Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the students in the Gallery, who I understand are from Tullamore. It is good to have them here and I hope they will be impressed by something they hear today. I call the Deputy Leader.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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Everyone in the Gallery is very welcome to the Chamber. The Order of Business is No.1, statements on the Safe to Create programme of supports for artists and arts workers in Ireland, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time can be shared and the Minister is to be given no less than eight minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, motion regarding the draft regulations made under section 66 of the Data Protection Act 2018, back from committee, to be taken at 2.30 p.m. and to conclude at 3.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed six minutes and all other Senators not to exceed six minutes, time can be shared and the Minister is to be given no less than six minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 5.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 121(4), Private Members' business - motion regarding transport, to be taken at 6 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I support the Order of Business as outlined. I would take this opportunity to talk about a positive decision that has just been made by Cabinet in the last while about the north quays in Waterford city. This is a project that many people have been involved in over the last six or seven years and there have been many false dawns along the way. This morning, Cabinet approved over €170 million for the public infrastructure elements of the project, which consist of the sustainable transport bridge over the River Suir, a new integrated transport hub, including the relocation of Plunkett Station, and new access roads and bridges onto the north quays site. The message from today's decision is that despite the increased costs as a result of inflation in the construction market, the Government is continuing to support this very ambitious regeneration project for Waterford, not only because it stacks up in a cost-benefit analysis but also because it secures Waterford's place as a centre of growth, which is clear from the CSO statistics that were published recently. This news will be welcomed across my county. It will allow Waterford City and County Council to appoint a main contractor for that public works contract and enable that contractor to start on site in the new year.The CEO of Waterford City and County Council, Michael Walsh, and his team have been doing a great deal of work on this. They have been engaged with private sector partners and the Irish Strategic Investment Fund in respect of the private elements of the site, which are expected to be developed in tandem with the public works contract, which is expected to take about three and a half years. For Waterford city over the three- to five-year construction phase it is going to create upwards of 1,000 jobs per annum. It is a very significant regeneration project, one of the biggest in the country. That green light has been given by Government today. I want to put on record my thanks to all of the Ministers cross-party, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, who have worked together on this project to bring it forward through the various stages. It is a perfect example of balanced regional development and Government parties working hand-in-glove with one another to bring forward a project of this scale.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I offer my congratulations to Senator Cummins. His absolute delight is understandable.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the students from Tullamore. I am from Rathangan which is just down the Kildare-Offaly border. They are very welcome. I keep up to date with events around Tullamore also.

I have just come from a really interesting exhibition in the visitor centre in the Phoenix Park. It is a national exhibition with a Kildare slant called "As Life Goes On". It is a collaboration between the local history group in Newbridge and a collective of nine artists called SULT Artists. The work they have produced interprets the change that took place over 100 years ago when the British troops left Kildare. For those who may not be aware, in the Newbridge area there were 20,000 troops. Senators can imagine the impact of 20,000 people leaving at the same time, all on the same day, on the local economy and so on. While there was great joy there was also sadness in terms of business, economy and friendships that had been made. Nine artists have come together to interpret all of this. It is really worth going to. It is in the OPW centre in the Phoenix Park until the end of November.

On my way back to the House, I listened to the 11 o'clock news where we heard that 13% of those working in Facebook are going to be laid off. This is on top of other job losses in the tech sector such in as Twitter and Stripe. In Kildare we are very concerned about Intel also. It is very worrying and we are all concerned. We have a highly educated workforce here and we have been lucky to be able to attract high-level jobs to Ireland. We really need to ensure that we retain excellent employment opportunities. We also need to ensure that employees are supported and every staff member gets the full protection of domestic law. It is important that we have a debate in the House with the Tánaiste on protecting existing jobs and also looking at trends for the future in respect of the type of employment we can attract.

