Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The ambassador is very welcome. I wish a happy national day to him and all the Finnish citizens living in Ireland. The ambassador knows this already but we continually look with envy on the social agenda and how well it has progressed in Finland. We continue to keep learning from its example. I thank him for being with us today.

We have a long Order of Business today. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 (Appointment of Registration Body) Order 2022 (referral to committee), to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 1.45 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 ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed four minutes and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022 - Second Stage, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and to conclude after 50 minutes, if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed six minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and time can be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than six minutes to reply to the debate; No. 4, Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken on conclusion of No. 3 and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government; No. 5, motion regarding early signature of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022, to be taken on conclusion of No. 4 without debate; No. 6, Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 7 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 5, whichever is later; and No. 7, Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 7.30 p.m. or on conclusion of No. 6, whichever is later, 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, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Like others, I want to join in wishing the Finnish people all the best on their day of commemoration. I welcome the ambassador to the House. It is a pleasure to have him.

Like many other people, we woke this morning to yet another report on our national air waves about the shooting of two individuals yesterday evening in the city of Dublin, and the sad passing of one of those people. It has become somewhat of a regularity. It is not just in the city of Dublin, however. We had the situation of a shooting in Ennis, although nobody was injured, thankfully. It is happening in other county towns around the country. I do not want to single out any one place. I certainly do not want to stray into what is happening in the courts at the moment as a very significant case is ongoing.If we are learning anything from that as it progresses, we are learning that just having gardaí on the street is not the solution to the problem. Good intelligence gathering is an important feature of it, but we need more specialist services. We need more covert operations in place. We need greater scrutiny of individuals. This applies to all our counties. I see it in the county that I have the pleasure of living in, County Clare, around Ennis and other towns in County Clare. I see individuals who seem to have the trappings of wealth with no visible means by which they could have it. We have to target individuals much more. We have to use the specialist services of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB. That will have to be devolved down to regional levels. It would be a far greater use of time now if we trained gardaí in those specialist services. I think there is actually more need for armed units. I do not believe we need to arm every police officer, or garda, in the country, but we certainly need that as a deterrent. There is a fraternity emerging now that has no regard whatsoever for law enforcement or those who try to patrol the area. I would like a debate in this House at the earliest possible opportunity with the Minister for Justice with a view to reorganising, to some extent, the attack on crime. It is not just the so-called gangs in the city of Dublin. There are little units developing all over the country and that needs to be targeted.

I was back in Doonbeg in west Clare last night. I was meeting with members of the local community, as others have done in the past. There is a situation where there is an old pipe network. It is the same throughout many counties in Ireland, but it is specific to west Clare. There is an old asbestos pipe network. As the ground dries out at certain times of the year, it cracks and breaks. People are being left for hours on an ongoing basis. The leak is fixed and it bursts somewhere else. It goes on day after day. People are finding it difficult, particularly those in the tourism sector. Could we have a debate, at the Leader’s convenience, with the Minster for the Environment, Climate and Communications? I accept that Irish Water is an independent entity, but we need to find a better way to address the investment in water infrastructure.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the ambassador to the Chamber. I wish the Finnish people a happy national day as well. I had the pleasure of visiting Helsinki back in 2004 and it is a beautiful city.

First, I recognise the establishment 100 years ago of the Irish Free State. It was a turbulent part of our history. We know the divisions that ensued are still with us. It is important, at the same time, that we recognise the establishment of the Parliament here and all that we have achieved since then – the continuous democracy in this country uninterrupted since then, the peaceful transfer of power in 1932 and, subsequently, that historic coalition that was reached at the last Government formation as well between the two civil war parties. I am sure there will be other occasions to remember some of the happenings over the past 100 years as well during the course of the next number of months.

I have raised on numerous occasions the issues surrounding Inland Fisheries Ireland. Since the last time I raised it and commented that I wished to put matters on the record, my mother got a phone call. It was nothing sinister because we know the individual; it was just advising that perhaps I should be careful. I got another anonymous letter from somebody who told me they are an employee. I would rather they had come forward rather than writing me anonymous letters and if they have any issues they might go to the Garda rather than putting it to me. They did not sign the letter, but that is okay. I also had an ex-employee contact me, a good supporter of mine, again giving both barrels because they feel that I will say something. To cap it off this week, I notice from the correspondence on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges that the chief executive officer of Inland Fisheries Ireland has written to the Cathaoirleach.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Anything that comes before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is confidential. Please just be mindful of that.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, but the letter has been written by the CEO. It will be dealt with at the meeting subsequently. Again, it was urging caution, which I find strange.

