Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 - Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage, to be taken at 4.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of the Order of Business, whichever is the later, and to adjourn at 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, Finance (Local Property Tax and Other Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2025 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 6.30 p.m.; and No. 3, motion re the earlier signature of the Finance (Local Property Tax and Other Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2025, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2, without debate.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome that history will be made in the Oireachtas this afternoon when the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade commences pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill 2025. The legislation is an opportunity for us, as a very small country, to lead the international community on this issue and to make history. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, and, ultimately, its passing, will assert our solidarity with the Palestinian people and bring about accountability for the occupying forces in the occupied territories. I wish all Members of both Houses well in that work. It is really important that the Bill be progressed quickly and efficiently. I commend Senator Black on the work she did on this issue and the Government for supporting her in it. I refer again to the State's post office network. It dates back to the 1700s. The Leader and I know, as does everyone in this House, that the close to 1,000 post offices around the country do not just sell stamps and deal with payments. They are a lifeline in many communities. For some people, they are their only human interaction. They are the trusted face of the State in our communities. We had the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post in the committees last week. It was a timely engagement. I ask that the Minister come to the House and debate the future of the post office network. The postmasters' union has made constructive and positive proposals and the Minister should update this House before the summer recess on his proposals to ensure there is a sustainable, successful future for the post office network.

I offer a huge "Thank you" and sincere good wishes to Dessie Farrell. He announced his retirement as manager of the Dublin senior football team at the weekend. I thank him on behalf of the people of Dublin for the service he provided our county. He and the lads have done us proud. Dessie comes from my club, Na Fianna. He has had a proud relationship over 40 years with Na Fianna and with GAA in Dublin. As manager of the Dublin team, he did great work. I wish him well in his retirement.

Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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Two weeks ago, I stood up here and said it was not fair the Meath versus Kerry match was not available to stream or on TV. I told of how Meath are back in form and how we want to see these matches. I am thrilled to say last weekend's match between Meath and Galway was broadcast and brought joy to many people who went to the match or watched it at home, in the pub or in a nursing home. I was fortunate enough to go and watch the royal county win with an epic performance. When I returned to Navan, it was a sea of green and yellow. The place was hopping, as I am sure every town and village in Meath was. I hope every business and GAA club benefited from that and continues to do so. I called into Jacksie Kiernan's on Trimgate Street and told him to get ordering the jerseys for the semi-final. He told me he was already on the phone at 8 a.m. ordering every jersey he could get. Is it not incredible what GAA can do to our countries?

On a less bright note, two Ministers are set to bring about changes which will have us paying more. Now is not the time for that. Three quarters of small businesses, sports organisations and community and voluntary groups have seen their insurance premiums rise in the past two years and we hear the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, is set to bring a 17% rise in personal injuries awards to Cabinet next week. I am sorry but all here who have a car, have a business or work with a sports club will see their insurance go up if this goes through. I cannot understand it because we have so many people against these changes. We have heard from every party in this Upper House at this stage, I think, and everybody is saying, "Don't do it." There has to be a debate on this.

Another Minister, Deputy Lawless, is determined to increase student contribution fees by €1,000. I appreciate the reduction over the past two years was part of a cost-of-living package but now is not the time to do this, not when we have one in ten people living in poverty and so many students struggling to pay rent. I did a grocery shop yesterday. Just three bags of groceries cost €160. Many families are under enough pressure without the extra cost of student contribution fees. I urge the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to really think about this and I urge the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, not to increase the personal injury payouts. I would welcome either Minister in for a debate.

Tom Clonan (Independent)
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I raise the appalling vista last week in Washington DC, where 34 disabled protestors were arrested by Capitol Hill police. Many of these wheelchair users were manhandled, handcuffed and zip tied as they protested against cuts proposed by Trump's Congress to the Medicaid programme, which would affect disabled American citizens. Disabled citizens being manhandled and having their hands tied in that way by Capitol police shows an extraordinary contempt for the most vulnerable in our society.Let there be no doubt that there is a growing awareness internationally that there should be zero tolerance for any kind of targeting or discrimination against disabled citizens, as a category of citizen. In that regard, last week British Prime Minister Starmer effected a U-turn in Westminster on proposed cuts to disability payments because of a threatened rebellion by 120 Labour MPs who were refusing to vote for cuts or for any measures that would be inimical to the interests of disabled citizens.