I was in Strasbourg yesterday for the handing over of the Irish Council of Europe presidency to the Icelandic presidency. I pay tribute to Ambassador Breifne-O'Reilly and his team in Strasbourg, to Ragnar Almqvist and his team in Dublin and of course to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, for the leadership they have shown at a very difficult time in Europe. There were more than 65 key events in Ireland, Strasbourg and across Europe. As part of that we made a call for a fourth summit. There have only been three in the 73-year history of the Council of Europe. It is vitally important as we are at a crossroads in Europe, not just because of the war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine but also the new generation of human rights, looking at areas like climate change, artificial intelligence and gender-based violence. We should have a debate in the House on those new rights that need to be brought to the forum next May.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Senator on the work she did as chair of the Irish delegation there. Senator Boylan is also a member of that delegation along with myself. We are very proud of what is done in Strasbourg and in Dublin on that front.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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It is with a heavy heart that I raise the issue of ongoing sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual violence in our armed forces. It has been brought to my attention in recent days that female personnel, who have been targeted in this way in our armed forces, on settlement of their claims have been obliged to sign non-disclosure agreements. This is a particularly toxic phenomenon given the long-standing nature of this very serious issue in our Defence Forces. We have been aware of these issues now for 22 years. We have had the independent Government inquiry, the study review group which investigated my research, which confirmed these findings and identified our armed forces as a workplace setting where discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape are commonplace. This has been borne out over the years and again last year with the disclosures made by the Women of Honour.

We have had public statements by very senior officeholders in recent months to the effect that these are historical issues that go back to the past, that the organisation has transformed and that these are no longer workplace phenomena. Yet at the same time, I learn that female personnel who have been targeted in this way, who have survived it and who brought cases to the courts have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements. The very same officeholders who claim that these are historical issues are also aware of the signing of these non-disclosure agreements. I think it is reprehensible. We know from the RTÉ Radio "Doc on One" this week which dealt with sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape at second level, that one of the key tools for dealing with this is openness, transparency and giving people the vocabulary to discuss and describe what has happened to them, to empower them to speak up and end this phenomenon.

I am asking all Senators for a thorough debate on this pressing issue. We also need the publication of the interim report of the judge-led inquiry into these issues in the Defence Forces, which was conducted over the last number of years. It was due to be reported but appears to be delayed. Some 51% of our population is female. If our armed forces are not a safe place for female personnel, they are not safe for 51% of our population and therefore cannot purport to defend the State against internal or external threats. This is a really pressing issue. We need to move on it and we need in time to honour the demand of the Women of Honour for a full statutory inquiry and for people to be held to account, including the highest officeholders in uniform and the Department of Defence who have known about these issues and have failed to act over the last 22 years.

Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein)
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I want to say a few words about the Save Moore Street Campaign. As I am sure everybody is aware, a large development is proposed for a large site in Dublin city centre that is bordered by Moore Street, Henry Street, O'Rahilly Parade and the other laneways in the area. Most importantly, the site covers the escape route, final battles and surrender of the men and women of the 1916 Easter Rising after they retreated from the GPO. It is rather unfortunate that Dublin City Council has already granted planning for part of the site for a proposed development up to nine storeys in height. It beggars belief that this is what the council would see fit to do for such a historically important site. It is to be welcomed that there has been a large number of appeals submitted to An Bord Pleanála that are now under consideration. Certainly from my experience, when I took this matter to the Council of Europe as an MEP, it was in shock that any state would see fit to demolish one of the most important battle sites in its history.It is to be welcomed that on Monday night, Dublin city councillors decided to add further buildings and sections of buildings on Moore Street and the adjoining laneways to the record of protected structures. This will not only give a boost to the Save Moore Street campaign and the relatives, but An Bord Pleanála will now have to consider the new listings of protected structures when it makes its decision on the proposed development. People have been working for years to ensure the preservation of Moore Street and its environs and the last extant 1916 battle sites.

We should remember that many of the sites and buildings associated with the 1916 Rising have already been lost to Dublin. Of 32 sites in the city, 19 have already been completely demolished. There is still time to save Moore Street from the developer's wrecking ball, however. The campaign to save Moore Street will now continue in the hope that an historic cultural quarter dedicated to the memory of the men and women of 1916 can be created rather than some nine-storey mega-development. Such a memorial would be fitting while at the same time provide an attraction, not just for tourists visiting the country but also for citizens of Ireland and schoolchildren, similar to Kilmainham Gaol, which is one of our most popular tourist sites. I congratulate Dublin city councillors on their unanimous decision on Monday evening. It is a very hopeful sign. It has certainly given hope that we will not lose the opportunity to save Moore Street and one of the most significant historic sites on this island.

