Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on public order and safe streets, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with a time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and time can be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than eight minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022 [Dáil] - Committee Stage, to be taken at 2.15 p.m. and to adjourn at 4 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 3 motion regarding the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022, back from committee to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded, with time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed six minutes, all Senators not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be given no less than six minutes to reply to the debate; No. 125, motion 4, Private Members' business, motion regarding neutrality, to be taken at 5.15 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours; and No. 4, Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Dáil] - Second Stage, to be taken at 7.15 p.m. and to conclude after 75 minutes, 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 seven minutes, all other Senators not to exceed four minutes and the Minister to be given no less than seven minutes to reply to the debate.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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The Acting Leader may recall on 3 April this year I spoke on the Order of Business about a young lady, Aimee Foley, from my hometown of Ennistymon. I spoke about her bravery in waiving her anonymity and speaking openly, honestly and candidly about her experience at the hands of her father. I spoke about how disappointed she was with the justice system where he only received a short sentence of five years. I am delighted that Aimee Foley is here in the Gallery today and I would like to welcome her, and her mother, Camille, and her husband, Dermot, to Seanad Éireann. As a result of Aimee waiving her anonymity, and it was only as a result of doing so, the DPP proceeded to appeal the leniency of the sentence. A number of weeks ago, the sentence was doubled to ten years. Aimee's bravery resulted in shaking the justice system in this country.

Now, Aimee wants to see change that will impact positively on the lives of anyone else in this country who has been sexually abused or raped. She wants to see minimum sentencing for anyone who is convicted of rape in this country. I do not think that is too much to ask. If someone is raped it impacts on them for the rest of their lives so the person who perpetrates such a heinous crime should face a mandatory minimum sentencing. That does not mean that it is a maximum sentence, of course. The maximum sentence, in many cases, should be a lot more. When somebody has the bravery to declare what has happened to them in life, go to the Garda, do what they are encouraged to do, make a report, make a complaint and proceed to court, the least they should expect is that when the criminal is found guilty that they will get a minimum sentence of seven years. Aimee also wants to see work done in terms of much greater support for victims who go through the system. Her experience was haphazard, to say the least. She felt that the supports were not there for her when her case was going through the courts. That needs to change fundamentally. Furthermore, when somebody is convicted, the victim can often be forgotten. There needs to be a proper dedicated support structure for victims who are trying to rebuild their lives following on from a successful court case.

There is a lot of work that this House can do in terms of highlighting these issues and bringing them to the attention of Government. They are not party political issues but they are political issues. They are political issues that everyone across the political divide from all parties or none should sign up to, and I know in most cases they do.

Later today, Aimee is meeting the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Simon Harris, and the Chair of the justice committee. She will also meet other political figures in this House. I would like to commend her again on her bravery and welcome her and her family to the House today.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Conway for bringing Aimee to Seanad Éireann today along with her family and those who supported her on this very tough journey. I commend her bravery in taking on the system. It resulted in her getting some semblance of justice even though it could never make up for all that happened to her.She is standing up for herself and for other victims who the system did not always treat as fairly as it might have. She went on to take on the case, appealing it and revealing her identity - which is often very difficult - and then went on from there by being a voice for others, which, hopefully, will have the impact that Senator Conway spoke about. I thank her for coming to Seanad Éireann today.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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I join with the Cathaoirleach and Senator Conway in welcoming Aimee, her family and friends here today. If Aimee and people like her did not stand up, they would not get that justice. I will support and work with her and I admire what she has done.

I will continue by welcoming all those who have been in the Gallery today but also by extending congratulations to our junior certificate students, who are getting their exam results today. Possibly most of them have received their results by now. There were 67,000 students involved and they have been waiting a long time for them. I know that this junior certificate was different from the 2019 one, with all of the difficulty with Covid-19. As I always say in situations like this, I offer my congratulations to all who did well. I say to those who may perhaps be disappointed, they should not let it get to them too much. There is a great deal of reform going on in education at the moment, including in the exams. I am a great believer in the introduction of more practical and less written work but one also needs some written work. That is the way the system is moving because some students suffer enormous pressure in exams and just cannot cope with them, which we should always take into account. Today, then, is the junior certificate results day and it was the intermediate certificate during my day. I know I am showing my age now. It is a good exam, I suppose, in that it provides some training for the leaving certificate examination, which is all I would say to people about it. One has to complete one’s exam papers within a certain time and to apply oneself to it. Apart from that, I would not be overexcited if one has not done that well today.

