Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the appointment of the Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; and No. 2, Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 – Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. The proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 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 Government.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for the lovely words he said about our colleague and friend, Mary O'Rourke. She was a formidable lady, a wonderful person and was great craic. She had a strong conviction about politics and the need to do good within our own communities and within any role in parliament or at local authority level. Most of all she was a people's person. She had a great interest and insight into people and that was always very clear. The support she gave particularly female Fianna Fáil candidates was very strong. To bear witness to the lovely tributes over the past few days but particularly from her two beloved sons Aengus and Feargal yesterday was really something else. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

There are a few items I wish to raise. First, we had a presentation in the audiovisual room this morning from the National Women's Council regarding sex-for-rent exploitation.This was a report by the National Women's Council, NWC, on where vulnerable women and vulnerable young men have been preyed upon. It is far more widespread than we would have thought. However, it is clear that we need legislation to make this illegal because it is actually not illegal at this time. I look forward to working with the NWC to ensure that we bring in the appropriate legislation.

Today is also World Dyslexia Awareness day. It is important to raise awareness of the issues facing those with dyslexia. One particular issue that has been raised with me, and I am sure with many others, is school exams. I certainly support the call in terms of introducing extra time for second level exams for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia and other learning difficulties. The lack of appropriate time is a disadvantage and barrier for dyslexic students in second level exams. We need to do everything we can to support them.

There is a local issue I wish to raise that I could not raise on the Order of Business, not in any way due to the Cathaoirleach. I am referring to O'Modhráin Hall in Newbridge. This was a vibrant and thriving community and arts centre for the people in Newbridge. Sadly, it fell into disrepair. Ten years ago Kildare County Council was on the point of buying it as a youth centre for young people. At the last minute, new trustees came on board, sold the hall and are now saying that the proceeds of €213,000 will go to Conradh na Gaeilge. My point is that Conradh na Gaeilge does a lot of excellent work but it is a national organisation. That money should be spent in Newbridge. Ms Orla O'Neill, the daughter of one of the original trustees, has made an excellent suggestion that this should go to Crooked House, a Youth Theatre. I fully support that. I have written to the Charities Regulator to ensure that would be the case. I would like the support of the Seanad on that.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I join with the Cathaoirleach and Senator O'Loughlin in paying tribute to the late Mary O'Rourke. Mary O'Rourke was humorous, witty, personable and formidable. One of my first public encounters with her was when I and the late Senator Mary Jackman - herself a highly intelligent, formidable woman - many moons ago decided to trip up Mary O'Rourke on a section of an education Bill she was putting forward here in the Seanad. We went in maybe slightly unprepared but, prepared or otherwise, we went in full of gusto. Both of us made what we thought were good contributions. However, by the time Mary O'Rourke had replied to the two of us, we left very chastened. Despite that initial encounter I developed a great rapport with her over the years afterwards. She was a lovely woman, there is no question about that. She was a trailblazer for women. She held multiple ministries. She was, as Senator O'Loughlin said, very concerned about "ordinary people": I put that in inverted commas as there is no such thing as an ordinary person. She was concerned about people and made a significant difference to so many. She had a wonderful career. Her family can be proud of her and her career. They can be inspired by her memory. Indeed she provides an inspiration to all of us on how to do public service. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

In the brief time I have left, I request again that we have a debate on the Middle East. Previously, on the very first day we came back, I urged the Leader, Senator Chambers, to have the Tánaiste come to the House at some point. I am renewing that request. I have been approached, no later than yesterday evening, by Army families. We have a lot of Army personnel up my way. I said to a few of them, "Have you somebody out there?" Even if they do not, they tell me the entirety of Army families are very exercised, upset and concerned for the people who are at risk out there. In particular, 35 of our UNIFIL personnel, in what they call a bunker and a special post, would be very close to the fighting. I would like an update from the Tánaiste on his conversations internationally on that question as to where we are at.The safety of those wonderful patriots is of great concern to all of us.