Rebecca Moynihan (Labour)
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I thank the Deputy Leader for proposing the Order of Business. I wish to raise the issue of apartment defects and a redress scheme. In particular, I wish to raise the issue of Metropolitan Apartments in Dublin 8. There is a commitment that a redress scheme will be available. We had hoped to see some movement within the budget last year. Unfortunately, there has not been movement. The report of the construction defects working group has been sitting on the Minister's desk since July at this stage.

There is a real worry among apartment owners who are affected that the retrospective element of the scheme will not apply. In particular, there is anecdotal evidence. Residents tell me that where there are levies, people are afraid of spending the money now to make sure their apartments or buildings are fire safe because they are concerned that the retrospective element of the scheme will not be included in it. I would like the Minister to commit that there will be a retrospective element to the scheme for people who have spent money to date.

The fire officer has ordered the car park at Metropolitan Apartments in Kilmainham to be closed. It will potentially be closed until mid-2023, if not beyond. I am trying to work with Dublin City Council at the moment to get people permits for on-street parking. I have been coming up against bureaucracy from one State agency to another and the residents are caught in between. This is being caused by a lack of a commitment to a retrospective scheme. People cannot pay money to be able to make their car park fire safe until they know they will be able to apply for a scheme. There is already a commitment that the Government will have a redress scheme in place for mica. We need a commitment that people who are spending money at the moment, or else living in unsafe conditions, are able to apply retrospectively.

I also wish to raise the issue of Tathony House, which is a 35-person apartment block in Dublin 8. The more than 100 residents have been served an eviction notice to the effect that all 35 of the apartments are going to be sold. The owner, who has a very substantial rent roll, is saying that the Tyrrelstown amendment does not apply to him because it will cause him undue hardship. This is a perfect situation where we see the right to sell affecting more than 100 people in 35 apartments. They could or should be sold with the tenants in situ, either to a local authority or housing association or even on the private market. However, we should not have a situation where 100 people are being turfed out on the street because of undue hardship to somebody who is sitting on a rent roll of €700,000 per year. The tenants are protected now while the eviction ban is in place. Come the summer, however, those 100 residents in 35 apartments will not be protected. The idea that some private landlord can make a decision that affects so many people in the middle of a housing crisis is an absolute disgrace. I ask the Government to step in to try to come up with a solution for existing residents, but also to ensure that this is not allowed to happen. A figure of 35 apartments is a substantial number, particularly when we have more than 11,000 people, including 3,000 children, living in homelessness. This is a big contributing factor.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I wish to bring up once again the revolution in Iran and the ongoing well-publicised protests led by the women of Iran. It is now day 55, and reports state that almost 30,000 are imprisoned. Some 550 people have been killed of which 41 were children, the youngest of whom was two years old. Over the last ten says, security forces have been firing live ammunition at peaceful protestors in Khash, Sistan and Baluchestan. According to Amnesty International, 82 Baluch people were killed in one day in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, the provincial capital of Iran.

I, along with other Members in the Seanad, have been approached by the current Iranian ambassador to meet with him to discuss the situation in Iran. What concerns me more was the attempt by some Iranian hacker to access my personal online data last week. I do not need to remind this House that the regime is working behind closed doors in every democracy here in Europe. We know what can happen to people when they speak up against this regime.

Iran has not been a good ally to Europe in this current war. Its current relationship with Russia has placed it in opposition to Europe. Iran's continued weapons sales to Russia violates a Security Council-imposed arms embargo. The Iran nuclear deal wherein the EU and the US are negotiating with the regime surely has no merit when this regime is being rejected by its own people. At a time when Ireland holds a position on the UN Security Council, we have a voice of power. As an Independent Senator in this House, I hold no power. I must rely on the Government parties to do the right thing.

On Thursday last, Germany's Government urged its citizens to leave Iran or risk arbitrary arrest and long prison terms there, warning that dual nationals were particularly at risk. I have no idea how many Irish citizens are living there. Surely, we, too, should be looking to protect our citizens in Iran. Ireland plans to reopen our embassy in Iran in March 2023. How can we make that show of support in good faith when the people of Iran no longer support the current Iranian regime? It is time for the Government to stand with the millions of Iranian people and not with the mullahs.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise the issue of the Shannon Heritage group. It is hard to believe and almost beggars belief that the understanding that was made, which was that the Shannon Heritage group would switch from Shannon Group to Clare County Council, was not followed through on in the budget. These are key tourism sites, namely, Bunratty Castle, Craggaunowen Castle, Knappogue Castle and Dunguaire Castle. They are a package of sites that bring tourists in huge numbers to the mid-west to Limerick and Clare. The sites are in trouble because they have not had investment for years. What is puzzling is the fact that an interdepartmental group was set up in June of this year to effectively arrange for the transfer of the sites to Clare County Council. The workers were expecting it, as was their union, SIPTU. They waged a powerful campaign over the last couple of years, in which I was proud to stand with them, to see that this was done.

