Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. and to adjourn after 30 minutes, if not previously concluded.

John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister for Transport for the funding of €17.6 million for Waterford's local and regional roads programme announced earlier this week. This is my first opportunity to address the issue. This funding will make a significant difference within my county.

The main topic I would like to discuss is the welcome decision of the Supreme Court yesterday to uphold the decision of the High Court to grant permission to Glanbia for a €140 million cheese processing plant in Waterford Port at Belview. This is a very welcome decision as 85 jobs will be created on completion. The project will also provide approximately 400 construction jobs over the next few years but most critically, the plant will support the incomes of 4,500 farm families in the south east and further afield. This represents significant support for rural Ireland. The project, as the Acting Leader knows, is a key diversification tool in the context of Brexit. The aim is to move to the production of more continental-type cheeses rather than relying so heavily on the British cheddar market.

It is regrettable that this project was delayed by two years as a result of appeals by An Taisce of the decision of Kilkenny County Council to An Bord Pleanála and subsequent appeals to the High Court, applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, and ultimately the final decision of the latter court yesterday. An Taisce issued a statement yesterday saying that it noted and respected the decision of the Supreme Court. It is unfortunate that it did not respect the decisions of various other entities, all the way up through the planning process, including An Bord Pleanála and the High Court. The two-year delay has led to significant cost inflation for the project but the decision of the Supreme Court is a really positive one. I hope now that Glanbia and Royal A-ware can progress this plant as soon as possible to support the 4,500 farm families across the region.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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There are a number of issues that we should discuss in this House in the immediate future, one of which is the home retrofitting plan. There are a number of aspects of that plan that need to be teased out. It is all very well to announce that €X billion is available for this plan and that X number of houses are due to be retrofitted, but I am concerned to ensure that the resources involved in this particular area of construction are not diverted away from home building. I would like to see a clear evaluation done on how this new programme, if it is unleashed, is going to affect building costs, labour shortages and skills shortages right across the construction industry. Perhaps we should not be subsidising the retrofitting area massively at a time when we are trying to attract building firms and building contractors to deal with the housing crisis. There is a very substantial question as to whether we should attempt to do both at the one time, especially since subsidies combined with shortages will inevitably lead to price rises.

I would also like the Acting Leader to make time available for a discussion as to precisely how the programme of retrofitting is to be carried out. A sum of €50,000 is a lot to spend on one single home and an awful lot of work is involved in the spending of such a sum, or at least one would hope so. If that is the case, the question as to who is likely to take up the Government's offer and whether they will get an economic return on their expenditure of €25,000, which would justify most people making an investment of that sort, has to be thought through carefully.What I am really saying is that it is all very well to go public and say that this is a dazzling new programme, but there are consequences. There are consequences for the construction industry. There are consequences for shortages of labour and for skilled craftsmen and the like. There are consequence for prices of materials. There are consequences for home-building prices. There is potentially a significant diversion of resources from home-building construction, which, as I understand it, is the Government’s key priority politically, economically and socially at this stage. We should reflect on how it measures in with the whole question of retrofitting homes. We should have a debate in this House on that subject.

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
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I welcome Senator McDowell’s interest in this green, innovative initiative. I agree with him, as did former Senator and President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, at the launch of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Seanad. We should have much more discussion. If the initiatives are good, which I believe they are, they should be able to withstand scrutiny. We should not be afraid of scrutiny because it will instil more confidence in them. Maybe we can improve them here by playing an advisory role to the Government, as well as scrutinising and reviewing legislation. Perhaps we should have one day every week to discuss this whole new era. It is akin to the Industrial Revolution. It is now a green revolution. It has to be done in a fair and proportionate way which makes sense, is accessible to everyone and is most effective.

