interim. We need to go back to the Minister for Education and consider the bureaucracy in the likes of Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI. I get very distressed e-mails from mature students. I have one this morning from a nurse about to quit her third year. It will be a loss to this country to lose nurses due to the bureaucracy in the likes of SUSI, which is set up by the State to provide access to students who need it. SUSI insists every year on treating this nurse as not being a dependant of her mother, with whom she has not lived for years, but she has always looked after herself and lives on her own. It is a real shame that we cannot set up a system whereby we can give those most vulnerable students the access they need. I also have a handwritten letter from a young child, who is quite distressed, in fourth year. It is a shame that the emotional well-being of someone so young is being affected because he is so worried about how he will access third-level education three years from the time at which he is even due to consider it. We should therefore come together and support the likes of the students who were outside the House yesterday seeking reform in the education system.

I also read this morning a very exciting article which I showed to Senator Mark Daly about Deputy Jack Chambers, who has circulated a policy seeking to relax the criminalisation of drug addicts. I hope the other Fianna Fáilers in the room will take some heed of the younger people in the party when the Bill with this aim which Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and I are to introduce comes before the House.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Is the Senator saying we are not young? That is very disappointing.

Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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I would also like the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to come before the House to discuss a disgraceful article he wrote in which he suggests that we should have a school in the inner city only for the children of international bankers. I could not believe what I was reading, that a Fine Gael Minister of State would suggest widening the huge deprivation and inequality already present in the area and make it even more observable than it already is. It is hard enough for children growing up around there to look at an IFSC and know they will never be employed there, work there or be part of it without a Minister of State suggesting the placing of a school there that would segregate any people coming to live or work here from abroad from the ordinary citizens of the north inner city.

Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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I first pay credit to the credit union movement because today is International Credit Union Day. I thank the movement personally because its members worked very closely with me in developing the micro-credit scheme. I hope the eventual outcome of the scheme will be the closing down of what I call the legal money lenders, who charge up to 130% interest rates to many people in deprived areas who cannot access money elsewhere. The credit union movement played a key role in rolling out the micro-credit scheme, which is worth €100 million as an anti-poverty strategy, so it has been successful and I hope it grows from success to success.

Very often I have used the floor of the Seanad to criticise the new politics and ask what it is. However, reading Fiach Kelly's article in The Irish Timesthis morning in which the Minister for Finance is quoted as saying he will now adjust the help-to-buy plan, it is positive when a Government can see it has made a mistake and then start making adjustments. However, several more adjustments need to be made to the help-to-buy scheme. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, wanted to attract people coming back to Ireland. Many people I know who emigrated want to come back to Ireland but will not be able to compete with other families buying houses. They will be disadvantaged because they will not be able to get the tax benefits due to their having to work abroad for many years.

The other element of the budget I ask the Leader to consider is the lack of any measures to benefit renters. There have been tax cuts for landlords and an increase in the threshold for the rent-a-room scheme but absolutely nothing for people who are in rental accommodation.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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They are paying rent increases of up to 25% and at the same time must try to save for a deposit on a home. They are hugely disadvantaged.

I welcome wholeheartedly the decision of An Bord Pleanála regarding Airbnb. Senator Denis Landy and I have highlighted this issue in this House over and over again. We have a housing crisis in the country and in this city in particular. Some 2,000 apartments and homes have moved to Airbnb. The decision by An Bord Pleanála means that the owners of these properties will have to get planning permission to rent their properties through Airbnb. Think of the impact if we were to bring in regulation to control Airbnb and if we could put 2,000 units back into the rental market for people with families to rent. This has been the single biggest impact on the rental market in the Dublin area and also in the Cork and Galway areas regarding the housing shortage. The Minister may bring in new initiatives, but we are still leaking units at the other end. If we could bring those 2,000 units back into the long-term rental market, it would have a significant impact on housing.

With regard to the debate on new politics, it is positive if Ministers listen and adjust and change, but there is an issue regarding Cabinet collective responsibility which I have raised before in this House. I feel very strongly about repeal of the eighth amendment and believe it should be repealed. However, a Cabinet decision has been made by all members of the Cabinet for the Government to go down a particular line, that is, the Citizens' Assembly, which sat last Sunday. Now we hear talk of Cabinet members seeking a free vote.Should we abandon collective Cabinet responsibility so easily and without a proper debate and discussion? I urge caution. The vote has not come up and they may vote. However, we really need to have that discussion. Maybe it is good that we abolish collective responsibility.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator is well over his time.

Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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However, we should not do it blindly and without discussion.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I also raise the issue of Shannon Airport, but for a totally different reason. It follows from the proposed Garda strikes which are to take place every Friday in the month of November. I ask the Leader to talk to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to find out what plans he is going to put in place in terms of the immigration unit which staffs many airports. There is a fear that if there is no one there to run things, passengers may be affected. Will airports be able to open? It is an issue that affects all airports as a result of the threatened strike.

Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail)
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One of our other Senators hit on the following already this morning. In his budget proposals, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, got his lines badly wrong as I suggested at the time. He is now reconsidering and redrawing his plan for a tax rebate for first-time buyers. He is on shifting ground. After meeting the Minister this morning, the IPAV released an in-depth survey of the housing market. There are two figures which jumped out at me. The first is that over 92% of homes in the State are second-hand homes. It is not a shocking statistic in that there are not too many new homes being built. The second figure is that 90% of house-sale completions for first-time buyers are in the €100,000 to €350,000 range. The budgetary instruments are devised to stimulate the building industry, but they are ill-judged and will only end in failure. One more year will be wasted in terms of house-building and house starts.

The core problem is the cost of building. As has been outlined many times, the cost of building has increased by 50% over the last number of years due to regulation, new engineering requirements, dezoning and a plethora of other reasons. All new homes must be A-rated, which is a great jump forward in the standard of homes we are going to produce, but the cost of it has been passed directly to the builder. There is no extra benefit for the builder in relation to that requirement. Until we tackle the core cost of building with a lower VAT rate, this problem is not going to disappear. If the Minister introduced a lower VAT rate, it would certainly be tax efficient. The reduced VAT rate in the hotel industry has led to a tourism boom. A reduced tax rate of 9% on goods and services on homes being built would immediately address our housing crisis, boost the State's tax coffers and increase employment. This is going to be the answer. We will have to look at it. We are tinkering around and failing to increase supply. The core issue is the cost of building.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I will be brief. Today is international credit union day and many of our colleagues were in the Davenport Hotel from 8 a.m. this morning for a presentation. The credit union movement in Ireland is a North-South one. Most of the credit unions in Northern Ireland are accredited to the Irish League of Credit Unions, which is a really important point. What do the credit unions want to do? What did they say to us this morning? They asked us to come back to the Chamber to talk to both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. The credit unions say there is a commitment in the confidence and supply agreement between the two parties to develop a strategy for the growth and development of the credit union sector. Some might smile and ask what that is about when the State owns approximately 95% of AIB. Clearly, the State wants to see AIB boosted because the Government intends at some point to sell part of it. As such, some will ask why it would assist credit unions at this juncture.

It is timely for us to support credit unions. They have given everyone a pack setting out ten simple objectives and commitments, some of which appear in the programme for Government. In fact, some of them were to have been implemented within the first 100 days of the action plan for Government but none has been achieved thus far. We should all try to get the pack or go on the website to see what is in it and support Irish credit union movement.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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We had an excellent debate on the action plan for education with the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, a few weeks ago. It was a great debate with a high level of participation and a great discussion. I ask the Leader now for a focused, stand-alone debate on the following aspects of education. The first involves those young people who leave school prematurely. While the number of such young people has fallen in recent times, there continues to be a significant cohort who leave prematurely. We need to discuss the factors at work there and the remedies we could put in place to reduce the risk of early school-leaving and keep them in school.

A closely related matter involves the large cohort of young people for whom the academic option is not the best one. We need to look at the German model of apprenticeship. While it has some academic input, it is mainly an apprenticeship model. We must look at the entire range of apprenticeships. I notice now that more of the traditional apprenticeships are returning, including in areas like insurance.

I ask that the relevant Minister attends the House to consider why people leave school early, what strategies we can put in place to cope with that and, in respect of those who remain, how we can make school and lifelong learning more attractive. There is a lacuna there which we need to address, including by way of a specific debate in the House.

Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise the annual report launched by the One in Four organisation. One in Four provides group treatment programmes to sexual abuse victims and offenders. Its treatment programmes also cover families, including wives, husbands, partners and parents. The treatment programmes are evidence-based and they work. Most importantly, these treatment programmes protect our children.