There are a number of issues here and there is talk of Garda investigations. I have no idea who has been investigated by the Garda in relation to Inland Fisheries Ireland, but I am of the view there should be an investigation by the Minister. The Minister needs to investigate issues that have come to pass surrounding Inland Fisheries Ireland. They have hounded one family. I could not go into the issues that the family is facing, but we all know the story of Maurice McCabe and I believe this is something similar at this stage. Any existing IFI employee who would be seen talking to or calling this former employee is being taken aside. Even former employees are being blacklisted in relation to contacts with this individual within Inland Fisheries Ireland. Yet, we have the CEO contacting the Cathaoirleach, effectively threatening how he does his business in and how he organises the Seanad.

The Minister investigated the board. Why did he investigate the board? He did so because his advisers told him it was the right thing to do. Why did they tell him that? They wanted the Minister to dismiss the board because the board was not complying with the CEO’s wishes. There was a 7:3 split. He wanted the board gone; not the Minister, but the advisers and the CEO wanted the board gone to put in people who were more manageable. That was what was going on in relation to Inland Fisheries Ireland.

I spoke with senior people in this Government on carrying out investigations. They carried out the investigation in relation to the board. Now it is time for them to carry out investigations into matters within Inland Fisheries Ireland at its more senior level over the past number of years. If that happens, there is then no need for me to put things onto the record. However, if they do not, I am then obliged to. The Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has the information. Other senior politicians have the information. Politicians and colleagues of mine within Galway West, Galway East and Mayo have the information and they are all of the view that there are issues here and questions to be answered within Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I just want to echo Senator Dooley’s concerns about the shooting incidents last night. I am from Finglas originally and I grew up there. It is a great community. It is not the set of “Love/Hate”. It is a real community with real people. We should be appalled, as legislators, at the casual manner in which a 21-year-old was shot in a car on Cardiffsbridge Road - and then the killing of a man in Ronanstown in Clondalkin last night. According to initial reports, six to eight shots were discharged in rapid succession. As is very often the case with these shootings, there is a person who is high on drugs - polysubstance abuse - and they are using a weapon very often like these Glock automatic pistols. They are weapons that are designed for conventional combat and they have a planning range of between 30 m and 50 m. They were discharged, in the case of the Ronanstown incident, outside a family home, where there are children, neighbours and people sleeping. It is unacceptable.

At the moment, Ireland has a homicide rate roughly the European average of about 0.7 per 100,000 people. However, that statistic masks an underlying trend that is deeply disturbing. For example, in Ireland between 2005 and 2015, 201 Irish citizens were murdered by firearm. In the same period in the UK, which has a population approaching 80 million people, only 450 were killed by firearms. Homicide by firearm, or gun killings, in Ireland are five times the European average. Think about that as legislators - five times the European average.

The principal victims are young men with criminal convictions. We did not tolerate that level of gun crime during the Troubles. I suspect this was partially because legislators, Senators, Deputies, judges and senior police officers felt that they might be targets. However, because it is happening in our working-class communities and because it is happening to young men, we are allowing this situation to get a grip in our communities. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 38% of Ireland's homicides are by firearm. This year, we have had seven gun killings, five of which were drug-related. We have also had countless shooting incidents where, by a miracle, there have been no fatalities. These communities are being intimidated by these gangs. This is narco-terrorism and these are groups that have links to the Lyra McKee shootings and the shooting of gardaí up around Dundalk. There is an intimate link between organised crime, drug trafficking, people trafficking and these type of shootings and we should not allow them to intimidate good communities and the great people of places like Finglas and Clondalkin. We should not abandon them to this rule by force and intimidation. I agree with Senator Dooley that the answer to this is not to arm the Garda but to get the guns out of our communities and away from those young people. We need increased investment in education, a health-led approach to drugs and so on. I hope that some time in the new year we could get the Minister for Justice to come in to debate this because gun culture and the disproportionate number of homicides by firearm is a sinister problem that is getting a grip in Ireland.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests from Ballinrobe Community School to Seanad Éireann. I hope they enjoy the day in Leinster House and hopefully they will come back some day as Members of either Chamber.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senators Clonan and Dooley. It is important that we have that debate with the Minister for Justice because, as has been said by both Members, people are dying on our streets and communities are being left behind. We need to have that debate with the Minister as early in the new year as possible.

I also want to welcome the announcement from the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, under the shared island initiative, of a €7.6 million investment in tourism and marketing initiatives, which will include connecting the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route. The Leader will know, because I have raised it with her numerous times, that this is something I have been advocating for over a number of years. It is my firm belief, whether it is in crime prevention, community safety, our fantastic tourism offering across the island, our sporting endeavours or any issue, Ireland works best when we work together.

