Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome my neighbours to the Gallery from the Ballyheane and Ballintubber area, including Fianna Fáil members and my dad Michael. It is great to have them all here. I thank them for coming up.

The Order of Business is No. 2, motion regarding Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 3, statements on Ireland's application for membership of CERN, to be taken at 4.45 p.m. and to conclude at 5.45 p.m. if not previously concluded, with the 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; and No. 4, Finance Bill 2023 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 5.45 p.m.

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

I join the Leader in welcoming the delegation, who are friends of the Leader from Ballyheane and Ballintubber in County Mayo, and from Tarbert in Kerry. I also extend a special welcome to her dad Michael and thank him for allowing us the pleasure of the Leader as a Member of the House. I thank her for the work she is doing. She was in my office earlier. It is great to have her here. We have a brother of former Senator Dan Kiely with us too. He is very welcome to the House this afternoon. I know that Senator Mark Daly has special friends in the House. With the indulgence of the House, I ask Senator Daly to welcome the friends of Congressman Richie Neal from Springfield, Massachusetts. I have great friends from Springfield in Massachusetts. Michael Carney and the Zorzis are great friends of mine in Springfield. They are very welcome to the House. I call the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

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

I think all colleagues would join with me in welcoming great friends of Richie Neal here tonight, including Dave, Christina, Pat and Stephen Keeney. The Keeneys are from Springfield but they have the distinction of having the first ever fundraiser for Richie Neal when he was running for city council.Everyone is your friend when you are at the very top but when you are starting out, it is very hard to find friends. The Keeneys were Richie Neal's supporters when he ran for city council, became the mayor of Springfield, and became a member of Congress. He is, as we all know, has been very supportive of Ireland all the way through the peace process 25 years ago and up until today. I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to welcome the group to Seanad Éireann for this occasion. I wish them all the best on their visit here to Ireland and thank them for being here.

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

I concur with the Leas-Chathaoirleach that Congressman Neal has been a very good friend of Ireland and not just in recent times. The hallmark of a politician is that in his local base in Springfield, when you talk to people from Springfield, they had the same regard for Congressman Neal then as they have now. I thank the group for coming here. Enjoy your visit to Ireland today.

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

I welcome the Leader. I welcome all the delegates from various parts of the country and the world to the Chamber.

I will start on a positive note. Last Friday, we had a great occasion in Athenry, County Galway, with the news announced by Dexcom of a major investment in County Galway and the west with the creation of 1,000 jobs over five years plus 500 construction jobs on an IDA Ireland site located at Newford, Athenry. Dexcom is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of continuous glucose monitoring systems for the management of diabetes. The new facility will be Dexcom's first production plant in Europe.

As we know, we effectively have full employment in this country but these things do not happen by accident. The work done by IDA Ireland, in particular over a long number of years and throughout the recession in terms of continuous investment in this country, has been tremendous. A new facility does not just arrive and it takes a network of engagement over a long number of years to deliver a project like the one at Newford, and in grave secrecy until a project is over the line. The €300 million investment is a boost for Athenry, County Galway and the west of Ireland. It would be worthwhile if the Leader could arrange a debate on IDA Ireland and continuous investment in this country. A debate would be an opportunity to herald this good news story and emphasise the tremendous job done by IDA Ireland.

The site in Athenry is on IDA land at the intersection of two motorways, one from Galway to Dublin and the other from Limerick to Tuam, as well as two railway lines. The facility is an added stimulus for the extension of the railway to Tuam and Claremorris. I believe that the case for an extension has already been proven but the fact that this major plant is due to locate in the west is a further indication of the positivity of reopening the railway.

On another matter, we both attended a very important meeting in Galway last night on the provision of cancer care services. Last week, I asked for a debate on the capital plan, the delivery of the national development plan and how we can fast-track and streamline it. Cancer services in the west of Ireland are below where they are in other parts of the country and that is not good enough. It is not good enough for the west of Ireland because the people of the region deserve the same services as every other part of the country. We are not getting the services, not because of the people involved but because the current facilities are not appropriate. Basically, the people who seek cancer treatment are in competition with other people in terms of beds in University Hospital Galway. I seek a debate on cancer services.

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

I add my voice of welcome to our distinguished guests, particularly to Michael Chambers and Denis Kiely, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at lunchtime. I can assure them that Senator Chambers is a beacon of hope and light and I have no doubt but that they are all incredibly proud of her.