The entire Middle East situation is getting worse by the day. There is no solution other than peace and talks. Too many lives have been lost. All that Israel is achieving is a new generation of Hamas and Hezbollah, and a renewal of the whole thing. It is time we sat down at the conference table.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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I echo the sentiments concerning Mary O'Rourke. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

I want to raise again in the House the case of Caitlin Ada Joanne Hassan. I give her full name, as I did on a Commencement matter, because she is a human being. She is a young woman who was sexually and physically assaulted while in the care of the State in a section 39 care provider, Avista. Caitlin's mum, Louise Hassan, is here with her solicitor, Caoimhe Haughey.

We brought this matter to the attention of the House and the Minister by way of a Commencement matter in recent weeks and we received a wholly unsatisfactory response from the Minister. The crux of the matter is that the assault and abuse of Caitlin was investigated by the HSE and a report was finalised. That report has been furnished to everybody except Caitlin and her mum. We have made strenuous attempts to correct this moral defect. There is no legal or process reason that this report cannot be published to the family. In fact, the terms of reference, which I have subsequently been made aware of, at paragraphs 21 and 24 state that on completion of the investigation, the report will be issued and submitted. There is nothing in the terms of reference to prevent the report being furnished to Caitlin's mum.

When we think of the Grace case, this is another example of a vulnerable young woman who was preyed upon while in the care of the State. As a carer and a parent, this is your worst nightmare: to hand your child over to the care of others and to have them violated in this way. This is David and we are Goliath. Given all of the resources of the HSE, no fewer than three legal firms and an army of senior counsel and barristers, citing all sorts of spurious reasons this report cannot be published to the family, stand in the way of what is a categorical and ethical imperative to do the right thing.

Two Government Ministers have written to the Ceann Comhairle to ask that time be set in the Dáil to deal with the matter of safeguarding and the protection of children against sexual abuse, yet, at the same time, those people with the power to make this decision are refusing to assist a family whose daughter has been grievously abused and sexually assaulted. I call that, at best, an inherent contradiction in terms and, at worst, hypocrisy.

What have we learned from the Grace case? I ask that the House have a debate, in whatever time is left to us in the life of this Government, and that we get the Minister in to explain why, after everything we have learned or not learned from the Grace case, we cannot give this family the natural justice they so rightly deserve.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Well said.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Marie Sherlock (Labour)
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I extend my condolences to my Fianna Fáil colleagues and all her family on the passing of Mary O'Rourke, and also to our Fine Gael colleagues on the untimely recent passing of John Naughten.

We have seen newspaper reports in recent days about one of our elected representatives in either the Upper or Lower House being, effectively, a Russian spy. That has been treated with a degree of bemusement and it should not be because it is deadly serious and it casts a cloud over us all. I would like to hear from the Leader what the Government is planning to do and also what is planned by both the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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No Member of any House has been publicly identified, let alone charged with any offence in relation to any allegation. It is just a media story.

Marie Sherlock (Labour)
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I absolutely appreciate that but it casts a cloud over us all-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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And I appreciate that.

Marie Sherlock (Labour)
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-----so it needs to be clarified whether there is an elected representative acting as a Russian spy or otherwise, notwithstanding if no law has effectively been broken.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to take No. 12, Workplace Relations (Exemplary Damages, Unfair Dismissals and Other Provisions) Bill 2024 as the first item. The purpose of this Bill is effectively to bring up to date the sanctions for bad employer behaviour. We have a bizarre situation where certain breaches of employment law incur very minor penalties, only to cover the losses to the worker in question, whereas other breaches, such as a breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, incur very serious penalties and the heavy wrath of the courts. There is an inconsistency there. It is sending a conflicting signal as to what is okay and what is not okay in respect of abuses of workers within the workplace. While it is important to say that we have many good employers, a cohort has attempted to act with impunity and it is only when cases go to the WRC that they are caught. The penalties for their activities have been very minor.