As the Deputy Leader will know, there are six Deputies and Senators on the Government side in County Clare alone and yet, somehow, the Government dropped the ball in the budget. Somehow, the small sum of €5 million that was required, which I am sure the Deputy Leader will agree is a literal drop in the ocean in terms of the budget, did not happen. The problem is that the interdepartmental group has so many components to it that there does not seem to be anyone to actually make the decision to get this transfer done and get the funding. It cannot happen without that funding. We need to see our key tourism sites properly resourced and financed. The workers have been incredibly let down. They face being let go again in January. They have had this huge insecurity for the last couple of years.Their union, SIPTU, has waged a powerful campaign and yet, for reasons no one can explain, the Government has not acted. I want to acknowledge that Senator Conway on the Government benches has been consistent in raising this issue as well, to be fair to him. I cannot believe it has not happened and it is a key issue for tourism in the mid-west. I am asking for an urgent debate on the matter. We cannot let this go. If it slips beyond Christmas, you have to wonder what the future is for these key sites in our tourism package in the mid-west. I ask for an urgent debate on the matter and I might even ask the Deputy Leader to write to the relevant Ministers to see what is holding this up. All of us want to see it happen but it has not happened.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I raise the issue of the withdrawal of Ulster Bank and KBC Bank from Ireland. I recently received a letter from them, not only as a customer but as a member of the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, that they are beginning to freeze accounts, starting this Friday. It is an alarming wake-up call to people who have not engaged with the bank to close their accounts because many people have standing orders, be it for their pensions or a social welfare payment. It is worrying if people have their accounts frozen this coming Friday and then discover they cannot get access to them. There needs to be an intervention and banks need to be a bit more lenient. Some people did not understand how worrying this revelation would be and what a detrimental effect it would have on people's lives. Any intervention the Leader's office can make would be appreciated.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I want to raise two issues with the Leader. I formally welcome the announcement this week by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, of the roll-out of €450,000 of funding for Traveller apprenticeships. That is a positive move which I want to acknowledge and which is important. It is not a lot of money but it is a movement in the right direction. Education and training are important, particularly for the Traveller community in terms of practical apprenticeships that are tailored for their specific needs. We know it is sometimes difficult for the Traveller community in particular, not necessarily for reasons of their making, to remain in education and training. What I like about the proposal of the Minister, Deputy Harris, yesterday is that he has put in place funding for a national apprenticeship outreach officer, which will maintain ongoing contact and support with the people who sign up for the apprenticeship scheme. That is another positive initiative by the Minister. I acknowledge that. It is important and the Minister is doing amazing work in education and training. He has spoken many times in this House about how he sees education in the broader sense in terms of supports in education. I acknowledge that and at some point we might have more detailed discussion on that scheme.

I wish the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA, well. It meets in Monaghan tonight and for the next few days in its autumn conference, and many of us will be travelling there. I make the following call on its behalf. It wants us in this House to debate local government funding and how that is done. I have asked before, as have other Members, and I ask the Leader again to raise this matter and for us to have a specific debate on it. I am thinking of Senator Buttimer who has asked about this many times. I ask for a debate about local government funding and how we will fund and sustain local councils.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator and he will be welcome to Cavan-Monaghan tonight.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I was there yesterday.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I join Senator Boyhan in wishing members of LAMA every success in their two-day deliberation. In the context of the body politic, it is important we have a debate on local government, its funding and the discrepancies in some cases between the allocation of funding to counties.

I congratulate Governor Maura Healey, the first lesbian woman to be elected governor of Massachusetts last night. She is an extraordinary person who will be a wonderful governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its people. I wish her every success as she takes up the role in January. It is a wonderful day for those of us in the LGBT community to have such a wonderful voice and leader elected in the corner office in Boston Common.

