Seanad debates
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Order of Business
2:30 pm
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re psychoactive drugs, referral to committee, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; and No. 2, Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 4.45 p.m.
Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate Martin Groves and his family on the appointment. I look forward to working with him and it has been a pleasure so far working with him, so we will continue in that fashion.
On 9 November 2016, I entered this House and raised concerns for the undocumented Irish in the United States of America after it became apparent that Mr. Donald Trump had won the election and would become President of the United States of America.That day, I called on the Government to establish a special task force to work on behalf of the undocumented Irish. No task force was established and nothing appears to have been done by the Government. As with Brexit and most problems, the Government ignores problems until such a time as they turn into a crisis. The Irish Government must stand behind the undocumented Irish in the United States and urgently establish a task force to make representations on their behalf.
Of the numerous executive orders signed by the President, the newest anti-immigration policies scare me the most. I am sure many of us will take a stance on them today in the House. I formally oppose the anti-immigration, anti-refugee and anti-Muslim policies in particular of the President of the United States. What is most disturbing and which shows a serious erosion of the rule of law is the President's sacking of Sally Yates, the US equivalent to our Attorney General, for refusing to defend the new anti-immigration policies, which include the 120-day stay on the already meagre refugee programme and the 90-day ban on entry into the USA by nationals from seven countries with majority Muslim populations.
When the Taoiseach visits the White House in March, I hope he takes the opportunity, on behalf of many people who will never get a chance to meet the President, to raise the concerns of many Irish people about his immigration policies and other discriminatory policies. To do otherwise and just turn up for a photo opportunity and a bowl of shamrock would let many people down.
Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and congratulate Mr. Martin Groves on his new post, which I know he will do extraordinarily in every way.
I alert the House to something extraordinarily historic and creative that happened in County Mayo this week - Westport House was acquired by the Hughes family. I bring up their name because it is in the public domain. They bought Westport House, one of the greatest landmarks and jewels in the crown of County Mayo to keep it alive and give it a future. It was a national, regional and local triumph. It is a place of great beauty, creativity and imagination for tourism, art, geography, history, music and architecture. They, as a business family in the town, have kept this alive forever. All the jobs are saved by their generosity and their new direction. It was done with no rancour whatsoever. I congratulate Mr. Cathal Hughes, chairman of the Hotel Westport. We talk about jobs, architecture and beauty and our own counties in this House. This is a national icon. I also congratulate Mr. Harry Hughes and Mr. Owen Hughes, Mr. Peter Hynes of Mayo County Council, the Minister, Deputy Michael Ring, the Department and the Taoiseach. Cathal Hughes - one of our own people in the west of Ireland - said he intends to put €50 million into something that is our own to keep 200 jobs, to understand and articulate the importance of Westport and Mayo as a county and to ensure the house is maintained in creativity, history, beauty and imagination in perpetuity. They are exactly the kind of generous businessmen, thinkers and educators that every county needs and has. It took courage to do it without rancour and disturbance. I am glad to see it. It is a change. It is one of our own, buying one of the great houses to keep it in perpetuity for the people of Mayo. I wanted to put that on the record today. It is extremely important, especially in a world that is fluctuating at the moment.
Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach. I congratulate Mr. Martin Groves on his new position and wish him well in it. If he does it as well as he has done his other job since I came here, I am certain he will have success. He will have all our co-operation in doing that job. I commend the Hughes family on their initiative on Westport House and congratulate all involved. At the end of the day, they were the people who put their hands in their pocket. They have a proven track record and it is good for Westport. Hopefully it will work out well for the Hughes family as well.It certainly could not be in the hands of better promoters than the Hughes family.
I refer to the executive order introduced last week by US President Donald Trump to halt the US refugee programme and the introduction by him of a travel ban for nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries. They are in breach of EU and UN obligations and amount to the subversion of proper standards of decency and equality. I am firmly of the view that this arbitrary ban is wrong and will be totally counterproductive. It will undermine efforts to improve relations between peoples of all faiths and nationalities. Generations of Irish people fled starvation, poverty and conflict to make a new life and contributed to the building of America. Millions of their descendants are among the most outraged at the recent moves. It is worth noting that many Americans are opposed to President Trump's policies. The Irish Government should refuse to impose the ban on citizens from the seven countries in question seeking to enter the United States through the pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports. We have organised a protest tomorrow at Shannon Airport on this very issue. We need to ensure the State's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and other international agreements will be fully observed. The question is whether the Government will take the opportunity to advise the undocumented Irish in the United States not to be alarmed by recent developments. I know that many people are frightened. Will the Taoiseach meet them when he is in the USA to hear from and talk to them about the issue? The focus of his visit has to be on engaging with the diaspora, stand uping for the undocumented Irish and maintaining our strong ties with Irish America. Will the Government indicate in the strongest possible terms the Irish people's total opposition to the racist, anti-woman and anti-immigrant policies of President Trump? There is a big job of work to be done and we are relying on the Taoiseach to do it. We, in the Sinn Féin Party, will be doing likewise.
I commend the farming organisations, including the IFA and the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, for the protests they have organised today on the delays in making GLAS payments to 10,000 farmers. That is wrong and my colleague, Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, will talk further about the issue.
Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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On my own behalf and that of the Civil Engagement group, I congratulate Mr. Martin Groves and wish him the best of luck in his new role as Clerk of the Seanad.
Like everyone else, I express my disgust and horror at the executive order issued by the Trump Administration last Friday. President Trump's defence is based on national security grounds, but no nationals of the relevant countries were involved in the events of 9/11 and the central shared feature is that they are all Muslim-majority nations. President Trump campaigned on a platform of nativism and racism, but many commentators said his radical policies would never be implemented. However, recent events have proved them to be wholly wrong. I am horrified that a US President believes he is justified in pursuing this course of action. He is targeting members of one of the world's largest religions based on the actions of extremists, a religion which has 3.3 million followers in his own country. He is absolutely failing in his duty to represent all Americans. It is clear that we must take every opportunity available to us to oppose and resist the discriminatory policies of this President which fly in the face of the values of the Irish people and Irish society. We value diversity which we appreciate is one of our greatest strengths. We oppose discrimination and those who engage in the politics of division. I support the call that the provision of US immigration per-clearance facilities be reviewed to ensure we are in full compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. If it is discovered that we are colluding on Irish soil in imposing this discriminatory ban, I we should no longer offer the service at Irish airports.
Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I join others in congratulating Mr. Martin Groves on his appointment as Clerk of the Seanad. It is well deserved and I look forward to working with him.
I join other speakers in recording my strong condemnation and that of the Labour Party of the executive order issued by President Trump.Along with many thousands of others in this city, I marched on 21 January as part of the women's march to express our opposition to what we see as the sexist, misogynistic policies of President Trump. However, his actions since then, particularly over the weekend in issuing the executive order restricting immigration, have gone further. As others have said, this very much deserves an outright condemnation from those of us here who are concerned to ensure we do not see this sort of racial profiling and what amounts to an effective ban on Muslims in that it is a ban on citizens of many countries.
The executive order has implications for us in Ireland, as others have said. If one looks today at the website of the US Embassy in Ireland, one will see a notice on the front page telling anyone who is a citizen, or indeed a dual citizen, of one of the seven countries not to apply for a visa, not to continue with a visa application process already in train and to cancel an interview if one has been granted one. These are Irish citizens who also happen to be citizens of one of the seven countries named in the order. This has serious implications.
We then saw the dismissal of Sally Yates as Attorney General by Donald Trump because she took the view that she could not be sure of the lawfulness of the executive order, in particular of its effect on those who have already been through a process and who now, it appears, will be denied entry to the US. These are all very serious questions. I call on the Leader to bring the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade before this House to answer a number of questions that my colleague and our party leader, Deputy Brendan Howlin, tabled in the Dáil but which were disallowed as private notice questions today. Deputy Howlin asked that the Taoiseach outline the circumstances which led to his request for a complete review of the operation of pre-clearance facilities, in particular that he explain whether there are possible legal implications for Ireland arising from possible complicity in the implementation by US authorities of policies that may have the effect of discrimination based on race or religion.
Deputy Howlin also raised the question others have raised, namely, that the new US restrictions fly in the face of international legal obligations on each state towards asylum seekers, those seeking refuge. Therefore, I ask the Leader to bring the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade before this House this week to answer these questions. I also support my party leader's call on the Taoiseach not to attend the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the US on 17 March if these restrictions remain in place. We all hope the US legal and democratic system is sufficiently robust. As we have seen already, a number of judges are refusing to implement the effect of the order in respect of people who have already been through visa processes. I hope we will see the executive order reversed or its effect repealed before St. Patrick's Day. However, we must take a stance as Irish people in support of our own values and against these discriminatory and highly troubling new orders emanating from President Trump.
Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)
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I share the concerns that have been expressed about the recent developments concerning immigration in the USA. However, how we respond to and deal with this international challenge, which is what it is, is very important. It is important that the Taoiseach visit the White House on St. Patrick's weekend and I disagree with and strongly reject what the Fianna Fáil Seanad leader has said about the Government. The Government is concerned about the undocumented Irish. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, is in Washington as we speak, engaging through his embassy and with his consulate and American officials, and he will highlight the concerns of the undocumented Irish. The Government appointed a Minister of State for the diaspora. It appointed a Member of this House, Senator Billy Lawless, who is a strong voice for many of our Irish emigrants in the United States of America. Therefore, I believe it is unfair to be political on this very important issue for all of us and I ask the Seanad leader of Fianna Fáil to take back what she put on the record today.
Thousands of Irish people have used the pre-clearance facility in Dublin and Shannon airports and continue to take advantage of it. Simply abandoning it will not achieve what I think we all wish for in respect of our shared concerns regarding immigration. We must be very careful in how we approach this issue.
I turn briefly to another major challenge Ireland faces, namely, Brexit. The economic challenges our country faces with Brexit cross many sectors - the agrifood sector, our trade and our economy - but one sector which can be particularly vulnerable is the energy and IT sector. As an island nation, now is the time for us to engage with our European partners to invest in an energy interconnector with mainland Europe, a high-speed broadband interconnector with mainland Europe and a transatlantic broadband connection with the United States of America. We cannot afford to allow ourselves to be isolated or at a disadvantage in any way if a hard Brexit occurs.Now is the time to put the fundamental parts in place in planning for infrastructure so Ireland can compete internationally and around the world with no disadvantages as an island nation. Our European partners can help us with that. I ask the Leader of the House to arrange a debate on these issues so Ministers can outline their plans on how they propose to deal with these challenges.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate Mr. Groves on his appointment and I know he will do an excellent job. I support my colleague, Senator Ardagh, in her comments on establishing a task force for the undocumented Irish living in the United States. There are 50,000 of them over there now and at home, for each of those people, there are ten people who are worried for their futures. That represents 10% of the population of this island with somebody in the United States currently facing deportation.
President Trump's executive order singled out the Muslim community. It is the headline we are hearing and it is truly appalling. It is sectarian and racist, and it is meant to be so. On the campaign trail he promised he would target Muslims and ban them. This is nothing to do with terrorism but rather to do with people's religion. In the small print and of particular concern to the undocumented Irish, he has ordered the hiring of 15,000 extra enforcement officers. He has told the people in "sanctuary cities", such as San Francisco and Boston, that they can no longer have a system whereby law enforcement officers are not allowed to ask about anyone's immigration status. They must now start asking about the immigration status of anybody they question about a particular crime or even something as small as running a red light.
In fairness to Mr. Martin Walsh, Mayor of Boston, he has stood up to President Trump and stated he will not implement this instruction, as have many other mayors throughout the United States. President Trump stated he would only get rid of criminals in the undocumented 11 million people but his definition of "criminal" has again broadened, which means all 11 million people could quite easily fall within the scope of those to be deported. There will be no comprehensive immigration reform Bill in the United States any time soon, or at all, but we were very close with the McCain-Kennedy Bill in 2007. The Senate passed a Bill by 68 votes to 32 in 2013 that would have given 10,500 visas to the Irish. I know Senator Lawless and Mr. Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform worked very hard on that.
We are asking for a task force because we have spoken with people in the Irish-American community over there. We have spoken with people in the pastoral centres in New York, Boston and San Francisco, and they will need resources to help those who are arrested. They will need counselling resources for those who are finding themselves isolated and fearful for their future. We need a task force to ensure the resources are provided for the Irish-American community, including those 50,000 people under the threat of deportation at any moment.