I also refer to the Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which met yesterday and to the comments of the Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, where he asked the Departments of Education and of Health to bring in a new model for dealing with mental health issues. He claims that if this new model was brought in, it would eliminate the waiting list in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. Everybody, irrespective of what side of the House a Member sits, would think that that is a fantastic idea. We all wrestle with this every week in politics, we are all concerned, and we were all upset. Dr. Muldoon is talking about a model that has been put in place in Dorset in England where four mental health professionals deal with approximately 2,000 students in the schools. We should ask the Departments of Education and of Health to follow up on that matter and it is crucial that they do. We all know the strains, the anxieties and the pressures that are on people at present and we must do everything within our power to help those people. I am calling today, and I am sure everybody will agree with me, that we ask the Departments of Education and of Health to follow up on that and to give their support to that particular scheme.

Finally, I congratulate a Roscommon lady, Sharon Donoghue, who has become the patient advocacy and liaison service, PALS, co-ordinator - my colleague from Galway would probably know about this - at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. As the patients’ advocacy and liaison service co-ordinator, she will be helping patients, their families and carers to deal with any issues or problems which arise. It is a very good appointment and I wish her well.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I too want to stand with Aimee Foley, along with my colleagues here. She is a very brave woman and I hope that we can see something good come out of this.

Yesterday, I spoke about the death of Caitríona Lucas in County Clare and the appalling fact that that woman’s family has been waiting six years for an inquest, which is completely unacceptable. Evidence has now come to me which suggests that the lifejackets in use in the Coast Guard at that time were faulty. There is documentary evidence that the faults in the lifejackets had been reported from 2015, where they failed miserably to turn a person on his or her back.

Furthermore, there is a suggestion that the lifejacket which Ms Lucas was wearing was removed from the scene and has not been seen since. The Health and Safety Authority is the appropriate authority to investigate this and I believe it must move immediately to establish what reports were made from 2015 to 2018, and precisely who reported them. I am aware of tests that were done in Crosshaven, Cork, in Kerry, in Mayo and in Donegal, and in all cases the lifejacket failed or injured the wearer of the lifejacket by inflating so violently or only inflated on one side. I have the documentary evidence. The Health and Safety Authority should have the documentary evidence and if it is true that the lifejacket was faulty and that the one Ms Lucas was wearing turned her on her face rather than on her back, then I believe there is a case for criminal negligence on somebody’s part. A woman has lost her life, a family have lost a mother, and we are six years waiting for an inquest. The evidence of what happened on that day must be brought to the inquest. Somebody, somewhere has to start answering questions very quickly. I ask the Leader’s office to engage with the Health and Safety Authority to have this matter investigated.

In my remaining few seconds of speaking time, I note there has been a great deal of talk about unfortunate asylum seekers who arrive in this country through Dublin Airport without a passport. It is my understanding that one cannot board an aircraft without a passport. If someone arrives in Dublin Airport from an aircraft without a passport then, I believe, they are trying to dupe the system and should be returned to the country of origin, to wherever the aircraft took off from. This country has open arms for those who seek asylum but those who try to dupe the system should not be facilitated in any way. I thank the Acting Chairman.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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I will begin by calling for statements from the Minister for Health to update the House on the progress of the human tissue Bill. Members will know this is an issue that I and other colleagues have raised many times and other colleagues have raised it as a Commencement matter. The human tissue Bill is important legislation for many reasons but a primary reason for its importance is the option for a soft opt-out, which is that people would have to opt out of the organ donation register. This is something which recently came into effect before the collapse of the Executive in the North and it was known as Daíthí’s Law. This is where a soft opt-out in respect of organ donation will be the law in the Six Counties.

This should happen for so many reasons, such as all-Ireland harmonisation, a responsible approach to healthcare and medicine but also because I believe it makes sense. It is the right thing to do when one thinks of the many people, particularly children, who are awaiting organs, and their families, but also because of all of the stress they are under. This is critical legislation which I believe this House stands ready to support and to see progressed. I understand the legislation has been signed off at a departmental and official level and I do not, therefore, understand what the delay is. I believe it would be important for the Minister for Health to come in to update the House on the progress of this Bill and to talk to us on the issue of organ donation and the importance of people registering as organ donors in the broader context as well.