I wish to raise a few issues today and will first refer to foster carers. I have been dealing with a number of foster parents in Kildare over the past while about the foster carer's allowance. It is quite shocking that the foster carer's allowance has not been increased since 2009, that is, for 14 years. The allowance pays for a child's daily living needs, including food, clothing, travel expenses, education, hobbies, sporting activities etc.Foster families provide a very safe haven for vulnerable children and they absolutely need to be supported. I have been in contact with Tusla and the Minister. The consumer price index showed an 11.7% increase between 2009 and four months ago. I would say it has been a lot more since. We should have a debate in the House on the inflation rate and foster parents.

I want to raise the issue of the immigrant investor programme, IIP. I am dealing with a wonderful organisation in my area, Sensational Kids, which does incredible work in supporting vulnerable children with additional needs. It has very ambitious plans to expand its operation and provide therapy for children in Kildare and other counties. It wants to have a centre with the potential to support 30,000 children in the coming ten years. Karen Leigh has built this up with blood, sweat and tears. The group has run into big problems with the IIP. Costs have increased since 2021, when Sensational Kids originally costed its plans. It was told there was no deadline for the IIP and it could make a submission when it was ready. It was in the process of looking for extra funding. Unfortunately, as we know, the IIP was closed overnight without any notice. There is a big danger the centre will not go ahead. The Government has to do something. I ask the Minister for Justice to show compassion on humanitarian grounds. Sensational Kids would now have only three quarters of what would be required. It is very important that we do something and it is important to send this message out today.

There are five schools in Newbridge that do not have the required staff for the school completion programme. They have not had the staff since the start of the school year. It is very important that something is done to provide the staff, or to provide funding so the schools can spend the moneys allocated on other ways of supporting the children who really need it.

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

It is no secret in the Chamber that in my eyes the protection of children and the provision of care for them is of paramount importance. From education to safeguarding to mental health and holistic well-being, the Government's role in ensuring the children of this country are given every opportunity to grow, succeed and flourish cannot be understated. Yet it seems that every week there is another story of children in Ireland somewhere and somehow being failed by the State. This time it was revealed in a HIQA report that two residents of a care home for disabled children in County Monaghan were confined to the top floor of a house when a lift was broken for a total of 59 days over two separate occasions. Wheelchair-bound children in State care were trapped in their own building. It sounds like a horror story of yesteryear that would get trotted out to remind us of how much we have progressed but, of course, this is here and now.

The report from HIQA states the provider did not respond appropriately to either incident and had not put in place alternative arrangements. It states the provider also failed to notify HIQA regarding the issues with the lift and the impact it had on both occasions. The report states that during this time the children could not attend school and one missed an appointment. They could not engage in limited activities on the landing of the first floor and they were forced to take their meals in the upstairs office area. On top of this, the centre was deemed to be not compliant in eight regulation areas, including fire precautions and resident rights. This comes down to oversight. The information came on foot of an unannounced inspection and we need more of these. Perhaps a debate with the Minister might be of use also.

On a different front, I find myself in agreement with the Tánaiste when it comes to how we broadcast the GAA. GAAGO is an online-only joint venture between RTÉ and the GAA. It charges €79 for access. RTÉ is a national broadcaster. The Government pays it to broadcast. When it comes to our national sports it charges people anyway. Not only this but it will not even broadcast them on TV, confining distribution instead to streaming.It is unacceptable, especially due to the barrier it creates for older GAA fans who may not have the means or knowledge to access this premium subscription service. Age Action stated:

Our concern would be that it is really important that everybody can take part in GAA. It is part of the fabric of society. For many people they have been loyal followers of the GAA all their lives.

That is spot on. Perhaps the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media could come to the House to discuss greater equality in access to GAA.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two issues. The first has been raised by a colleague of mine in County Clare, namely, Councillor Donna McEttigan. I have also been contacted by the Save Francis Street Alliance regarding a frankly unbelievable situation in which Clare County Council currently plans, having bought six cottages for €850,000, to demolish them and build a temporary car park that will last for approximately four years in the middle of the worst housing crisis in the history of the State. The issue was raised three weeks ago with the Tánaiste and, in fairness, he said that it sounded like a poor plan and that he would contact the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The most disturbing part of the story is that a cross-party motion calling on the council to reverse the decision was blocked from even being discussed. I regret to tell the House that it was blocked by five Fianna Fáil councillors. It is not even allowed on the clár to be discussed. Given the extent of the crisis at the moment, particularly for people needing single accommodation, these are structurally-sound houses that should be refurbished and granted out to people who desperately need that housing. Instead, Clare County Council has on hold a policy of demolishing the houses, thanks, unfortunately to Fianna Fáil councillors. Not all of the Fianna Fáil councillors blocked it; one actually signed a cross-party motion in support of reversing the decision but it has been blocked from even being discussed. I am particularly concerned about that aspect of it. There was a similar issue in Limerick last month, when the Fianna Fáil mayor blocked any discussion of the eviction issue at the council. Surely, we have not gotten to the stage where we cannot even discuss housing at local level. I call for an urgent debate on housing, what is happening at local level and the disconnect between what the Government tells us will happen and what is actually happening.