I raise this issue to help us all to continue to protect our children. The vast majority of sexual abuse happens within families. Most offenders will never face a criminal trial as the victims rarely report the crimes, which are kept secret within families. Extremely worrying is the fact that over 40% of offenders are under the age of 18. Tonight's edition of "Would You Believe" to be broadcast on RTE 1 is entitled "Beyond Redemption?". I ask Members to watch the programme and to consider its content and how we can make Ireland safer from the abuses discussed. We could have a wider discussion and debate in time.

I will be discussing this matter as a member of the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs to which I hope we can invite Maeve Lewis from One in Four to discuss its annual report. One in Four is completely overburdened. It provides counselling to 116 adult survivors of child sexual abuse and 40 families. It provides almost 3,000 therapy hours and practical information on child protection notifications. One in Four worked with 38 sex offenders and 19 wives during 2015. There is now a delay of up to six months for people waiting for an appointment with One in Four. From my experience as a psychiatric nurse and having dealt with victims and offenders of sexual abuse, I encourage the House to have a wider discussion on this. I welcome and am grateful for the extremely difficult work One in Four does and, again, encourage Members to view the "Would You Believe?" programme tonight.

Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael)
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I want to raise the issue of mental health services in County Roscommon. The people who use mental health services in Roscommon, their families and the staff must be provided with the facts about the current and future provision of services in the county. I have listened to a wide range of individuals over the past number of days who are involved in the mental health services in the county. All these people have been clear and definite in their view that the HSE is implementing a different agenda on the ground to that which it publicly states. What is clear is that the statements from the HSE and the experiences of people within the mental health services does not match up. I have spoken at length to the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Helen McEntee, and with the chief officer of community services within that service area. Both have advised me that there are no active plans to close the various day centres and hostels, namely, Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Strokestown, Castlerea and Athleague. The HSE has also informed me that there are no plans to close the community nursing unit in Áras Naomh Chaolain or to relocate residents to private nursing homes. I have been advised that the HSE is currently consulting residents, family and staff in one setting from which patients are being transferred to a more appropriate setting. That is an ongoing process at the moment.

I want to make it very clear that this information has been provided by the HSE to me in writing. The difficulty is that there is an obvious difference between what people are saying to me and what the HSE has stated. I want to know the truth. I also want the external report into mental health services in County Roscommon to be finalised and made available as quickly as possible. I expect this report to identify challenges and weaknesses within our services and an action plan to support people and bring about improvement for people who need to use our mental health services and their families. I ask that the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, addresses us on this issue as quickly as possible.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I raise the issue of the minor works grants for schools. School principals around the country are dismayed and concerned that there was no mention of the minor works grant in this year's budget. For schools, this grant has always been a vital part of school funding. Its removal a number of years ago has caused difficulties for school management with regard to basic repairs in schools, be it maintenance of the school infrastructure itself or equipment. The rates applicable typically run such that a school of about 50 pupils, for example, could expect to receive a grant of €6,400, whereas a school with 300 pupils could expect to receive a grant of €11,000. We all know that the failure to maintain and invest in the upkeep of schools is a false economy. The old adage of "A stitch in time saves nine" springs to mind. The grant, as Members know, is spent on the physical infrastructure of the school and items of school equipment, including IT-related equipment. The money might be needed for general maintenance outside, which could be the replacement of windows, the purchase of PE equipment, as well as the repair or repurpose of equipment such as computers, printers, etc. It is for all of the basic stuff that keeps our schools going.

Principals also state that having certainty about whether the grant is going to be paid is nearly as important as the grant itself, as it allows the board to manage the budget for the various minor works involved throughout the year. The board of management is, as we all know, made up of volunteers working for nothing on behalf of our community. We are very lucky to have them and we cherish that. The very least they deserve is the security of knowing what they are going to get, if anything. At the end of the day, no funds for schools means extra fund-raising for parents themselves. That is another form of taxation. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to address the confusion over whether the school grant is going to be paid this year.

Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael)
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I rise today to raise the issue of the Organisation for National Ex-Service Personnel, ONE. I raise in particular the funding for housing for these ex-servicemen. A fuchsia appeal was launched in July, which is a charity. I do not believe that ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen that have served their country so proudly should have to rely on charity when they fall on hard times. ONE has several houses around the country. One of them is in my own hometown of Athlone and others are in Dublin, Letterkenny and Limerick. There are also several different drop-in centres, all of which are funded by charity, although I do not think that is good enough. Single men, in particular, are falling through the cracks when they leave the Army, although not just the Army, and find themselves in a situation where they need support. All the ONE fund-raisers are volunteers. I ask the Leader to speak to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and ask him to address this issue within his housing strategy and the budget. These houses receive nothing from the Government or from their county councils. I think the house in Dublin receives some money from a Dublin county council but that is as much as it is. I urge that this is raised with the Minister. It is not good enough for ex-servicemen who have served their country.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I acknowledge the presence of Mr. Jim Pavlock from the USA in the Visitors Gallery. He is here as a special guest of our esteemed Leader of the Seanad, Senator Buttimer.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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I want to take the opportunity to recognise the great work that was done here yesterday in passing Second Stage of the Irish Sign Language Bill.I acknowledge the great work of my colleague, acting leader of the Fianna Fáil group today, an Seanadóir Mark Daly in bringing forward the legislation. The sentiments expressed by the Irish deaf community are very favourable towards the work done here yesterday. The Seanad can recognise minorities by bringing forward and supporting legislation to deal with issues such as the one we addressed yesterday.

I call on the Leader to facilitate a debate on the Government’s regional and rural development policy. I would like the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to come to the House to discuss the issue of regional and rural development.

The final issue I wish to raise is the new home grants or tax rebate scheme. I remember on the day it was announced mentioning that the 80% loan-to-value ratio would incentivise people to take on debt. Now we see in the media today a report that it is being tinkered with and may be reduced to 70%. The scheme is incentivising individuals to take on debt in purchasing a home, which is wrong. Is it possible for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, to come to the House to discuss the scheme? In parallel, he might discuss the Government’s social housing allocations for local authorities. Both issues are relevant and it would be of benefit if the Minister discussed the home grants scheme before the debate takes place in the House on the relevant legislation which I presume will be introduced later in the year.

Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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Like my colleague, Senator Kevin Humphreys, I welcome the decision made by An Bord Pleanála to uphold Dublin City Council's decision on the requirement to have planning permission for the short-term letting of apartments in Temple Bar. I have no doubt that the situation impacted on the homeless crisis in Dublin. The Government’s rent-a-room scheme and the increased provision of apartments might help to ease the problem. However, there is an issue which I raised some months ago in terms of how Airbnb was helping to resolve the crisis arising from the lack of hotel bedrooms in Dublin city centre. I understand more than 3,300 rooms in Dublin are being used for the purposes of Airbnb which I have used when I have travelled to attend meetings in London or elsewhere in the country. In effect, one can obtain good value in renting a room at a time when one cannot find a hotel room for less than €200. The same is happening in Dublin. Because of the shortage of hotel rooms, effectively hoteliers are trying to fleece many tourists, as well as Irish people who come from rural areas and simply cannot find a hotel room. We need to examine the issues of homelessness and the lack of accommodation, but we must also consider the problem overall. I would, therefore, like the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to come the House but also the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for a debate on how we can get things right. I welcome the decision, but it may result in a shortfall of 3,300 beds that will impact on the viability of the tourism industry in the city centre, in particular.

Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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I commend the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, and the thousands of students who took ownership of the streets of this city yesterday. Their message was loud and clear - they do not want to see student fees being introduced and neither do their parents. The State and this society cannot afford them. We have seen the disastrous impact of student loans in every country in which they have been initiated, including the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. All of these countries have taken on a massive national debt and created mass indebtedness among young people. Student loans are a surefire way to limit and stifle access to third level education for young people, in the process saddling them with debt earlier in their careers. I commend the USI and the students who took to the streets in their thousands yesterday. Sinn Féin supports their call for a publicly funded education system. Our pre-budget submission outlined clearly a reduction in the student contribution charge of €500 in 2017. We seek a statement from the Minister for Education and Skills on the matter.