As I did yesterday, I join Senator Hoey in asking to have the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media come to the House to discuss the awarding of sporting events like the World Cup and the Rugby World Cup. I hope we would all agree that the Qatar World Cup is tainted by the bidding process and the completely awful language used around members of the LGBT community. Whatever your viewpoints, the language, which I will not repeat in the Chamber, used by ambassadors of the World Cup and members of the regime in Qatar, is wholly unacceptable, as is the lack of response of any shape by FIFA.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Well said.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I am not advocating that people should not watch the World Cup; I will watch it. I know Senators Gavan and Clonan are sports people and they will probably be watching it as well.

The following might be a discordant note but I congratulate Harry Kane, who will wear the One Love armband. That should be a clarion call to all teams to wear the One Love armband because that sends a message into millions of homes around the world that we stand for love, inclusivity and diversity.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is leading the way again.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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We join Senator Buttimer in his congratulations to Governor Healey.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Tá mé díreach tar éis teacht ó chur i láthair ó Chomhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann agus ó Chomhar na nOileán maidir leis an scéim LEADER. I am after coming from a briefing in the audiovisual room from Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann agus ó Chomhar na nOileán regarding the islands LEADER programme. They are seeking the establishment of a subregional area under the new LEADER programme. For the last LEADER programme the islands were part of their designated counties, the Mayo islands with the Mayo groups and the Galway islands in their forum. They are united in the view that this change should take place and that they should be part of a united islands programme under this round of LEADER from next January. There is still time for that to happen, although only a small amount of time. I am calling for a debate with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, on islands, islands policy, the next LEADER programme and how islands are treated in that. It is something island communities want, they believe it will make a strong and positive difference, and there is cross-party support for it. The relationships between islands and their local authorities leave a lot to be desired in some cases, although some counties are better than others. This is a small change that could make a big difference in how this scheme is operated and funded for island communities. There are such similarities between the islands, and they have much more in common in many cases than they have with their associated mainland counties. I call for a debate with the Minister in that regard.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I support Senator Kyne in asking the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to come to the House to have a debate on the islands and on LEADER funding for the islands. I have been on a number of the islands this year and they are doing great work there with limited funding. They have different problems from the mainland and, on one of the islands in Cork, they are creating jobs. It was usually the other way around and people would leave the islands to look for employment on the mainland, but on one of the islands off Cork, they are creating jobs and there are people moving from the mainland to the island and looking for planning permission for houses and so forth. As Senator Kyne has said, there is provision in European law to have one LEADER programme for the islands and this is what they are looking for. We should have the Minister in here for a debate on LEADER funding for the islands and on the problems they have. That would be a worthwhile debate.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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Will the Leader to consider arranging a debate in the House on the National Transport Authority?The authority was set up by the State to manage all matters relating to transport. It has a huge role to play in public transport and transport generally in urban areas but it is of great importance throughout the country. It is critical for people going to work, school or college and it is important in terms of us addressing our climate action responsibilities and ambitions. In the constituency where I live, Dublin Central, the National Transport Authority is rolling out a number of projects, one of them being the MetroLink, for which it has applied for planning permission, along with BusConnects. There will be 16 high-quality bus corridors in the city. The objective of the project is to increase public transport efficiency and reliability but also to expand pedestrian and cyclist space in the city, which are welcome objectives we all support.

Nevertheless, my party colleague Deputy McAuliffe and I, along with Councillors Eimer McCormack, Keith Connolly and Briege Mac Oscar, held a public information drop-in meeting at the weekend, and more than 200 people arrived looking for information. They expressed great frustration over a number of issues, including the lack of communication and the burden it places on residents and businesses to respond to a statutory planning process. Running two of them at one time in one area results in an enormous burden. Submissions will cost each resident €100, during a cost-of-living crisis, and making such a submission in the run-up in the Christmas is an enormous burden. It is also a great burden timewise to respond to and examine these planning applications, whether for a railway order or BusConnects.