The second issue I wish to raise is a depressing statement issued by Educate Together at the weekend in which it highlighted the complete lack of progress under this and previous Governments in divesting education. More than 90% of our primary schools are still controlled by the Catholic Church. Educate Together informed us that, on average, it opens one new school a year. This is a result of a lack of political will on behalf of this and previous Governments. The Educate Together chairperson said: "This process, as currently configured, can be described as the wrong people asking the wrong people the wrong questions and was always unlikely to result in positive change." Where is the political will to build a proper, real republic? As I have said previously in this Chamber, I am an old-fashioned republican. I believe in complete separation of church and state, yet the Government seems to have done absolutely nothing in that regard. It is a policy of abject failure. In 2023, how can it be that more than 90% of our national schools are still in the control of the Catholic Church? It is simply not good enough. I also ask for a debate on this issue.

Mark Wall (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the guests in attendance today. I wish to thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Larry McCarthy, to address the Chamber just over a week ago. One of the final things the uachtarán mentioned was the fact that GAAGO was available for €79. Unfortunately, since then, I have been contacted by a number people and, as Senator Keogan said, many people are unhappy with that service. They are asking how they can get access to their sport on national television. The major issue people who contacted me and colleagues in the Labour Party have is the lack of, and unreliability, of broadband in their areas, particularly in rural areas. This is causing a huge problem, particularly, as has been said, for the many older people contacting us who are simply not in a position to avail of broadband services in their areas. It is a huge issue. Many of us are avid GAA fans, as was pointed out last week when the uachtarán was in the Chamber. We must listen to Dónal Óg Cusack, who appeared on "The Sunday Game." I thought he was quite eloquent and straightforward in his comments on the sport I love, which is hurling.The promotion of hurling is suffering in this country, because the major game, including the Munster championship, which the Cathaoirleach knows well, is just not on national television. The games that have been played over the past couple of weeks are not just important to people in Munster, but to people throughout this island. People are losing out, and hurling is also losing out. It is something which needs to be addressed. The quality of these last couple of games, and the way that teams have gone about their business, needs to have a wider audience than GAAGO. As somebody who spoke out when we learned about Sky Sports and the package that was being offered, it would be remiss of me not to mention what has been happening with GAAGO. Too many of those people who need to see our national games throughout the island, and not just in those competing counties, are missing out.

As I said regarding TG4 when the president of the GAA was here, that is a magnificent service, and it has been asked, "Where do we show these games?" TG4 does a magnificent job and it should be given more championship games. On that note, last Saturday, when I was unable to get to Dublin to watch our under-20 footballers in their All-Ireland semi-final, which they won again, TG4 filled that gap for me. I want to wish them well in the All-Ireland final in Cavan on Sunday. However, this is what needs to happen. We need to look at the people who are losing out. Hurling is the big loser here, and that is a serious issue for me.

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

Hear, hear.

Mark Wall (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is one other issue I want to raise. I understand that the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with special responsibility for sport and physical education, Deputy Thomas Byrne, is meeting today with representatives of the three largest national sporting organisations. That is very important, and something I have raised before. We need a national campaign regarding the abuse of officials and referees. I know on Thursday that we will get a chance to speak about that here in the Seanad, but that is a very important meeting today and I thank the Minister of State for organising that meeting. However, for the sake of hurling, we need to see it on national television as much as possible.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I echo Senator Wall's remarks, and equally those of Senator O'Loughlin concerning the foster allowance. I would like that we would also invite the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with responsibility for disability, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, to address the question of disparity in pay which exists between section 38 and 39 organisations. The Leader will be aware that for the provision of disability services in particular, we rely around the country on voluntary services, but because of the pay disparity that exists, it is becoming very difficult for a lot of those voluntary organisations to retain staff and that is having a knock-on impact on respite services in particular for the families who are involved. I know the Minister of State is aware of this, but I would appreciate the opportunity to have a debate on that question.