Billy Lawless (Independent)
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I congratulate Mr. Groves on his appointment. I was going to say it as a young rookie but I will keep the "young" out of it. For the few months I have been here, Mr. Groves and his staff have been so courteous to me. I wish him well and his appointment is well deserved.
On Friday, 27 January 2017, President Trump signed an executive order halting the entire refugee programme from Syria for four months. Citizens from Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen will be blocked for three months. The executive order also included legal permanent residents and dual citizens holding a passport from any of the countries listed. The result was confusion and fear among immigrant and refugee communities across the United States and at its major airports. The reaction by ordinary American citizens to this un-American act, however, has been nothing short of extraordinary. On Sunday, I stood as Senator for the global Irish in solidarity with immigrant and refugee community groups at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Over 4,000 people turned out in an impromptu show of force and defiance to denounce President Trump's executive orders.They were joined by similar protests in New York, Boston, Denver and 33 other airports across the United States. At one stage more than 50 people were detailed at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Citizens and green card holders with valid visas were detained by customs and border control agents operating under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security. New York Federal Judge, Ms Ann Donnelly, a good Irish-American, granted a stay on deportations and eventually everyone who was detained was released.
On Sunday I met a young man from the Iraqi Mutual Aid Society in Chicago. His parents are from Iraq and both of them have a green card. They have spent ten years in Iraq working for American non-governmental organisations helping to rebuild a ravaged country. Recently, Othman Al Ani's mother travelled to Egypt to visit a son that she had not seen in eight years. As of Sunday, she remains trapped in Egypt and unable to return home as a result of this ban.
America is a nation of laws but it is also a nation of values. It has always been outward looking and welcoming to immigrants of all faiths and lands. The executive orders do not reflect the spirit of the American people or the country's leadership role in the world.
I do not believe that President Trump's actions serve the interests of the Muslims who are currently banned from the United States, the 50,000 undocumented Irish living in the United States or the 34 million people in the US who claim Irish ancestry. I call on the Trump Administration to rescind the executive order. I call on it to follow the words of Pope Francis who has admonished us to welcome the stranger and those fleeing suffering or persecution. In this climate, the 50,000 undocumented Irish in the United States are watching closely with fear and trepidation for their future. President Trump stated in his presidential campaign that those who overstayed their visa were more guilty than those who sneaked across the border into America and that would includes our Irish people. It is my hope that we can present a united voice in this country that will have a lasting effect. I hope that we can come together in a collective way to tell President Trump exactly what the citizens of Ireland think of his actions in the past few days. He may wish to build walls to divide nations but that cannot be our objective. I fully support the Taoiseach in not rejecting the invitation to visit the White House. Ireland is the only country that has this honour on its national day, which we have held for the past 60 years. Many countries are envious of our special relationship. We need dialogue. For advocates of immigration reform in the United States like myself and others, it is essential we keep open the gates of communication. I stand ready to work with the Irish Government to represent the interests of our most vulnerable citizens living abroad. I call on the Taoiseach to continue to raise this issue at the highest levels of the US Government.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I heartily add my words of congratulation to Mr. Groves on his well deserved appointment.
We have had a weekend of distress at the airports of the US and elsewhere as a result of President Trump's banning travel to seven countries that have a Muslim majority. He has turned his back on the plight of refugees. No matter a person's faith he or she deserves to be protected from conflict and helped to find safety. I add my voice to all who have appealed to President Trump to show grace and understanding to these people. His ban does not target terrorists but vulnerable people and, disproportionately, those of Islamic faith. His action cannot be defended and should not continue. It is only with understanding and co-operation can we hope to end the conflict and discourage terrorism.
On the question of the Taoiseach's visit, it is vital that he travels to Washington on our national day. It is a unique opportunity to meet President Trump face to face and deal with these issues, not least the 50,000 undocumented Irish. I am sure the Taoiseach will deal with the matter in his own inimitable way. If I may so, the Taoiseach is our trump card.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We have every confidence in him.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I never can; when all is said.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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President Trump would do well to remember the words of the late great Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, who saved thousands of Jews, prisoners of war and others during World War II in Rome, namely, that God has no country. We must show goodwill and help to all.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Dúirt an Cathaoirleach ina chuid fhocal maidir leis an gCléireach nua-cheaptha gur onóir mhór é an ceapachán seo do chlann Martin Groves agus dó fhéin, ach is onóir mhór dúinne é a leithéid de Martin a bheith ceaptha sa ról mar Chléireach.It is a huge honour for us that Martin Groves has been appointed Clerk of the Seanad. He has been exemplary in his work to date and has been very supportive of every Senator across the board. I congratulate him and look forward to working with him in his new role.
I have called regularly for a debate with the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Joe McHugh, which we have not had yet. I concur with many of the sentiments expressed here today. What role is the aforementioned Minister of State playing in this scenario? We need an urgent debate with the Minister of State, within the next seven days if possible, because there are two major international issues looming, one being Brexit and the other the situation in the USA, which is changing daily. We need to know what role the Minister, Minister of State and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are taking in supporting the diaspora across the board but most particularly in Britain and the US. What steps are being taken to look after their rights as Irish citizens? It is a little ironic that Fianna Fáil is now calling for a working group because when it came to supporting votes for the diaspora, it was not so quick to respond. It is important that we would have a good debate with the Minister or Minister of State, which has not happened to date.
The issues being raised with regard to the treatment of people who come from different backgrounds, religions and countries and so forth should lead us to point to the finger at ourselves and ask how we are treating both migrants and those seeking asylum in this country. We still have the absolute scandal of a direct provision system in this country which should be dismantled, and I would certainly welcome a debate on that issue.
On the question of migrants, I have been doing quite a bit of work recently in Galway with people working in the hospitality industry. It is very clear to me from the work I am doing there that we have people in that industry, especially migrants, who are being very seriously abused. A debate on the working conditions in the hospitality industry is overdue. It is very important we have such a debate to ensure we can address abuses of all types, be they contractual or related to working conditions as well as physical, sexual or verbal.
While I have called on the Leader to schedule a number of debates, it is imperative that we have a debate with the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for the diaspora within the next week.
Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I join my colleagues in offering the warmest of congratulations to Martin Groves. He has been exemplary in the support he has given to us all, especially the Senators who are new to the Chamber. I wish him every happiness in and enjoyment of his new role and I know that he will perform it wonderfully.