An announcement was also made yesterday of €2 million for cross-Border Irish language and Ulster Scots initiatives. When the Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community visited Belfast a number of weeks ago, we heard a keen interest from the groups we met across the city that they wanted to do more on an all-island basis. The Cathaoirleach will know the interconnectedness of the Irish-speaking community and they really want to tap into that. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come in the future. Sinn Féin published its Explore More tourism document last year, which set out our plan for tourism, including extending globally recognised brands such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East in order that we can help to create jobs, rebuild our economy and put money back in people's pockets. I say all this fully conscious of Tourism Ireland's role and remit to promote the island internationally as one tourism destination and conscious of the fact that we have no equivalent Minister in the North. That is yet another reason the Democratic Unionist Party should get back to work and stop blocking the opportunities that initiatives like this present to people. Even that unfortunate reality should not stop the local authorities, particularly those along the north coast and through the east, coming together with tourism promotion agencies to tap into the opportunity offered by this.

As indicated by my colleague, Senator Boylan, last week in her contribution on Thursday's Order of Business, we will be opposing today's Order of Business because of the nature of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 that is before us this week. The committee had not concluded pre-legislative scrutiny of it and there are a number of serious concerns with this Bill. I appreciate the Leader's work in this regard and she did her best for us but for the reasons Senator Boylan outlined last week, this warranted much more time, attention and respect to Members to be able to contribute and make input to this Bill going forward.

Eileen Flynn (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to bring to the Leader's attention the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018, which was passed in the Seanad in 2019 by former Senator Colette Kelleher. Oein de Bhardúin also did a lot of work on that Bill. We got it through the Dáil thanks to Deputy Pringle and we are looking at Committee Stage of the Bill. Unfortunately the money message has come into play with the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018. We wrote to the Minister, as did Deputies, and unfortunately we have not received a reply. This is a critical Bill, not only so that young Travellers will feel more valued within the education system, but to educate all of the students within our schools. It might sound a bit stupid for me to say this but the benefit to people's culture, feeling valued and feeling part of a society in which we never felt accepted is more important than the few hundred or few thousand euro that the Department would be out. After everything we have been through as a community, it is worth it. I would like the Minister to rule out the money message. Money is being drawn down in further education and this morning I was speaking to a Cork disability group that wondered where the support was to draw down some of that higher education funding.

There is an awful lot of hatred and discrimination on our streets at present. It is very sad to be part of the Seanad during these horrible times but I want to use this platform for a positive note. I would encourage the Government and people in this House to send a positive message on their social media that we support refugees in our country. Divide and conquer and pitting communities against each other works for the Government, and I do not mean to sound bad by saying that. Everyone ends up talking about "them" and "us" instead of talking about what is happening at a higher level. Is it possible that we could get a campaign going? We always hear employment campaigns that state they are brought to you by the Government of Ireland and all that jazz. Is it possible that we could have a campaign that says refugees are welcome? I do not know what it would look like but that would be a positive message we could send to welcome refugees because after all, these people are fleeing war. They are in our country and it is up to us as a society to look after people who are here, who live here and who belong here. The Government could do a positive campaign.

Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to ask the Leader to arrange, possibly in the new year now, a debate on the shared island movement. The shared island initiative was one of the Taoiseach and a sum of €500 million was set aside in the programme for Government for a number of projects that were aimed at benefiting communities North and South and improving relationships North, South, east and west, particularly relationships between the two traditions on this island. From a slow start, the shared island initiative has become a movement and it is time the Seanad got behind it more fully. At a forum in Dublin Castle at the weekend, the Taoiseach outlined the further €50 million that will be spent in the near future, on top of the €140 million that has already been spent on a number of projects. It was announced that €10 million will be provided for a cross-Border peatland restoration programme led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, that €7 million will be provided to tourism agencies to progress a collaboration between the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route and that €12 million will be set aside for development of a new innovation hub in the north west. There are a load more projects that Members can read about themselves; they are easy to access.

This is a practical way of trying to unite people on this island. The shared island initiative threatens nobody and it is not, as has been suggested, a Trojan horse towards luring unionists into a united Ireland by stealth. It is anything other than that and unionists appreciate that. We are having an awful lot of conversations about constitutional change and a united Ireland.The Irish Times has published a definitive poll. To be honest, any reasonable person can see there will not be major constitutional change on this island for the coming decades, and certainly not in my lifetime. I regret to say that but it is a fact. All of us, including me, aspire to a united Ireland that unites people in friendship, understanding and partnership. No other kind of united Ireland is of interest to me or to the vast majority of people. It is time for the Opposition in particular to get behind the shared island initiative. They are behind other talking groups that are having conversations left, right and centre, while spending what appears to be a shocking amount of money. In reality, it is time to get behind something that is practical. We are putting our money where are mouths are for the first time in years. The incoming Taoiseach will take on this project and give it the same full support that the current Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, has given it. He deserves full credit as the man who has initiated a new way of looking at the problem for the first time in a long time. We are sick of the old rhetoric and methods. We are sick of green versus orange and the tribalism and sectarianism involved. We are sick of it. We want peace and harmony on our island. Let us make a start.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Every time we see the flag flying over Leinster House, it creates a great sense of pride in the freedom of the country and the fact that we live in a democracy. That was recognised by the world 100 years ago today. It is fitting and appropriate for us to recognise that it was a difficult and traumatic time for our country. However, it was at that time we were first recognised by the world as a free state, the Irish Free State. The people who led to the creation of the Free State more than 100 years ago deserve full credit and recognition.