The Leader will also be aware that this morning, during the excellent discussion we had with the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, Ms Mairead McGuinness, I raised the question of the impact of artificial intelligence, AI, and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. The Act will be later this month, subject to a vote at European Parliament level. There will then be negotiations between the member states. It is really important that the EU sets the global agenda on policymaking around AI and emerging technologies. We have to co-operate with other democracies. Canada, for instance, is working on legislation in this space as well, and 12 MEPs have called on the European Commission President, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the United States, Mr. Joe Biden, to convene a global summit on AI. Given how crucial the data economy is to Ireland and the fact that we are a hub for the data economy, Ireland should looks to host this global summit, and should provide leadership with regard to AI policymaking globally. As a first step, the idea of a select committee on the impact of AI and emerging technologies, coming from this House, would be useful. The technological revolution is going to change all our lives in so many ways, and we have an obligation, for all of our citizens, to be prepared for it.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Leader's neighbours and friends, and particularly her dad, to the House today, and I hope they have a great day. They are neighbours and friends of my own as well, I might add.

Last week, the president of the GAA, Mr. Larry McCarthy, addressed the House and he said, "We need help". He is looking for help from the taxpayer, the Government and Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.He said there was a lot of pressure on the GAA to provide pitches and facilities for the growing number of people who are playing the game, given the demand on pitches from ladies' and men's clubs, and we had the One Club programme throughout the country. I support the call for the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to come to the House to have a debate on the broadcasting of GAA matches, particularly given what happened last week with GAAGO.

It is a time when we could divert some of the licence fee that is collected the length and breadth of the country to whoever will provide the services to broadcast the GAA into communities. We are giving back to communities, whether it is done by TG4, RTÉ or even the BBC, which televises some of our matches as well. We could have a very good debate in this regard. The people are paying through their licence fee and we are not getting any great value for it, in my view. Here is a way that we can give back to communities. Obviously, the GAA is looking for extra funds. We could have a very good debate in the House in this regard.

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

Cuirim fáilte roimh ár gcuairteoirí. It is great to see them all here.

I want to bring to the attention of the House a very serious issue that was raised recently by way of protected disclosure at Dublin Airport by a very senior and experienced member of staff there, with decades of experience in dealing with security and matters of passenger safety. This is to do with the screening of baggage and personnel going through terminals 1 and 2. This protected disclosure, which was made known to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and which is currently being investigated by the Irish Aviation Authority, shows systemic failures in the training of all recently recruited staff. Members will remember the chaos last year in the wake of Covid, when air traffic and travel resumed its pace. The Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, has recruited hundreds of people but there are systemic failures in its capacity to screen baggage and personnel for explosive devices and firearms. In a recent stress test, seven replica firearms and replica IEDs got through to aircraft. That makes Ireland and Dublin Airport de factothe airport of choice for terrorists who would choose to target any of our aircraft departing for a European city or the United States. We all put our children on those aircraft and we travel on them ourselves. At 37,000 ft., you are very vulnerable. I do not want to be in flight wondering about what is in the hold of the aircraft. This is not rocket science.

I am also very alarmed to note that the person who made this protected disclosure faces involuntary termination of his employment on Friday. I appeal to the CEO and the board of the DAA not to proceed with this termination of his employment. It will bring about the perception of corporate reprisal or retaliation on a person of conscience or on a whistleblower. This person acted in the public interest and should not be subjected to this type of retaliation. We have moved on from the time of Maurice McCabe, and, indeed, my own treatment, to a republic where people can speak up.

In regard to all of these serious issues, which speak to systemic failures, I ask that the transport committee would summon the board, the chief executive and staff of the DAA to come in here to answer questions. They are refusing to do so because they say they are too busy, but I think this is precisely the time, in advance of the summer travel period, that they must come in and address the public, given the strong and compelling public interest component of this.