I am not going to reiterate all the points that have been made regarding concerns about the executive order, which is one of a number of very concerning executive orders that have been issued by the new President of the United States of America. The executive order, commonly known as the Muslim ban, has been of particular concern because it has immediate relevance for Ireland. While we can talk about symbolic protests against it, we also need very concrete action in Ireland in terms of how we respond to an executive order which is not just discriminatory but which is very much designed to sow division. As someone who was an immigrant in America in the past, I am very much aware of the spirit of inclusion and diversity that is at the heart of what has made and grown that country.
There are concerns relating to the Aviation (Preclearance) Act of 2009. That Act very clearly requires compatibility with Irish law. It is imperative there is urgent action to ensure what is happening in our airports is compliant with our UN obligations to refugees, the European Convention on Human Rights and our own laws, particularly in respect of national origin and ensuring equality on that basis. If we cannot be satisfied as to that, we must consider whether we can continue with the preclearance policies. We have seen widespread opposition, led in many cases by Irish-Americans in the US, including the Mayor of Boston, Mr. Marty Walsh, who led one of the initiatives with regard to cities of sanctuary. I urge the Taoiseach and other Ministers to visit Boston and engage with Mr. Walsh. That would be a constructive measure and would show solidarity with those Irish-Americans whom Mr. Walsh and others are representing.
I was part of the Irish branch of the women's march on Washington and saw the growing opposition in the US.We are seeing a very systematic silencing of opposition and we need to be very robust in respect of it. I refer here, for example, to what has happened regarding the National Parks Service, the global gag rule, etc. There has been a dissolution of checks and balances which has allowed Mr. Steve Bannon, an individual about whom I am concerned and to whom I referred previously in the House, appears to have been recommended for membership of the National Security Council. In the context of this and of statements made in respect of torture in recent months, I ask that we review the position with regard to Shannon. Valid concerns have been raised about US military use of Shannon and the need to address them is now more urgent than ever.
When the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade comes before the House, as requested by my colleague, Senator Bacik, I ask that he also address the EU's immigration policy and the partnership framework agreements we are making with countries such as Afghanistan in respect of repatriation. There is a real concern that Europe needs to observe the highest standards of transparency and equality in context of its migration policies. I request that we have a debate on this matter, on the agreement between the EU and Turkey and on other agreements.
Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I join others in congratulating Mr. Martin Groves. It is an excellent appointment and I wish him well in the post.
I, too, condemn President Trump's actions in the strongest possible terms. I do not want to repeat what has been said already, but we need to do everything in our power in this country to influence the repeal of the relevant executive order, which is just astonishing. The world is quite truly shocked. Regarding the invitation to the White House, it is more important than ever that we avail of these sorts of diplomatic opportunities. There is no other place that our Taoiseach should be on our national holiday.
On pre-clearance, as Senator Higgins said, we need to look into the legalities. However, we must also be very careful not to put that on the table in negotiations because pre-clearance is something for which we are envied. We must, by all means, be happy in terms of carrying out that function but we also need to be extremely careful before we put that on the table. There is a queue of other countries waiting for that pre-clearance facility, particularly as it leads to a greater influx of people into one's jurisdiction.
I have raised the issue of alcohol consumption on many occasions. A recent study in The Lancetplaces Ireland in the top five countries in the world for the highest estimated alcohol intake during pregnancy. The study concludes that 60% of Irish births show evidence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and that one in every 67 mothers who consumes alcohol during pregnancy will deliver a child with foetal alcohol syndrome. Foetal alcohol syndrome can cause problems with neurological development and growth and may result in learning difficulties and other such problems for children. The findings are truly alarming. Prevention is obviously very easy and would require greater awareness and education. I call on the Minister - to whom I have written - to consider that. In light of the report to which I refer, we clearly have much to do. It is no big boast to say that we are in the top five countries globally for alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I join others in congratulating Mr. Martin Groves on his appointment. I have no doubt that he will be a huge success in the position.
I wish to raise the issue today of the availability of substitute school teachers at primary and secondary level. School principals throughout the country are reporting making 20 or 30 phone calls to try to get teachers to step in when needed, unfortunately without success. The issue is causing serious problems at primary and secondary level. When a school cannot find a substitute to stand in for a teacher who is absent, a number of things must happen. Sometimes a class is divided and that causes disruption for students. Teachers cannot attend in-service days and principals are sometimes obliged to stand in for colleagues. Smaller schools are particularly badly hit, especially those with fewer than three teachers on the staff. Principals have no choice but to use their learning support or resource teachers to cover classes. This means that the who need the most help are, unfortunately, being discommoded and left out. Ultimately, they are the ones who lose out.The situation is very frustrating given that the first cohort of newly-qualified teachers with four years of training behind them completed their studies last year. Unfortunately, other countries are benefiting from the expertise of this country's teachers and nurses who have been educated to a very high standard but who are jumping on aeroplanes to travel to Dubai or the UK. It is a very unsatisfactory situation for the Minister to be overseeing. I would like it to be addressed for once and for all so that our children do not lose out.
Joan Freeman (Independent)
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I want to join everybody else in congratulating Mr. Martin Groves on his appointment as Clerk of the Seanad. I am probably one of the Senators who depend most on him. My dependence on him is almost palpable. The only fear I have regarding his appointment is that my direct line to him might be severed.
Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I am sure it will not be severed. Mr. Groves cannot speak while the House is in session.
Joan Freeman (Independent)
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I would like to remind the House once more of the double standard that exists in the treatment of physical health care and mental health care. By the time the third or fourth week of January comes around, we have often forgotten the new year's resolutions we made at the start of the month. I have not forgotten my resolution to continue, during the Order of Business in 2017, to tell the House about some of the realities facing children in mental health treatment on a daily basis. I will focus on the admission of children to adult psychiatric units. Senators will be aware that I introduced a Bill in November 2016 to prevent his practice from continuing, but they probably do not know that the main reason for the practice is the unavailability of an out-of-hours service for our children. In other words, no mental health services are available for our children after 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday and all day at the weekend. After 5 p.m. on a Friday, children who are in trouble will either be put into an adult psychiatric unit or will be left to handle to handle their own issues with their families. Senators might recall that, before Christmas, three young people in County Cork took their own lives. There has been a suggestion that the reason behind these suicides was the absence of 24/7 treatment. When are we going to realise that crises do not stop at 5 p.m.? In this country, many suicides are attempted at the weekend, particularly on Sundays. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, launched a campaign in November in which she committed to providing increased out-of-hours services for children. I wonder where she is with this. To where is the €15 million - not the €35 million - provided for 2017 being allocated? I would like the Leader to ask the Minister of State to report to the House immediately on the progress that is being made with the implementation of this service. I would also like the Minister of State to clarify whether 24-7 treatment facilities will be available at Portrane.
Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I join other Senators in wishing Mr. Martin Groves well in his new role following his well-deserved appointment. He has always worked extremely hard for everyone in this House. I wish him well in the future and look forward to working with him.
I join others in condemning what has happened in the US over the past seven to ten days. I do not think it is the way forward for a peaceful world. A great deal of progress has been made over the past 50 years. Approximately 63 million people were killed in wars during the first 50 years of the last century. We seem to have forgotten quickly that horrendous atrocities occurred during that period. I accept that atrocities are occurring in the Middle East and in other places. We need to work together at this time to make sure there is peace. We should try to make progress with peaceful solutions to conflicts. I do not think that is being helped by what is happening in the US. Like Senator Lawless, I know people in the US who have worked with the UN and have retained the passports of their countries of origin.They are now worried about their position. They worked for 15, 20 or 25 years and are now retired. They are concerned about their future in the United States. Some of them are married to Irish people.
The US President referred to the threat to people living in the United States. I have examined the figures. The number of murders associated with Islamic extremists is nine. The number of people killed by armed toddlers is 21. The number of people killed as a result of being knocked down by a bus is 264. The number of people killed by Americans is over 11,000. These are the figures for one year. The chances of a person being killed by an armed toddler are greater than by an Islamic extremist. This shows how silly the process undertaken by the US President has been. It is important that a message be sent to him, loud and clear, that he does not have support in this country and throughout the world. The Taoiseach should go to the United States to ensure we send a clear message on our views.
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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People have been focusing on what the US President, Mr. Trump, and his Administration have been responsible for in recent days. They have talked about a lack of empathy and compassion. Yesterday was the 33rd anniversary of the death of Luke Kelly. When I think of someone who showed empathy, compassion and love for those who needed it, I think of Luke Kelly because he showed them in abundance. He reached the hearts of so many in this country and throughout the world. It is long past time that a statute was put up to his memory in this city. I posted a message on social media in recent days and never had a response like it. People really feel strongly about this issue. I call on the Leader to raise it with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, or whoever he believes is the relevant Minister. He should determine whether State funding is available and whether there is precedent for making it available. The answers could enable us to commence the process. I assume it would happen in partnership with Dublin City Council. Those involved would source a location and put up a statute to Luke Kelly.
The second issue I want to raise relates to delays in the making of GLAS and AEOS payments. Farmers have reached an agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Farmers' Charter of Rights 2015-2020. All of the farming organisations have been out protesting today. They have made the point that if any other payment in the State that is made as of right, for example, a social welfare payment or the old age pension, was one or two days late, it would not be tolerated. The matter would be sorted out, rightly so. The farmers affected have been waiting since October. The problem affects 9,000 farmers and the average payment involved is €4,000. Their farms are not sustainable without this money. The issue has been raised in the Chamber and we have been assured on numerous occasions that the matter will be resolved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed. I call on the Leader to ensure the moneys will be released to the 9,000 farmers affected as soon as possible in order that they can get on with the making of their livelihoods.
Frances Black (Independent)
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I congratulate Mr. Martin Groves on his appointment as Clerk of the Seanad. I thank him for his support, especially when I first came into the House. He still supports me and I appreciate all of his hard work.
I thank Senator Catherine Noone for highlighting the issue about which she spoke eloquently - alcohol and pregnancy and the fact that the country was among the top five in the statistics. Prevention is important in this regard, but I believe the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill can play a major role also. I encourage the Leader to ask his party members to support the Bill. It is imperative that it get through in its entirety.
I thank Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn for mentioning Luke Kelly and endorse his comments 100%.
I was in Queen's University Belfast last night to attend an interesting event organised by the university law society to discuss Brexit, the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in London last week and its implications for the North.I am very concerned. At that event, among top professors and lawyers there was a great deal of certainty about the position of the UK Government but there was a general lack of knowledge about the position of the Irish Government and what demands, if any, will be made in the forthcoming negotiations. This is very worrying.
With the UK position on immigration it seems certain that a border will have to be reintroduced on the island of Ireland which will deny Irish citizens living in the North freedom of movement. The Prime Minister has spoken about retaining the freedom of movement between the two countries but this does not seem possible. Will the Irish Government insist that the North get special status in the negotiations? Freedom of movement on the island must be a redline issue. It is vital. The great repeal Bill will end the EU's legal supremacy in the UK and give Parliament the power to absorb pieces of EU legislation into UK law and scrap elements it does not want. Is there a danger that EU legislation dealing with equality issues may be scrapped, thus undermining the Good Friday Agreement? As a co-guarantor of the agreement will the Irish Government insist this does not happen?
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I too congratulate Martin Groves who has been very good to us over recent years, in the last term and this one. It is appropriate that he got this appointment. I wish him well and hope we will all be here for many years to work with him.
Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator is plamassing him now.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Like many, I have been watching nightly what is going on in America with the newly-elected President Trump. Sometimes I wonder if it is a nightmare I will wake up from or is it reality. Unfortunately, it is very real. For many years I have taken a position on the US military use of Shannon Airport and believe that it is not appropriate that the US military should have free access to Shannon. There should be inspections and even as a councillor I tabled motions on that issue in Clare County Council, all of which were defeated, which was not surprising. Now that the newly-elected President has made clear that certain forms of torture are quite appropriate in his view and that he would endorse their use, we need to have extreme inspections of military planes using Shannon. The time is appropriate to have a debate on whether it is appropriate for the US military to use Shannon.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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We are a neutral country. We have always prided ourselves on our neutrality. I do not accept the business case for the US military using Shannon. So be it if it goes to Germany or some other country with its business. With the present leadership in America I would be quite happy to see that happen. In the intervening period I call on the Leader to request the relevant authorities in this country to ensure that all US military flights are subjected to extreme inspections to ensure no rendition is taking place.