We had a case this year of a takeaway delivery drive who was made to earn €5 an hour and was unfairly dismissed. He was awarded only €1,500 in total to cover his losses. The Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 caps payouts at four weeks' pay and only allows for compensation based on workers’ actual losses. Unfairly dismissed workers have to demonstrate that they are seeking work after the dismissal. Not only are they unfairly dismissed, they then have to prove they are actively seeking work. It totally deflects from the wrongdoing at the heart of the employer.

This is an important piece in updating our workers’ rights legislation. It is about sending a message that bad employer behaviour will not be tolerated. We had the case of Meta last week in Clonee where effectively a company worker is reporting to us that they are being pressurised because of joining the trade union. We need to ensure that all workers in this country are free to join trade unions and be represented by them.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Less the Senator think I was being unfair to her-----

Marie Sherlock (Labour)
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No.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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-----she was thoroughly within her right and it was legitimate for her to express her concerns about that position with regard to the newspaper story. As she knows, nobody has been identified yet. She was totally legitimate in her ability to raise the matter on the floor and I was not trying to stop her.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I extend my condolences to our colleagues in Fianna Fáil in respect of the late Mary O’Rourke, who was an impressive politician. She was a trailblazer in her time for women in politics.

The Ditch released further information today on the transmissions of war munitions through Irish airspace. It tells us that:

Tonnes of munitions of war were transported to Israel through Irish sovereign airspace yesterday morning. Government knew four weeks ago that the same carrier ... illegally transported explosives for the ... IDF ... over Ireland in April this year – after a [Ditch report].

I am record on a number of occasions here highlighting the role of Shannon Airport and the fact that it flies of the face of our opposition to what the Israeli forces are doing in Palestine – the ongoing genocide. It is not good enough that the Government has taken no meaningful action in respect of the use of Shannon Airport, the support of the horrendous war and the use of Irish airspace. We need an urgent debate on this issue. I echo my colleague, Senator O’Reilly, in calling for the Tánaiste to come to the House so we can debate all of these issues.

It is timely to also remind colleagues that as the Taoiseach is due to meet with Joe Biden, he needs to have a very clear message to the president. The message he gave when he was in the United Nations a couple weeks ago was that he did not want to comment on US foreign policy in this regard. He stated: “I wouldn't appreciate another country telling us our foreign policy or telling us how to proceed.”It is one of the weakest statements I have ever heard from any Taoiseach, anywhere. When he meets Joe Biden, he needs to make a clear call for US arms supplies to Israel to end. That is it. An arms embargo is what we need; nothing else will be satisfactory. In the Leader's response I might ask her to confirm she supports such a call for an arms embargo on the apartheid Israeli state. We are far past the time of making vague comments on this issue. We need a clear-cut response.

Tens of thousands of people marched across Ireland this weekend. They had one simple demand which was that the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 be passed. If we do go into an election in the next week or two, the clear message for all to see is that this Government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens refuses to pass the occupied territories Bill. It is not good enough from the point of view of humanity. There is no legal impediment to passing the Bill. What is lacking so far is the political will of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to actually do what the people of Ireland want to see done and see the occupied territories Bill passed. Again, I want to have a debate with the Tánaiste before this particular Parliament ends, if possible.