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

There are very few things that get me riled up but one certainly is the notion that the GAA, as an entity, seems to think it owns the content that is produced by volunteers from the very start. The players are volunteers, the people training them are volunteers, the children who are supported by their families are volunteers, and they pay through the nose every step of the way. It is great and we have a wonderful organisation. However, there has been a commercialisation going on in Croke Park for some time now and it has reached a crescendo. It started with Sky. I sat on the committee when we were told that, somehow, this was going to increase the reach of the games and it would be to a wider world audience. Nothing could be further from the truth. It did not make sense and it did not continue, but it has led the way for this development of pay-per-view, owned and controlled by the executive in Croke Park. They are handsomely paid and they do a good job, but they are now at the edge of undermining what the GAA is all about.It is voluntary and is about volunteerism. As I have said, time out of number, clubs and people attached to the organisation do wonderful work. I am delighted the Tánaiste has rowed in. It might have happened just because there was a good game between Cork and Tipperary. I have been at this a long time, as have others. We should have a debate in this House about that in the first instance. There is a wider debate about public service broadcasting and how we pay for it. It is not paid for by the Government; it is paid through the licence fee. That is not enough to keep RTÉ and other public service operations in place. Let us not confuse the two. There need to be two debates. First, let us have a debate on what the GAA is about and what it stands for. It might choke the golden goose if this carry-on is allowed to continue.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with many of the comments Senator Dooley made. The Cathaoirleach will agree with me in wishing more people had seen the game, as they would have seen that Tipperary should have won it and not thrown it away in the last five minutes.

I ask for a debate with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs on companies selling into Russia, particularly Jameson's owner, Pernod Ricard, which started selling into Russia last September and has sold almost €16 million worth of Jameson product. I have seen in the past 24 hours pictures of Jameson whiskey on sale in Russia. It was bottled in Ireland on 16 December 2022, only four months ago, in Clondalkin with the description stating it was sold to an importer in Russia in Moscow. It shows how easily and quickly Pernod Ricard is selling the product in Russia, with all disregard for the war in Ukraine. They talk about supporting the people of Ukraine against an illegal war but not at the expense of losing income.

I called last week for this to be stopped. The Ukrainian ambassador has called for it to be stopped. Any reasonable person in this country knows the damage this does to our international reputation but it seems the company, based in France, has no intention of changing its decision. I call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to step up and name Pernod Ricard as a company the EU needs to sanction and put on the sanctions list at the next Council meeting. If it is not willing to do it, we as a Government should do it. There are 1,200 companies in Europe selling into Russia that the Ukrainian MPs and Government are asking us to sanction. Jameson is one of the most well-known brands across the world. If we do not pick Pernod Ricard as a company to sanction, which one do we pick?

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to the young people in Cabra who have been awarded one of the first ever rainbow awards. It was presented to them this morning. It was my privilege as chair of Cabra for Youth to attend with them. It was presented for completion of an achievement of a rainbow award, which signifies the organisation's commitment to diversity, inclusion, respect and solidarity. Cabra for Youth was one of six youth organisations from across Dublin and the country to receive these first rainbow awards. The awards reflect the organisations’ completion of a programme that is educational and which informs all members of the organisation, including staff, board, volunteers and the young people themselves, on the values of diversity, inclusivity and respect.

Cabra for Youth was founded 14 years ago. It is a great achievement. I pay tribute to Mary Carroll, who is the project leader, and to all of the staff, volunteers and board members, our former chairman Joey Furlong, Niall Counihan, Paul O’Farrell and others who have given of their time. Cabra for Youth has come a long way in those 14 years. It is a real sign of achievement that it is one of the first youth organisations in the country to achieve a rainbow award. I congratulate all of them on that achievement.

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

I join with the Senator in congratulating the young people in Cabra on winning this prestigious award

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

I would like to remember and pay tribute to Seán Keane of The Chieftains who passed away unexpectedly over the weekend. Seán was a dedicated and very talented musician. He was ground-breaking in what he did. His wife, who predeceased him by a couple of years, was from Ennistymon where I am from and Seán visited the town many times. As recently as six months ago, he took part in a concert there. His talent and his commitment to culture and tradition in this country will be remembered for generations to come.

I agree with Senator Dooley on the issue of GAAGO. Like the Cathaoirleach, I have attended GAA matches for many years. For the last five or six weeks, I have been at a match every weekend. We have attended brilliant, classic matches. I pay tribute to all the volunteers and players who make the GAA what it is. I am lucky in that I am in a position to be able to go to matches. However, there are many elderly people in west and north Clare who went to matches for many years but, unfortunately, are not in a position to go now. They are also not IT savvy and sadly the broadband in many parts of Clare is not what it should be. Therefore, even though these people are quite happy to pay for this GAAGO thing, they are not in a position to do so because they do not understand the technology and even if they did, the broadband is not up to standard. I do not understand why there cannot be a channel on television - channel 6 or whatever - where, if the GAA feels it is necessary to charge, old people could go on the remote control and put in their card details. GAAGO is cumbersome and unfair and it creates inaccessibility. That is not what the GAA is all about. At its core, the GAA is all about equality, access, enjoyment and volunteerism. Those responsible have got it wrong with this GAAGO. I can understand what they were trying to achieve but when thousands of people are deprived of access to classic games like we have had in the last few weeks, it is simply wrong.