In recent weeks, there has been much commentary denouncing people who use the courts for issues of planning. This is not for personal financial gain through seeking damages. One aspect of that debate that has not been given the attention it deserves is the fact that the vast majority of such planning applications take the form of a judicial review in the High Court. The first step in a judicial review is to seek leave. It is a member of the Judiciary who decides whether to grant leave. If the application is vexatious, lacks any merit or is frivolous, the High Court judge will in the first instance eliminate any frivolity or any vexatious, groundless application. I hope people understand that there is already a safeguard there. While it is not the highest threshold, there is a system in place in the High Court. The other party might not even be present. The High Court judge might decide to bring in the other party even at a leave stage in order to hear both sides. Absent from the debate to date has been any reference to the fact that a safeguard is already there to serve justice and, at the same time, to ensure people have access to justice. I would not like to deny that to any citizen of Ireland.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the chief executive officer of Foróige, the largest youth organisation on the island. It has been doing great work during the pandemic to make sure that all our young people have access to the activities and services they require. I thank the chief executive officer, Mr. Seán Campbell, for his work throughout the years and for being here today.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I have to raise the issue of University Hospital Limerick once again. What I will share with you this morning is truly shocking. The Acting Leader may be aware that the Minister for Health is on a visit to University Hospital Limerick today. I had people reach out to me from the hospital yesterday to tell me what was happening ahead of his visit. Trolleys have been moved out to other wards in the hospital, as well as to step-down hospitals. One person told me that there were more private ambulances there yesterday than they had seen in a long time. They were to get patients out, ahead of the visit. Unfortunately for hospital management, and in fairness to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, he called in unexpectedly yesterday evening. The response to that was to hide patients in the outpatients department. I got this information from a source who I trust 100%.

I would like to ask a question as someone who has been raising this issue for six years. When will the Government address the crisis in University Hospital Limerick? Its figures are shocking beyond any other hospital in the State. For years I have been pointing out the fundamental failures of management, not to mention a culture of bullying. To show the Acting Leader how much worse things have gotten, to date in February, 964 people have been on trolleys. That compares to last year’s figure of 494. This is twice as bad. Each of those persons has a story, each of those persons has gone through an ordeal and each of those persons have been failed by this Government, which has failed to tackle the crisis in University Hospital Limerick. The people of Limerick are absolutely sick of it.

I have to ask another question. What kind of culture tells management to hide patients when a Minister is visiting? Are we really going to accept that? Is anyone in this Chamber going to accept that? This has gone on for far too long already. There are massive issues with University Hospital Limerick, such as issues of investment. The management conceded to me that even when the new ward comes online in two years, they will still be 200 beds short. There are fundamental planning failures that have to be addressed, but I have to say I have never seen such a cynical attempt to cover up the crisis. Surely to God the first thing that management should do is acknowledge there is a crisis and try to work with the Minister to solve matters. Unfortunately, what we have seen over the last 24 hours is the exact opposite. I am calling for an urgent debate and for urgent action. I am calling for people on the Government benches to finally acknowledge that fundamental change alone will address the issues at University Hospital Limerick. There must be no more hiding of patients, no more covering up of problems, no more fleets of private ambulances outside our hospital to try to hide what is happening. We need action and we need delivery from this Government. After 11 years of Fine Gael in government, it is not too much to ask.

Mark Wall (Labour)
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I want to raise today the current cost of student travel. I ask the Acting Leader to schedule a debate again with an emphasis on rural transport and commuting costs. There can be no doubt that the 20% reduction in transport fares, as recently announced, is welcome, but I have received a number of worrying emails and messages informing me that prices have gone up recently. This means that the 20% reduction will only cover the cost of the rise in student travel charges. The increase means that a young student from Newbridge is paying 74% of their SUSI grant on transport. As the Acting Leader can imagine, this is unsustainable. This young student is receiving a monthly SUSI grant of €336. They are now paying over €250 on rail and bus transport to further their education. The rail fare from Newbridge has increased from €180 per month to €218 per month. The 20% reduction that has been promised will result in this student paying what they had always paid.

I was also contacted by a student from my home town of Athy who is paying €15 per day on the train each day, as well as €25 on a Leap card each week to get from the train station in Dublin to their college. This adds up to €100 per week. In this case, the student could not get accommodation in Dublin, due to the lack of supply and the cost. However, they are paying €400 per month in transport costs to get to college. Their sibling is using a bus service from the town to Maynooth University and is paying €80 per week in bus fares to attend. Both of them have informed me that these costs remain even when existing student discounts for train fares and Leap cards are taken into account. I have previously raised in this House the case of a Monasterevin student who is also paying €100 per week to attend college. I know of similar cases right throughout south Kildare.

We heard during the week that the much needed and welcome youth travel card will not be available until later this year. However, even more worrying is the NTA response to my colleague Deputy Nash that commercial buses will not form part of this scheme. The reply states that under the circumstances it is not possible to provide a timeline for that element at present. The Acting Leader will know that in many rural areas there is no travel option other than a commercial bus. We need to hear from the Minister for Transport on this topic in this House.