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Like everybody else here, I congratulate Martin Groves on his appointment. I had the pleasure of dealing with the man during one of the most stressful periods of his life, my by-election, and found him to be more than professional. His is a tremendous appointment and I wish him well for the future. I hope I too am here for many, many, many years with him.
On the issue of President Trump, the press has a huge case to answer. On the day millions of women all over the world marched against Donald Trump, his press officer said that the press reported the wrong number of people at his inauguration. What did the press do? It swallowed it. It is printing what he wants it to print.For God's sake, what happened to the media that would hold people to account? What happened to the media that would once question the likes of Donald Trump?
I also congratulate my colleague, Senator Lawless. On Sunday evening in Chicago he was out there representing Irish people with Irish fears. That was a brave thing to do for a man who works and has his business interests in the United States. He was not shy today in standing up and criticising the new Administration. I think we are extremely lucky to have a man of that calibre sitting in this Chamber with us.
On the issue of Brexit, I along with Senator Black attended the Queen's University Belfast seminar last night where we had some of the greatest legal brains on the island speaking about the implications of the Supreme Court ruling. I am rather shocked. This is the third or fourth seminar or debate or conference that I have attended where Brexit has been the topic of discussion. In one, I was the only representative from this country. I understood that Brexit is the single greatest issue facing the Irish economy, and I am asking why members of the Government parties are not attending these meetings.
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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The one in Brussels, Friends of Europe. It was a conference on Brexit.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Who is invited?
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Friends of Europe. There were only two representatives from Ireland at the Bratislava conference, myself and Senator Leyden. Last night there were two representatives, neither from the Government, at the conference in Belfast. Are we serious about Brexit or are we not?
I am calling for the Taoiseach to give a state of the nation address as to precisely what the Irish priorities are going forward. I am not asking him to show his hand in negotiations, but I am asking him to set people's minds at rest that we do know what we are talking about. I have seen two people from the Taoiseach's office at committee, and they were really good as to what it is they are doing. I am asking that we get that sort of clarity quickly.
Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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Congratulations to Martin on his appointment as Clerk of Seanad Éireann. Well done. It is well deserved. Most of all, enjoy it, if you can.
I refer to the legal challenge which was made against the operation of the Committee of Public Accounts, alleged to have been a witch-hunt against the previous CEO of Rehab Group. I welcome the finding that the court had no power to intervene in utterances, comments, observances, expressions, etc. made by Members of the Oireachtas in the Houses as set out by the Constitution. I do not think that any of us were in any doubt that this would be the finding, and I am glad that the separation of powers of the Legislature has been respected and reinforced. It is of paramount importance that we have the power in this House, the Lower House and the committees to investigate matters of public importance, to uphold the public interest and to protect our constitutional democracy. There are further judgments due and pending in the near future, and I am sure we all look forward to these findings with interest.
Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Senator, for your brevity.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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I, too, regret President Trump's executive order relating to immigrants and refugees, and I certainly think it is a retrograde step in terms of promoting solidarity with some of the world's most vulnerable people. However, there were no protests against the Obama Administration's already mean and ungenerous approach to the admission of Syrian refugees, if the United States is compared with other countries. It is the right of the US Government to decide who it lets into its country, even if we do not like its decisions. If we were not willing to put US preclearance in issue over the fact the United States already allows capital punishment and continues to be enthusiastic about it, I do not think that we should be so in this instance either. It seems to me that there is an element of selective compassion about the responses across the board. There will be things that Donald Trump will do that will horrify us. There will be things that he will do that we will agree with. We must be mindful of our position and our need to be consistent.
To turn to a matter that we can influence in this House, ba bhreá liomsa dá dtiocfadh an tAire, an Teachta Heather Humphreys, isteach sa Teach chun plé a dhéanamh linn ar an seasamh atá ag an Rialtas i leith na Gaeilge.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Beidh sí anseo Déardaoin.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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Táim ag súil leis. Tá Ard-Rúnaí nua ceaptha ag Roinn na Gaeltachta. There is a new Secretary General in the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. We wish Ms Katherine Licken the very best.Ní Gaeilgeoir í. Níl Gaeilge aici, bíodh go bhfuil an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht mar chuid dá freagrachtaí. In fairness, it has been said that she will work on her Irish within a reasonable timeframe. However, the fact that is was not a requirement, as Mr. Julian de Spáinn of Conradh na Gaeilge said, gur "údar díomá" dó é nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge ann mar riachtanas do phost mar sin. Sufficient proficiency in the Irish language should be a requirement for senior jobs in the Civil Service, particularly where the responsibility for the Irish language is involved. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, as during his time as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, he went to the trouble of acquiring sufficient proficiency in Irish to do his job. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, promised to do the same thing when she was appointed. I would like to hear from her, not as a matter of point scoring but as a matter of responsible feedback to us, on whether she took steps with regard to that.
Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Tá an t-am istigh.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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In conclusion, I am very disappointed with my own alma mater, NUI Galway, or UCG as it was in my time, whose governing authority took a decision recently that the Irish language would not be a requirement for the next president of the college. This went through on the nod. Fair play to Deputy Catherine Connolly, who raised it in the Dáil. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, shrugged his shoulders and said that the university's decision was something he could not interfere with.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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He could not either.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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Fair play also to Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, who brought forward legislation on this very point that would make it a requirement that the person appointed to such an important job would have Irish. The Government did not oppose it at that point. It seems to me that a lot of lip service is paid to the Irish language. However, when one considers the amount of goodwill towards NUI Galway because it is a bilingual university and because it is so associated with Irish language and culture, it is a disgrace that it would not be a requirement in the appointment of a president that that person would either have or within a very short time seek proficiency in the Irish language.
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Hear, hear.
Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom féin mo chomhghairdeas a sheoladh go Máirtín Groves ar a cheapachán feasta. I congratulate Mr. Martin Groves on his appointment. I wish to expand slightly on what Senators Black and Craughwell have said about Brexit. I particularly wish to draw the attention of the Leader and the other Members to the report issued recently from the policy department for citizens' rights and constitutional affairs at the European Parliament. Its forthright conclusion is that Brexit will have a direct impact on the institutional arrangements of the Good Friday Agreement. That is not political point scoring or academic speculation. That is the European Parliament and its membership telling us that the vote in England to remove Northern Ireland from the European Union against its will is not just undermining the democratic mandate expressed by the people in the North, but is also actively and institutionally going to undermine the precious arrangements enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement, of which the people in the North and the rest of the country voted overwhelmingly in favour.