The celebrations 100 years ago today were solemn and respectful, even though a terrible civil war, which got more bloody and terrible after the formation of the Free State, was taking place. We need to realise that our democracy has lasted 100 years. We are one of the longest lasting democracies in Europe. Our small country was ruled for 700 years prior to that by a foreign nation. We maintained our democracy and when it came to the transition of power from Cumann na nGaedheal, Fine Gael, to Fianna Fáil, it happened peacefully. When power transferred again in 1948, it happened peacefully. While there is a lot we need to do to improve our small country, we are one of the best little countries in the world. We are one of the most democratic little countries in the world. It is appropriate, today of all days, for us to salute the flag that flies over Leinster House and to salute our forefathers who created what we have today and those who, during the past 100 years, maintained our democracy in a peaceful way in this part of our country. We are all looking forward to the important celebration next Monday of the 100-year anniversary of Seanad Éireann.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will pick up on what Senator Ned O'Sullivan said about the shared island initiative. The Cathaoirleach and I were at Dublin Castle yesterday to hear the Taoiseach set out his stall. What passion and enthusiasm he displayed, and what grá he has for this initiative. We had amazing speakers and contributions, and major engagement. Dublin Castle was packed both inside and out. There was a great sense of optimism and hope. The Taoiseach touched on all-Ireland actions he has planned in areas such as biodiversity, tourism and brand collaboration. He spoke about the shared Ireland civic society fund and the shared island dimension for creative thinking, and creative cultural, arts and heritage projects. He also talked about the North-South research programmes, administered by the Higher Education Authority, and the co-centres of research, innovation and excellence. He is passionate. My hope is that he will carry that with him to whichever Department he moves. He may well move to the Department for Foreign Affairs but that is not a matter for me. I left Dublin Castle feeling I had looked at a man who was passionate about his vision and who was heading towards Iveagh House. I felt he would continue to have his hands firmly on the shared island initiative. I hope that comes to pass because that is the right place for him. That is a personal view rather than anything else.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke about the Planning and Development Foreshore (Amendment) Bill that will be before the House later today. The members of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, some of whom are here today, completed pre-legislative consideration of the Bill at noon. It is shambolic that the committee has only just completed its work. We have not yet seen the final copy of our report. I thank the staff of the committee. It is shambolic that this House will not have the results of pre-legislative scrutiny before it. In addition, the time limit for amendments to this Bill expired at 11 a.m., at which time the committee was still discussing matters relating to pre-legislative scrutiny. That is disappointing. Having said that, I recognise that there is much positive reform within the Bill. I will talk about that later.

I will say one final word because I will be killed if I do not do so. The president of the Association of Irish Local Government, Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick, wrote to a number of people and asked for support for city and county councils to be retained on the nomination panel for the board. I will be fully supporting that and will be articulating more in that regard this afternoon.

Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I raise an undesired situation in Donegal. The chief executive of Donegal County Council yesterday had to write to some of the protesters who attended the chambers in Lifford last week in respect of the mica scheme to raise the intimidation of his staff by certain individuals both online and at the protest that day. What is going on is completely undesirable. It is not on and a stop must be called to it. What is going on is beyond the pale. I have taken a great deal of abuse over the past 18 months. I am big enough to take it and I do not mind it. However, abusing officials is beyond the pale. The mica scheme is good and the people of Donegal want it. We are sick of people in the Opposition trying to create blocks. I am calling it out today. This is not happening in Mayo because Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh would not have it. Designers in the Sinn Féin Party in Donegal are behind this and are trying to muck up the scheme. It reminds me of Deputy Cullinane's message after he was elected in the general election - tiocfaidh ár lá and eff the establishment. They are trying to eff the establishment in Donegal by blocking this scheme. It is not on and it is not good enough. We are having no more of it. I, for one, am not standing for it. We as politicians can take it but without officials, we cannot have this scheme. We lost a good official in the housing department in Donegal. That person was a number of years from retirement but could not take the online abuse anymore. It is uncalled for. We cannot have a scheme in Donegal without officials and without Donegal County Council making the scheme work. I will make one last call to Sinn Féin to pull in their dogs in Donegal. Have a bit of law and order in Donegal. We are not taking it anymore. If one more official is called out in Donegal, I will ask for a full-scale Garda inquiry into what is going on.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome Councillor Barry Sweeny to the Gallery. I join others in welcoming the centenary of the establishment of the Irish Free State. We are here today on the backs of great leaders. It was not the State envisaged by the leaders of the 1916 Rising but on 6 December 1922, Ireland became a free state, independent of Britain.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is true of a part of Ireland. It is true of some of Ireland but not all of Ireland.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Buttimer, without interruption .