I recently sent a submission to the greater Dublin transport strategy calling for a review of prices from commuting counties. I have outlined before the unacceptable difference between train fares in south Kildare, compared with north Kildare. The examples of these students paying such a high price for travel is a further cause of alarm for us all in tackling our climate crisis. These young people are our future commuters. We should be encouraging them to avail of public transport rather than giving them a fare reduction in one hand and taking it away with the other.I ask the Acting Leader to schedule that debate.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I would like to raise the issue of teenage violence. In recent years there have been many reports of teenage violence in the media and they include teenagers being violent to other teenagers in every place from Dalkey to Malahide, Rochestown and Carrigaline. Most recently, this week my home community of Cabra featured in the media. This violence is characterised by gangs of young people making random attacks on other young people. These are violent assaults and in Cabra there were a number of assaults before Christmas and again in the new year. In one incident a young man ended up in a coma and in another incident a screwdriver was used to inflict injury on another young teenager. Crowbars, hammers and bicycle parts are also being used as weapons. As if the physical injuries and violence were not enough, these violent acts are being recorded on phones and being uploaded, posted and shared on social media.

I am a founding director of the Cabra Community Policing Forum and I am a director of Cabra for Youth CLG and the Loft, Local Outreach Family Therapies. I have been working with other stakeholders locally, as I am sure others are working in other communities around the country, to support our young people and address these issues. We work with the policing forum; Dublin City Council; the Garda; the schools; the school completion programmes; the youth services; the justice youth diversion programmes; families; parents; and young people. It is important that we support our young people and it is completely unacceptable that any young person in our communities feels unsafe or has to think twice about going down to the shops, going for a walk or meeting their friends. As a community and a society we have to support our young people and address this issue. As adults and as a broader community we can do that but we also need the social media giants on board, In this instance I call on TikTok to support our society, communities and young people. I would appreciate it if the Leader would address that issue through her good offices.

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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I want to raise the issue of receiving a cancer diagnosis during maternity leave or during a pregnancy. We had a super presentation on this by the Irish Cancer Society and there is an anomaly in the legislation that those who receive or have to undergo cancer treatment during their maternity leave cannot defer their leave and go on sick pay at that time. Rather, they have to use their maternity leave for their treatment. This affects approximately 60 women in Ireland annually. This is something we should address and, therefore, I ask the Acting Leader to bring this back to the Minister. A small amendment should be made to the legislation in order that this cohort of women can defer their maternity leave while they are undergoing treatment.

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Chambers, for all the sports capital grants that were allocated last week. I also want to extend a special word of thanks to the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who yesterday opened a special school for children with autism in Crumlin, Our Lady of Hope School. It was a long-fought campaign by the Dublin 12 campaign 4 Autism Inclusion and it was great to see the school finally open yesterday with the huge support of the Minister and I thank her for that.

On the sports capital programme, many clubs in the inner city in my area and in Senator Fitzpatrick's area do not own their playing fields and pitches and cannot avail of the funding. They are competing in the same leagues as other clubs and they are seeing other clubs announce on Facebook and Twitter that they are getting €150,000 in funding, yet they barely get €500 to rent pitches. That is unfair and something should be done for clubs in the inner city or in areas where they do not own their land. We know sports capital is just that by its nature but something has to be done to help these clubs to access pitches and resources for the youth. It is unfair because the kids then go to other clubs that have resources.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I support Senator Gavan's comments on University Hospital Limerick. I have no reason to disbelieve the comments he made. From all the reports I have ever heard from management in that hospital, it is believable that this happened. In fairness to the Minister for Health, the Senator would not have found out that information-----

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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True.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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-----if he had not come down himself without telling them. We had a meeting with him yesterday in which he said he was arriving this morning to meet them so he obviously kept what he was doing quiet and that has triggered them trying to hide patients, which is an utter disgrace.

I want to ask the Acting Leader two questions. It was reported last night by Daniel McConnell that at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting, the Minister for Health spoke about a drug for women who suffer from hyperemesis called Cariban. I have spoken about it a number of times, including this week and last year. Could the Minister make a statement on that? If it is true then women who suffer from severe illness and sickness during their pregnancies would be supported financially. It costs them approximately €3,000 during their pregnancies and they have never been supported financially by the State for it. From the comments I read from Daniel McConnell it seems that will change.

The announcements on the sports capital grants have been hugely welcomed in Tipperary but from the day the applications were made to when the announcement has been made, the costs incurred by clubs to build AstroTurf pitches, floodlights and everything else have dramatically increased. Will the Acting Leader ask the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, to come into the Chamber and outline whether funding will be set aside for the increased costs that sports clubs will incur since they initially applied for these sports capital grants back in 2019?