There is a growing awareness, not just in Washington and Westminster but also here, of the absolutely compelling nature of the desire for autonomous, fulfilled and happy lives on behalf of disabled citizens. I was moved and struck by the comments made by the Ceannaire last week during the statements on nursing homes, when he spoke about his own personal circumstances and his desire that he would at some point like to live an independent and dignified life with supports, preferably in his own home. That gets to the crux of it. The Private Members' Bill I introduced last week, where I progressed the Disability (Personalised Budgets) Bill to Second Stage was, unfortunately, time amended on an instruction from Cabinet. I appreciated the statements of support from all sides of the House and from the disability spokespersons on this side of the House. I know they are motivated to support me in this because it benefits all of us: you, me, my son and this huge cohort of citizens. I do not know if there is a precedent for this. The Minister gave a commitment that she would review the pilot programme on personalised disability statements in December. I ask for a debate to be scheduled on this personalised budgets matter for when we reconvene early next year, so the disability spokespersons on all sides of the House can hold the Minister to account to make sure we progress this matter in the lifetime of this Government.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I raise an issue that has been coming across my desk the past couple of weeks. It concerns parents of foster children and the back to school allowance, which is going to means tested. They have made the argument to me that they do not just put a roof over these children's heads. They give them love and stability and make them a part of their family. A lot of these children end up in State care through no fault of their own. A lot of them could be born into addiction or in houses where there is domestic abuse. There are a lot of other costs involved with these children. Do not get me wrong, I know the State covers the cost of sending them for play therapy and to therapists. However, the foster parents of these children have to get them to and from these appointments. As the leader knows, the cost of living has increased, and the cost of fuel and diesel has increased. They think it unfair that they would be put through a means test to get these children back to school and to ensure they have what they need going back to school. Is that something that could be looked at and maybe an allowance made? They are taking a huge cost from the State by providing the service, in the same way carers for older people take the cost from the State. It would be nice to see something go back to them.

Laura Harmon (Labour)
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I speak about two issues. The first relates to student fees. As we heard over the weekend, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, announced the intention to again increase student fees by €1,000 in the upcoming budget. I have been contacted by many students and families over the past 48 hours who are extremely stressed and worried about this and the lack of clarity in relation to it. We know from a study last year by UCC students' union that more than a quarter of students have gone to class hungry. We know that rents are rising. In Cork alone, the average rent is €2,200 per month. There is still a cost-of-living issue in this country, and we know it often takes families to put a student through college. I note at the end of 2024 there was an accumulated surplus of €1.8 billion in the National Training Fund.Perhaps this is something that could be looked at as it needs to be spent on educational purposes, and the cost of the €1,000 fee increase is estimated at €99 million. There has been a lot of flip-flopping on this issue. The programme for Government from six months ago states that the student contribution will be decreased over the lifetime of the Government. Starting with an increase of €1,000 is a very poor beginning. I will be the first person to commend the Minister, Deputy Lawless, if he can fight for this budget as Minister. Not everybody within the Government is in agreement. The Opposition will hold a protest at 6 p.m next Tuesday outside the gates of Leinster House. I spoke to all Opposition spokespersons on further and higher education yesterday, and we will be joined by the Union of Students in Ireland, as well as students and their families. That will happen at 6 p.m. next Wednesday and I would like to extend the invitation to Fine Gael. If its members would like to join us, they will be more than welcome. Something needs to be done on this. Students have been let down in recent weeks. There was also flip-flopping in the context of the comments of the Minister, Deputy Browne, who stated there would be protections for student renters, but those protections were not introduced as part of recent legislation .

