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

The Order of Business is No. 1, Digital Services (Levy) Bill 2024 - Second Stage, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and to conclude after 90 minutes, if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 - Second Stage, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude after 75 minutes, if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed seven minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than seven minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024 - all Stages, to be taken at 6.15 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister at the debate on Second Stage not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate, and Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter.

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

First, I wish to pay homage to Bláthnaid Raleigh, who is such a brave and courageous woman. I was watching her on media over the weekend. Having been subjected to an absolutely horrific attack, she is now giving many victims a voice. She is using her voice for change and gave up her anonymity to ensure that the perpetrator of the violent crime against her could be named. She certainly deserves all our gratitude. What she is doing will encourage other victims to come forward. In saying that, we obviously had the events involving Natasha O'Brien last week. Natasha is another voice for change. I understand that Limerick will be giving her a civic recognition, and rightly so. These are two really strong women.

I want to make a point regarding the perpetrator of the crime against Natasha O'Brien. The crime itself was shocking. There were so many elements to it.

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

I remind Senators that there is an appeal in this case, so we have to be very careful in the context of anything we say.

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

The point I would like to make regards the Defence Forces. We now know that there have been 69 perpetrators of crime. That is 0.8% of serving members. The other 99.2% have, as far as we know, unblemished reputations. We had the Dublin Pride parade last weekend, I was proud to be at it, but I thought it was very wrong that the Dublin Pride organisers withdrew their invitation to the Defence Forces on foot of what has happened. I know many members of the Defence Forces who are fine and upstanding people. It is wrong that they are all being tarnished because of what happened in this case. I have previously raised the issue of illegal encampments. We have an ongoing situation in the Curragh, particularly at this time of year. About 40 visitors arrived with their homes on Sunday evening. The adjacent guest house has had to close as a result. There are issues of animal welfare. I spoke to somebody this morning who rescued a dog and brought it to a vet. This goes on and on. We need a debate in this House on illegal encampments in general. In my county, it mainly happens on the Curragh but I am conscious it happens in other areas of the county and around the country. It is beyond time for a real conversation in the House about illegal encampments and how we deal with them.

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

I join the Senator in commending the bravery of those who came forward on that most horrific issue that has plagued us. It is not just today; we have unfortunately been debating it for many years and decades. Change is coming but very slowly. More change must come for the sake of our society.

I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, from Mississippi, Jay Hopson, Michelle, Virginia and Hannah. Jay has a less famous brother who is a Senator from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Jay was the coach at Marshall University in West Virginia, along with many other distinguished universities. I thank them for coming to Seanad Éireann.

Anois, glaoim ar an Seanadóir Ahearn.

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

Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I did not get the opportunity last week to congratulate the Deputy Leader on his elevation. I wish him well in his new role. I am not sure how long it will last or how long we will be here but I know he will conduct himself in a very fair way for everyone in the House.

Many people in Clonmel woke up this morning to news of rising costs in childcare services from one provider in the town. Clonmel Childcare has made the difficult decision to leave core funding and increase fees because it cannot manage with the rising costs of energy, staff and so on. No childcare provider in core funding for the past six years has been able to raise its fees. I am not asking to allow them to raise their fees because Government policy in recent years has been to reduce fees for childcare providers. We have done it in previous budgets. In budget 2023, we reduced fees by 25%; in budget 2024, we reduced them by another 25%. Most parents of children who go to childcare providers will see in September a reduction in weekly costs of about €40 because the national childcare scheme, which is paid by the hour, will increase from €1.40 to €2.14.

The problem is Clonmel Childcare, now moving out of core funding, is increasing its fees by more than that €40 so instead of parents getting a reduction of €40 per week in fees - and that is just for one child - those whose child goes to Clonmel Childcare will see an increase in fees. As a result of this decision, the change for a parent will be over €50 per week per child. That is over €2,000 per year. Many families have two or three children going to childcare providers. This is an enormous increase in costs for those parents.