Ray Butler (Fine Gael)
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Will the Leader ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to come to the House to tell us what plans he has for retail development in rural Ireland? We all know that the retail sector has changed in rural areas and that many transactions now take place online, but the big issue is planning permission for out-of-town shopping centres and filling stations where parking is free. Paid parking is killing town centres. In many cases it is costing local administration to have machines emptied. Local authorities are talking about privatising the traffic warden service to get rid of that cost. It costs a lot of money to provide parking meters in town centres, but it is having the effect of killing the retail sector as people can avail of free parking spaces in the bigger shopping centres and at filling stations. I call on the Minister to outline his plans for town centres. We have all travelled the country during Seanad election campaigns and have seen the impact of parking charges which are to the detriment of the retail sector. In certain areas there is tumbleweed in the centre of towns because people are not prepared to pay for the luxury of parking to spend ten or 15 minutes purchasing a few items when they can park for free in out-of-town shopping centres or at filling stations. This issue must be examined. Revenue from parking meters has dropped by between 50% and 75% because people are travelling out of town to shop.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Ivana Bacik and all those involved in bringing forward the motion on the situation in Syria. It is extremely important that we speak with one voice and send a clear message on this matter, given the significant number of innocent people, especially children, being killed.

In talking about the need to speak with one voice I wish to refer again – I am sorry for doing so – the ten-year health strategy. Senator Mark Daly raised the matter yesterday. My understanding is that Fine Gael was to bring forward a motion this week in the Dáil to allow Senators to become full members of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare, but I believe both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin indicated that they would vote against the motion. I am extremely concerned about this as it is very important to have agreement on a ten-year health strategy. It indicates to me that the leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy Gerry Adams, have no confidence in the Senators of the respective parties represented in this House and they consider they have nothing to contribute to the strategy. That is a terrible indictment of this House and it is regrettable that this is the attitude of the leadership of these parties to Senators who have a contribution to make to the strategy, yet they are being excluded from involvement in the committee that is devising it. Is this new politics? Is it about excluding 60 Members of the Oireachtas from the process of dealing with a major policy issue which affects every man, woman and child in the country? Is it about making sure Senators are not included in a major strategic planning process? It is appalling that the leaders of the two main Opposition parties are objecting to Senators being included in the committee. The Leader should write to them to ask them to explain why they have adopted this policy towards Members of this House. That is not the new politics I want to see and it is not the new politics Senators want to see. I take extreme exception to the fact that Senators are being excluded from the process.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator’s point is well made.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I join other Members of the House in sending birthday wishes to Senator Lynn Ruane today. We wish her well.I welcome my friend Mr. Pavlock from Philadelphia, to the House. He is a welcome guest.

I thank the 19 Members who raised many issues. I will begin with Senator Colm Burke's remarks regarding the future health strategy. I do so in a spirit of co-operation and cross-party consensus. It is not good enough that the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are opposing the appointment or nomination of Members of this House to the Committee on the Future of Healthcare. It means that we are not good enough and we do not have the expertise. In the context of retention of the Seanad, they are doing a bad job in promoting the House. I appeal to both leaders to go back to their respective parties. It is wrong, it is not good politics and it sends the wrong message.

To be fair to Senator Daly, he was not party to the decision of his party and I am sure Senator Gavan, the Sinn Féin Whip and, Senator Devine, the party's health spokesperson, are not complicit in that but it is absolutely appalling that Seanad Members are not being supported to serve on a committee that will set the health policy of our nation for the next decade and beyond. It is unacceptable and the leaders are speaking out of both sides of their mouths. If they want reform, political correctness and new politics, then all of us should be included. Senators Daly and Gavan should go back to their respective parties and make a stand because this is not good enough. I intend to raise this issue at the next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in the next few weeks.

Senator Daly raised the issue of neutrality and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I did not think our position on neutrality had changed but the Senator made a good point. The document to which he referred is a statement of strategy, which outlines the goals and objectives the Department intends to pursue to promote the values of our people and to promote the State while advancing our prosperity abroad. I assume the value to which he referred is neutrality and I hope that will not change. We should come back to this at a later date and I very much support his call on that.

On the issue of Brexit and jobs, I mentioned yesterday that the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Dara Murphy, has been travelling throughout the eurozone to highlight Ireland's importance and to try to attract companies to locate here. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation secured additional resources for her Department in the budget relating to the post-Brexit era. This funding will provide for an additional 50 staff in the Department and its agencies specifically tasked with assisting companies adjusting to the challenge. The funding will equally help to secure new business and innovation opportunities and diversification into new markets. The Government is prepared and it is working on this. If the Senator has ideas in this regard, I would be happy to convey them to the Minister but he is correct to raise the issue.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of industrial relations. We are in an uncharted time post-recession. Expectations are growing and people want more money in their pockets but, at the same time, the Government parties have a limited amount to spend. On one level, we want increased public services and increases in take home pay but the Government must balance the books not only in fiscal terms but to ensure it gets the mix right between public expenditure and service provision.