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I had the privilege of visiting Goldenbridge Cemetery this morning and quietly paying tribute to W.T. Cosgrave to thank him and those who led our country. The testimony to their vision and leadership is that for 100 years, despite turbulent and contentious times - and Senator Ó Donnghaile is correct that we have a way to go yet - we have had democracy, the right to vote and the right to self-determination. Those things are precious to us on this island.We should salute those men and women today. As Senator Conway rightly said, it is important we remember that democracy held. I want to remember in the House today Ernest Blythe, Desmond FitzGerald, Joseph McGrath, James J. Walsh, Kevin O'Higgins and W.T. Cosgrave and to thank them for what they did for our country.

I ask for a debate on our aviation policy. Today, Government announced its regional airport fund of €21 million, of which Cork Airport is to get €10.4 million. The fund is very important to the running of all of our regional airports. I hope we can have the Minister for Transport come to the House as a matter of urgency.

Today is an important day and we, as a House, should acknowledge and remember those who led.

Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome Councillor Barry Sweeny from Ballyshannon, which is a great part of the country. I join my colleagues in celebrating the democracy that started from very small beginnings to become the democracy we have today. We have had enough of your past now give us our future. Those were very keen words when spoken but there is still much more to achieve.

I will also speak to the funding the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has announced, which totals more than €21 million. Along with my colleagues here from the west and the councillor in the Gallery, I know how crucial it is to have supports for our regional airports. We are seeing in excess of €21 million being allocated throughout the country. Ireland West Airport Knock, a hub for Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, is to receive €1.78 million. There is to be €6.83 million for the regional airport at Shannon and more than €600,000 for Donegal in addition to funding for the airports in Cork and Kerry. These airports are crucial because they support investment in the west. It is about jobs and bringing more people to live and work in our region. Those airports are lifelines for many communities, for towns and villages and for families, including families who are returning home this Christmas, perhaps for the first time in two or three years. They will be travelling into our great airports at Knock, Shannon and Donegal. We need further support for those airports. I look forward to further discussion and hope the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, may be able to come to speak before the House on these types of investments.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 25 November, groups from across Ireland came together to honour the forgotten fallen of the National Army Civil War dead. Representatives of the deceased families, veterans, members of the public, public representatives and expert historical groups came together to honour the memory of those who gave their lives for the foundation of the modern Irish State. As of yet, these 1,000-plus men are not commemorated in any formal Irish State commemorative ceremony. Their stories have been forgotten and their service is unaccounted for at national level. The group came together to remember them and it is my hope the National Army will be remembered every November from now on. They were the men who saved our democracy at the time. I know the Civil War was bitter and that what happened on both sides was terrible. That is the nature of civil war. However, we cannot remember one side and forget the other. It is as simple as that.

On a second issue, the Leader and everybody in this House will be aware of the pressure county councillors come under when something happens in their local area. Right now, the Department is moving into various areas to take over hotels for either asylum seekers or Ukrainian refugees. We and they fully understand this has to happen, but a number of councillors have contacted me in recent weeks to express real concern about the way things are done. They are not consulted before any decision is made. The first they hear of a decision is when a bus arrives in the area carrying refugees or asylum seekers; there is a difference between the two. I am aware of one hotel in Dublin that, up until a few days ago, was taking bookings for family gatherings. A leisure centre had been negotiated and all sorts of events were planned for this hotel but, all of a sudden, people were told the hotel was no longer available because it had been taken over for asylum seekers. Surely the least we could do is to prepare those on the ground, whom we represent, for what is about to happen in their communities. The one question I was asked is whether there is a need for planning permission for change of use for these hotels. Will the Leader look into that for us?

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am glad it is the Leader who is sitting in the chair today because there are a couple of things I want to raise that I know are of interest to her. The first is the stalemate between the HSE and Vertex in respect of the drug Kaftrio. We have not moved on the provision of that drug at all. I note that Cystic Fibrosis Ireland is calling for the health technology assessment to be fast-tracked and for Kaftrio to be provided without delay to the 35 affected children. The HSE can then reimburse Vertex after a pricing agreement is reached. We are talking about 35 children. We are better than that.