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

I would like to highlight a positive meeting that was held yesterday with Irish Rail. During the meeting, we were brought through a lot of the national plans and investment that will take place over the next couple of years, particularly the DART extension north to Drogheda. Mid-Louth councillor John Sheridan and I highlighted and put a strong pitch in for the reopening of Dunleer train station. Considering the growth in population in County Louth and all along the east coast, the investment that is needed into mid-Louth and the forecast for population growth in the area, reopening an existing train station makes great sense. I propose that we have the Minister for Transport into the House to discuss the all-island rail review and hopefully bring forward the plans to have it published. On the back of such a positive meeting yesterday, I have heard so much of what Irish Rail wants to do, but it needs the State's financial backing. I hope the Minister can come to the House to talk about the Department's policy and the State's financial backing of Irish Rail to allow it to fulfil its large ambition for rail in this country.

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

I welcome to the Public Gallery Councillor Alan Cheevers with Merlin College, Galway, students along with their teachers Mr. Aaron Staunton and Ms Sinéad Ní Neachtain. Tá fíorfháilte roimh chách. Míle buíochas libh as ucht an turas go Teach Laighean a dhéanamh. I hope you are made very welcome and have a very powerful visit to Leinster House, the seat of our parliamentary democracy. I hope you have a very educational and pleasant day. I thank all your teachers for their tremendous work as the school year comes to an end. You are looking forward to the end but there is a lot of work to do between now and then. Thank you very much for being here today.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I, too, would like to have a say on GAAGO, which has been discussed by many Senators this afternoon.The reality is that the digital age is with us and no one will stop that train. In respect of GAAGO, perhaps we are moving too fast in that it appears that we are leaving many people behind us. The reality is that for many people in this country, broadband is a big issue. Having the wherewithal to be able to handle digital platforms is a challenge that they have yet to come to terms with. Because of that, we are leaving people behind, and that is not what the GAA is about.

I would like to take this opportunity again to commend the GAA on the excellent work it does in our communities. It is constantly improving and adding to the facilities in every club and parish throughout the country. For example, many GAA clubs have put walking tracks in around their ground. Why? So that all of the people in the community, regardless of age, will be able to use those facilities. They are leaving no one behind. Unfortunately, with this decision on GAAGO, people are being left behind, and that is not what the GAA is about. I would ask that the pause button be pressed on this. This is about all people having access to the games.

I was in the house of a lady aged in her 80s last Sunday afternoon. We had a discussion about GAAGO. She has no broadband. Never mind having the ability to use a digital platform, she has no connection.

We need to rethink this. I would welcome if the Leader would invite the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to the House so that we can have a discussion on where and exactly all of this is going for all of our citizens so that everyone will have an opportunity to enjoy our Gaelic games.

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

Before I call the leader, as the Cathaoirleach who invited the president of the GAA to the House last week and as a member of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, I think the comments of all Members of the House are valid. I commend Members on their balanced approach to the issue that has dominated all of the commentary of most people in the country since last Saturday night. I had the privilege of being in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Saturday night. It was a tremendous match. The week before, we had an equally good hurling match. The sad part is that both games were not available to the majority of the people. They did not get to see the games. As a member of the GAA, Gaelic games are best served when they are promoted to an audience that is vast and wide. That did not happen on this occasion. The comments of Members on the issue of the coverage of Gaelic games is one that I hope RTÉ and the GAA reflect upon.

I now call the Leader to reply to the Order of Business.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I extend a warm welcome as well to Merlin College, its students and their teachers, namely, Aaron Staunton and Sinéad Ní Neachtain, whom I had the pleasure of meeting earlier. They are here at the invitation of Senator Ollie Crowe and with Councillor Cheevers as well. All the students are welcome to the Chamber. I hope they got to see a little bit of how the Seanad works. They probably viewed the Dáil as well. They are most welcome to Leinster House.