I also welcome the Taoiseach's announcement this week that the Narrow Water Bridge project has gone out to tender. This is a significant step forward in the process of realising the Narrow Water Bridge and it is something that has been talked about now for decades. That bridge will have a transformative impact on the tourism of the broader south Down and Cooley-north Louth region. It will have a positive impact on communities, on infrastructure, on the economy and on job creation there. It is a significant step forward. We are not quite there yet but it is a move in the right direction and I certainly welcome it. This is an example of the shared island unit in action.That is where I believe it is strongest. We should support it where it is giving practical help to people on the ground across the island.

In the context of last week's visit by members of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement to London and Westminster, we should have statements on the shared island unit, which carries out a range of important work whether that is on capital infrastructure projects or on research and in academia. I am sure that in this House, however, many more ideas, thoughts and inputs could be made regarding that work going forward. I ask the Acting Leader to convey that to his Government colleagues.

Mark Wall (Labour)
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On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome Aimee Foley and her family to the House today. As other colleagues said, I thank her for her bravery. It is very much appreciated by so many. I will give her and Senator Conway an assurance that the Labour Party and I will work with Aimee on what she asked for today. Support for victims is something on which we all need to work. She can be guaranteed of our support in that. We look forward to dealing with and talking to her over the coming weeks. I thank her very much for joining us today.

I spoke last week, when the Acting Leader previously sat in that chair, about the lack of secondary school places in south Kildare. Thankfully, I have been informed that some work has been done. The Department contacted a number of schools in the area and offered temporary accommodation, which is to be welcomed. I have had ongoing contact with the Minister for Education to try to progress that. I still get calls from worried parents but it is a step forward.

Today, I wish to talk about special classes in particular. Figures received by my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, show that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, sanctioned 20 new special classes at primary level and nine new special classes at post-primary level over the last three years in County Kildare. This compares to a national figure of 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes at post-primary level and five new special schools being established over the last three years throughout the State.

The Acting Leader is probably as familiar with this as I am but I receive many calls from parents who are finding it very difficult to sanction and get places for their loved ones. Unfortunately, this has been happening more and more over the last number of weeks. Parents are ringing three, four and five schools in which, unfortunately, there are no special places for their loved ones. Most of these children are coming from primary level into secondary level. That seems to be where the issue is at the moment. As I said, I have been getting more and more calls about this. Perhaps we could have a debate with the Minister of State with responsibility for special education.

I am a member of the all-party Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism, at which we discussed a number of times the lack of places and the problems parents are having. A number of the experts and officials that have appeared before the committee spoke about starting a register with regard to the needs of those with special needs. This is something the committee is discussing and will probably bring forward in its report, which is due in a number of months under the chairmanship of Senator Carrigy. It is a worry for many parents in south Kildare at the moment. I ask that a debate be sanctioned with the Minister of State with responsibility for special education for those parents.

Finally, I want to mention the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017 that was brought forward by Fianna Fáil colleagues across the House in February of this year. The reason I raise this is that, unfortunately, defibrillators have been stolen from my GAA club, Castlemitchell GFC, and also from St. Joseph's GAA Club just across the border. Thankfully, with the intervention of the gardaí, those have been returned in the past week. This Bill needs to come forward, however. It will have our full support once again, as it did before. A strong message needs to go out to anyone who is thinking of the theft of life-saving equipment. It is simply not good enough. It can destroy lives and potentially cost people their lives. Something needs to be done. I welcome the fact that it has been brought forward. I look forward to supporting it in the future.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the students from Riverchapel National School to the Seanad today. Rivertown and Courtown are beautiful parts of north Wexford. The students have been assured that if they behave themselves on the way home, they will not have any homework for the rest of the week. That is a political promise that can be delivered on.

I wish to raise today the issue of vaping. While it was a very welcome decision by Cabinet yesterday to proceed with restrictions on the sale and advertising of vaping products, I am concerned that the legislation does not go far enough. A number of secondary schools and youth organisations have reported and raised with me the issue of young people who have never smoked but are now taking up vaping. Part of the problem is because of the flavours that are introduced and the marketing around this. We need to treat vapes in exactly the same way as we treat cigarettes, with the same level of restrictions being applied. I ask that our concerns would be reflected in advance of the legislation being published and coming before these Houses. Certainly, we will be doing this in the context of parliamentary party discussions. There are very serious dangers that young people are now substituting vapes for cigarettes. While it certainly helps people off tobacco, there are still serious health consequences associated with vaping. We need to take this seriously when we look at issues around obesity, heart conditions and so on. We must ensure that we put in place the necessary regulatory frameworks to protect young people. I ask the Acting Leader to communicate those views back to the Minister.

Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call Senator Maria Byrne, I welcome also our visitors from Riverchapel National School. It is a very nice part of the world. I have been there myself. I hope they enjoy their day and their next few homework-free days.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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There are three issues I wish to raise today, the first of which is the welcome news that the post office is to be restored in Castleconnell in County Limerick. I wish Mr. Cunningham and his team in the SuperValu in which the post office is to be relocated all the best. Certainly, there was much unrest, especially among the older people in the community, about losing the post office. That is most welcome news.

The second issue is with regard to vaping. I agree with Senator Malcolm Byrne. A Private Members' motion regarding vaping was brought forward last week during which we discussed some stronger sanctions that need to happen and maybe stronger regulations, which I support. We will obviously have the opportunity to table amendments to the Bill and make suggestions. I believe we should have a conversation about it, however. Before the legislation comes forward, the Minister might perhaps come in for a debate in that regard.

Finally, I welcome the collaboration between the education and training boards, ETB, the University of Limerick, UL, and youth mental health services in terms of a pilot programme that will take place across schools in Limerick. This is a 12-week programme about research and education that will be open to transition year students to which healthcare specialists will be contributing. It also looks at positive mental health and well-being. The areas being addressed are managing social media, understanding emotions and building relationships, which are three really important themes. I wish the programme all the best. We talk a lot about mental health and especially youth mental health. I believe this will be a very successful programme.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I have raised concerns over the last few weeks about how the National Transport Authority, NTA, operates. I raise this on the back of a local issue regarding a bus stop and bus line that was changed in Clontarf Street in Cork city and how it will affect residents, particularly those going to Kinsale. There was no consultation whatsoever with the public or any of the key stakeholders.

I wrote to the NTA to ask its representatives to meet me on 28 October. It wrote back saying no staff were available. Staff resources were an issue. Subsequently, I got details of its staffing. In 2018, the NTA had 97 staff. Today, it has 276 staff, which is an increase of 284%. However, it still does not have the resources to meet public representatives and communities on the ground. It is making these decisions without any consultation. This is an organisation the Minister, Deputy Ryan, funds directly. The Minister has due responsibility regarding how it is funded, and it has no regard for any public representative. It is appropriate now that the Minister should come to this Chamber and explain to us how he believes it is appropriate that an organisation that he funds and that has had an increase in staff of 284% in the last four years cannot meet us because of staffing issues.That is totally inappropriate. The people deserve better than what we have got here. This is another quango set up at arm's length away from us that does what it likes, when it likes, with no regard for anyone. I ask the Leader to put it on the list that we should have the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in here before Christmas to deal with this issue because there has been no consultation whatsoever and there is no accountability for this organisation.

Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein)
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First, I will ask the Leader later for an update on when the legislation on e-scooters will come back to this House, but this morning I want to focus on neutrality because I will not get an opportunity to speak on tonight's Private Member's motion. I doubt that I am the only person who has found the constant questioning of our neutrality over recent years very worrying. It has escalated dramatically since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The invasion seems to be being used, mainly by Fine Gael Ministers, as leverage in promoting the watering down of our neutrality. That is simply unacceptable. Fine Gael's most recent narrative questioning our neutrality has been ongoing since April when the Minister, Deputy Coveney, predicted that the Russian invasion would likely bring about a shift in attitude towards neutrality in this island nation. Only last weekend, a motion at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis calling for the abandonment of the existing triple-lock system, again supported by the Minister, passed overwhelmingly. As we know, this system requires approval by the Government and the Dáil along with a UN resolution mandating the mission if 12 or more members of the Irish Defence Forces are to be deployed.

The reality is that we are now seeing an underhand attempt, particularly by the Fine Gael Party, to undermine protections put in place to preserve Irish neutrality. This cannot be allowed to happen. Let us recall how, earlier this year, despite the many articles suddenly appearing in our media questioning our neutrality, an IPSOS poll in April found that an overwhelming two thirds of respondents supported the retention of Ireland's current model of military neutrality. The Irish people are very proud of our neutrality and of the fact that it allows us to be honest brokers in negotiations on the international stage. When this war in Ukraine finally comes to an end, if it retains its neutrality, Ireland will be in a unique position to be an honest broker. The message is clear. Our neutrality is sacrosanct and no whispers, hints, winks, nudges or subliminal messages from Fine Gael will change that. The citizens of this State are proud of our neutrality and are quite clear where we stand on it.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Yesterday, on RTÉ Radio 1, the case was made that there was a very significant shortage of teachers in the country. I ask that we have a debate on this issue with the Minister for Education. It seems the situation is desperate. One person came on the programme and said they were trying to find replacement teachers by text or through WhatsApp groups. That is inadequate in this time and age. A Department circular letter from a few years ago stated:

Boards of Management are obliged to recruit and employ fully qualified primary teachers for any vacancy in a school, regardless of the duration of the vacancy. Information regarding recognised qualifications can be obtained from the Primary Administration Section of the Department [...] Under no circumstances should a Board of Management engage an untrained person and commit to retaining that person for the full duration of a teacher’s absence on career break, maternity leave, parental leave etc. It should be noted that a post primary qualified teacher is not fully qualified for the purposes of appointment as a primary teacher. The procedures for the appointment of teachers as outlined in the Constitution of Boards & Rules of Procedures for Boards of Management of National Schools must be adhered to at all times.

That is obviously not in place at this point in time. It seems from yesterday's programme that anybody can stand in and take a class. I ask the Minister to look into the issue. There are a lot of highly qualified people throughout the country who are in the wrong job. Perhaps retraining could allow them to become teachers. They may well prosper in the teaching profession. There is an onus on the Department of Education to find replacement teachers. There are a lot of people out there who, as I have said, are highly educated and who could be retrained in a very short period of time if the Department of Education were to go down that route.

Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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Like Senator Murphy, I wish those getting their junior certificate results the very best. As someone who has been on many school boards of management over the past 20 years, I know that, while it may not be as important as it used to be, it is a very good practice run for the leaving certificate. Those who went into the leaving certificate having never done the junior certificate as a result of the Covid pandemic may have found it a bit more daunting. I wish those students well with their results today.

There were expressions of sympathy in the Dáil yesterday on the death of the former Senator, Deputy and professor, Dr. Brian Hillery. Perhaps we will be able to carry out a similar exercise at some point. I know such things generally only happen in one House or the other but he was a Member of this House for 14 years and a Member of the Dáil for three. While the statements in the Dáil were very nice and well put together and certainly acknowledged his contribution, now that the Covid pandemic has elapsed, I would like to put on the record of the House statements on former Members in more depth than is possible on the Order of Business. I certainly acknowledge Dr. Hillery's contribution not just as a Member of the Dáil and a Member of the Seanad for 14 years over a number of terms, but his contribution to Irish life more widely. In terms of academia, he was a professor in UCD. He was also a director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development at a very important time in the 1990s and a director of the Central Bank. He was also very involved in many businesses and organisations including Independent News and Media. He was an absolute gentleman and a real legend of Irish political life, business life and academic life.

He lectured me in UCD and I met him in here. In fact, I welcomed him to the Chamber when I was in the Chair one day in December 2019. When he passed in January 2021, it was quite a shock to me. I appreciate the Cathaoirleach allowing me to make a contribution today. Perhaps we will be able to make more measured comments at another time. I know Senators Norris and Burke were here at the same time as Dr. Hillery but many others would have known and appreciated him. You always felt better after having meeting him around the Houses. He was a thorough gentleman. May he rest in peace.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Horkan for recalling the life and service of Dr. Hillery who, as the Senator pointed out, served here in the Seanad. As the Senator will know, we can have those special tributes. It is up to the Leader's office. If Senator Horkan would like to write to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, he may. As he will know, we have a new standardised format whereby all Senators who pass away are acknowledged in the Seanad on the next available sitting day and we send a motion from the Seanad to the family as soon as possible afterwards. That is one of the procedures we have but, as the Senator points out, there is also provision for expressions of sympathy on particular occasions. Such expressions have been facilitated by Senator Burke and other Cathaoirleach's in the past. Senator Horkan's suggestion regarding former Senator and Deputy, Dr. Brian Hillery, is a very good one.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Without meaning to strike a note discordant with the Cathaoirleach's remarks, I concur with Senator Horkan. As a long-standing Member of the House, I believe it is important that we do not lose the tradition of bringing the families of deceased Members to the House. We should not lose that. I am very strong on that point. I appreciate that the Covid pandemic interfered with proceedings but there are Members for whom we have not done that. I hope that, in the new year, the House will bring family members in to celebrate and commemorate the lives of people like Dr. Hillery, whom Senator Horkan referenced. I do not mean to be discordant but it is important that we do not lose certain traditions in the House. I am glad that we have them.