The second thing I wish to address is Bessborough. I was at the Bessborough mother and baby home commemoration on Saturday and I was deeply moved by the stories from survivors and campaigners. It was great to see the Taoiseach there lending his support as well. I note that 923 children whom we know of died at Bessborough, as well as 31 women. Many of them are missing in the sense that we do not know where they are buried. It is very important that not a single shovel is laid down on that site and nothing is built upon it. It needs to be preserved as sacred ground. I absolutely support the calls from campaigners and survivors in respect of that. Bessborough mother and baby home only closed in 1998 so this is a huge part of our recent history that we need to reckon with.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I acknowledge the members of the Marie Buckley group, who are guests of Deputy Aindrias Moynihan. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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On 5 May, Fine Gael Members of this House brought forward a motion to ensure students' concerns regarding the costs of accessing further education were heard. In that motion, we stated it was urgent and it reflected the daily reality of thousands of students and families grappling with financial pressures. We commended on 5 May the €1,000 reduction in each of the previous three years. These cuts were not just symbolic. For many families they were a lifeline that made the difference between sending their son or daughter to college and facing financial hardship. We said this work must continue. The House was fully supportive of that motion and we want to see these fees reduce even further over the life of this Government, as per the commitment in the programme for Government. I, like my fellow Fine Gael Senators, cannot stand by and see increased costs going onto constituents. Over the past two days since the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Lawless, on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday morning, I have received numerous calls from constituents such as working families and tradespeople, all of whom had put provisions in place to send their kids to third level education this September but will now have to come up with additional funds. Like Senator Harmon, I ask that this be rolled back and the money found. We are talking about €99 million out of a budget of €4.54 billion. Constituents and students - the next generation - deserve that. Investing this money in third level education and access to third level education will pay tenfold back into our economy.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I rise today to also support the call in respect of the increased cost of education that was announced over the weekend. In the programme for Government, in the higher education sector section, it is stated:

This Government will:

Provide more further education and training places nationally.

Continue to reduce the Student Contribution Fee over the lifetime of the Government to ease the financial burden on students and their families at the start of each academic year, in a financially sustainable manner.

That is in the programme for Government that was signed up to by all Government parties. I am not sure where the Minister, Deputy Lawless, was coming from when he spoke about the €1,000 increase but I believe it has to be reversed. There are three third level institutes in Limerick where I am from and I have been inundated with calls from families and students, some of them even saying that it would not be cost effective for them to continue to attend college. Something needs to be reversed and this needs to be looked at again on behalf of the Government.

The other item I would like to raise is vaping indoors. In the previous Seanad, I and the Fine Gael party bought forward a Private Members' Bill to do with vaping and the fact it should not happen indoors. There have been a number of concerts and different events held in Ireland over the past couple of weeks. There have been many complaints from people about people vaping indoors beside them. I believe the law needs to be strengthened and there needs to be greater enforcement of the law regarding it. People should not have to put up with people vaping alongside them, especially indoors, which is the big issue. Any support from the Leader on this matter would be appreciated.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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The Women's Aid 2024 annual report published last week paints a harrowing picture of domestic abuse in this country. Among the most disturbing findings is that 188 pregnant, post-partum or post-termination women were supported by Women's Aid last year due to intimate partner abuse. This is not just a statistic; it is a national disgrace. Tragically, this issue is not abstract. Just this weekend, a 27-year-old mother of two was murdered in Donaghadee in Northern Ireland. She was 34 weeks' pregnant; two lives lost, two victims. Similarly, let us not forget the case of Ailish Walsh, a young woman from Dublin who was 22 weeks' pregnant when she was stabbed to death by her partner in 2022. The court heard he intended to kill her unborn child but no charges were brought for that death.