The second issue to raise is-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The clock-----

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I am not out of time.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The clock did not work. I am giving-----

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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In fairness, that is not my fault.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is on three minutes. I am watching the clock here.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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Thirty seconds is enough, I promise the Cathaoirleach.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I will be generous to the Senator because he is normally within time, in fairness to him.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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He is very kind to say that. My colleague, Councillor Donna McGettigan, highlighted just last night that a lady who has a complex series of issue went into University Hospital Limerick. Her blood pressure was taken and she was told she would have a long wait to see a doctor and have her bloods taken as there were 164 people waiting ahead of her. We are heading into another winter of crisis. We are 200 beds short in UHL and there is no plan to deal with the crisis. I ask the Minister who is not here, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to come in and debate this with us. I know that is a call that has been echoed across the Chamber.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The clock did not work so we will start the clock again. I remind all Members we have time limits that are not being adhered to by the vast majority of Members so we might start our own internal clocks too.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I join with colleagues in expressing my sympathies to the O'Rourke family on the sad passing of the former Leader of the House, Senator Mary O'Rourke, who was also a former councillor, Deputy and Minister. She served this country with great distinction and was a formidable trailblazer in the area of education but in so many other areas as well. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

I also join with colleagues on the issue that was raised in the newspapers. We all share the concern that somebody in the House would be acting as an agent for another country. By any measure, if you are not working for this State and acting secretly for another state, then you are a traitor to this one. It is beholden on this House to figure out-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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No person is to be identified, as the Senator knows, so bí cúramach.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I am not identifying them, I am just saying they are a traitor. That is all I am saying. If you are working for somebody else and you should be working for us, you are a traitor. If they would like me to repeat that allegation if they are identified outside the doors I will repeat it to their face. It is a serious concern. If somebody comes in here and makes speeches, goes to committees and raises issues and is not doing it in the best interest of the people who elected them, it is something we need to address as a House. We are also interested to know what the security forces and services are doing to make sure that person is taken to task, brought to account and faces justice for what they are continuing to do as of this day.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is, as he knows, entitled to raise the matter but as I said to Senator Sherlock, nobody has been identified from either House so bí cúramach about naming them.

Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I want to begin by expressing my condolences to the O'Rourke, Lenihan and Fianna Fáil family on the considerable loss of Mary O'Rourke. She was a formidable politician and fantastic woman; a pioneer for women in politics. I rise today to ask for a debate with the Minister for Transport. The Minister for Transport, a Green colleague in government, presumably has the same desire as ourselves to induce people into the use of public transport as much as possible.I have tabled Commencement matters over the years asking for him to come to the House to answer for the bizarre behaviour and decisions of the National Transport Authority, NTA, when it comes to bus services in the constituency of Dublin South Central. I have raised previously the bizarre situation in Chapelizod, which had seven bus services and experienced a sudden reduction to one service. This is a community with a primary school but no secondary school. There is a secondary school in Lucan and families now have to take two buses to get there. This is causing parents to make an additional 178 car journeys per week to bring their children to school. The NTA is charged with encouraging the use of public transport and receives an absolute fortune into its coffers from a budget perspective, but nobody is answerable for the bizarre decisions made to reduce the number of bus services and cause an increase in the number of car journeys. The situation is exactly the same in Inchicore, where services on the 68 and 69 bus routes are going to be reduced. The people of Inchicore and Bluebell will have less access to public transport as a result. The decision has been made and the reduction in services will go ahead next year. No one is answerable for this decision.

Communities are being left without public transport and people are being forced into cars at a time when the momentum is towards moving in the opposite direction. Somebody needs to be answerable. I ask that the Minister for Transport come before the House and be answerable.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I express my sympathies to the Fianna Fáil family on the death of Mary O'Rourke and to the Fine Gael family on the death of Councillor John Naughten. All of the county councillors and political families in their counties are in grief at this time.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that No. 1 be taken with debate. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, under the tenure of the proposed new appointee, backed the passing of the hate speech Bill, which would have devastating consequences for civil liberties. The ICCL's message, along with the rest of the coalition against hate crime, was confusing. The ICCL acknowledged that the Bill is deeply flawed and then said it should pass without delay. This point ties in which the two referendums held earlier this year. We know from reports in The Irish Times that the Minister, Deputy Roderick O'Gorman, required NGOs in receipt of State funding to explain why they were not supporting the "Yes" campaign. Former members of Government made statements suggesting that funding was tied to support for Government policy. There are still unanswered questions about the extent to which NGOs are pressurised to support the Government's policies, including the disinformation campaign associated with the two referendums. If we were to debate the motion, it might help to shed some light on issues in this area.