Numerous people came into my office this morning in Tipperary fearful of how they will pay this. They cannot get alternative childcare providers because we are low on them. Something needs to be done. There is something wrong within the system. I call for the Minister to come in and outline what can be done to support childcare providers to manage their increased costs without putting a penalty on parents. Parents across the country have been expecting costs to reduce in September; instead, more than 100 parents in Clonmel woke up this morning to find out they will increase.

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

Today we remember the crew of Rescue 111 who gave their lives off the coast of Waterford, near Tramore, after a successful search and rescue mission. Those brave men were Captain Dave O'Flaherty, recipient of the distinguished service medal, DSM; Captain Mike Baker, recipient of the DSM; Sergeant Paddy Mooney, recipient of the DSM; and Corporal Niall Byrne, recipient of the DSM.

I will turn to a report by Niall O'Connor on thejournal.ie. He reported that the 26 investigations of alleged abuse in the Defence Forces announced by the Garda Commissioner have failed to progress and are no longer live. The Garda is now investigating some other historical cases. We are told there are fewer than ten such cases. The 26 cases investigated arose from the deeply flawed independent review group report. The review report was based on hearsay and not on tested evidence. The damage it has done to the defence community, indeed, the defence family, is incalculable and will take years to undo. So many in the Oireachtas were quick to the gallows with their ropes to join the lynching mob. So few called for a pause and for the serious allegations to be tested at a tribunal. No member of the Defence Forces wants to serve with rapists, sexual abusers, bullies or thugs. We in the defence family are proud and loyal citizens of the State. How difficult it has been for those who are gagged under pain of military law to stay silent, unable to speak out. Today I speak for all the voiceless.

The Tánaiste is to bring the Defence (Amendment) Bill to this House tomorrow. I ask him to remove the deeply offensive sections that attempt to gag the Defence Forces' representative bodies. When questioned, the Secretary General of the Department said the gagging was at the request of the Chief of Staff. If that is untrue, the Chief of Staff must say so in public.

With respect to the deeply disturbing recent events in Limerick, no one could defend the perpetrator. That said, how quick the political leaders, starting with the Taoiseach, were to jump on the populist bandwagon and condemn all who served, questioning how many Defence Forces members are currently hiding in the force with convictions of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. How quick the social media classes were to turn on the officer who was bound under military law to appear in court and report on the private's military record. That was not a character reference of any sort. How quick the news media were to publish the fact that 68 members had been convicted or were awaiting charge for specified criminal offences. Why were they portrayed as all sexual offences? That is how they have been seen.

Did one politician step up to the plate and take responsibility for the failure of the Oireachtas to provide a full Minister to oversee defence? It is deeply disturbing to note that the most senior officer in the Defence Forces, the Chief of Staff, and the former Chief of Staff, who does not wear the uniform and is no longer bound by military law, seem unwilling or unable to speak out for their charge. Surely he knows that the thousands of members, women and men, are exemplary citizens, as my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, said. I am heartbroken that not one commentator could bring himself or herself to defend the good name of the services - the Navy, the Army and the Air Corps. Today I ask who defends the defenders, the great women and men who today stand ready to serve and who today are in peril in south Lebanon. I am proud to have served with great people and I will defend them to the grave if nobody else will.

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

This is the first time I have addressed the new Deputy Leader since he got the job because I was away last week. I offer my congratulations. It is good to see him.

I pay tribute to Deputies Catherine Murphy and Shortall, who, I heard only an hour ago, are going to step away from politics. I hope we can all agree they have both made huge contributions to political life. While we have our political differences, they have both played significant roles. I think of their work on the repeal campaign and the leadership they showed at that time. They have been a force for positivity in politics in general and I will take a moment to wish them well in whatever they plan to do in the future.