It is important that as Members we invite members of the GRA, AGSI and ASTI to engage in meaningful talks about the issues they have. This will not be done through megaphone diplomacy on the airwaves of our broadcasters. It is important that union representatives sit down with officials from the Departments of Justice and Equality, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Education and Skills and the respective Ministers to reach a resolution. The Lansdowne Road agreement, which Deputy Howlin and Senator Humphreys were party to, is a framework within which pay restoration to public servants can be managed and delivered. All of us recognise the fundamental difficulty gardaí encounter in doing their job and all of us understand the importance of education. I appeal to all sides to engage in talks.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of Shannon Airport yet again. As he knows quite well, Ireland is not precluded from allowing military aircraft to land or overfly as a neutral country. There is a UN resolution in this regard and post-9/11, the Government of the day took a decision in conjunction with the UN Security Council to allow for the use of Shannon Airport. I would be happy to have a debate on this. Our position has not changed. The Senator comes in sometimes perhaps trying to get headlines with some of his comments about the airport.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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It is the truth.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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If he talked to people on the ground, he would get a different reality.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I live there.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I would be happy to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House.

Senators Ruane, Warfield and O'Reilly referred to education. The Cassells report has been published. There are different viewpoints in it. What we all aspire to and what we all want is to ensure people have access to affordable education. The rainbow coalition introduced free third level fees and this cost has increased exponentially over the years. I am not sure about the remarks by the Minister of State, Deputy Murphy, but I think he was referring to the international European school and attracting foreign direct investment into the country post-Brexit.

Senators Humphreys and Boyhan mentioned International Credit Union Day. I join them in congratulating members of the credit union movement on the work they do. I am a former supervisor in my own credit union in Bishopstown and I am aware it plays an important role in the lives of people.

Collective Cabinet responsibility has not changed. I agree that when the Cabinet makes a decision, it is a collective decision and, therefore, all members of the Cabinet are bound by it, unless they choose to resign. As regards the eighth amendment, a Citizens' Assembly has been set up and it behoves Oireachtas Members and Ministers to stand by it and allow it to do its work. Another motion before this House or the Dáil relating to the amendment is unhelpful and it only serves to create political controversy. There is a process in place and it should be allowed to proceed in order that all options can be explored. The assembly can come back with a plan of action to Government which will then refer it to a committee before, ultimately, the people decide. That is what should happen.

Senator Byrne raised the issue of Garda vetting and the industrial dispute. I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House.

Senator Davitt called on the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to come to the House to discuss housing. The Finance Bill will be before the House in the next few weeks and that will present an opportunity to discuss the issue. It is important that housing supply increases and that first-time buyers can buy houses.

Senator Reilly referred to early school leavers, which is an important issue. The former Ministers of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputies Sherlock and English, and the current Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, have begun the process of addressing it through the apprenticeship programme.

I thank Senator Devine for raising the important work One in Four is doing. She is correct that the protection of our children is important. That is why we had a children's referendum and why we appointed the first Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to Cabinet. We need to be proactive about this and I would be happy to have a debate with the Minister.

Senator Hopkins raised the issue of mental health. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health issues, Deputy McEntee, is happy to come to the House.

Senator Gallagher asked about the minor works scheme. The Minister for Education and Skills announced in the budget debate that further projects will be announced under the summer works scheme in early 2017. The details will be outlined then.

I commend Senator Bacik on the motion she has tabled on Syria and on the work she had done on that. It is an all-party motion and I am happy to work with her on it.

Yesterday, Senator Kelleher raised the issue of vulnerable child refugees. The Minister for Justice and Equality will come to the House to discuss that.

Senator McFadden had a question about the important issue of housing for ex-servicemen and women and I would be happy to invite the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in to discuss that.

Senator Ó Domhnaill raised the issue of regional and rural development. The Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will be in the House on 17 November for a debate.

Senators Feighan and Humphreys mentioned Airbnb. The Government reduced the VAT rate for the hospitality sector but hotels are raising prices and forcing people to pay exorbitant fees for rooms. That is not in the spirit of what the Government intended. The VAT rate reduction was designed to attract visitors and mobilise local economies. I appeal to hoteliers again to reconsider their prices.

Senator Butler raised the issue of the retail sector in rural Ireland. That can be raised with the Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs or the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when they visit the House. He is correct that parking fees are an issue and we must get the balance right.