Seanad debates
Thursday, 2 February 2017
Order of Business
10:30 am
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No 1, Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016 - Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and to conclude not later than 2 p.m., if not previously concluded, by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Government; and No. 2, statements on the Irish language, to be taken at 2 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes.
Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise two matters. The first matter relates to Brexit. Last week, I raised serious concerns about the threat of a hard Brexit and the serious effect this would have on the Irish economy. Yesterday, MPs in Westminster voted to invoke Article 50. A hard Brexit is no longer a threat but, in fact, a reality.
To compound the severity of this development, earlier in the week, the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, stated there would be no special status for Northern Ireland. This means the likelihood of a hard border on this island has become far more plausible. Mr. Brokenshire's comments are of particular concern due to the unique position of Northern Ireland. It is the only part of the UK that has a land border with the European Union. This, along with the fact that the region voted strongly to remain part of the EU, means special arrangements must be put in place. Even the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, when in Dublin last week, acknowledged Northern Ireland's special position and pledged that there should be no return to the borders of the past. Having said that, the lack of any plan on how this would be achieved is a serious concern. That the Northern Ireland Secretary of State appears to be echoing the language of the DUP is frustrating. Adding to the difficulty is the cynical manoeuvring of Sinn Féin in the context of Brexit and the instability brought to Northern Ireland by the collapsing of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Our focus should be on dealing with the real and serious risks facing Northern Ireland, rather than seeking to use the issue to advance other larger constitutional arguments. Brexit is going to take a greater social and economic toll on Northern Ireland than on anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Given that it is taking place against the express wishes of the people of Northern Ireland, we need to see a far more constructive approach from the UK Secretary of State.
The second issue I wish to raise relates to the challenges facing our capital in terms of transport and infrastructure and the resulting daily ordeal many of us have in getting to and from our place of work. Unfortunately, since the economic downturn many of the capital's projects have been delayed or shelved – the same applies to projects throughout the country. In the capital, metro north has been delayed and the DART underground appears to be rather uncertain at present. I welcome the continuing development of the Luas cross city. I hope it will be a convenient addition to the transport services for those living in Dublin when it is completed.
Yesterday, however, I read with concern an article in The Irish Times. It stated that the future of the DART underground was in serious jeopardy due to the Government failing to provide funding to Iarnród Éireann for the rail line and a critical site for the development of the project on Pearse Street.
As many in the House will know, the proposed 7.5 km line would link the northern line to the Heuston main line, with new underground stations at the docklands, Pearse Street, St. Stephen's Green and Christchurch, as well as a surface station in Inchicore. The business case put forward by Iarnród Éireann outlined how the project provides an efficient and environmentally sustainable alternative to road transport. Moreover, it provides the capacity to enable growth within an otherwise constrained city centre. The cost benefit analysis from the report indicated that the project also offered high value for money.
When I read that a project of this importance was in jeopardy, it reinforced my belief in the need to have one person with responsibility for Dublin. Again, I reiterate the calls made by my party colleague, Deputy John Lahart, and others for the establishment of a Dublin mayor.
We have to look to the future and the quality of life for citizens living in a badly congested city. Where is the Government's vision for the capital? How bad will traffic congestion have to get before the Government realises that it must work to deliver capital investment projects like the DART, metro north and the underground expansion of the Luas?
I call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to clarify the Government's position on DART underground and to publish five, ten and 20-year plans for the infrastructure of our capital.
Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise two issues. First, I welcome the UK Supreme Court ruling relating to the flag protests that went on for months and that affected people living in the Short Strand. Unfortunately, the PSNI chose not to stop the protests going through. I am pleased that the UK Supreme Court found that the police service had the power to stop them and that it should have done so. I commend the residents of the Short Strand in Belfast. They courageously pursued this case through the courts, all the way to the UK Supreme Court to win that particular battle.
I hope this marks a step change, because we need a step change. Everyone in the Chamber wants fair policing in the North. The UK Supreme Court has found that fair policing did not apply. As a result, people suffered for months. I hope this will be a sign of a step change in policing within the Six Counties.
Senator Ardagh made certain remarks about Sinn Féin. We are proud of our record in the North. We stand for election in the North. We are a 32-county party. We welcome competition at any stage. We want to talk about a united Ireland. We will never apologise for that.
The next point I want to raise relates to the US President, Mr. Trump. I know a good deal has been said. One aspect of particular concern relates to Palestine. President Trump has signalled strongly that he intends to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. That is particularly concerning. We now have people high up in the Israeli Government saying there is no need to even talk about the need for a Palestinian state anymore. This has serious repercussions for the people of Palestine. It is yet another reason to be concerned.