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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On Sunday last, an Chéad Chathlán Coisithe i nDún Uí Mhaolíosa i nGaillimh held its commemoration of 100 years. I want to pay some respect to my colleagues: Senator Kyne, who is here; Senator Crowe; and Deputies Ó Cuív and Grealish. Their attendance at that parade was greatly appreciated by all. Soldiers in Galway know they have support in this House and in the Lower House and that is important.

Some time ago I spoke about how politics in this country, and particularly the massive portfolios our Ministers have, is failing the system. What we heard about University Hospital Limerick today is indicative of the failure I am talking about. No Minister over the past 11 years can be held responsible for bad management at local level. Ministers cannot micromanage systems. I am delighted that the Minister for Health decided yesterday that he would pull a snap inspection and that shows great leadership on his behalf. I am quick enough to criticise people when the opportunity arises but we have to move away from constantly looking at the Government or the Minister because some local organisation is not living up to the job and task it is supposed to be carrying out. Senator Gavan is correct that he has been raising this matter for years, as have other Limerick-based Senators on the Government side. The bottom line is that if there is a problem there it should not fall to a Minister for Health to have to drive to Limerick to see what is going on. There should be a proper management accounting system and the lacuna that exists between ministerial responsibility and local management needs to be addressed. We cannot continually blame politicians for the failures of people who are paid massive salaries to do a managerial task. That is something we should have a debate on in this House in the public interest.

Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail)
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Next week the largest sporting organisation in the country, the GAA, will hold its annual congress in County Mayo. One club and its chairman have been so motivated by the abuse of drugs they have witnessed within our society and in particular, within our GAA clubs, that they have been moved to table a motion at congress. That man is Tim Barry from Rathdowney-Errill GAA in County Laois and he has called for a ban on players who do not complete courses on substance abuse and gambling because of the cocaine abuse he has seen in his club. He has been backed this week to get the debate going by Ciarán Carey, the former Limerick great, who is an addiction counsellor.It might not win next week at congress, but it is the largest sporting organisation in this country standing up and admitting that there is a problem within society and at least trying to tackle it in a very meaningful way because what he is calling for is a ban to be imposed on players if testing and addiction courses are not completed. It would start at a ban for one match, and it would gradually increase. It would take players out of the system, as they would not be able to play, so there would be a real tangible negative for those who do not complete the courses.

Here we have local leaders in society trying to tackle what needs to be done in our country. They can probably do more than any of the strategies devised in these Houses because it will have a tangible impact on the lives of young players if they do not face up to what is being sought in this particular debate.

I also pay tribute to Oisín McConville, who again this week was in the media talking about his addiction problems in terms of gambling, and the fact that he went as low as to take money from his mother's purse to fund his addiction. Again, he is going around the country speaking to young people in clubs. He came to our own club Navan O'Mahonys to speak to young people about that addiction as well.

I urge those delegates going to the GAA congress to give serious consideration to what is being asked of them, and to at least have the debate. We often talk about sport, and I always talk about sport in these Chambers. There has been a great week for sport in terms of the money that is being given to improve capital investment, but it will mean little if those going out on the field of play are suffering in silence with the addictions they have. It is a debate worth having in these Houses in conjunction with the GAA.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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As people know, there is going to be a new strategy for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It will be launched in April by the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. As part of the strategy, a survey has been launched which will be open for three weeks. It is a very straightforward survey to get the feedback of people and their suggestions on what they believe should be in the strategy. The strategy will have four pillars: protection; prevention; prosecution; and policy co-ordination.

We need to eliminate the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in this country. We must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any sexual violence. The survey is straightforward. Staff in my office filled it out this morning. I encourage all Members of the House, both female and male, to promote this, and to encourage citizens in this country to make their views known. It is a straightforward, easy survey. It can be found on the Department's website, and it will feed in to what is going to be the most important strategy in this area of sexual violence that we have had in the history of this country.

It is critically important that the survey has the type of response that it needs in order to get as many views as possible from as large a section of the population as possible. I encourage everyone to please take some time to fill out the survey and make their views known because they will influence the final strategy which will be published in April.

Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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We marked Seanad 100 this week. It is three years since the Seanad reform implementation group gave its report to the Department of the Taoiseach. The committee was set up by the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar. Many Senators here served on it and Deputies as well.