Earlier this year I informed Gript that the Government misleading the Irish public on the constitutional referendums should have been classed as a national scandal. If this had happened years ago, many journalists who were not seeking special advisory roles would be asking the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, when he intended to resign. The cost of holding the referendums was more than 30 times the cost of the Leinster House bike shelter, but the matter has not received attention because it would upset the wrong people. The Seanad, as the revising House, should be the place to discuss a new way forward. Trust in our institutions, whether it is the Government, the media or NGOs, is declining. While everything I have said might be perceived as harsh and pessimistic, there is hope. Everything I described can be remedied by upholding the values associated with scrutiny and accountability.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Cathaoirleach to bear with me. Many tributes have been paid to Mary O'Rourke and John Naughten. The Cathaoirleach and the Leader know the Naughten family very well. The whole county of Roscommon is stunned at the moment. I got the news of John Naughten's death from a friend when I was attending a match on Friday evening. I could not believe it. I served with John for a long period. He watched my selection convention hoping that I would make it. All I can say about John Naughten is that he did not understand the words "political opponent".In all my life, I never saw him try to take down a political opponent. He did his work well and got a massive vote in every local election. He really cared for people and was the epitome of what is good in Irish politics. I am heartbroken for Breda and the three girls, for Denis and his other brothers and sisters and for his poor mother as well. All we can do at this stage is offer them our support and prayers at this time. In the middle of all of that, with all that the family is going through, I got a lovely message on the phone from Denis the other day. I really appreciate, with all that is on their minds, that he took time out to leave those few words for me. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam.

Mary O'Rourke was a formidable politician. She was not a great woman for the quotas but, by God, did she get her way in politics in terms of fighting and making her name. She had to fight. One of my greatest memories of her was a radio interview. Some in the House may not know that in the past I was involved in radio, on Shannonside Northern Sound. One of the programmes I used to present was called "In My Life" which comprised an hour-long interview. That was an amazing time for me because I was in Mary O'Rourke's family home and I got a real insight into the type of person she was.

I am taking up my time today and am going off course a little bit but I hope people will understand. I feel devastated, particularly for the Naughten family. I ask everybody, however they think about people, whether that be through prayer or reflection, to please pray for them.

Emer Currie (Fine Gael)
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I also want to convey my deepest sympathies to the O'Rourke and Naughten families. Mary O'Rourke had a long and established career while John Naughten had so much more to give. It is an incredibly sad time.

I also raise national dyslexia week, which gives us an opportunity to shine a light on the barriers that still exist for dyslexic students in the classroom. One in ten students has dyslexia and may have difficulty with reading, spelling and writing as well as having longer cognitive processing times. That needs to be reflected in our education policy but I am sorry to say that the Department of Education seems to be closing down the policy of providing reading classes across the country. It is great to see how much investment is going into autism classes, and we need a lot more of them, but I do not understand the reluctance to open more reading classes, particularly in Dublin 15. What we are seeing this year is that children in the first and second percentile are not getting places in the existing classes and are having to travel long distances when they do. This is something the Minister needs to look at. She also needs to consider a policy of extending exam times for children with dyslexia which is the norm in other European countries. It is also the norm at third level and yet, at second level, it is not happening. What message are we sending out during national dyslexia week when an Oireachtas committee is saying that we should get rid of the Irish language exemption for children with dyslexia, without any engagement with the dyslexia community? Combined with those other two factors, that is not the message we should be sending out. I thank Dyslexia Ireland and Senator Lombard for all of their work in this area and request a debate on the matter.

Mark Wall (Labour)
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I join colleagues in sending condolences to the O'Rourke and Naughten families and I second Senator Sherlock's proposal regarding No. 12 on the Order Paper.