As a party, we recognise that we should not be breaking the hard work and the links built by all parties in America. We understand that the relationship is important. However, I have concerns in respect of the optics of our Taoiseach potentially fawning over President Trump with a bowl of shamrock. It is up to the Taoiseach to make it clear, if he goes, that he is entirely opposed to the horrendous, racist and misogynist policies of President Trump.
We can do something on this topic in the Chamber this evening. A protest will take place at 6 p.m. in Shannon organised by Shannonwatch.I invite any of our colleagues close by to come down and join me at 6 p.m. To be frank, it is one thing to talk about President Trump, but we will have an opportunity at Shannon Airport at 6 p.m. today to stand for equality and with our Muslim brothers and sisters. I hope we will have a good turnout.
Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party)
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I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 8, Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017, be taken before No. 1.
Denis Landy (Labour)
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I want to raise two issues, the first of which is the proposed picket at Shelbourne Park by the Dublin Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association on Saturday night, 4 February. The picket stems from the frustration felt within the industry across the country but most particularly in Dublin because of the total inaction of the Irish Greyhound Board on the issue of the future of the Harold's Cross track. The Indecon report published in 2014 showed that, under the board, the Irish greyhound industry was in debt to the tune of €21 million. It found that the board was challenged and flawed on a number of fronts, including financial governance, doping and performance procedures. It also found that the financial system in place was flawed. For that reason, it came up with a number of proposals, one of which was that the Harold's Cross track be sold in anticipation of the zoning being changed from amenity to development land in the Dublin development plan. Local councillors, some from within the Labour Party, I am glad to say, saw off this proposal and the Harold's Cross track was retained as an amenity, thereby reducing the value of the land. Despite this, the only action the Irish Greyhound Board has come up with to date to address its €21 million debt involves the selling of the Harold's Cross track. The board has squandered and wasted money for the past 20 years. In one instance, it spent millions in developing a new track in Limerick, but it failed to sell the old track. It has also failed dismally to grow the industry because it has not dealt with the problem of doping. I congratulate everyone who was in Clonmel for the coursing meetings on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There is horse racing meeting there today. The people I met had lost faith in the industry. I ask that the legislation promised since 2015 to deal with the recommendations made in the Indecon report be brought forward and also that the new interim CEO, Dr. Seán Brady, meet the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association, something he has refused to do to date. In addition, will the Leader find out how long the interim period will be and when a new CEO will be put in place? The last CEO left overnight. It is very important for a State board that a CEO be appointed properly.
I want to raise one other brief issue.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is in injury time.
Denis Landy (Labour)
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Before Christmas Deputy Gino Kenny introduced a Bill dealing with the legalisation of medicinal cannabis. In the Dáil the Minister said he welcomed the Bill in which he saw merit. Unfortunately, the people who suffer from epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and fibromyalgia, of which I have been a sufferer for 20 years, have seen no progress made on the Bill. Some 1.6 million people in this country suffer from chronic pain. From a survey taken in the last week, it has now been accepted by GPs across the country that medicinal cannabis, properly dispensed with a prescription, properly controlled and produced in synthetic form to remove its damaging properties, would be good for patients and help to reduce the numbers of painkillers, sleeping tablets, antidepressants and morphine patches those suffering from these ailments have to endure every day. I ask the Minister to bring forward the legislation as soon as possible. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his tolerance.
Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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The very decisive vote in the House of Commons yesterday has brought into focus the real risk of a hard Brexit if we are not extraordinarily vigilant and hard-working to prevent it from happening. We need a solution for Ireland that is unique. We need a solution that will allow an all-Ireland customs union. That would effectively mean that there would not be a hard border and that we would need controls at ports rather than along the Border with Northern Ireland. We need a special and unique solution. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have to be treated within the negotiations as very special territory. I ask the Leader to express that view, given that we are in a very difficult situation.
I also ask the Leader to arrange a debate in the interim, as Brexit moves closer to become a reality, given the huge threat to the agriculture sector, particularly those engaged in intensive farming. In counties such as Cavan and Monaghan and other areas along the Border employment in the industry, particularly in the mushroom sector, is at huge risk. A system of supports will have to introduced, including tax incentives. I, therefore, ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this issue.
I support Senator Catherine Ardagh who raised the issue at the outset in order for it to be given high priority. Brexit is the big matter today and the Leader should respond accordingly. While it is admirable to engage in constant review and debate in the House, I agree with Senator Catherine Ardagh that a special and serious debate is required, with particular reference to the impact of a hard Brexit along the Border. I appreciate the indulgence of the House as this is an extremely serious issue for the constituency I represent.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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On Brexit, I agree with previous speakers that it is important that we try to work out the issues involved. It is going to be a long-term problem for Ireland.