It will come as no surprise to the Deputy Leader that the first matter I will raise with him on the Order of Business is University Hospital Limerick, which is a topic I bring up regularly. The most recent horror story is that people over the age of 75 have been moved in the middle of the night, between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m, out of the hospital or into a model 2 hospital.The reports from staff are horrific. They see pensioners crying and in deep distress, with no understanding of why they are being moved at this particular time. Nineteen such residents have been moved in the past 90 days. The hospital is denying that any such policy is in place but, interestingly, the National Ambulance Service is reviewing its policy on late discharges, which tells you that a policy is in place. It is reviewing it because of a number of complaints from staff. The most worrying thing is that staff themselves have been warned to stop complaining about the issue. They have been threatened with disciplinary action.

I want to be clear that the heart of this issue is the lack of capacity in UHL. There is no other reason why some poor unfortunate man or woman in his or her late 70s is being moved in the middle of the night. It all comes back to lack of capacity at the hospital. The figures get worse every year. When Fine Gael started in government, there were 3,500 patients on trolleys. We are heading for 25,000 patients this year. We were at the halfway mark yesterday, with 12,313 patients on trolleys. We are consistently told about the investment going in but, frankly, it has not gone in in a timely fashion. We are 200 beds short as I stand here and speak today. More worryingly again, there is no recruitment policy in place yet to staff the next set of beds that is due to come on-stream for quarter 1 of next year. I am happy to put on record here that there is no change of those beds actually opening in the first quarter of next year. I know that because I know how long it takes to hire nurses. I know that because the nursing unions have said to me directly that it is not happening.

We have delay after delay and it all belongs to the Deputy Leader's Government. There is a consistent failure to recognise the catastrophic issues with UHL, that we need a second emergency department somewhere in the mid-west and to take action in that regard. After 15 years, the people in the mid-west are still waiting. What is happening to those old age pensioners at the minute is unforgivable. I am calling for an urgent debate and an investigation into why that policy is in place at University Hospital Limerick.

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

I want to raise a couple of issues. I recognise the appointment of Senator Seán Kyne as Deputy Leader. I wish him well and look forward to working with him in the Seanad. Last Saturday, an individual collapsed at the Cliffs of Moher. My understanding is that the individual passed away. It took over an hour for an ambulance to arrive at the scene. We often talk in this House about metrics for how services are delivered and the standard time for an ambulance to arrive, usually in populated, built-up areas, of eight, ten or 12 minutes. It has to be wholly unacceptable for it to take an hour for an ambulance to reach an individual who has collapsed. I am not suggesting that the patient's life could have been saved but, certainly, an effort could have been made if there was a speedier response. I would like a debate in this House on the National Ambulance Service and the level of service available in areas outside the populated areas. Much has been invested in recent years to upgrade various facilities and put in place more highly trained personnel, which is to be welcomed, but for a situation to develop where it could take up to an hour for an ambulance to arrive at the scene is wholly unacceptable. I would like a debate at the earliest possible opportunity.

On a secondary matter, I called last week or the week before for a debate on dealing with the consolidation of Ukrainian refugees into new facilities. We know some have gone back and that there are gaps in the system. There is a situation yet again in County Clare where, in Loop Head, 25 or 26 Ukrainians were in a facility in Kilbaha. It is a wonderful area of the county which is very scenic and peaceful. They were totally integrated into the local community. Some issues have arisen and they are now being transferred to four different locations, so people who have spent 18 months together are being broken up. An elderly mother is being separated by 70 miles from her 35-year-old son who has a visual impairment. It seems wrong. I understand the pressure that the staff in these agencies are under. We saw it with the intake as well and the fighting against it. Before we start moving people back into other facilities, there should be a much more thorough level of engagement. Let us have engagement with public representatives too. We are not here to beat up people or beat on the hard work that staff are doing, but we absolutely need engagement and communication.I ask again for a debate on the ongoing management of the Ukrainian refugee population in this State.