While both cases are from the UK, we have similar shortcomings in our own laws. Fellow Members of the House, the Pregnancy Loss (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 currently before this House rightly recognises the profound loss experienced by families whose babies die before the 24-week threshold for stillborn registration. This is a welcome step but does not go far enough. We must now ask, where is the legal protection for the unborn victims of violence? When a pregnant woman is attacked and her unborn child dies as a result, our laws do not treat that as a loss of a human life. This is a moral and legal failing. I intend to support any legislation to address this gap because justice must be done, not just for the women who suffer but for the unborn children who die unseen and unaccounted for.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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I want to raise a couple of matters on the Order of Business but directly refer to the matter raised by Senator Keogan. My heart goes out to the family, friends and children of the latest victim of gender-based violence on this island. Sarah Montgomery was murdered. She was pregnant. She was the mother of two children. When are we going to get real as a society? The number of women, and mothers, being killed in their own homes at the hands of people known to them is shocking. We should not be shocked at this stage because it happens so frequently. We need a whole-of-society approach to fixing this problem because it affects women right across the board. We need to talk about this more and to drill down into the reasons this is happening and why there has been an increase. The report published a few weeks ago contained some really shocking statistics. It is the greatest challenge that lies ahead of us as a society. I wish to refer to two other issues if I may, a Chathaoirligh. We all support decreasing costs for our third level students, but let us be real about this - it is the Minister for Finance who holds the purse strings. That is where the power lies. The Minister for Finance during the previous budget, Deputy Chambers, issued the funding to the Department of higher education to decrease the fees paid by families. It is up to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to do that this year. Let us be very clear that is where the power lies on this. I am very glad all our colleagues on the Fine Gael side are on board with that, so let us go away and talk to their Minister for Finance about that.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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Hear, hear.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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On the increased costs on businesses from the insurance companies, the ire being directed at the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is misdirected. We all know the current mechanisms lie within the legislation passed by the previous Minister for justice. I will leave it at that.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I join colleagues in supporting third level students throughout the country who have been shocked over the past few days by the proposals to increase third level fees. I was a students’ union president, as was Senator Harmon. We worked together at the same time in students’ unions. It was a time of deep economic recession and support through SUSI grants and supports through a contribution on student fees were what kept students in and out of college. I was students’ union president on GMIT’s Mayo campus, which is now ATU Mayo, and I have had so many people contact me over the past number of days, including past and present students, constituents and parents who are really concerned by the proposals. We need to work across the House. We need to work, in the best interests of students, to ensure this does not proceed.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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Talk to Paschal.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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We do not need to make any political thing out of what is a difficult time and a concerning proposal for students and families who are to the pin of their collar in a cost-of-living crisis. The proposal needs to be stopped. We need to find a solution for it. We do not need to play politics on what is a really important issue and we need to deliver for students and third level as we committed to in the Private Member’s Bill we brought in May. We need to deliver on that and I hope the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and all Ministers in Cabinet work to support the Fine Gael Senators who brought the Private Member’s Bill here advocating for improvements and supports for third level education.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Sarah Montgomery. I cannot imagine the hurt and grief they are experiencing. To think of a young pregnant mother being killed in her own home is deeply upsetting. According to Women’s Aid, more than one in three women have experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse, or all of these, from an intimate partner. Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women and children in Ireland. Cavan is one of the nine counties that do not have a refuge space for domestic violence victims. Women who have taken the courageous step to leave their abuser should not have to travel across the country to find refuge. This places an additional emotional and financial hardship on victims who may already have limited access to money.

In 2016, Alan Hawe murdered his wife, Clodagh, and their three sons Liam, Niall and Ryan. Since the devastating murders, Clodagh’s family have campaigned for a refuge space in Cavan so victims of domestic violence can have a safe place to turn to. It is eight years later and we still only have the start of the site selection process for building a refuge in Cavan. This was deemed a phase 1 priority under the zero tolerance strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I am so sorry to say it, but no concrete action over eight years does not seem like a zero tolerance approach to me. In November last year the Ministers, Deputies McEntee and O’Brien, welcomed the start of a site selection process for building a domestic violence refuge in Cavan-Monaghan.Only five days ago, another Government TD welcomed the fact they are now actively in the process of site selection. It is cringe and the Government must be ashamed of this at this stage. We need a definite timeline and immediate commitment to progress the development of the eight-unit refuge in Cavan-Monaghan. Otherwise, I fear we will be here in six months' time, welcoming this ongoing site selection.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I rise today in support of my party colleagues in the continued efforts by the Fine Gael group of Senators to highlight the need for the Minister for higher education, Deputy James Lawless, to sustain and continue the cuts in the student contribution fee that were made in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 budget announcements. On 5 May, I seconded the motion brought forward by my party colleagues in support of the continued reduction in the student contribution fee. To be frank about it, I was surprised when I heard the contribution by the Minister for higher education saying he saw this as a cost-of-living measure as opposed to a sustained commitment in the programme for Government to continue the work that began under the now Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, and the previous Minister for higher education, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, in eliminating the student contribution fee.

There has been quite a concerning amount of uncertainty throughout the comments of the Minister in this whole area. How can it be that the programme for Government, which was adopted by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents, continued the commitment to eliminating the student contribution free over the lifetime of this Government but the Minister is bringing forward a proposal in the first budget of that Government to increase the student contribution fee? It is an increase of not only €400 or €300 but €1,000, resetting it to where it was. I echo the calls of my colleagues to work with the parties in government, and our friends in opposition, to highlight the need for this contribution to be eliminated, beginning in this year's budget, the first of this Government.

I heard what was said by some of my Government colleagues in Fianna Fáil earlier about the Minister for Finance, but this is actually in the remit of the Minister for public expenditure. I urge them, through their parliamentary party meetings, to highlight this again with the Minister for higher education and with the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Jack Chambers, to give this the priority that students in third level education and their parents deserve.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I concur with my party colleagues. The Minister needs to reverse this. People are hard pressed the way things are with the cost of living. This really needs to be sorted.