While travelling here in my car this morning, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, was on RTE radio speaking about rural Ireland and his Ireland 2040 plan. In the past few months many Senators have mentioned that we have a two-tier recovery. Dublin is glowing. There seems to be a lot of employment and, as Senator Catherine Ardagh said, there is massive traffic congestion. However, rural Ireland has been forgotten. When one looks at health services, schools, shops and post offices or at main streets and town centres, it is clear that it is very difficult for them to remain attractive for businesses. It is also difficult for people to live and work in rural Ireland. It is a 23-year plan and the Minister said this morning that public meetings would be held in various areas to discuss it. If people want to know something these days, they turn on RTE radio and they will hear all of the information the Minister and the Taoiseach are launching. In 2002 -,15 years ago - there was a national spatial strategy which I am sure some Members will remember.
Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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It destroyed the country.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Order, please. Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor is not addressing the people across the road. She should not invite debate.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I am not; I am being honest. I was not in the Dáil or the Seanad at the time.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senator's time is running out.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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What I am saying is that lessons have to be learned-----
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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No, hang on-----
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is not allowed to address Members across the floor.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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It is crucial and very important that the Minister include all parties and that public meetings be held.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Thank you. Your time is up, I am afraid.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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As spokesperson for housing in Fianna Fáil, I have major concerns. I have met Minister for Housing, Deputy Coveney, on several occasions. We have our housing meetings every Wednesday morning.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I have to say this. We have been-----
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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You cannot. You have gone over time.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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-----promoting Dublin. The Minister has brought in a rapid build programme, which again is promoting Dublin. If the Minister is serious about the rural counties, he needs to put a proper action plan in place, and come in and talk to us all.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Thank you, Senator.
Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to see this week, as previous spokesperson on European affairs in the House, that the EU has agreed a deal to cap the price that telecom operators pay for using each other's networks, and that by 15 June 2017, this agreement will come into place. We are a far cry from where we were ten, 15 or 20 years ago, when if we went abroad we were afraid to even look at a phone never mind use it for fear of hundreds of euro of charges. It is one very positive thing that the EU has delivered. By 15 June an SMS will cost 1 cent, and people will be able to use their phones as though they were in Ireland.
I want to mention a recent documentary on RTE, which many of us will have seen, about the use of drugs, prescription drugs in particular but also other codeine-type drugs. I felt that the documentary, while it was very enlightening and interesting, was slightly anecdotal and lacked a bit of balance when it came to mental illness in particular. There are over 450,000 people in Ireland who are on anti-depressants, and we cannot underestimate how vital and perhaps life changing those drugs are for people in many instances. It must be said that a review of that area would be a very useful thing for the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to implement. If indeed the figures are as stark and as worrying as was highlighted in that documentary, we need to be implementing a more structured counselling service in the country in order that general practitioners and other medical professionals can safely recommend and prescribe counselling in certain instances. That is not to take from the fact, and I cannot stress this enough and I am repeating it, how important and vital these drugs are for some people who have mental illnesses. I do not think that balance came across in the documentary. I call on the Minister for Health to investigate the use of prescription medication in addressing mental health nationwide to avoid over-prescription and erroneous prescription.
Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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Pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, is a prevention option for people at substantial risk of HIV. It has been approved by the World Health Organization. Currently, only one medication has been approved for use as PrEP which is marketed under the name of Truvada, and it is a combination of two antiretroviral drugs. It is also used for HIV treatment in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Taken daily, PrEP reduces a person's risk of contracting HIV by more than 99%.
In light of the permanent ban on gay men donating blood, on a questionnaire from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, for those who wish to donate blood, question 52 asks whether the individual has taken PrEP in the past five years. The HSE is engaged in a process to make PrEP available in Ireland, but there is no indication as to how long that will take. We know that people in Ireland are taking PrEP, perhaps accessed via the Six Counties or Europe. Sinn Féin asked the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, for the reasoning behind question 52, and he said in a reply that I received this morning, "Question 52 was added to the IBTS Donor Health & Lifestyle Questionnaire on 16 January this year when the permanent deferral of men who have sex with men ... from donating blood was changed from a lifetime ban to a 12 month deferral from the most recent sexual contact with another man." Essentially, I or any other man who has sex with a man has to wait 12 months to donate blood. That is not in line with international best practice of around three months.
I am informed by the Minister that the reason question 52 is on the questionnaire is, "Persons who have taken medication to prevent HIV infection, i.e. ... PrEP ... are [now] deferred for a 5 year period." This is a massive U-turn in terms of LGBT rights and in terms of the commitment for gay men to donate blood. While I will admit it is possible after a 12 month period, we are increasing that fivefold for those who have taken PrEP. I want the Minister, Deputy Harris, to come into this House and address this matter.
James Reilly (Fine Gael)
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On the issue of cannabis, I know that the Minister has been working on legislation to make this available to people and I support his endeavours in this regard because I believe it would be a very useful adjunct in treating people with various ailments.