The second issue I will raise was brought up in the Dáil on 20 September, when the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, gave an update to the Dáil on the Cass report. He stated the HSE was reviewing the report. I remember the Leader gave me a commitment on the day Senator McDowell and Deputy Flanagan had a briefing on gender identity services and told me the HSE was also doing a report on the issue. This report has not appeared yet. Will that be forthcoming?

I support what Senator Craughwell has said. I welcome the idea that has been mooted that, under the new Administration when the Government switches around portfolios next year, a Minister for refugees could be created. I welcome that idea. Such a Minister is needed. We also needed a Covid Minister at that time. This is something unprecedented. We have never seen anything like this before just as we had never seen anything like Covid before. An individual Minister would provide a more holistic approach to the management of the refugees coming into this country, which would very much be welcomed.

John Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Fine Gael and this Government understand that businesses as well as people are facing difficult and uncertain times with their energy bills. That is why we introduced the three cycles of a universal energy credit of €200 in budget 2023 and why we introduced the temporary business energy support scheme, which is now open for applications. It is one of the biggest measures introduced in budget 2023 and was introduced to protect businesses at this difficult time. It provides funding for 40% of the increase in energy bills from the start of September through to the end of February up to a figure of €10,000 per month per business based on the uplift in the energy costs between 2021 and 2022. It is a very important measure that will protect jobs and businesses through the winter period. I appreciate it has taken some time for the Government to get approval from the European Commission for this scheme and to get the legislative provisions in place but these are now in place and the scheme is open for businesses. I encourage them to apply online. It is there to support businesses and to protect jobs. That is what we are about as a Government. I encourage businesses to take this up.

Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I, too, want to highlight and talk about the shared island unit and today's 100-year anniversary. The €190 million that has been invested in people on this island is incredible. Projects that have been talked about for decades, particularly the Narrow Water Bridge, which I have spoken about constantly, are genuine, real and concrete proof that we are bringing people closer together. We have to look at the shared island unit because it is the only body working on an all-island basis across the Thirty-two Counties of this glorious island and thinking about how we can work closer together. That is progress on the island. The only way we will get true progress is to think about the one-island concept, which is exactly what the shared island unit does.

I have to talk about the 100 years we commemorate today. It is very important we do so.There is a reason I would have been on the anti-Treaty side. It is because I did not celebrate all of that. We live with the failures of our politics 100 years ago. When I stand on top of the Cooley Mountains and look over to the Mournes and know they are in a different jurisdiction, I remember the pain and heartache that brought us to where we are and that continues. Many people in the North want and long for reunification, but we have to consider and remember what we had 100 years ago. We had a broken country. It was violent, and there was violence perpetrated on behalf of the State. We must remember the people who were executed and murdered. I think of local men such as Thomas McKeown, Thomas Lennon, Joseph Ferguson, James Melia - all Louth people who were executed by the Free State. They were put down, but they have always been remembered. I also think of Private Giles and Captain Boyle of the Free State, who were commemorated recently. They were men who thought they were doing the right thing for their country. Let us not forget that many people look back on what happened 100 years ago without celebrating it. There is great pride but also a sense of great loss regarding what happened 100. It was a failed politics. The Good Friday Agreement represents politics that worked. We have to work together to make sure politics works. That will bring about progress and the reunification of the island.

Emer Currie (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I warmly welcome our Fine Gael colleague, Councillor Barry Sweeny, from Ballyshannon in County Donegal.

I will be generous and say I have found an irregularity in car parking charges at commuter train stations in Dublin West. All of the County Dublin train station car parks charge €30 per month, but the Navan Road Parkway in Dublin West charges €70 per month. It is a privately owned facility. I have appealed to the owner to reduce the tariffs but have not had a positive result. I ask about this matter again, particularly as we talked before about bringing in the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, for a debate on transport. This is a key issue. It is about getting people out of their cars and onto trains. This is a barrier. There is no doubt about that. It is an unnecessary outgoing for families and people in the area in question.

A few years ago, we were informed about 41 new intercity railway carriages that were purchased and that were expected to be put into service in 2023 with the purpose of lengthening the trains on commuter lines. I have had a worrying email back from the National Transport Authority to say that it is re-evaluating this matter on the basis of changed Covid travel patterns. It is also reconsidering locations where frequency is needed and has indicated that decisions will be taken in the coming months on the basis of an evaluation of demand across the network. What are those measurements? We need to be part of that conversation. People in Dublin West are crying out for more trains, especially from the M3 Parkway, Clonsilla and Hansfield. We have been informed 95 DART+ carriages are expected in 2024 but these seem to be destined for northern commuter rail lines and existing DART services. We need a debate on this and we need to hear from the Minister.