I thank all Members for their contributions to the Order of Business. The Leas-Cathaoirleach welcomed the Keeneys, who played a pivotal role at the beginning of Congressman Richard Neal’s career. As he said, your friends are few and far between starting out. Credit to them for spotting a good one and ensuring that he got there. He has been a fantastic friend to Ireland. We had the pleasure of hosting him as well not so long ago.

Senator Kyne spoke about Dexcom, a new company that announced 1,000 jobs in Athenry and 1,000 construction jobs in the building of that facility, which is fantastic news for County Galway and the region. He also spoke about the added pressure that will put on bringing the Western Rail Corridor back into use, particularly between Athenry and Claremorris. There will certainly be extra demand for services.

He also mentioned a meeting that was attended by many Oireachtas Members yesterday evening in Galway, myself included, about the need for a new cancer care centre in University Hospital Galway. There is, of course, a cancer centre currently on the site. It is very outdated. It is a ramshackle mix of prefabs that were intended to be temporary 60 years ago and are still standing – just about. The service is there and while the service and the staff are excellent, the facilities they are working out of are something from the 1950s and 1960s. They are very poor. I was struck yesterday evening when listening to one of the oncologists speak about a meeting that he and his team have every Monday morning where they sit down and go through the list of patients who need to have chemotherapy. They see how many they can fit in during the week. There are some patients who are not getting their chemotherapy when they need it. That says it all in respect of the facilities there. To attract the best doctors and keep them there, we need good facilities and, importantly, we need them for the patients.It is important to say from a Government perspective that building the cancer care centre in Galway is in the national development plan. It is the only cancer centre in the plan. We are very hopeful of getting a design team on-site in the next couple of months. We are hopeful of getting funding for that in the next week or two. It is moving. It is inching forward but it is going in the right direction. The reason I am taking an interest is that the centre in Galway serves everywhere from Galway up to Donegal. Therefore, it serves our region. Everyone in County Mayo and everywhere else between Galway and Donegal will go to Galway for their treatment.

Senator O'Loughlin spoke about the need to increase the allowance for foster carers in line with inflation. If I am correct, I think the request from the foster carers is that the allowance would go up by 20%, which is very reasonable. It would need to go up by a significant amount to meet the cost of living and the inflation that is happening in the country. She spoke as well about the need to support an organisation called Sensational Kids in setting up its services. On the school completion programme, she asked that every effort would be made to supply teachers and also to allow schools to use the funding to support kids in another way if teachers cannot be supplied.

Senator Keogan kicked off the debate around the protection of children in the context of a particular issue in Monaghan. I do not have the full details of that particular issue but I take what was said on board. It is very distressing for those two children that they could not get to school or could not get down the stairs and that there was no lift. That is just unacceptable. I am not sure how any facility thought that situation could persist for that length of time. There are serious questions to be asked there. I am glad it was discovered, seemingly by chance. Hopefully that situation has been resolved now.

The debate then turned to GAAGO and the paid-for premium subscription that the GAA and RTÉ are putting forward to citizens and to fans and supporters of the GAA. Many Senators, including Senators Wall, Burke, Dooley, Conway and Gallagher, contributed to that debate. It is fair to say it is probably the key issue being raised in the Chamber today. It speaks to the value we place on the GAA and its importance in all of our communities. That is why people are angry. If people were not angry about this issue, it would mean they do not really care about it. It shows we care. The GAA should reflect on the particular decision it has made. There are two aspects to it, the first of which is access. Many people in this country do not have access to quality broadband, which means they could not use the subscription even if they wanted to. A separate issue is that there should not be a subscription. It should be free to watch. It is our national game. The broadcaster is paid handsomely by the State and by the taxpayer to run the services. The GAA has its hand out every day of the week asking for donations from volunteers and communities around the country. We have all supported the GAA in our local communities. People already pay into the organisation and are very generous to the GAA in their communities. As Senator Dooley said, the GAA is run on volunteers. It is on that basis that it should be free. Most people in the GAA do not get paid. We should not be charging people to watch their national game. It is disgraceful and outrageous and the GAA needs to reflect on it. I have requested that the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, come to the Chamber to have a debate on this. I am sure the Minister would share our concerns on this issue but it would be good to have that debate nonetheless. A subscription fee of €79 is a huge amount of money. I do not know from where that particular fee was dreamt up but the anger and the views of members should go back to the GAA very clearly.