I want to return to the issue of Brexit, which was raised, and indeed the Leader of the Opposition's comments around traffic congestion in Dublin. She is quite right to say that with the economy returning to strength in Dublin and with the efforts to make that happen throughout the country, this is going to be an issue. Brexit itself will provide many challenges, which we are aware of, but it will also provide many opportunities in the Irish Financial Services Centre and other centres. We hear unofficially that many companies have already decided to come here without making much of a brouhaha about it because of other sensitivities. Hundreds of jobs are coming our way already, and thousands may into the future. The challenges that will present are around housing and accommodation, office accommodation and, as has already been mentioned, transport.
Ireland has already made a special case, which is accepted, and using the precedent of the unification of West and East Germany, we have an opportunity through the European Investment Bank to avail of moneys off book and allow us expedite the infrastructure that we need. In particular I am talking about the metro, which is now more important than ever. Dublin Airport's stunning performance in terms of additional visitors to this country will be undermined if we cannot address the infrastructural deficit, not just with regard to the metro, which is critical and which will have the capacity to produce its own income to repay loans due through fares, but also roads, which have already restricted development. A major development in Belcamp was refused recently by Fingal County Council, which had no other option because of lack of road access.
These need to be addressed urgently, because there is no better place for housing. The land is all in Fingal. Some 75 acres have already been rezoned for office development in Dublin Airport which has not been put to full use yet. The original Dublin Airport plan for 10,000 jobs is already afoot. We have an opportunity to get up to 50,000 new jobs in this area. In terms of infrastructure, it will serve the rest of the country, with park and ride coming into that area. It will be useful for getting into town, for international business people commuting, and for tourists to access the rest of the country. For all these it is critical there is a metro like they have in Heathrow, where one can hop onto a train into London. Why not the same for Dublin?
Again, I welcome the Government's initiative to avail of the European Investment Bank capacity to fund these off book, and I do hope that metro will receive the priority that it should. It will help relieve the traffic congestion that the Leader of the Opposition has already mentioned.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I call Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. He should formally second the amendment proposed earlier.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
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I formally second the amendment. In six weeks' time this country, and indeed the world, will celebrate the history and the story of a very famous undocumented migrant called St. Patrick. On that day and in that week it is imperative on us in this House and to anybody with an Irish background to tell the real story of Ireland, that being one of emigration and an understanding of coffin ships, sectarian hatred, seeking refuge, violence and terrorism.It is extremely important, while the eyes of the world are on us, that we take a stand on that day and in that week and tell the real story of Ireland. In these very uncertain times, particularly following the executive orders produced by the Trump regime, the number of people with Irish-American names who surround the man is remarkable. I can think of names like Conway, Kelly, Bannon, Spicer and Pence. They want to give a certain view of the Irish-American experience. It is important that Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and Irish people across the world take a stand on St. Patrick's Day and in that week. We must remind the world that we know intimately what it is like to leave this country, what it meant to be on a coffin ship and takes to overcome sectarian hatred, deal with terrorism and division and seek peace. We must take stock of the experience in our own country.
I make reference to the recent goings on in Ballaghaderreen when local representatives were shown up completely by local people when asked to accept 80 Syrian refugees into their own community. I pay tribute to Mary Gallagher who I believe owns a small shop in Ballaghaderreen. When asked by RTE how she felt about the situation, she asked how, when one saw children being picked out of clay, could one say no. However, political representatives in that part of the world were slow in being as welcoming as she was. We in this House have a responsibility to work on a cross-party basis to ensure we will implement the recommendations made in the McMahon report on direct provision. We now have an opportunity to sort out our own house. We can say to the rest of the world that we are an emigrant nation, that we understand intimately the needs of emigrants across the world and that we will not allow the Irish story to be hijacked by the right-wing white national viewpoint of those who surround President Trump.
Senator Robbie Gallagher:I refer to the domiciliary care allowance and the high number of appeals that arise from applications made to the Department of Social Protection. As Senators will know, the domiciliary care allowance is about €309 per month and paid to the carer of a child under 16 years of age with a severe disability. He or she must be living at home and require full-time care and attention, over and above the care and attention normally required by a child of that age. I am disturbed by the high number of appeals. In some cases applicants have been forced to pursue the matter through the courts to get justice. The Department has released figures for 2016 that show there were approximately 7,434 applications and that 1,344 appeals were lodged. The most startling figure was that of the 1,344 appeals lodged, as many as 1,065 were successful. That shows clearly that there is an issue with how applications are determined. Another issue worth considering is the time taken to process an application. It takes approximately 14 weeks for a decision to be made on an initial application. The hearing of an appeal takes up to 30 weeks. The figures clearly show that there is something wrong with how the Department considers applications and appeals. I urge the Leader to ask the Minister for Social Protection to consider the matter and put a mechanism in place to inform the carers of children in this category at an early stage about their entitlements.
Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the announcement made by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the formation of a tillage forum. He has agreed to hold what will be an important meeting on Thursday, 16 February. The grain forum will afford us an opportunity to discuss what happened with the harvest in 2016 and the resultant major losses, particularly in the south and west. The establishment of a grain forum was promised by the Minister and I hope the meeting will bring the issue to a conclusion and that everyone who is aggrieved will have a positive outcome.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I wish to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. Commissioner Phil Hogan has today announced the initiation of a public consultation process on the reform of the CAP. He has indicated that he wants to have a full and meaningful public consultation process and outlined his plans and vision for same. It is important that we note that he has invited farmers, professional bodies in the agriculture sector, as well as environmental organisations to give their views in the next three months. Details of the consultation process can be found on the Commission's website. The announcement is welcome because consultation needs to take place.
This morning I read a brief piece on the matter. In his press release the Commissioner stated the aim of the review was to modernise and simplify the CAP. It will be a very big task to simplify it. We all know that there are major challenges to it in terms of food production, globalisation, the environment and how farmers and environmentalists work together. Other challenges include addressing the impact of Brexit, the effects the Russian import ban has had on agriculture, the slump in milk prices following the downturn and the lifting of quotas, market volatility and diversity. The key message to come from the Commissioner was that the consultation process presented an opportunity to discuss how the CAP could be simplified and still be meaningful and effective. This House needs to send a clear message on CAP reform. I ask all Members to spread the word about the three-month consultation process in their respective constituencies through the organisations, groups and bodies with which they are involved. I want them to ask and encourage people to engage in it in a meaningful way.
Will the Leader indicate whether he has made progress on the establishment of a Seanad committee on Brexit? Clearly, Brexit will have an enormous negative impact on the agriculture sector on this island and in the United Kingdom.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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That is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which is considering it.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I directed my question at the Leader.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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It is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I am grateful for the answer. May I finish?
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senator has gone over time.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Will the Leader indicate whether progress has been made on the matter?
Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach should continue the long-term tradition of travelling to the White House to meet President Trump. It will afford him an opportunity to articulate all that is good in Ireland. He should tell the President that visitors and refugees are welcomed with compassion and courage on this island. He should also say Ireland is at peace, that we have torn down our walls and that we want to build bridges. Unfortunately, what is happening as a consequence of the Brexit vote and the election of President Trump is that the United States which was a democracy that had respect for human rights and the United Kingdom which is the home of parliamentary democracy are building walls, whereas once they built bridges.
The Taoiseach should highlight the fact that in a democracy index Ireland has been ranked in the top six of over 160 countries. It measures the state of democracy against such factors as pluralism, civil liberties and political culture. Ireland has been ranked ahead of the United Kingdom which has been ranked 16th and the United States which has been ranked 21st. As a country, Ireland needs to be open, mature and confident enough to take its place among the nations. We can ask the United Kingdom and the United States to work with us. As Ireland is located between the two, we must be at the vanguard in promoting democratic rights.We must highlight to President Trump all that is good on the island of Ireland. I am not saying everything is good, but we should emphasise the positive. We have come a long way in the past 20 years.
Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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Many of the issues that are discussed in this House cannot be acted upon unless we have a tax system that works efficiently. The arms of the State must support the collection of taxes, whether for hospitals, housing, supports for rural areas and so on. Our tax base must be supported and sustained. In early January, I contacted the Revenue Commissioners to highlight allegations that national lottery staff were giving tax avoidance advice to lottery winners in respect of gift tax, inheritance tax and several other taxes. In the excitement of winning a large amount of money, people will most likely take any advice they receive from the national lottery. In some cases, it is alleged, that the advice was to form a syndicate where none existed before. I am deeply disturbed that the lottery licence may have been granted to agencies which see fit to help people to defraud our tax system.
I have not yet had a response from Revenue to my query but evidence that was recently put before the courts indicates such activity did take place in the past. We do not know for how long it went on. The Minister must come to the House to assure us that the current licensee is not giving tax avoidance advice, which would constitute a breach of the tax code. There must be an assessment of the previous licensee to ascertain what advice it gave customers and whether it colluded in the avoidance of tax. A former lottery claims manager told the High Court that he advised sole winners that they possibly could form a syndicate even where it was not in existence prior to the win. This is a clear breach of law and, if the allegations are correct, tax was forgone. We are all agreed on the importance of bringing in foreign direct investment. For that and other reasons, the integrity of our tax system is important. A licensee of the State cannot be allowed to collude in the breaching of the tax code.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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We need to be very careful in discussing the issue raised by Senator Humphreys given there is an ongoing court case concerning a lottery claim. My understanding, having sold many lottery tickets over the years in my former role as a retailer, is that people are advised to sign the back of their ticket after purchase. When the national lottery pays out on a win, payment goes to the persons who signed the ticket. If a ticket is presented that has been signed by a number of people, it is deemed that they will share in the prize. A syndicate is really only a word for a number of people claiming the one prize. However, I take the Senator's point on board and it is important we have clarification on this matter.