I ask that the House invite in representatives of the NTA for a debate on how it conducts its business and consults residents and businesses in the community.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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There were an awful lot of good announcements in the tax measures brought forward in the budget a number of months ago, including the €500 tax relief credit that renters can apply for this year, next year and so on. The first time they apply for it, they can get two tranches, which will equate to €1,000 in credit. The good thing about that is that if someone is renting a house with two or three other people or with a partner, all the tenants can apply for their own credit, amounting to €1,000 each. Can we get an update on when it is going to be possible to apply for this through revenue.ie? People have welcomed the announcement and need the credit, and the Government brought it through because we recognise people need the money now because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Will the Deputy Leader talk to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage about the fact that renters who live with their landlords do not seem to qualify for the credit and cannot apply for it? It seems to be a small anomaly and if we could get it sorted out, it would be appreciated. On the whole, judging by what I hear from renters, they very much welcome the credit and if it can be processed, as we hope, before Christmas, that is to be welcomed.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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I thank all the Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. Senator Cummins welcomed the significant announcement of the approval by Cabinet today of €170 million for public infrastructural elements on the North Quay in Waterford city. I have taken the Order of Business on a number of occasions and he has raised the matter numerous times and kept it alive in the House. He commended all the members of the Cabinet and I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who is a local Deputy in the city, will also be delighted to see that level of investment into Waterford city. I concur with the Senator’s remarks about the importance of balanced regional development to see other cities and regions get significant investment. He mentioned that there will be a new bridge over the River Suir, a relocation of Plunkett Station and additional access points. It is a huge project and I wish the people of Waterford city the best. I have no doubt the project will be transformative for the city and all its residents.

Senator O'Loughlin spoke about the OPW display of artwork by Newbridge Local History Group, which is working with nine artists to bring to life the local history of the area and the 20,000 people who left during the war. I understand it will be open in the Phoenix Park until December for people to view. It sounds like a fantastic display and I say "Well done" to Newbridge Local History Group and the artists involved.

The Senator also requested a debate with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the loss of tech jobs in the country, acknowledging the announcement today that Meta will cut 13% of its staff and the job losses in other companies such as Stripe and Twitter. She highlighted the importance of those types of high-quality jobs and the fact that many tech companies have their headquarters in Dublin and elsewhere on the island. It is a very important industry for us and that debate has been requested, so we will get it at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Clonan spoke about the issue that has been ongoing for more than two decades relating to sexual abuse cases in the Defence Forces and what some of their female members have been through. He referred also to the issue of non-disclosure agreements. It might be worth requesting a debate with the Minister for Defence on the issue and I will speak to the Senator about that afterwards. I am sure it will be a sensitive topic but it is one on which the House would probably welcome an update, with an opportunity to have a more extensive debate, which it would be appropriate for the House to have.

Senator Boylan spoke about the Moore Street campaign. Many of my party colleagues, including Deputy Ó Cuív, who is one of the key people, will have joined in that campaign. She has mentioned the issue on a number of occasions. I concur with many of her remarks on the importance of that space in the country's history, not least in the events of 1916.

Senator Moynihan raised the issue of building defects, especially in apartment blocks, in Dublin 8. I have received information from the office of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that the interdepartmental group has been established and is working and there is hope that will be completed before the end of the year to give information to people who are doing or have done works and are continuing to deal with that ongoing issue. The Senator spoke also about Tyrrelstown, the 35 apartments that are to be sold by one landlord and the 100-plus residents who will be left without anywhere to live when that happens. She acknowledged the benefit of the eviction ban that will be in place until early next year but argued there will be a problem after the lifting of that ban. She might engage directly with me, the Minister or the Leader's office to deal with that view. I do not have details on the landlord in question and what is happening, but I concur with the Senator’s remarks that a significant number of people will be left with nowhere to go and it seems a bit of a stretch to say the landlord will be greatly disadvantaged on that front, so she might engage directly with me on that.

Senator Keogan spoke about the ongoing protests in Iran, pointing out that we are on day 55. She mentioned issues with her own mobile phone and hacking that has taken place, and it is unacceptable that this has happened to an Oireachtas Member. I received a letter from the Iranian Embassy following the debate in this House that was held regarding events in Iran and the protests taking place there. The letter was worded in a tone that I did not consider appropriate to come from an embassy or ambassador in this country to an Oireachtas Member, and I did not take kindly to it. I believe other Senators may have received a similar letter. I am not sure whether it was limited to group spokespersons or to those who had engaged in the debate. Let us be clear: as a House, we are perfectly entitled to debate issues of that nature. I stand fully over the remarks of all Senators and the wording of that motion, which was modelled on a similar motion at European Council level. We will not be silenced or intimidated, in any shape or form, into not having our voices heard and we will continue to debate, discuss and highlight the ongoing human rights abuses and atrocities that are taking place in Iran. I reiterate our solidarity with the men, women and children of Iran, who are going through an horrific time, and in particular the women of Iran, who are just trying to fight for basic freedoms we all enjoy without even a thought in this country. I acknowledge the loss of life of 550 people, including 41 children. My heart and sympathies go out to the families and communities. It was an appalling loss of life and the issue is still ongoing.