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

First, I join with others in wishing Deputies Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall well. They are two amazing politicians. Regardless of what the Cathaoirleach or I may think of all of their policies, I salute their tenacity, hard work and absolute commitment to parliamentary democracy.

We talk about democracy but we sometimes forget about the lack of parliamentary democracy in here, which is partly to do with the dynamic of the number of Government Members versus those in opposition. I acknowledge that because it is very important. I join with Senator Gavan and others who talked about that matter. Will the Leader formally write to the Taoiseach, particularly as this is a matter for the Leader's office? I wrote to him earlier in respect of a number of matters, some of which I will touch on in a moment. Ultimately, it is a matter for the House and the Leader to invite the Taoiseach to come here. I think he would be keen to come this side of the summer recess.

We have a great deal of engagement. There are a number of issues: one that comes to mind is the Tomás Heneghan Supreme Court challenge to which the Government responded with a proposal on legislation for universities, which is being discussed at the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, part of the remit of which relates to the franchise and elections. That is an important issue, and we need to hear where the Government is going take us in that regard. It has a response and a strategy, but we need to know something about it.

It is for another forum, but I also intend to raise with the Taoiseach – I did so today in correspondence – how we elect the Cathaoirleach of the House. I checked the processes with the Ceann Comhairle's office last week, and I am fully aware of them. We have a great democracy in the Lower Chamber for how we elect our Chair, but somehow we have concerns or resistance. We could have no better man than the Taoiseach in here in order that we might put a number of questions to him. I believe he is personally supportive of it. Somewhere along the line, there is mixed messaging. One of the problems with a political Whip system is that people seem to lose voice, or lose the courage to give voice to their beliefs.

I extend a warm invitation to the Taoiseach of this country to come to Seanad Éireann to discuss whatever he may wish to discuss. It would be an important engagement, and one he would welcome before the summer.

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

I wish to raise a very important issue that affects the community in Miltown Malbay. For the past two weekends, there has been no water. We all know that the international Willie Clancy festival is starting there this weekend, and it goes on for a week. It is one of the major international music festivals in the country. Tens of thousands of people will visit Miltown Malbay for the week, and the community have no confidence that the same problems will not arise again. Irish Water must urgently address this issue to give confidence to the people of Miltown Malbay and the people visiting that there will be an adequate supply of water and that during the Willie Clancy festival we will not see what happened for the past two weekends. The issue must be addressed once and for all, as it is totally unfair that the people of Miltown Malbay should be without water on an ongoing basis, as has happened in recent weekends. Perhaps the Leader might make contact with Irish Water to seek an urgent remedy to address this matter because it is completely unacceptable.

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

This is the first opportunity I have had to wish the Deputy Leader all the best in her new role. I have no doubt that she will be extremely successful in it. The exact number of people suffering with long Covid in this country is unknown, but HSE figures estimate that it is somewhere in the region of 1.8% to 8.3% of the population. Symptoms can be quite severe for some. We can all recall when Covid broke the dedication of our nurses, who went into hospitals to care for our sick, not knowing, first, the risk they put themselves in and, second, the risk to their families as well, but they did that without question.We rightly saluted them all at the time and still do today. That is why it was particularly heartbreaking when I met a lady, Fionnuala O'Brien, who was one of those nurses we applauded. She was totally dedicated to her work and an athlete but, unfortunately, because she contracted Covid, she is now medically retired. There is a special leave with pay scheme whereby nurses who contracted Covid can be compensated, rightly. Unfortunately, Fionnuala O'Brien's situation does not fit into that box. It is truly heartbreaking because this lady is suffering physically and psychologically. She struggles even to hold a conversation. To think as a State that we have designed this scheme that currently excludes this individual is truly heartbreaking and unforgivable. I ask at the first available opportunity that the Deputy Leader ask the Minister for Health to come to the House to discuss the whole area of long Covid, especially people like Fionnuala O'Brien who, through no fault of her own, just by going about her daily job, finds herself medically unfit to continue the profession she chose as her career and is now left on disability benefit from the State. I would be grateful if the Deputy Leader would organise that debate as soon as possible.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I start by acknowledging the new role of Senator Kyne. I wish him the best of luck. I am sure he will be excellent in that role. He brings great experience to it. I raise the issue on the front page of the Irish Examiner today, which is an amazing story about skin cancer and the issue of sunbed use. I was shocked to read that 40% of people using sunbeds do so despite knowing the risks. There are 13,000 cases of melanoma every year. It is the most common cancer we have. For sunbeds to still be being used by people when they know the risks is frightening. It does not make sense; I do not get it. I thought this fascination with sunbeds had moved on but obviously it has not. I thought it was an issue ten or 15 years ago, but a major percentage of people still use sunbeds. The risk of getting skin cancer is greatly increased. The figures are frightening. I do not understand how this industry is allowed to operate. It does not make sense. We know we have an issue with skin cancer. I lost my brother many years ago to that disease. We know exactly the issues around it.