Recent reports by the BBC and Channel 4 and other media regarding the practice of waterboarding by the British Government in Northern Ireland in the 1970s are a cause for serious concern. We have had a great deal of reconciliation and progress as a result of the peace process in the past ten or 15 years but the whole situation is still in its infancy and we have a long way to go in terms of building reconciliation in the North. I encourage the Government to do even more to facilitate, engage with and develop the processes of reconciliation. The British Government, meanwhile, has a responsibility to order an inquiry into the very serious and credible allegations regarding waterboarding and other torture methods used in 1972 against a 17 year old. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Taoiseach must raise this issue with the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr. Brokenshire, and the Prime Minister, Ms May. It is the only fair way to proceed.
I tabled a motion in the House last week, which was very well received, one aspect of which was the recognition that we cannot move forward unless we understand and acknowledge the wrongs of the past and the good that happened in the past. To move forward with a sense of confidence and ambition for Northern Ireland and the island as a whole, an ambition we all share, we must understand and acknowledge what happened in the past, on all sides, bad as some of it was. It is incumbent on the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and the Taoiseach to raise this matter with people at the highest possible levels in the British Government.
Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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One of the aspects of Brexit that does not seem to have gained much traction, and in respect of which there is a serious complacency on the part of Government, is the question of its implications for the energy security of the State. Ireland has very few natural energy resources, meaning we have to import most of what we need. Perhaps the Government has been made complacent by the commencement of gas production at Corrib at the end of 2015, but that supply will decline within five years. We must avoid putting all our eggs in that basket.
There was an interesting article by Joe Brennan in The Irish Times on Tuesday, in which he refers to a report by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies which expresses concern that Ireland might be effectively cut off from continental Europe's gas market when the UK leaves the EU. The UK might try to gain leverage in the talks, a representative of the institute noted, by arguing it offers the cheapest way to provide security of supply to Irish customers. The report states that Ireland will need to build a dedicated terminal to import liquefied natural gas and convert it back into gas.
In that context, it is all the more amazing that we have had only an astounding silence from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in respect of a particular project that is in line with the recommendations in the report to which I referred. That project is located in the Shannon Estuary in north Kerry, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach will know, and is shovel ready, all planning stages having been completed. Furthermore, the State owns the property, it contains natural waterways and there is very little investment required in terms of docking and marine site facilities. The delay in bringing the project to fruition has been going on for years. Four months ago, a group representing all political parties in the county, business interests and community groups, and headed up by the mayor of Kerry, met the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to discuss the status of the project. We have heard nothing since. Members are probably bored of hearing me raise this issue by now.
I call on the Leader once again to ask the Minister to set up a task force or interdepartmental group to work on this project, which is vital for our long-term energy security. It is a clean, safe and environmentally friendly project that will safeguard our energy needs into the distant future and create a huge number of jobs in an area that has been badly let down in the past ten or 12 years.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senator has made his point very well.
Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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Senators Ó Ríordáin and Feighan spoke eloquently on the issue of migration, with particular reference to Ireland's heritage and record in this regard. Indeed, we have a responsibility arising out of that history to give leadership on this issue on a wider scale. Ireland was awarded the honour of chairing the high level UN summit on migration last September and played a key role in convening that summit. Will the Leader arrange a debate in which we can discuss what Ireland is doing in providing international leadership, not simply in terms of the number of migrants coming here but also within a wider context?A number of bilateral agreements were signed over the course of last autumn to effectively externalise many of the EU's borders to ensure that we are not seeing migrants on the streets of Europe. We know that deals are being made - in many cases with countries where the security of refugees is not guaranteed, like Sudan and Afghanistan - whereby refugees are not even getting the opportunity to put forward their case or to reach us. We need to have clarity about the EU deals that are being signed in respect of the externalisation of EU borders and Ireland's position in that regard. We also need to have clarity on how Ireland sees itself responding to the changes in the USA, including for example, how we will respond to programme refugees from Somalia who were due to arrive in the US. What is our position with regard to the situation on the island of Nauru? Migrants on that island are in a shocking and appalling situation and it seems that they will also be let down in terms of their arrangement with the United States. How does Ireland see itself stepping up in the international context and continuing with the leadership it showed at the UN? I would appreciate a debate on that.
In respect of taxation, I share the concerns already expressed about our tax base. I was very disappointed to see that both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil did not feel able to support my amendment last night to ensure that we would have better communication between the Revenue Commissioners -----
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is over time.
Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I am just concluding. I have two specific requests. I ask for a debate later this spring on cost-benefit analyses of all of our taxation measures.