Some of the points proposed by Sinn Féin that were in the final report related to the following: a greater gender balance across the Chamber, something that is being discussed by the gender-equality committee; universal franchise for citizens in the North, overseas and all college graduates; and that the Taoiseach would have regard to marginalised groups when choosing nominees to the Seanad. I wonder why I am hearing nothing at all from Government parties. Why do Senators not care about Seanad reform? I have raised it multiple times. I am aware that Senator McDowell has also raised it. However, we just do not talk about Seanad reform. I cannot let this week when we mark Seanad 100 go by without raising Seanad reform. We talk about everything, including Michelin stars.

Government Senators are in luck. The work has been done. It is on the Order Paper. Sinn Féin would co-sign the Bill if we were given the option. We support the Bill, and we want to see progress on the realisation of the Manning report. I sometimes wonder how people out there do not know about the Seanad or sometimes do not have confidence in it. We need to hear Government Senators talk about Seanad reform. It is beyond time that people had a say in who they elect here. We need to get on with these electoral reforms so that we can get on with our dream about the constitutional change that is needed to make this place more effective.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Well said.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Warfield for raising that important issue. As the Senator will be aware, the Seanad has brought in the recommendations in the report that were within the gift of the Seanad to implement in terms of reviewing reports of Oireachtas committees, which we had yesterday, panel debates, which Members engage in and bringing in MEPs, which will happen next week. The other elements, which are not within our gift, are within the power of the Government. We have legislation on the books in regard to voting rights, which the Senator raised, but there are other elements on which we are working with Senator McDowell in terms of the scrutiny of European legislation.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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Yesterday was a good day for my county. An Chistin, which is a food hub in the town of Castlerea, was granted almost €700,000 extra by the Government, through the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, to start food business incubation units. This is driven by the community and the people on the ground. It is a bottom-up approach, which is very welcome.

That comes on top of an extraordinary allocation of almost €2.2 million in sports capital grants for 51 sporting interests in the county. I am sure the Acting Leader will agree that there is good delivery to rural Ireland at the moment. That is the type of delivery we want. If the money is delivered for the projects there, the people in rural Ireland are well organised to do it.

I am not looking to have a row with anybody, but I urge the National Women's Council of Ireland, NWCI, to invite the women from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party – the Government parties - to its upcoming rally in a few weeks. What is going on is wrong. Many of those women have made significant contributions. For the sake of doing the right thing and getting the right message across, I urge the NWCI to please invite those women to the rally. Let us not have any debate about it.

It may have been covered yesterday, but I ask the Acting Leader to send a letter of sympathy to the former Cathaoirleach of this House, Brian Mullooly, whose wife was laid to rest yesterday. Her son was also a member of Dublin City Council for a period.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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On Senator Murphy's behalf, and on behalf of the House, we will extend our sympathies to the former Cathaoirleach on the sad loss of his wife.

Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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It is regrettable that Senator Ardagh could not find within her the graciousness to acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, because it is she who negotiated with the patron body for the opening of the school yesterday. No doubt the Minister, Deputy Foley, played her part, but the bulk of the work was carried out by the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and not to mention her is distinctly ungracious.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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In the past 48 hours there have been a number of muggings and an armed robbery within Dublin South-Central and its perimeters. There was one this morning. Fortunately, the cash box that was taken was empty and, more importantly, nobody was harmed. I am aware of the increasing levels of gardaí and the money that is being put into the justice area and observance, but at the same time there does appear to be some sort of epidemic of a pursuit of cash, whether that is from pensioners in rural communities or a woman as recently as yesterday being mugged and very seriously injured in a car park in Knocklyon.I am looking for us to have a debate to hear from the Minister on how that strategy will work its way out. We are putting an awful lot of money into policing. We have the new organisation of the districts and the recent legislation that has come through, but we still have pockets, certainly within Dublin South-Central, that are no-go areas at a particular time of day. I would, therefore, like us to have a debate in which we might explore that and hear from the Minister on local policing and security on our streets.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I will raise one issue with regard to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who is on a very successful trade mission to Saudi Arabia. He met with the Saudi food authorities in Riyadh on Wednesday, which I believe was a very successful endeavour. He got agreement in principle regarding the lifting of current restrictions whereby Irish beef exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must come from cattle that have been slaughtered aged under 30 months. That has now been lifted. That has been welcomed this morning by meat traders and the cattle industry. That is very important.