I ask that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, come to the House. I congratulate my colleague, Senator McGahon, on his great work on the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action and on his participation in COP27. The Minister, who is the EU lead negotiator in talks on loss and damage funding, is speaking this morning about aviation, the transport sector and other parts of business that will have to pay more. I remind Senators and the Minister that we are an island nation and that connectivity and aviation are very important to us. I ask that the Minister come to the House. Senator Lombard made reference to the National Transport Authority, NTA. I want to make reference to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, as I did last week, with regard to its decision to propose increasing toll charges to the maximum permitted in the new year.Is TII tone deaf and blind to the hauliers, bus companies and hard-pressed motorists who are struggling to meet cost-of-living increases? Adding an extra charge on them on our motorways is mind-boggling. It is important that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, come to the House to explain the rationale. We are penalising motorists more and more every day. Soon, it will almost be a crime to be a car owner or other motorist. We cannot let this continue. I ask that the Minister attend the House for an urgent debate on the impending toll charge increases.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next Senator, I welcome to the Visitors Gallery Mr. John Teahan, Ms Suzanne Teahan, Mr. Timmy Clifford, Dara and Taigh from Kenmare, Sneem and Blackwater. All politics is local. Mr. Teahan was involved in my very first campaign when I ran for chair of an Ógra Fianna Fáil unit in Kenmare. He has been involved in many strategic moves through the years, so I thank him for my being in Seanad Éireann. If anyone wants a political adviser, he is available, but probably only to Fianna Fáil people. As a serving chairman of the Sneem Fianna Fáil cumann for nearly 30 years, he would definitely only give advice to one side of the House.

Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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I welcome our guests.

I will join in the calls for the Minister for Transport to attend the House. Many important reasons for this have already been mentioned, but another is the Connecting Ireland plan. Further punitive measures are being placed on motorists through the toll charges, but where are the bus services we need to ensure that people are able to get from A to B for work, college or hospital appointments? Bus services are crucial. I would look forward to the Minister appearing before us, given that the Connecting Ireland project is in train and there is a great deal of focus on it.

The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, will be taking the Social Welfare Bill 2022 through the Houses. It is crucial. One of its elements is the widening of the fuel allowance for over-70s, a matter that the Minister has been considering. This is a landmark measure because it means many more people will be able to avail of the fuel allowance. It will increase the weekly income threshold to nearly €500 per person aged over 70 years, or €1,000 per couple, and the first €20,000 in income will be disregarded. I would like to see more application forms being provided. I would also like the Minister to come to the House to tell us how the Department of Social Protection will manage the increase in applications for the fuel allowance that we are going to see in January.

John McGahon (Fine Gael)
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I wish to discuss the concept of cross-Border health. The emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, is coming under more pressure because of the large population boom in north Dublin and parts of Meath, including Navan. The Border is causing a major problem in areas like Dundalk and Newry, particularly for Daisy Hill Hospital. The NHS views Daisy Hill Hospital as being on the edge of the world, which is why it is redirecting more services to Craigavon Area Hospital. It does not make sense that someone who has an accident in north Louth or east Monaghan is red-lighted all the way to Drogheda, Dundalk or another HSE site when he or she only lives 10 km or 15 km away from Daisy Hill Hospital. I am seeking a debate on how we might increase co-operation between both health services on the island of Ireland. The Minister for Health views increased co-operation positively, but he is hindered by the lack of a functioning Executive and a relevant health minister in Northern Ireland. When decisions are being made on health services along the Border, they should take into account the population in the vicinity on both sides of the Border rather than on just one side. If we could schedule a debate for the new year on improving cross-Border healthcare facilities, I would appreciate it.

Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I echo my colleagues who have called for a debate on transport and for the Minister to attend the House. BusConnects is galloping along and there have been several rounds of public consultation, but it does not appear that the public's concerns are always being taken on board. Now, we are looking at planning permissions next spring in respect of the likes of Stannaway Road in Dublin South-Central. The plans, as they stand, will make the area uninhabitable for many of those living there.