Lastly, on a most urgent issue, Russia has now decriminalised domestic violence. The Council of Europe, at which I and others represented this House and the rest of the Oireachtas, has put forward an expression of condemnation. I ask the Leader to speak to the Minister for Justice and Equality about the possibility of Ireland also issuing a statement of condemnation.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I thank the 18 Senators who contributed on the Order of Business. I am pleased to inform the House, particularly Senators Kevin Humphreys and Catherine Ardagh, that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, will come to the House on 15 February.
Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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A round of applause, please.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Do not get too excited.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I am not sure whether he will come by bus, plane, car, bicycle or on foot but he is coming to the House anyway.
Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
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Is the Leader sure that he is not coming to talk about rugby?
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Leader does listen to Members of this House -----
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
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Is he coming to talk about judicial appointments or -----
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Transport. That is his brief.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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As far as I know, he has not strayed into the Department of Justice and Equality just yet.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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In terms of Senator Ardagh's contribution on the Order of Business, it is important to point out that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is carrying out a review, to be submitted to Cabinet, on infrastructural development in Dublin. Hopefully we will see the development of the metro north rail link from the airport to Dublin city centre soon. As Members know, the Government has committed an extra €2.6 billion to the capital investment programme, on top of the €27 billion direct Exchequer funding and the €15 billion from other sources. It is important to welcome that.
Senator Murnane O'Connor made reference to the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, in the context of the national planning framework. The Minister is currently engaged in the development of a new framework and it is important that we give credit to the Minister who always engages and actively seeks opinion. It is extraordinary to consider that only five years ago there was no gridlock in our capital city and there were no cranes on the skyline. It is to the credit of the last Government and the current one that we have turned our economy around. I am sure everyone welcomes the fact that there are more people at work and more investment is taking place.
Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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There are more people in poverty.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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On the question of a directly-elected mayor for Dublin, a proposal is before the Minister at present. A pilot scheme is being considered to make that happen in either Dublin or Cork, although Senators may have different views on the wisdom of that.
Senator Gavan raised the issue of the PSNI ruling by the Supreme Court in the UK. I do not want to stray into that court's territory but we all want to see fair and just policing. That requires all sides to engage with the PSNI and to be active in terms of policing. It is important to welcome any decision that will make the streets and communities of Northern Ireland safer and, if I can use the term, more ecumenical. On the issue of Palestine and President Trump, I share Senator Gavan's views on the proposed relocation of the American Embassy to Jerusalem, which would be a very regressive move. I note that the President has appointed his son-in-law who will be actively involved in that particular area.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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We must watch that space. On a serious note, the remarks made by Senator Gavan should be communicated to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan.
I am happy to accept Senator Grace O'Sullivan's proposed amendment to the Order of Business and I thank her for her proposal.
Senator Landy raised the issue of the Irish Greyhound Board and its talks with the Dublin Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association. I agree with Senator Landy that there is a need for further dialogue and continuing efforts to reach a resolution, if possible. I thank and pay tribute to Ms Geraldine Larkin, the former CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board. I do not have a definitive answer to the Senator's question on the length of Dr. Sean Brady's tenure as interim CEO but I believe it is for an unspecified time. I am sure that the board of the Irish Greyhound Board will put a plan in place to advertise the position and fill the vacancy quickly.
Senator Landy also raised the issue of medicinal cannabis. My information is that the Bill in question is at the post-scrutiny stage in committee and will be advanced from there. Hopefully it will make its way back into the Houses quickly so that it can be enacted. I agree with Senator Landy that there are many people in Ireland who will benefit from the enactment of that legislation and its passage should be expedited.
Senators Joe O'Reilly, Murnane O'Connor, James Reilly and Ned O'Sullivan all raised the issue of Brexit and I want to assure the House that the Government is not complacent about Brexit. The Government is under no illusions regarding the importance and magnitude of the decision by the UK to leave the EU, not just in terms of North-South issues but also in economic terms, across a variety of sectors. The Taoiseach has been actively engaged across Europe and the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was here this week. The Minister and Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputies Charlie Flanagan and Dara Murphy, and other Ministers are traversing Europe and the world to highlight the importance of Ireland being considered as a special case in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. The issue of the North is one that the Taoiseach has, at all times, stressed. Several Senators made reference to the remarks by the Secretary of State, Mr. James Brokenshire, but there is a recognition that the North requires special treatment. Those of us who are Members of this and the Lower House must work actively with the Government in that regard.
Senator Murnane O'Connor also spoke about the importance of rural Ireland. I would remind her that her party's national spatial strategy was a failure. It fell victim to parish pump politics and many other things that were wrong in our country. I would point out to the Senator that we now have a national rural action plan, launched recently, which contains 270 specified actions and is backed by an investment by Government of €60 million. I am sure the Senator will join me in welcoming that action plan. Hopefully we will see more people employed in and a rejuvenation of rural Ireland.