We need to be more proactive in this space. We need to do a lot more to try to make sure this is banned. It does not make sense. We need to ban sunbeds and move away from the idea that you can get your skin tanned for a beauty contest or a wedding or whatever. It does not make sense. The costs to society and reality are too much. We need to have a debate with the Minister for Health about his proposals to look at this issue. It is a black and white issue. We have been strong previously regarding smoking. We need to go further when it comes to this issue. We need a debate and the Minister for Health needs to give us his vision to curtail and ban the sunbed industry in particular.

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

I, too, congratulate Senator Kyne on his new role. I raise the issue of CE schemes. As we know, they serve an important function in our communities. There is normally a sponsor behind these CE schemes which tends to be a local community organisation. The funding of those employed by CE schemes comes entirely through the Department of Social Protection. Funding for wages, PRSI and everything else comes entirely through the Department of Social Protection. In a sense, all that side of it is looked after by the Department of Social Protection. Unfortunately, I recently became aware that when a CE scheme is wound up or there is a reason a sponsor decides not to continue with it and it comes to making a supervisor redundant, for example, the Department of Social Protection does not want to know.It has stated that it is the responsibility of the sponsor. In this case I am aware of somebody involved as a supervisor for 31 years. She has been informed that an application will have to be made through the redundancy insolvency fund with the hope of being able to fund her redundancy. I am quite certain, and I made inquiries about this, that most CE schemes are not aware of this. If a CE scheme decides to wind up for a particular reason, redundancy payments will not be made by the Department of Social Protection. While the sponsor is seen as the employer for all intents and purposes, and the Department makes most of the payments, when it comes to redundancy there is a problem. Will the Leader raise this with the Minister for Social Protection on my behalf so that we might have a debate on community employment schemes?

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

I acknowledge the people who are with me here today. They are my friends from Ballinasloe. They have come with their families and the next generation. I acknowledge people who have known me up and down and in and out. We know our life here can sometimes be very intense and we know that our lives as Senators and public representatives can be full on. Sometimes our friends and families take a back seat. I want to acknowledge that I am very fortunate to have very good buddies and pals. They keep me grounded. They know the ups and downs and ins and outs. We have been friends since secondary school for the past 20-odd years. It is lovely to see their families coming here today to see democracy at work and what it means to be a public representative. They are proud to come from the west of Ireland. They have met their true loves and travelled far and wide but there is a grá for the west. When you come from the west of Ireland, regardless of where you decide to land that grá never changes and never ends.

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

I welcome all the crew from Ballinasloe and well done on Saturday night. We are delighted that they beat the Dubs.

I congratulate Senator Kyne on his new role and position. We all look forward to his leadership in the House.