In the last couple of weeks in particular, I have been contacted by a number of people who were affected by unplanned power outages in Kildare South. There seems to be a concentration of these outages in the Lackagh, Monasterevin and Rathangan areas, right across to Athgarvan and mid-Kildare. There are several problems with the outages, apart from the obvious fact that they are unplanned. A number of the people who have contacted me are working from home but unfortunately, because the outages are becoming a bit of a habit, they cannot continue to do so.When I raised this in the past number of days, a number of families contacted me about the number and their use of medical devices and the fact they cannot continue to use them because of the outages that happen. It is time we brought in the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to have a discussion about what is happening with our power in this country.

EirGrid's website states: "EirGrid develops, manages and operates the electricity grid in Ireland" making sure everyone has electricity when and where they need it. That has not been happening in Kildare South for the past number of months for some reason. I want to read into the record some of the comments I have received from people. The first one said that power was out today again in Monasterevin with no reason or explanation provided. The exact same thing happened Friday two weeks ago. There is no consideration given for anyone or for those who have a day's work or are working from home. It is absolutely ridiculous.

Another person states that in the past three months there have been five unplanned power outages in Mountrice, Lackagh as of that day. The person went on to detail those five outages. We have two working from home in Athgarvan. No notice was given and it is very frustrating. It is time we discussed those unplanned outages.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I join with others in extending our sympathies to the O'Rourke and Naughten families.

I also agree with Senator Sherlock's concerns about somebody who is compromised in these Houses, if it is the case. It is a particularly serious matter. However, I note there are politicians who are not compromised but indeed are puppets for Putin and will quite clearly voice his talking points on a regular basis.

It is 20 years since Parkrun began. The first Parkrun took place in Bushy Park in London and it now takes place every Saturday morning at more than 130 locations around this island. I was involved in establishing a Parkrun in Gorey that will very shortly celebrate its eight birthday. As part of our approach to healthy living and health promotion, we need to encourage people to have more active lifestyles and there is no better event than getting people involved in a parkrun where they can run or walk. It is a wonderful community and since it has been established in Ireland, more than 300,000 people have taken part in the 5 km parkrun, with 3.2 million finishes while more than 40,000 volunteers have been involved. All around the country every Saturday morning, we see these people involved.

It is appropriate we celebrate and congratulate Parkrun globally on its 20 years but also on its continuous growth in Ireland. It is also appropriate to thank VHI for its ongoing sponsorship and to encourage as many people as possible to take part.

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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I pass on my sympathies to the O'Rourke family on the death of Mary O'Rourke. I pass them particularly to Aengus whom I know quite well through politics. I also pass on my sympathies to the Naughten family, especially Breda and the kids, to Dennis and the siblings of John who was a colleague I have known all through my political life. He was nothing but a gentleman throughout any dealings I have ever had with him and that is what everyone has said about him; he was a gentleman. I attended the selection convention in the Abbey Hotel a couple of weeks ago when he was successfully nominated and he was looking forward to the challenge and to representing Roscommon. Unfortunately, it was not to be. We pass on our sympathies to Breda and the family and may he rest in peace.

Over the past week in Longford, we lost Adie Farrell who served for Fine Gael on Longford County Council for 39 years. He followed in a family tradition, which was then followed by his son, Gerald, who took up the role in 2014. I pass on my sympathies to Gerald, Lorraine and the extended family. He was a powerhouse of Fine Gael politics in Longford and I just want to pass on our sympathies. I wish to comment on the NTA and a proposal I put in to it in conjunction with Local Link about putting bus transport in place. We have the community of Stonepark outside Longford town, which has approximately 300 residents. There is a massive local national school, GAA grounds and a number of housing estates. A fantastic community has been built there. However, to access the local bus that travels on that route, one has to go a mile away from the village to get the bus because we do not have a proper bus stop in the village. I contacted Local Link, and the NTA was out. I would like to see that pushed on. We want to get people to use public transport, but we need to make it accessible. It does not make sense to ask people to walk to a bus stop a mile outside the village. Up until recently, there was no footpath, but that has been installed. I would like to see that put in place for the residents of Stonepark.

Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
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I too offer my condolences to the Naughten family on the loss of John. May he rest in peace. I also offer my condolences to the family of Mary O’Rourke, who lost their mam, their granny and a friend. We buried her yesterday. Mary was a mighty woman and an unapologetic Fianna Fáiler. She supported an awful lot of young women and girls in Fianna Fáil. I was very much supported by her. As a 15-year-old girl, she took me under her wing at an Ard-Fheis when I travelled on my own to the RDS. She sat with me. She was a Minister at the time and I was nobody. She had loads of other people to talk to yet she sat with me and gave me encouragement. I owe an awful lot to Mary.

I welcome that the Cabinet ratified the optional protocol to the UNCRPD. Finally, after a long many years of campaigning, the optional protocol is now ratified. It will establish additional procedures that will strengthen the implementation of the convention. It means that people with disabilities have more rights and more avenues to strengthen the accountability measures. It is absolutely a positive step for people with disabilities. I hope that changes on the back of this will start occurring. Day in and day out, I hear from people with disabilities whose rights are being infringed upon daily.

I also call for a debate on and support my colleagues here with regard to national dyslexia week. I also call for a debate on accommodations and reasonable supports in education for children with additional needs when they are doing exams. I support extra time for students with dyslexia. I raised in a Commencement matter a few months ago students who are visually impaired and blind students. They too need supports. We need an overall debate on what reasonable accommodations are given to students. We have plenty of time until the next leaving certificate and we can make positive changes now.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I echo the comments of Members. I remarked on the late Mary O’Rourke but I join with Members on their tribute to the late John Naughten, who was a thoroughly decent human being. He was a fine public representative and a wonderful person in his own right. The news of his death at the weekend has shocked us all. Our deepest sympathies to his wife, Breda, his children, his mum, his brother Denis and his other brothers. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Our deepest sympathies as well to the family of Adie Farrell, who was a fantastic character and who served the people of Longford with distinction for 39 years. I thank Senator Carrigy for raising that.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator O’Loughlin kicked off with a tribute, as did all Members, to Mary O’Rourke, who was, without doubt, a formidable lady in her own right, a formidable politician and somebody who will be iconic from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s for anybody looking at a television programme or anyone with an interest in politics or current affairs. She was always there, ever-present, on our airwaves on “Today Tonight” or various other radio shows and the likes. We will pay a tribute later. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis. Senator O'Loughlin spoke about dyslexia day, as did others, and called for extra time for exams. This is an issue that we should debate. I know work has been done at the education committee, which is continually interested in that topic. I will request a debate on the issue.

The Senator also spoke about the funding of Ó Modhráin Hall. I am not sure what I would suggest as it sounds like a complex issue. Nonetheless, I agree that moneys raised locally should be maintained locally, which is the point the Senator was making. I am not sure what avenue I would suggest she should take but whatever support I can give, I will give it.

Senator Joe O'Reilly spoke about the tragedy of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and expressed concern regarding our troops on the border between Israel and Lebanon. The Irish-led UN battalion in Lebanon is responsible for a zone along the de facto border. The fighting has forced Irish troops, as well as thousands of other UN peacekeepers across the wider UNIFIL zone, into protective bunkers, and hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee. We have to be very conscious of the safety of our troops. The situation is being monitored.

The Senator requested a debate with the Tánaiste on that matter. I will certainly ask that the Tánaiste come in to discuss that matter and a number of other issues. Senators Sherlock, Byrne and Daly spoke about the allegations regarding a possible Russian spy in Leinster House. If the Tánaiste comes in, I ask that he address those issues and give whatever information he might have from the Government. It is a highly serious issue. Senator Gavan spoke about the use of Shannon for munitions. If the Tánaiste were to come in to discuss those three very important matters, that would be welcome.