Senator Gavan spoke about the Shannon Heritage group. I am not familiar with the ins and outs of that issue. Perhaps a Commencement matter could be tabled to see whether we can get further details on it. I do not know why the issue has not been progressed. I acknowledge the challenges for those working in those areas and the very important contribution those heritage sites give not just to that region but to the entire country. They are a tourist point for international visitors to Ireland but also for domestic visitors, and it is important we get that resolved.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the withdrawal of KBC Bank and Ulster Bank and the freezing of accounts that is due to take place in the coming days, and argued that there should be ongoing engagement. The Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform are keenly aware of the ongoing issues. I understand the banks have engaged in an extensive campaign to try to get people to move but they tried to do it in a short, truncated fashion.Some people need longer and need more assistance. It is incumbent on the bank to engage with people and make sure that no citizen or individual is left in a situation where they cannot get their direct debits paid or get their bills paid. That is not acceptable. They have a commitment and responsibility to the Irish market until they leave. They need to look after people when they are exiting.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Boyhan spoke acknowledging and welcoming the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Harris, for additional funding specifically targeted at apprenticeships for members of the Travelling community. I concur with the Senator's remarks. He also requested a debate acknowledging the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, conference happening today in County Monaghan and also asked for a debate on local authority funding. That request was supported by Senator Buttimer. That debate request has gone in.

Senator Buttimer congratulated and welcomed the appointment of Governor Maura Healey in Massachusetts. I offer my support and congratulations to her as well. It was a fantastic day for the LGBTQI+ community and great to see democracy in action. Best wishes to Maura for her term ahead. Senator Buttimer also requested a debate with the Minister of State with responsibility for sport on the awarding of sports events, referencing in particular the Qatar World Cup. We are all on the same page on that. It is a shame that such a fantastic sporting event is marred with controversy and is dirty in every respect. While many of us will want to watch the games, it is tainted and we cannot save it in any way. It is not redeemable. Even the fan experience will be so poor. It is great to see Harry Kane taking a stand. I am sure others will follow. The comments by Sepp Blatter in recent days have been interesting. I think there is an acknowledgement that the wrong decision was taken and was taken because of money and nothing else. It is a shame because it will be forever tainted and it could have been somewhere more positive. That debate has been requested.

Senator Kyne spoke about the LEADER programme and a briefing he attended this morning specifically on the islands and their call for a sub-regional area under the LEADER programme. I am from County Mayo where we have many islands as well, so I obviously support that call. The islands have particular challenges as well as the many opportunities and fantastic things happening. It takes three times more money to do a road on an island than it does on the mainland. They have particular difficulties and challenges in doing day-to-day basic services. It makes sense to separate them out from the mainland when it comes to LEADER funding. Senator Burke has concurred with that request. We have requested a debate with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, at the earliest opportunity to discuss the whole LEADER programme and our approach to the islands.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about transport in Dublin city, in particular Dublin Central, and the role of the NTA and how it engages with the public. The Senator said it costs €100, I think, to make a submission.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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Two applications at one time for €50 each.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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That is huge money. That is not acceptable. A nominal fee is fine to ensure that people are not putting frivolous submissions in but that is too expensive. It should not be that level of money. We will request that debate at the earliest opportunity. I am not sure if we can invite the NTA in as such; it might be the Minister. There may be other mechanisms through the Seanad in terms of public consultation that we might be able to work with to engage with the NTA directly.

Senator Ahearn spoke about rent relief measures for renters, that is the one €1,000 or two €500 credits. I was not aware of the loophole if one is residing with the landlord - owner-occupier tenancies are quite normal.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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The landlord gets €14,000 for renting a room.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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It might be worth a Commencement matter specifically on the question of when that would be open for applications. I do not have a date on that. I know the Minister for Finance, working with the Cabinet, is working hard to get that over the line and sorted. It might be worth a Commencement matter because I am sure it is imminent and it is probably just the administration and getting the logistics sorted.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy Leader for the comprehensive responses.