I have risen to ask for a debate on Irish Water and how we are going to deal with older infrastructure that is subject to rules that cause residents a great deal of hardship. In Dublin, entire roads are reliant on archaic drainage systems. If someone lives in a red brick house in Dublin 8, he or she is relying on brick culverts at the back of the house for drainage. That resident can have the misfortune of manhole covers being in his or her garden as well, and if other people put items into their drainage systems that block drains and causes water to overflow into the resident's garden, then he or she gets no assistance. No one in the State has responsibility and the resident is obliged to unblock the drain and cover the cost himself or herself because, even though the drain is shared by everyone on that road, it is on his or her private property. If homeowners wanted to connect the private brick culverts at the back of some of these red brick houses to Irish Water's system, it would cost each of them €4,000. That is just a connection fee and does not cover digging or anything else. We met Irish Water recently to discuss such matters, but the ramping up of its services will not provide a solution. Occasionally, local authorities exercise their discretion to step in and assist, but there will be no discretion with the Irish Water system in future. I have sat with colleagues and we have considered writing a Private Members' Bill to oblige ownership by the State, but that would incur a cost on the State, which Senators cannot do. The Seanad needs to discuss the practical realities of such an archaic water system, the hardship it causes homeowners and how that is dealt with in order that the Minister can hear from us and can act accordingly.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senators for their contributions on a wide variety of topics.

I will start with Senator Conway and his special guest, Ms Aimee Foley, who attended in the Visitors Gallery. Aimee is a very brave young woman who waived her anonymity in a case of rape and sexual assault by her father. Clearly, she is a victim who was wronged. She has suggested changes to the law that this House and the Minister need to take up. She is meeting the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and other politicians at the moment. I acknowledge her bravery and support all that she is looking for.

Senators Murphy and Horkan congratulated the 67,000 junior certificate students, for whom today is a special day. It is important that people sit a State exam in advance of the leaving certificate. It is preparation for them. My cohort in 1988 were the last year of the old group certificate. There were also the intermediate certificate and the leaving certificate. There were three State exams in my day, so two should not be too big a problem. The junior certificate is good preparation for students.

Senator Murphy also called on the Department of Education to implement the models suggested by the Ombudsman for Children and the Oireachtas education committee as regards child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. I support that request. The committee sent a delegation, including its Chair, Deputy Kehoe, to Dorset recently. It was a worthy investigation. I will ask the Minister for Education to attend the House to engage with us on the matter. I congratulate Ms Sharon Donoghue of Taghmaconnell, County Roscommon on becoming a patient advocacy and liaison service, PALS, co-ordinator, where she will help patients in, I presume, Portiuncula. Senator Craughwell talked about the tragic case of Caitríona Lucas, the wait for an inquest after six years and information regarding a lifejacket being faulty. Again, that is information that needs to be investigated if not already done so. Whatever information that the Senator has, I would suggest that he contacts the Health and Safety Authority and other bodies to ensure that the information is taken on board and investigated even in advance of an inquest.

Senator Craughwell talked about individuals arriving in this country without a passport. I agree with him that to board a flight to get into this country, one needs a passport. How then does a person suddenly arrive without a passport? That is an important and serious question. With electronics now, passenger details and lists, as well as copies of passports, should be forwarded to the authorities here in Ireland so that when people do arrive, they are known and can be validated.

Senator Ó Donnghaile talked about the human tissue bill being critical legislation and the importance of soft opt-outs. He sought an update on the legislation. I will ask the Leader's office to investigate what progress has been made. The Senator also talked about the shared island unit and the progress on the Narrow Water Bridge project and that tenders have been issued, which is very good and significant news.

Senator Wall commented on the progress concerning the number of schools to which additional accommodation has been granted or sanctioned or at least intimated as such. That is welcome news in the south Kildare area. Senator Wall also talked about the NCSE and how parents have found it difficult to get places for their children in schools. He called for a debate on the matter. As the issue is quite localised in the south Kildare area I suggest that he tables a Commencement matter. I will also mention the issue to the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan. Senator Wall also mentioned the Life Saving Equipment Bill brought forward by Fianna Fáil. As far as I know, the Bill passed its Final Stage in this House but I will check to see where it is and whether it is going to the Dáil.

Senator Malcolm Byrne welcomed the students of Riverchapel National School. He also welcomed the Cabinet signing off on the legislation on young people vaping, either yesterday or today. Senator Marie Byrne tabled a Private Members' motion on this issue last week and we had a debate. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, I am aware that the committee had a pre-legislative scrutiny meeting on this Bill a number of months ago. I look forward to the Bill being published and moving through the Houses.

Senator Marie Byrne mentioned the good news concerning the re-opening of the restored post office in Castleconnell. She welcomed the new pilot scheme in terms of ETBs, youth mental health services and the University of Limerick. That scheme is a positive step and feeds into the suggestion made by Senator Murphy that psychologists and counsellors should visit schools to engage with students and assess them.