Senator Noone spoke about the recent RTE programme on prescription drugs. Several good points were made yesterday during the debate on the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016. I am happy to invite the Minister to the House to discuss this issue. Equally, the points made by the Senator about the deal with the telecommunications operators should be taken beyond this House and highlighted.
Senator Warfield raised the issue of blood donations and the lifting of the lifetime ban on gay men donating blood, which I am sure the Senator will agree was a welcome move. Many of us have worked actively to reach the point where we now have a one-year deferral rather than a lifetime ban. The Minister has told me and has said in reply to many parliamentary questions that he, his Department and his officials are governed by scientific evidence and practice in other countries. That said, I would be very happy to sit down with Senator Warfield with a view to getting a working group together to work on this issue.
Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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I would prefer it if the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, came into this House.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I would be happy to have that conversation with Senator Warfield -----
Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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I would rather talk to the Minister in this House.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senators can discuss that later; not on the Order of Business.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I would be happy to work with Senator Warfield on that.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I cannot allow Senator Warfield in again but he can chat with the Leader about it afterwards.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Senator Reilly made reference to the European investment fund, EIF, and the importance of the Government drawing down funding and I agree with him on that. Senators Ó Ríordáin, Feighan and Higgins raised the very important issue of migration and referred to the fact that Ireland benefitted when its citizens went to America.It is important that the opportunity around St. Patrick's Day will not be business as usual, as it would have been in the past, but that the Taoiseach, the Ministers and all on that travelling party who will go to many parts of the United States will use that time to speak about our values and that it is about welcome and refuge. It is about people who are being displaced for a variety of callous and evil reasons. It is important that we remember and recognise - and inform President Trump - that it was not too long ago when there were signs in many parts of England or America stating "Irish need not apply". We have a proud legacy for which we can stand up. I am sure the Taoiseach will do that, as will the Ministers. We have, as Senator Ó Ríordáin stated, a real story to tell. Those of us who have a different viewpoint to President Trump have an obligation to stand up and to make our voices heard.
On the points made by Senators Higgins and Ó Ríordáin in regard to our own immigration policy, it is important that we have an integrated strategy. I note there was commentary about Ballaghaderreen but there was a positive outcome there. I am sure we all will see the benefits of that and those who will arrive in Ballaghaderreen will be given a huge welcome and will have a positive experience there.
Senator Gallagher raised the issue of domiciliary care allowance. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House. To assist the Senator, he might put down a Commencement matter on it. There may be an issue around processing. As Chairman of the previous health committee who travelled to the HSE medical card centre to discuss its processing mechanisms, I believe it might be something for the Senator to take up with the Minister at the committee.
I join Senator Tim Lombard in welcoming the announcement of the tillage grain forum. It is important to give farmers who have lost a considerable amount of income in the awful autumn weather an opportunity to have a plan for the future. Senator Boyhan raised the important topic of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, and I thank him for doing so. This is about the future of Europe and the agricultural sector is very important to Ireland. The point made by Senator Boyhan is one we should not lose in the context of the impact it has in respect of Brexit, relationships with Russia and globalisation. The Senator correctly stated that we should encourage those involved in the farming community to engage in an important consultation process. We might have a discussion about how the House can play a role in that as well.
The Cathaoirleach has made a ruling regarding the Brexit committee. From speaking to the leaders at the leaders' group meeting this week, I am aware that it is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges but we are anxious, as a House, to stand united in having a Brexit committee. The Cathaoirleach is equally adamant about that. I hope we will have that progressed. I have not got any further information for the Senator but I am aware it is a matter that the Cathaoirleach, as Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, will pursue as well.
Senator Humphreys raised the issue of the tax collection system. It is a matter before the courts. I will not delve into it, but I would be disappointed if the national lottery was issuing information to people about avoiding tax payment. I do not believe that organisation might be doing that. There was a comment attributed to the national lottery in a newspaper recently where, as part of a press statement, the national lottery stated it did not do that and that it actively advises winners on the use of independent consultants. Let me add, I have not spoken to any lottery winners. If it is the case, then it is certainly something that should be looked into.
Senator Conway also raised the issue of the lottery. He spoke about the issue of waterboarding in the North in terms of reconciliation. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, we must learn from the past. We must engage in reconciliation. I hope that the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, will take up the remarks of the Senator.
In response to Senator Higgins, I would be happy to have a debate on migration. The Senator is correct in terms of domestic violence. As a country, we have led in many ways in terms of our legislation. The Tánaiste recently launched the new policy and I would be happy to have her come to the House.
Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I am aware of the Tánaiste's commitment.
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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It is something that we should do. Only this week, I spoke in a school in regard to the issues around sexual violence. It is something that we need to keep on the agenda.
I will accept the amendment to the order of Business.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Senator Grace O'Sullivan has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 8 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated that he is prepared to accept it. Is that agreed? Agreed.