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

I thank Senators for their best wishes and for their contributions. Senator O'Loughlin rightly spoke about the victims of recent sexual attacks and Bláthnaid Raleigh and Natasha O'Brien giving up their anonymity. Natasha O'Brien is asking people to call out their peers and call out violence against women. This is an important message.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the Defence Forces and regretted that Dublin Pride withdrew the invite to take part in the parade from members of the Defence Forces. It is difficult when a whole profession is tarnished with the one brush, whether it be the Defence Forces, the Garda, teachers, politicians or priests. Senator Craughwell also spoke about this. Perpetrators of crimes are individuals and it is important that a process is followed and people have confidence that the process is followed. Whatever change needs to be made can be made in these Houses. It is important that we do not tarnish a whole profession in these very serious issues. Sexual violence is horrendous. It is also horrendous to be wrongly accused of something such as sexual violence. It is very difficult. It is important that people have confidence in the processes being followed through and that we get justice for all victims.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about illegal encampments in the Curragh. She has raised this on numerous occasions. It is a matter for the local authority.I know the Senator has raised the matter in her role as an Oireachtas Member. I do not have a solution. It is an issue in different parts of the country and Galway is no exception.

Senator Ahearn spoke about Clonmel Childcare withdrawing from core funding and increasing its childcare costs. That is regrettable because it will be the parents who have to try to find that extra money to ensure their children can stay in childcare. The Government has been clear in trying to reduce the costs of childcare and that is why over the past two budgets we have reduced the costs by 25%. Of course, that is within the core funding system and in this case Clonmel Childcare has moved out of it. The Senator has asked for a debate on this matter. We know businesses have been under pressure for some time. That is why the Government has put in a range of supports to assist businesses to cope, whether it be with the cost of energy, rates or overall running costs. The situation raised by the Senator is regrettable and we certainly hope it does not become a trend. Childcare is hugely important in allowing parents to go out there and work. We also know the difficulties there can be to get childcare places. It is important we have the maximum number of providers possible who are providing a quality service that parents can afford.

Senator Craughwell referred to historical investigations and the gagging of the Defence Forces. I have touched on that issue. Senator Craughwell will have an opportunity this week to discuss it on Committee Stage of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024 and raise the matter with the Tánaiste, who I presume will be here to deal with the Bill. The Senator also talked about Rescue 111 and the brave officers O'Flaherty, Mooney, Byrne and Baker.

Senators Gavan and Boyhan wished Deputies Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall well. I, too, wish them well. I know Deputy Shortall better than Deputy Murphy through her work on the health committee. She is a very strong advocate and excellent attendee and questioner who does not hold back in holding officials, and indeed Ministers, to account. I wish herself and Deputy Murphy well in their retirements in the coming months.

Senator Gavan also raised the issue of University Hospital Limerick, as he has on numerous occasions. I am not sure exactly why there would be late discharges. I would have thought if you are managing a hospital you try to discharge people as early in the day as possible to free up beds and get them ready for the next person coming in. I am not sure why there are late night discharges. I suggest that is a management issue to try to co-ordinate discharges better. I certainly hope people are not being rushed out if they are not well enough, but I am not sure whether that was suggested. It is important that they are moved on to places like community nursing homes or step-down facilities at an appropriate time and when they are fit to do so. The Senator also talked about the ongoing investment and made the point that it is too late. Any investment is welcome and we can only progress from where we are now. The level of investment that has been made is certainly welcome. Construction is under way at the moment and I look forward to those new beds being opened as well as the beds planned thereafter. There is certainly a need for ongoing investment across our health services.

Senator Dooley talked about the tragic case of an individual who died at the Cliffs of Moher. It took an hour for an ambulance to arrive at the scene and clearly that is not good enough. In the context of the National Ambulance Service, the Government has put a lot of investment, as was rightly said, into paramedic training, the ambulance fleet and additional ambulance bases. The west of Ireland has had the lowest response times, which is not good enough. In my own area, there is a new base in Tuam and another in Belmullet in County Mayo. It is important that we have a debate on that issue and I will certainly raise it with the Minister as well.