Senator Clonan sought natural justice for Caitlin and commented on the unsatisfactory response that he and Caitlin's family have received. It is important that justice is provided for Caitlin and her family. I suggest that the Senator put down a cross-party motion or a motion on behalf of the House, if he sees fit to do so.

Senator Sherlock proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 12 be taken before No. 1. I agree to that amendment. I congratulate Senators Sherlock and Wall and the members of the Labour Party on that very important legislation.

Senator Gavan, in addition to touching on the use of Shannon, spoke of Councillor McGettigan’s concerns and the Senator’s own well-rehearsed concerns regarding University Hospital Limerick. Unfortunately, it has the ongoing record of having had the highest number of people on trolleys in recent years. There are plans in place and construction is ongoing to provide additional beds, which will hopefully be available soon and help to alleviate the pressure. There are certainly bigger issues. The Minister has highlighted that when the original decisions were made to close the emergency departments at Ennis and Nenagh hospitals, the necessary investment had not been put in place before or in unison with the making of those decisions.

Senator Seery Kearney called for a debate with the Minister for Transport on bus services, and Senator Carrigy also touched on the issue of the decisions made on bus services and how they can be changed. We have given autonomy or authority for decision-making to the NTA and various other bodies. It is important that the Oireachtas committees would have the ultimate power to engage on these matters. To be fair to the NTA, it has open days from time to time near to Leinster House at which Oireachtas Members can raise issues. Perhaps if it had more of these, it would allow for those issues to be raised as required.

Senator Keogan called for No. 1 to be taken with debate. I do not propose to accept this amendment. This appointment was made through the Public Appointments Service in line with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, and it is the recommendation that the motion on that appointment be taken without debate.Senator Murphy touched on the tributes to Mary O'Rourke and also to John Naughten. John spoke to me at the Ard-Fheis last year and I met him on various occasions obviously in the Seanad. He was a thorough gentleman. I pay my condolences to his wife Breda, and his children, his mother, Mary, brother, Denis and extended family on the absolutely tragic passing of John.

Senator Currie also touched on the issues of dyslexia. It is important that we have a debate on this.

Senator Wall touched on issues relating to unplanned power outages in mid-Kildare and obviously made the important point that these have an impact on those working from home and those using medical devices. It is important that we have continued monitoring of and investment in our national grid. It is something that has been talked about regarding use of the Apple money. If there are particular issues that need to be sorted within mid-Kildare then that needs to be done. EirGrid in its winter outlook stated that Ireland's risk level of power loss is dramatically less than in previous years but that the gap between supply and demand for electricity will be tight at times this winter. It is an ongoing issue and concern. It is right to raise this. I will raise the matter urgently directly with EirGrid as well.

Senator Malcolm Byrne talked about the park run. Congratulations on his work on Gorey park run on its eighth birthday. The overall concept of park run will be 20 years old. It is a great activity. They are to be found in so many different places, whether it is Bere Island or Gorey or various other towns and cities. I wish continued encouragement to those who go out and do the park run and commend the concept and those involved in it.

Senator Carrigy made a number of tributes to Mary O'Rourke, John Naughten and the former councillor and Cathaoirleach, Adie Farrell, and also expressed sympathy to Gerald and the extended Farrell family.

Finally, Senator McGreehan gave good news in regard to the optional protocol being ratified by Cabinet which will strengthen disability rights. I look forward to statements from the relevant Ministers and the Taoiseach on this matter in the coming days.

That concludes the Order of Business.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Senator Marie Sherlock has moved an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 12 be taken before No. 1, seconded by Senator Wall. The Acting Leader indicated that he is prepared to accept this amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.

Senator Sharon Keogan has moved an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 1 be taken with debate. However, the amendment was not seconded and consequently falls.