Senator Miche?l Carrrigy:

I welcome our colleague, Councillor Sweeny, from Donegal. As a politician, he works extremely hard on behalf of his constituents.

I was running in because I have just come back from the Mansion House where there was a presentation from SMA Ireland. This is an issue I raised in the House some months back with regard to the heel prick test used in Ireland that does not identify a significant number of possible diseases. Particularly with spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, it is not done. Unfortunately for children who then show signs of SMA, it is too late. We have the medical know-how to help these kids. If they do not get that help within the first number of weeks after they are born, however, they cannot benefit from it. In a list of countries in Europe, we, who consider ourselves a first world country, are 20th with regard to the number of diseases covered by the heel prick test. I ask that that be reviewed and, in particular for SMA, where we have the medical to treat kids and give them a good quality of life, we should be putting it in place. I met families today and know others personally at home for whom it is too late because that has not been put in place. The cost is €5 per test, roughly €300,000 per year on the basis of the fact that 60,000 children are born each year. I ask that this matter be brought to attention of the Minister for Health.

I come from Longford. For a small county, we excel at many things. Unfortunately, however, we do not win many all-Irelands. The Longford Slashers ladies team will contest the All-Ireland intermediate club final on Saturday at Croke Park against Mullinahone from Tipperary. I look forward to them being successful. As a small club that has only been in existence for a few years, they have brought great honour to our county. I wish them well and look forward to them bringing back all-Ireland success to Longford.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish them and Longford all the best. Hopefully they will bring home the title.

Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It would be remiss of me not to give Councillor Sweeny the same good welcome everybody else has given him. I thank him for being here.

Senator Carrigy spoke about the SMA test and sought a review to include it in the process relating to the heel prick test. He has raised it on a number of occasions and, given the relatively small charge and the significant impact it can have in the intervention of the disease, it is worthwhile. I raised it with the Minister the last time the Senator brought it up here but will do it again to refresh his memory.

Senator Currie sought a debate on transport with regard to anomalies in parking charges at train stations. I will ask again. We were lucky enough to secure the Minister for a climate debate this week and his brief is very extensive, but we will try again after Christmas.

Senator McGreehan spoke about the merits of the shared island unit and the €500 million investment on behalf of the Taoiseach and State.

Senator Cummins told us of the grant scheme opened last week to support businesses with their ever-increasing energy costs and the €10,000 per month that is available to help with those costs.

Senator Keogan spoke on Vertex. I follow it now on social media to keep abreast of any changes. For a while I thought there was a political dance involving the HSE. The post I saw at the weekend made me sad and I contacted somebody involved with the 35 children. The HSE has agreed to give it and all we are dancing around now is about whether it will cost X or Y amount of money. I do not understand why we cannot have that argument and long debate, if that is what the HSE wants, after giving the kids the drugs which will have a massive impact on their lives. It is disingenuous. It is incumbent on us to keep raising it here week-in, week-out until we get it. I will contact the Minister again today. It is disingenuous that there is a political debate going on over money while children's lives are at stake. It is disgusting.

As I said the night we had the review around gender services in Ireland, Dr. Colm Henry and his senior officials have conducted a thorough report on Tavistock, including meeting with Dr. Hilary Cass. They went to the United Kingdom to meet her and discuss how the services had been run, the concerns she had raised and how Ireland had interacted with those services. I was of a mind that that report was to be published a couple of weeks ago but it has not yet. I will make a phone call today and find out when it is coming, and then we can have a proper conversation about it.

I note the Senator's welcome for the suggestion made by Cabinet sources this morning that we should have a Minister with responsibility for refugees. The latter would mean that there would be a single person to whom people could address their concerns. My only worry is that it would let all the other Departments that are required to ensure we have proper integrated services off lightly.Whether we are talking about education, healthcare or community supports, they do not all rest with one Minister. Given my experience, no one Minister has control to the magnitude of what they would need over other Departments. While it might look like a good idea, I am not sure it would have the authority that I think it would need, given the concerns that have been raised. It is a welcome suggestion to have a conversation about it. Senator Buttimer again spoke about consultation being an absolute must, not just with local authorities but with communities, when we are trying to resettle the large number of refugees coming into the country.

Senator Dolan welcomed the €21 million funding that was announced this morning, particularly for regional airports, and it is very welcome. Senator Buttimer welcomed the fact that €10 million of the funding went to Cork Airport, as he would, and sought a debate on aviation.