The Minister has also initiated and set up a series of talks, which he plans to conduct in the next few weeks, with regard to sheepmeat access and poultry meat for the future. That is really productive. It is, of course, the first time in recent times with Covid-19 that we had a Minister go out with a trade delegation and agricultural attachés from his Department to negotiate and seek new markets for Irish agriculture. One of the biggest things I learned from a briefing I received is that we export more than €100 million in food to Saudi Arabia, which is enormous, and the biggest demand, of course, is for dairy products. That is very important. At a time when we are having a major debate about culling the national herd, we have international markets looking for dairy products and milk formulas for a range of things, not necessarily all for human consumption. That is very important. Well done to the Minister. As we all know, Irish beef is high-quality, sustainable and safe. That is why the Saudi market wants it and that is why the Minister went out to develop these links. Fair play to him. I congratulate him and his team in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this very important initiative.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I wish to be associated with expressions of sympathy both to the wife of former Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Brian Mullooly, and Senator Buttimer on the recent death of his dad.

I join with Senators McDowell and Martin in calling for a debate on construction and how the green economy and the grants announced by the Minister, Deputy Ryan, last week will fall in together and what should get priority. As Senator McDowell said, there is a lack of specialist trades and construction workers in the country. When we couple those aspects together, we could have a very good debate, whether we deal with one issue one day and a different one another day.

It has been brought to my attention that getting a licence to construct more than four stories for modular housing is a nightmare in this country. In fact, I do not think a person can get a licence at all to construct more than four stories for modular housing. Houses, hotels, apartments and all sorts of buildings are being constructed by modular methods throughout the world these days. They go up so fast; it is unbelievable. In this country, however, a person cannot get a licence to go above four stories. You would wonder what the blockage is or why there is a blockage.

I ask that, in the debate that has been requested by Senator McDowell, we would include and perhaps bring some people into the House, if necessary. This was alluded to by former President Mary Robinson at Seanad 100. We could have a rolling debate and do some great work in that regard. By hearing the views from a cross-section of the areas involved in this type of construction and building, we would have a very good debate in the House on that issue.

Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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In the first instance, I want to be associated with remarks by other Senators in relation to the rumours about Cariban, the drug that treats hyperemesis. I hope they are more than rumours. It is about time we dealt with this issue. I raised it in the House before and welcome any move the Department might make on this to make life easier for women who suffer from a debilitating condition that often requires hospitalisation.

We also read reports today that certain types of payments are soaring, particularly contactless and online payments in banking. Contactless payments have increased by almost 50% and online payments by more than 10%. It is part of a trend we have seen over a number of years that has taken people out of their bank branches. That must make life easier for banks. We are lucky we have a system that is quite developed in terms of its technological aspects. I myself do almost all my banking online. Despite the fact that people have been moved online and use systems that reduce the burden on banks, we still have banks in this country that treat their customers with absolute contempt. It is no longer encouraged to go into a branch. Even when a person goes into a branch, the first thing he or she does is meet somebody who is trying to divert him or her away from actually speaking to a human being. A person cannot even ring his or her branch. Yesterday, I tried to ring my branch in Dún Laoghaire. I spent 29 minutes on hold to speak to somebody in a call centre who finally agreed to connect me to somebody in the bank.

I know we have lost banks in the last couple of years and that they have exited the market. We still have a retail banking system that occupies an especially privileged position within our economy, however. It is not good enough for banks to have no respect and no regard for their customers. It is not the case in other European countries. I have lived abroad and seen the way banks behave there. Here, we have a situation where banks seem to view customers as an obstacle rather than the asset to the bank. I would like to have a debate in this House with the Minister for Finance or the appropriate Minister about what we can do about that. We must send out a very clear message to banks that this cannot continue.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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At the outset, I welcome into the Visitors Gallery Gabby Hagman from Idaho, who is here as part of a global experience programme. I wish her well during her time in Ireland.

I ask the Deputy Leader to facilitate a rolling debate on the importance of our aviation and hospitality and tourism sectors.

I do so today conscious that Ryanair has announced seven new routes out of Cork Airport and the location of its third aircraft in Cork. It is a welcome development. It is a vote of confidence in our aviation sector and in Cork Airport, but in particular, it is a signal to Government that it must continue to keep the supports in place for our aviation and hospitality and tourism sectors as they return to growth.