Senator Gavan spoke about four cottages in Clare. I do not have the details of that particular issue. It is a very localised issue but I take the points he raised.

The schools divestment programme, as raised by Educate Together, has been quite slow. I was very involved in the setting up of the Educate Together school in Castlebar many years ago as a councillor. It has been brilliant; the school is thriving. It is great to have that educational choice for parents. However, it is about trying to find a space. Ultimately, parents tend to drive the campaign locally. There has been very slow progress. Many parents are quite happy with the schools their children are in and do not want to move location. I know as a parent and from talking to other parents that educational choice is important in terms of the ethos of the school, but parents often just want a school that is close to home and has good teachers and good facilities. That is the priority a lot of the time. Sometimes we see the progress being slow because there is not a huge demand for it and it is not being driven that way. We have a lot of Catholic-run schools. That is just the way the system is. It is not going to change overnight. Many Catholic schools are wanted in areas as well so it is about trying to strike the right balance. Educate Together does fantastic work. It has great schools and in areas where they open, there is huge demand for them. We will see that continue to happen but across the board it is acknowledged to have been quite slow. Ultimately, much of the focus is on having a good school that is close to the house and easy to get to, and with good facilities. That seems to be the priority for parents as opposed to ethos as such. I take on board the points the Senator made around the pace at which the change is happening. As I have said, Senator Wall spoke about GAAGO. He asked for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to come in on the specific issue of the abuse of officials, which has been raised and on which we had a debate very recently.

Senator Malcolm Byrne asked for a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on pay disparities between section 38 and section 39 organisations and disability services and the difficulty in retaining staff because of those disparities. He also spoke about the artificial intelligence Act at EU level, the global agenda in respect of these emerging technologies, the need for greater debate in this country and the suggestion of some parliamentarians at EU level that a global summit should be held. The Senator made a pitch here today for Ireland to host that global summit, which is an interesting suggestion and comment. I will certainly support his efforts in that regard.

Senator Clonan spoke about the issue at Dublin Airport. I am not familiar with the details of the individual in question whose employment is to be terminated. In more general terms, the security of the airport is extremely important and it is important that we have confidence in how the airport is being run. The reluctance of management of the airport to come before the committee is regrettable. I hope that will shift. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications is there to represent the views of the public. We are here to do our job and it is important that the committee is facilitated in doing its work and in asking the questions the public are asking. We need to do a little bit of work on that. To be fair to Dublin Airport, I acknowledge that, like many airports across Europe and beyond, it lost a lot of staff during the pandemic and is now trying to scale up again, which has presented challenges. When there were queues and people were missing flights, there was a big push on to get staff hired. Perhaps there are now challenges because of that. However, I believe there was never an intention to have a disruption of security levels. To be fair to the airport, it was dealing with an unprecedented situation and the challenges in scaling up staffing levels after having to let so many go and having very little air travel for a considerable period are not unique to Ireland. I wanted to put that on record.

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

Will the Leader write to the Chair of the committee?

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is open to any Member of the Oireachtas to write directly to the Chair of any committee to request that an item be put on the agenda. The Senator can attend any such committee as a non-sitting Member. He is entitled to participate in any meeting and to ask questions. That might be an avenue for the Senator to explore.

Senator Ahearn spoke about companies continuing to sell to Russia and has asked for the Tánaiste to address the matter. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about young people in Cabra. I commend them for their work in achieving the rainbow award for diversity and inclusion in their area. It is great to see young people getting on board with that issue and trying to improve their communities for everyone within them. Senator Conway paid tribute to the late Seán Keane and also spoke about GAAGO.

Senator McGreehan spoke about Irish Rail and the meeting held yesterday, her work with Councillor John Sheridan and the call to reopen the train station at Dunleer in mid-Louth in the context of reducing carbon emissions, getting people out of their cars and population growth. People will be very aware that I am very supportive of having more rail services right across the country and getting them back into areas where they once were. I will certainly support the Senator in that regard.

Senator Robbie Gallagher spoke about GAAGO, the digital age and digital transformation and assisting people in getting there. However, as I have said previously, access is one thing but whether it is right or wrong to charge people to watch the national game is another. I simply believe it is wrong.

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

I reiterate to Senator Clonan that he is entitled to write to the committee, to attend any meeting and to request that the issue he has raised be put on the work programme. He can talk to his group about replacing Senator Craughwell to give him more status than as just an ordinary Member. He is entitled to do that.