Senator Blaney made a very impassioned speech. It is very disturbing to hear the revelations he made this morning, especially the abuse of officials. While we do not all agree 100% with decisions governments or local authorities make, the only way we ever get change is to support each other and to make sure the authorities activate the money and schemes the Government has decided to give to help people in distress. I acknowledge what the Senator said here.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the shared island event the Taoiseach held yesterday. It was particularly nice of the Senator to mention the Taoiseach's passion and enthusiasm for the topic, and I do not think that could be underestimated. The Senator also objected to the Order of Business, which is fair enough. Senator Conway spoke about saluting the flag and especially about the people who have maintained our democracy over recent years. Senator O'Sullivan spoke of his real grá for the fact the shared island unit was started by the Taoiseach, that it has done tremendous work and spent a significant amount of money of more than €140 million in recent years. Only a short two years has elapsed since its inception. The Senator is right that this is the first time people North and South are doing something in a positive way, working together and collaborating. Long may that last, regardless of which Department the Taoiseach ends up in over the next couple of weeks. The Taoiseach's enthusiasm will still make sure the initiative is driven. The Senator mentioned, and I thought it was a really nice to describe it, that it is a practical way to make sure everybody's boat gets lifted and not just some communities, as may have happened in the past.

I am sorry Senator Flynn does not have a reply and I will definitely get her one. I have not heard about money messages for a long number of years. When my party was in a minority Government, there were money messages and they were used considerably to make sure Bills did not pass. The Bill she mentioned is a very positive one and a small amount of money is involved. A money message is not something we should use to thwart proceedings and we should get around it. I will get the answer for the Senator today and at least will get back to her.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke again about Sinn Féin's opposition to the Order of Business, which I totally understand.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is what it is.

Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is what it is. The Senator welcomed the announcements of joint ventures made yesterday. He mentioned the €2 million funding for the Irish language, which is nice. I probably do not pay enough attention but I was not aware of Sinn Féin's Explore More policy and it is a lovely name for a policy.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will send the Leader a copy.

Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Clonan captured everybody's attention because he spoke so poignantly about a community that both he and I come from. It is not just Finglas, Ballymun, Clondalkin or Cherry Orchard but any other community. We have a growing and deeply disturbing rise in the use of guns in this country. What is equally as worrying is the growing acceptance by people when they hear about shootings, as we did last night on the radio. We think it is only those gangland people killing themselves and we just carry on as if it is not important. What is significantly important about shootings is that, first, these people are human and have families. Second, these incidents are happening in communities that have many other families and children who are blighted by their actions and live in fear. The issue is definitely worthy of a debate and I will try to organise that.

Senator Dooley spoke about the need for more specialist services. We definitely need more scrutiny. It is a telling sign that young people and young males in particular are walking around with the trappings of wealth, such as wearing designer label gear, that in no way could be afforded by the average 16- to 26-year old. While we may be asking questions, we are not getting to the root of where these guns are coming from and what the organisations' connections are with criminality and drugs.

Senator Kyne opened today by talking about inland fisheries, as he has done here over recent weeks. There is potential that he will seek a review but we will get to that on another day.

Today is a very important day in the context of the decade of centenaries because the foundation of the State and the bedding down of the democracy we enjoy happened 100 years ago today. Saorstát Éireann officially came into being and, for the first time in 753 years, the island of Ireland became a single and sovereign nation. A lesser known fact is that the Six Counties of Northern Ireland were a part of the original Irish Free State on this day in 1922 but they opted out a day later through a vote in Stormont. The new Irish Government was a pro-Treaty faction of the then Sinn Féin Party, which went on to form Cumann na nGaedheal, which was a precursor to my own party of Fine Gael. William T. Cosgrave, a Dublin publican, Easter Rising veteran and Minister in the underground Dáil ministry, was elected to be the first President of the Irish Free State; in other words, our first Taoiseach. He was described in Michael Laffan's biography of him as "an extraordinary ordinary man". The Free State Constitution established a second Chamber, the Upper House or Seanad Éireann, of which we will celebrate the 100th anniversary next Monday. This monumental day had no pomp nor ceremony. The bitter and tragic Civil War was still raging and absent from the Dáil was Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins, who were two of our most formidable founding fathers.

Today is a day for us to reflect on the foundation of our State what our founding fathers sacrificed to create Saorstát Éireann, which was declared a Republic in 1949 by the then Taoiseach, John A. Costello. I agree with Senator Craughwell when he said we should remember the National Army soldiers who loyally served the Irish State in 1922, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. They defended the institutions of the State, our democracy and the will of the people. Their legacy is the State.

Finally, I wish to quote President W.T. Cosgrave on this day 100 years ago. He said, "On this notable day when our country has definitely emerged from the bondage under which she has lived through a week of centuries, I cannot deny that I feel intensely proud", and I think we all still are. I wish everyone a very happy 100th anniversary. This is our Independence Day, the fourth oldest democracy in Europe.