This is about job creation and retention, but it is also about Government continuing to support inbound tourism and connectivity. As we all now know and have seen, there is a pent-up demand for travel. It is also crucial we support balanced regional development in the case of our airports. That is why, in the context of the south of our country, Cork Airport is critical to the economic development of the region in a post-Covid-19 world. That is why the debate is of absolute importance. It is not about seven new routes. It is not just about a third aircraft. It is about jobs, connectivity and inbound tourism. That is why today it is important we congratulate Cork Airport but also that we, as a House, have a rolling debate on the matters I raised.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I appreciate the Cathaoirleach letting me in. Tomorrow, 18 February, is Care Day, which is a global celebration of the successes and achievements of children and young people in care. It is important we celebrate the young people who overcome adversities - sometimes mental, physical and sexual abuse - let them know we are proud of them and their achievements to date, and hope a future of opportunity, equality and equity is there for them. The resilience of these children and youths must be commended. As leaders and entrepreneurs, however, we must open opportunities for these young people to fulfil their dreams.One of my foster children, Shauna, is now doing her masters. She will need a law firm to believe in her as I do. Today, my call is for employers to support these young people in their journeys through life. Their starts might not have been as great as those of other youths, but they have persevered through adversity and they just need opportunities to be opened for them. It takes a village to raise a child, and that does not stop at 18 years of age.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Cummins welcomed the investment in the roads programme. He commented on yesterday's news about the Supreme Court upholding the granting of permission to Glanbia for a new multimillion euro cheese plant, which will support 4,500 dairy families in Waterford and the wider south east. He also spoke about the move towards continental markets for cheese.

That Senator Martin raised the issue of judicial reviews shows how there are divergent views on the matter just as there are in court cases. I have gone on record as expressing concern regarding the large number of judicial reviews being granted. The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Burke, is considering reviewing the matter. The Attorney General, on the instruction of the Taoiseach, is also considering a review of planning. We will have this debate at other times in the House.

Senators McDowell and Burke spoke about the home retrofitting plans and clear evaluations. I agree that a large amount of work needs to be done, not only on retrofitting but also on the house building programme. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, was in Galway last Friday. We visited GMIT, soon to be part of the Atlantic technological university, where we met students who were studying retrofitting and the wider area. Under budget 2022, the Minister's Department has provided €22 million for the green skills action programme, €17 million of which relates to retrofit and near-zero energy building skills. The Department has been engaging with industry in this regard. It is a matter that is worthy of debate and a request has been made. Perhaps we could examine it in terms of the wider issues relating to construction. I will follow up on the request. I understand we are awaiting a date with the Ministers involved.

Senator Burke also raised the issue of modular construction. I do not have details on that but it might be worth tabling a Commencement matter, speaking to the Minister or raising it during our debate on housing.

Senators Gavan and Ahearn spoke about University Hospital Limerick, UHL. I concur that no one should be hiding patients. If a hospital is trying to get additional investment, it should be open and transparent about what it is dealing with. For years, I have heard about people being moved around when a Minister visits, the place being polished, flowers being placed in reception and so on. That is all rubbish. A Minister should be able to see what is there to be seen and no one should be hiding anyone. The Taoiseach has requested that the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, visit. Senator Gavan mentioned that the Minister had made an unannounced inspection yesterday. That is to be welcomed. There has been investment in University Hospital Limerick. I understand work on a new 96-bed inpatient unit is to start this year. Yesterday, this matter was raised at the Joint Committee on Health by Senator Conway and Deputy Crowe with Mr. Paul Reid and Mr. Robert Watt. I was in and out of that meeting, but Senators will be able to find the details.

Senator Wall called for a debate on rural transport and student fares. I will make that request. He also spoke about the cost of living for students. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is considering the question of student registration fees. Without making a commitment, it will be part of his budget demands in the meantime.

Senators Fitzpatrick and Seery Kearney called for a debate on crime, including teenage violence, and the regulation of social media. The media Bill will be before us next week. Putting assaults on TikTok and other social media platforms needs to be clamped down on and regulated.

Senator Ardagh raised an issue concerning the Irish Cancer Society. It would make perfect sense for the anomaly to be rectified. I am sure she will take it up with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, or raise it as a Commencement debate. The Senator spoke about sports capital funding and the Our Lady of Hope Special School, which the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan, have had a significant hand in delivering. The Senator also discussed inner-city clubs. Building sporting infrastructure is vital for all parts of society, but access to that infrastructure is equally important. Yesterday, my parliamentary party debated how the issue of all of these wonderful new school buildings and general purpose, GP, halls not being accessible to communities in the evenings needed to be examined. There was a large level of State investment but doors are often being shut to the communities thereafter. Those were valid points.

Senators Ahearn and Ward discussed the drug Cariban. I have read reports on it. I hope the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, follows up on his plans for the drug.