The report itself goes into considerable detail about the processes and effects that Brexit will have on the EU, Britain and, most importantly in this instance, Ireland. At the core of its findings for Ireland, it concludes that, while the EU has brought many benefits in terms of funding streams and structural supports, it will have more than just a financial impact on Ireland, as I said earlier but will have a significant impact on the Good Friday Agreement. I quote from the report:
The impact will be both political, in particular since the Good Friday Agreement – an international agreement – will require alteration, which could lead to instability in the region as well as to tensions between Ireland and the UK, and economic/technical, as the re-establishment of a hard border between the North and the South could provoke a reversal of improvements in cross-border trade.
I repeat: "will require alteration". I believe that lays out a challenge for us very clearly. Through the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, and the broader Seanad, we should seek, as advocated by other Senators, to engage as a matter of urgency with the policy department for citizens' rights and constitutional affairs at the European Parliament to discuss and hopefully expand upon its findings. As an institution, this Seanad should make it very clear that we respect the democratic mandate in the North.I was disappointed the Taoiseach did not make it clear in his engagement with the British Prime Minister yesterday that we respect the democratic mandate expressed in the North and that we, as an institution, will and should, as a right and a matter of principle, argue for special status for the North to remain with the rest of Ireland in the European Union, as exists for other states and arrangements across the Continent.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Martin Groves ar an bpost nua a ghlac sé.
As Leader of the House and on behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I congratulate Martin Groves, an honourable, professional and decent man, on his appointment to the position of Clerk of Seanad Éireann. In my tenure as Leader, I have always found Martin to be impartial, fair, a thorough professional and an absolute gentleman. I wish him longevity in the post and hope many of us will stay here as long as him. I congratulate you, a Chathaoirligh, for making this wise and inspired decision. I hope Martin will get the balance between music, the drums and the House so he can play a continuing role in the evolution of Seanad Éireann.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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There is no doubt about that.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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We are fortunate we have a good and wise man in this position.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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He will not hear this praise again until his retirement.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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In welcoming the new, I also wish to acknowledge the old and commend Deirdre Lane on her tenure as Clerk and wish her well.
Sixteen Members raised the matter of the executive order signed by the US President, Donald Trump, as well as preclearance, the use of Shannon Airport and the visit of the Taoiseach to the White House on St. Patrick's Day. It was an extraordinary decision, irrespective of one's political ideology. To see fear and panic on the faces of refugees or ordinary American citizens trying to go about their daily lives last weekend was appalling. Irrespective of those who protested, to hear the testimonies of people separated from their loved ones and to see people preparing to welcome strangers into their homes beggared belief. Preventing people from entering the United States because of religious faith is un-American. It does not stand with the American values many of us share.
It is not a policy that I share. The Taoiseach has made that clear. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, is in Washington in discussions with the American Administration on this matter. What is extraordinary is that rather than making it the United States of America, the President, Donald Trump, is dividing people. Irrespective of the views pro or anti expressed by Members this afternoon, there are genuine concerns. It is important the Government expresses these concerns.
On the point made by Senator Ardagh, the Government created a Minister with responsibility for the diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan, a post now held by Deputy Joe McHugh. The Taoiseach appointed Senator Lawless as a representative of the diaspora who has been strong in standing up for it and travelling across America. I welcome the need for engagement and would be interested to hear Senators Ardagh and Daly flesh out the whole issue of a task force and what it can achieve. While not ruling it out, we have a Minister and Senator responsible, working on behalf of not just the undocumented Irish but those who work in the pastoral centres across many parts of the United States on behalf of families and our country. Senator Daly is correct that engaging with the diaspora is critical and maintaining strong ties with our people. Equally, it is important that the Taoiseach, on behalf of the Irish people, travels on St. Patrick's weekend to the United States of America, goes to the White House and engages with the new President of America, as well as the Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, if he is approved, the US Vice President, Mike Pence, and other members of the Administration.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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We have access to the highest office of the land in America, to the most powerful person in the world at one level. On behalf of the many hundreds of thousands of people employed in this country and across the world with Irish-American links and having regard to investment links, it would be foolish to cut that tie. It is about diplomacy, access and being able to speak up on behalf of our people with those links.
An Taoiseach and Ministers will travel not only to Washington DC but across the east and west coasts of American to make that very point. It may not be business as usual and the imagery we have had of presenting the President with a bowl of shamrock. There may and should be strong words said to the new Administration. I am confident An Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, Senator Lawless or others will do that on behalf of the Irish people.
I wish to make a point regarding US pre-clearance at Irish airports. I commend the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, whom I have never met nor spoken to, on his remarks over the weekend and yesterday on RTE which were very measured and considered. They were not kneejerk, inflammatory or populist but were very sincere from a man who came from Connemara-----
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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He had good breeding.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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-----to become the Mayor of the most Irish-American city in America, with due respect to Senator Lawless and the city of Chicago. The Boston Mayor deserves great credit for the words he expressed.
Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Boston is a sister city of Belfast.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Regarding the US pre-clearance facilities at Irish airports, I accept the bona fides of many Members of this House and those who comment on social media and elsewhere. As someone who has travelled extensively in America, I believe the removal of US pre-clearance facilities at Irish airports would hinder business. We must be careful to ensure we do not sever our economic ties with America. I welcome the Taoiseach's remarks in the Dáil this afternoon and yesterday pointing out that there will be a review of those facilities.
It is worth putting on the record that those facilities were used by 1.8 million people in Dublin Airport and 204,000 people in Shannon Airport. That includes tourists, business people and people visiting here from many parts of the world. It is an important facility. It allows people travelling to America to use the immigration service on this side of the Atlantic.
The important point is that Irish law continues to apply. That is a fundamental point. The Taoiseach's remarks and action in calling for a review of the pre-clearance facilities are to be welcomed. We must ensure that we do not in any way hinder the free movement and free travel of people. I very much look forward to that executive order being modified. We saw what happened since Saturday when there was a change with respect to green card holders. I am sure all of us who condemn what has taken place will work to ensure there will a continuing change in that executive order.
Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell spoke about Westport House. I join her in congratulating the Hughes family on their €50 million investment in the house and on the retention of the jobs there. I pay tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, the Taoiseach and Mayo County Council for the work they have been doing. The Senator is right in saying that this is a national and a regional triumph. It is important that Westport House continues to provide the type of service it has provided in the past.
In the context of Brexit, I smile at the risk of provoking a row with my good friend, Senator Craughwell, who raised the matter, as did Senators Black and Coffey, and Senator MacLochlainn although I might be wrong on that. The Taoiseach was not in Queen's University yesterday engaged in a debate because he was in the most important place he could be, namely, Government Buildings with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom engaging in and discussing the issue of Brexit.
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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That is the problem - it is all about talk.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I would much rather have the Taoiseach in Government Buildings engaged with the Prime Minister of England rather than in a debating chamber in Queen's University.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I do not want to have a row with the Senator but the Government has been in engaged-----
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I was not talking about the Taoiseach. Perhaps some of his party soldiers might come along to these meetings.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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May I make the point that as a political party-----
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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The Leader always does.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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-----the Fine Gael Party has appointed Deputies Fergus O'Dowd and Alan Farrell as co-chairs of the Fine Gael response to Brexit. I invite Senator Craughwell to join me in my home city of Cork where An Taoiseach will speak at a public meeting on Brexit on 13 February.That shows that, in addition to the very successful meetings we have had in many parts of the country about Brexit, another would be more than welcome.
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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But we do not know what they are doing.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I accept the point that we cannot lose sight of the importance of Brexit. That is why the Government created a second Secretary General post in the Department of the Taoiseach to deal explicitly with issues related to Brexit. It is also why the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, has confirmed that an extra €2.6 billion is being made available to support the economy in responding to Brexit. It is important that we keep the issue in the political diary and on the political agenda. It is a little unfair to suggest, therefore, that the Government is not engaging. The Taoiseach has travelled throughout Europe. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, has also travelled, while the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, is engaging on the issue. It is important that we understand Ireland will be to the forefront with its European Union partners in working to find a solution. Yesterday the importance of this country and the North-South divide was highlighted to ensure there would not be a hard border.
Senator Paudie Coffey raised the issue of interconnectivity in Europe and referred to the importance of energy projects. I will be happy to have the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Energy, Deputy Denis Naughten, come to the House to address those issues.
Senator Joan Freeman referred to the importance of mental health services. The Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, will be in the House tomorrow to respond to a topical issue raised by Senator Gabrielle McFadden. The Minister of State has travelled the country and committed to making available the funding she secured in the budget for mental health services. It is important that we work together to highlight the issue and that the moneys which have been secured be ring-fenced, whether for youth mental health services which the Senator rightly mentioned or the provision of 24-hour support to ensure the availability of people out of hours, an issue on which we all need to seek a solution. We all commend the Senator for the work she is undertaking in another capacity. As she rightly said, the problem is one that does not stop at 5 p.m. in the evening or at 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. It is important that we work together to ensure there will be a different approach to how we respond to mental health needs. A Vision for Change, a document that has evolved into Government policy, perhaps needs to be changed and amended. To be fair to her, the Minister of State is committed and has worked with the Health Service Executive in recognising, in its service plan, that there are action points to be implemented.
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh asked for the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Joe McHugh, to come to the House. I hope that will happen in the coming weeks.
Senators Alice-Mary Higgins and Martin Conway mentioned Shannon Airport. We should not react the way we sometimes do when it comes to Shannon Airport. There is an international agreement that we must honour in keeping with our neutrality, as I am sure the Government will do and is doing.
The issue of green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, payments was raised by Senators Rose Conway-Walsh and Pádraig MacLochlainn. I can inform Members that today the president of the Irish Farmers Association, Mr. Joe Healy, met departmental officials. On Friday 1,164 members of the farming community received payments. I understand there are around 9,000 outstanding payments since October. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, is committed to dealing with the matter to ensure payments will be made as quickly as possible. There will be weekly payment rounds. It is important to mention that in some cases GLAS applications must be validated to satisfy EU regulations since the scheme is co-funded by the European Union.
Senators Frances Black and Catherine Noone raised the very important issue of alcohol misuse, in the context of which they referred to fatal alcohol syndrome and the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. To respond to Senator Frances Black in particular, it is not a matter of Fine Gael supporting the Bill but of all Members of the House supporting it, whether they be Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Independent, Fine Gael or Labour Party Members. It is important that there be all-party support for it. We all want to see a reduction in the level of harm caused by alcohol misuse.
Senator Máire Devine referred to the decision of Mr. Justice Kelly in the High Court in the Angela Kerins case.I will not get into the minutiae of the ruling but I welcome the decision of Mr. Justice Kelly. It is worth reading. Those of us who are Members of the House and who have privilege have a responsibility not to allow that privilege to be misused. We cannot come in here and misuse that privilege or ridicule a person. I am not saying that any of us has done so.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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We have to be careful about how we use privilege so that we do not rely on people-----
Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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We should use it responsibly.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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That is important.
Ba mhaith liom a rá leis an Seanadóir Mullen cé nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge go flúirseach agam, is mian liom mo chomhghairdeas a bhronnadh ar Katherine Licken as ucht an post nua atá glactha aici sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta. Beidh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Kyne, istigh linn ar an Déardaoin chun cúrsaí Gaeilge a phlé. The point the Senator made about the use of Irish language is one to which we all subscribe. Where at all possible, we should be able to use and support the use of the Irish language. I am amused - with a small "a" - because if the Minister, Deputy Bruton, had a hand in the appointment or reappointment of the president of NUIG, the Senator would come in here accusing him of interfering in the political process.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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The issue is the requirement for the appointment . It is not the person but, rather, the requirement.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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It is important to put on record that the Minister must stand far from that. He cannot be involved in it.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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He could do what Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív did and introduce legislation.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Minister is responsible for the Department. The governing body of NUIG, like any other university, has the power to appoint its own president. As a Corkman, I pay tribute to Dr. Michael Murphy, who is retiring from his position as uachtarán of Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh. I wish him well in his retirement. He has been an exemplary and extraordinary leader of the college for the past decade. Under his leadership, the college has seen growth and expansion across not only Ireland but also the world. I wish him every success. That is my reply to the Order of Business.