Senator Lombard called for a debate on the National Transport Authority to be arranged with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in attendance, on changes to a bus stop which has resulted in discommoding people in Kinsale. The Senator said he was denied a meeting despite a huge increase in the level of staff. He said there has been a 284% increase in the level of staff in the NTA over the last number of years. I believe that it is important that the NTA engages with Oireachtas Members on issues that arise. Finally, the Senator has requested that the Minister comes to this Chamber to discuss the matter.

Senator Boylan asked for an update on the e-scooter legislation. I do not have it but I will try to come back with the information. The Senator commented on neutrality. There will be a larger debate on neutrality this evening. I think that while we are a neutral country, and there no doubt about that, most of us know the difference between right and wrong as well. Most of us know, for example, that the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia is wrong. There are different views on how we can assist and help the people from Ukraine, which is important as well.

Senator Paddy Burke talked about the huge shortage of teachers in the country. He called the Department of Education to engage on ways to retrain individuals. I think that is a good idea and would welcome the initiative. Today, a lot of Senators have mentioned shortages of staff. I do not think that such shortages are due to funding issues. I think that the shortages have been caused because we have almost full employment in this country. There is a shortage of mechanics for NCT centres. We also do not have enough bus drivers, taxi drivers and teachers. Staff shortages is a huge problem.

Senator Horkan raised issues concerning the late Dr. Brian Hillery and asked for tributes to be arranged. We can discuss the matter with the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight. I know that there are other Members, including Terry Brennan, who should be remembered in the course of the coming months.

Senator Buttimer asked for a debate on COP27 with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who was the lead negotiator. I will certainly request that and I think there already has been a request for the Minister to attend here for a debate. The Senator also asked for the Minster to engage on the decision made by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to impose the maximum increase in the price of tolls.

Senator Dolan raised a very important bus service issue. As I said, whether it is school transport or other services, there are difficulties across the board in sourcing buses and drivers. I believe there is an appetite and a willingness to provide more services, more frequent buses and have greater capacity but there is literally a shortage of people. I will engage with the Minister for Transport on enhancing services in some parts of the country. Concerning my own area, I have engaged with, for example, Citylink and Bus Éireann and we have been told there is a shortage of people. Senator Dolan also acknowledged the changes in the rules to qualify for the fuel allowance. There will be an opportunity over the coming weeks, when the Social Welfare Bill comes before the House, to further engage with the Minister for Social Protection on the changes to the fuel allowance and, indeed, other measures that were outlined in budget 2023.

Senator McGahon raised interesting points about Daisy Hill Hospital located north of the Border. He called for greater co-operation between the Daisy Hill Hospital and other facilities in the Republic. I know that there are collaborative initiatives between Altnagelvin Area Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital so a lot of patients, particularly patients from County Donegal, use the hospital facilities at Altnagelvin. Collaboration makes perfect sense but I am not sure what is the best approach to take. Perhaps, initially, a Commencement debate with the Minister might progress the matter or otherwise to engage. I certainly think that it is worthy of engagement.

Senator Mary Seery Kearney called for a debate on transport and BusConnects. I believe that BusConnects is grand until one tries to consult and engage about transport. We have seen that in Galway on a smaller scale in terms of closing down the road at the promenade and from Blackrock tower over to the road from Barna to Taylor's Hill Road. That initiative created ructions and was eventually overturned by councillors. A lot of projects look great on paper but once one tries to engage, one is taking away car parking spaces of private residents and all that sort of thing. Therefore, consultation is very difficult. I have seen that happen in both Galway and Limerick, and the Senator highlighted cases in Dublin. Finally, Senator Seery Kearney raised the issues of Irish Water and dealing with older infrastructure. She discussed a very challenging situation. I know that funding is routinely provided for the replacement of lead pipes, for example, and other pieces of infrastructure. There are also rolling programmes. Therefore, I do not see why projects like this one could not be funded at some stage to provide an alternative. It is not right to have shared services going through someone's private property and one generally has a feed into a main line rather than that. Certainly there needs to be a change and I do not think that the burden should be placed on homeowners. If the Senator tabled a Commencement matter or raised the issue directly with the relevant Minister and asked that person to engage on this issue specifically. I am not sure how many houses would be involved but I do think there should be funding provided.

I believe I have covered the range of topics that were raised earlier.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Acting Leader for outlining the Order of Business.