Senator Ahearn also raised the important issue of sports capital grants. I welcome all of the funding Senators have mentioned. Inflation in the cost of living is an issue across all aspects of society, including construction, which will have a knock-on effect on sports capital grants. A tender might have been sought for a project a number of years ago and now the cost of delivering it has increased by 10%, 20% or 30%. I will raise this issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers.

Senator Craughwell mentioned a wonderful event at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Renmore last Sunday commemorating the centenary of the barracks' handover to the Irish Army. He also spoke about UHL and the fact Ministers should not have to micromanage because that was a requirement of management. That is true. The heads of the HSE and the Department of Health were before the committee yesterday to be accountable for issues like this. The management of the mid-west group should also be held accountable for things that are not happening. If there are failings in government, investment or so on, they must be called out, but if there is a failure in management, it also must be called out.

Senator Cassells, who is a great sportsman and GAA supporter, spoke about the wonderful initiative being taken by Mr. Tim Barry from Rathdowney in tabling a motion at GAA congress on requiring members to attend drug, alcohol and gambling courses. It is a novel approach to something that is prevalent across our society. There is no point in people putting their heads in the sand and believing this only happens in urban and larger rural centres. It is an issue I hope gets a good airing at the GAA. Ultimately, deciding on the motion is a matter for the GAA's members and delegates. If it is not agreed, though, then it will continue to be raised.

Senator Conway spoke about the report on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, and the third national strategy's launch by the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, yesterday. The strategy takes a zero-tolerance approach and cites four key pillars of protection, prevention, prosecution and policy co-ordination. People are invited to make submissions on the strategy. DSGBV is an issue of importance to all Senators.

Senator Warfield raised the subject of Seanad reform. The Cathaoirleach has given a better response than I could as to what we have and have not done. A Trinity by-election is under way, which highlights one way of being elected to the House. While some would say that panel is the most democratic part of the House, it is not as democratic as it could be. There are still many issues floating around. I am unsure as to where stands the electoral Bill Senators McDowell and Malcolm Byrne mentioned. We can follow up on it.

Senator Murphy referred to the welcome additional funding of €700,000 for An Chistin in Castlerea provided by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, from the community and rural development fund and the €2.2 million sports capital funding announced for Roscommon.That is very welcome. He also raised the issue of the National Women's Council having only invited members of the Opposition to speak at its rally, which is unusual. A lot of important work on women's rights is done across parties and in a non-partisan way across these Houses. The issues of repeal were championed across different parties and none. It is regrettable that there would be this partisan approach taken to not invite Government representatives to speak.

Michael McDowell (Independent)
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Especially when it is in receipt of State funding.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I refer to Monica Barnes and others who had a proud record of engagement with the National Women's Council for years.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the trade mission by the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. Trade missions are very important. As in the case of the St. Patrick's Day visits and itineraries, Ministers and delegates work very hard on behalf of this country in such trade missions. They have a real impact. Engagements with Ministers and their attendance at events is hugely important. These missions are a huge boost to the dairy and food industries in this country. It is important they take place and that we recognise the important role they play.

Senator Ward asked for a debate on banking. I understand from reports that the value of contactless payments rocketed by 48.3% in 2021, the use of cheques has hit a new low and cash withdrawals from ATMs has fallen to €12.7 billion, down from a peak of €19.9 billion in 2018. This is evident everywhere in terms of the number of people who are card tapping. While it is welcome, I know of a person from Limerick who sought to pay a toll by way of card only to discover that payment was by coins only and he had none. There were a number of cars behind him and a row ensued. That system might need to be updated in recognition of the move towards a cashless society.

Senator Buttimer spoke about the issues of aviation and hospitality. The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has been in this House discussing various aspects of aviation. It is an area outside the current Bill that needs to be looked at. Air aviation has experienced a huge downturn over the past number of years because of Covid. As an island nation, it is an integral part of our access to investment in tourism, which has a knock impact for hospitality. I will issue a request to the Minister for Transport to come to the House to debate the issue. I will also request the attendance of other Ministers in that area as well.

Senator Keogan mentioned Care Day, which I had not heard of. She put forward some welcome suggestions in regard to providing opportunities across all areas of our country for people from different parts of our society. It is a source of regret to me that one's address can mean so much in terms of getting on in life. That should not be the case. Having it easy is not always the best preparation for life. Sometimes, having it hard and having to fight to make progress and get on is the better preparation for life. I wholeheartedly agree with the Senator's comments and suggestions.