Senator Dooley also talked about the moving around of Ukrainian refugees. They are not refugees anymore; they are members of a community in most cases. If they have been there for a number of years, they are part of the fabric of a community, whether they have kids going to school or are working in the community. They give back to their local community and get involved in different things such as Tidy Towns and societies or clubs. It is regrettable that their lives are being uprooted and moved elsewhere in the county. It is not good enough.I know we have had other calls in this House for a debate on this matter. I will certainly put that to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman as well.

Senator Boyhan referred to an invitation to the Taoiseach. I know Taoisigh come into the House at different times. I will certainly raise that with the Taoiseach as well. The Senator also spoke about how we elect the Cathaoirleach of the House. I assume he is not suggesting that we do not have quality Cathaoirligh and Leas-Chathaoirligh in this House.

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

I did not suggest that at all.

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

I am glad to hear it.

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

I am very confident that the Government has chosen well over the years regarding the election of Cathaoirligh.

Senator Conway spoke about water issues at Miltown Malbay, where there was no water during the past two weekends. It is regrettable. There are situations that arise from time to time. I am not sure of the intimate details in relation to what is going on at Miltown Malbay, but I know that situations arise from time to time in my own area. Certainly, I will ask the office to contact Irish Water, as I am sure Senator Conway and others have done, to try to get to the bottom of the issue and perhaps even arrange a meeting with the Oireachtas Members in County Clare on that issue.

Senator Gallagher mentioned the case of a nurse who was forced into retirement because of long Covid. He asked the Minister for Health to engage on the system or framework we have in relation to the scheme for long Covid. I will certainly ask him to come to the House to discuss matters regarding long Covid. I know there was a recent briefing at the Oireachtas health committee, where matters relating to long Covid were discussed. It is certainly an issue that affects a cohort of people and it is important that it is taken seriously.

Senator Lombard raised the very serious issue of skin cancer, which is close to his heart and his family. Cancer, in general, impacts and affects one in two of us and one in three of us will die of some form of cancer. In general, people are living longer and treatment and research is improving, but it is still a killer. Skin cancer is one of those issues on which people, particularly those who are younger, might have a blasé view, but it is a serious issue. The Senator quite rightly raised the issue of sunbeds. Given that the Minister for Finance raises the cost of excise duty on a pack of cigarettes by 20 cent or 50 cent every year on budget day, it would be interesting to ascertain whether there is a method whereby we could have some sort of tax on sunbeds. If they cannot be banned, can they be taxed to a degree that their use is prohibitive? I know it is a fashion thing or whatever else. People use fake tan and those sorts of things, certainly for the Galway races or whatever else. Unless the weather improves this year, there will be a lot of it. Certainly, one would not encourage anyone to use it.

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

Senator Kyne is looking good.

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

What is the Deputy Leader's brand of fake tan?

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

I do not use it myself.

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

Tantastic for you, Senator Byrne.

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

It would be worth exploring the possibilities and practicalities with regard to this issue.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about CE schemes, which play a vital role across our country. I know we have had cases in the past regarding pension schemes, court challenges and all of that. I suppose this is in a similar vein. It goes back to whose job it is to pay pension or redundancy. Is it the job of the sponsor or of the Department? That is a debate I cannot answer but I know there is historical evidence there in relation to the court issues. Perhaps the Senator could raise it as a Commencement matter as it may be the quickest way to get a response. I will certainly raise it with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys.

Finally, Senator Aisling Dolan welcomed good friends and supporters from Ballinasloe. It is great to have an opportunity to invite people to come here to experience what happens in Leinster House and go home with a good feeling after visiting the Houses.

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

I welcome Senator Fitzpatrick's guest, Gavin Radford from Linenhall Street in the Dublin markets, to the Visitors Gallery. He is most welcome. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for bringing him to the House for the Order of Business.