Another issue I will take up today is about Irish Water. North Inishowen, Malin and Carndonagh were without water for three to four days last week. Shops, hairdressers, businesses and households had no water for four days. If you try to get into contact with Irish Water, you get a phone number. When you get someone different in the call centre, they do not know what you are talking about or where the leak is. A whole new plan needs to be put together here. Up to 400 or 500 people were ringing and Irish Water said it did not know there was a leak in Malin Head. That is not good enough in this day and age.

We are in the height of the summer now. Businesses in Donegal are really depending on a good summer. At the end of the day, if they have no water, the business has to close. Households also suffer. In 2025, it is not good enough. I call on Irish Water to have a full and frank look at the pipeline in Inishowen. For the last three days of last week, my phone never stopped with people ringing me. They could not get a straight answer. That was the problem. If people could be told when the water would be turned back on and restart, they could open their businesses and plan. However, what is happening with Irish Water is just not working. Maybe the Leader could try to do something for me on that.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I too support my party colleagues' comments on the messages from the Minister for higher education about increasing fees in the next budget. I have got hundreds of calls from parents who are absolutely terrified of the cost that college fees will impose on them come September if there is an increase of €1,000.We know a lot of families who have two, three and even four people going to college at the same time. That is a massive increase for people.

This reduction is something that was introduced by Deputy Simon Harris when he was the Minister for higher education and was continued by Deputy Patrick O'Donovan. I remember when the programme for Government was being discussed that it was a priority for Fine Gael to reduce college fees and get it in the programme for Government. In fairness to my colleagues, this issue was highlighted two months ago in this Chamber because we got wind that the Minister might do a solo run and increase the fees. He came into this Chamber, said he had an open door, would discuss it with people and nothing would be done without talking. Since 7 May, it seems like the door has been closed and he has just done this himself. When he spoke in this Chamber two months ago, he said:

The programme for Government commits to reducing the student contribution fee in a financially sustainable manner over the lifetime of the Government. I fully intend to do that.

That is what he said in this Chamber two months ago. He fully intends to reduce the college fees because of the burden it is on parents. Yet in the very first budget and first opportunity he has as the Minister for higher education, he throws a fee of €1,000 on every child that goes to college. It is not acceptable. It is not fair. We are meant to be a supportive Government. Certainly the Fine Gael Party supports families and education. It is what we stand for. The fee needs to be reversed. The Minister needs to be brought back in line with what the programme of Government negotiated on. He was in those negotiations and he signed off on it himself. We call on the Minister to clarify his position, and roll back in line with what he said in this Chamber two months ago and reopen his door so that he can listen to people who know what is happening on the ground.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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This morning at a meeting of the defence committee we heard how Defence Forces personnel take their instructions from the Department and from the Minister when it comes to policy issues. Last week, we had a meeting about the shortage of air traffic controllers and we were assured everything was in hand. I learned over the weekend that the offer of the bounty if you want to remain in service was not made until late on Friday and it had a requirement that those serving had to be at least eight years in the job and had to be at the rank of sergeant. The five people who are leaving do not qualify. So in actual fact, the measures being put in place by the Cabinet have not encouraged anybody who is serving to actually stay. I am not sure who is putting the policy in place and putting the money in people's pockets, but it strikes me that the Government has done what it has had to do and the failure is in whatever way that has been translated to the people in uniform. It is bad enough that the Secretary General knew about these problems as far back as 2017, again in 2019, twice in 2021, and once herself drawing to the crisis that was coming down the line, yet they sat on their hands and did absolutely nothing about it. In 2023, in one of the reports, again they point out the likelihood the impact of air traffic control and other specialisms within the Defence Forces were going to have.

It strikes me that the policy that is being followed by the Department is to privatise as much as possible. We have lost the search and rescue service to a private provider. We have lost the transfer of transplant patients and other patients who require urgent transfer to the UK. We have lost all that to private companies. Are they determined to drive the organisation into the ground to make it much easier to deal with? It reminds me of the episode of "Yes Minister" and how the hospital ran perfectly because there were no patients in it. Is that what they want - the Defence Forces to run great because there are no serving members? We really need to do something about it. We need the Minister in here for a debate, if the Leader can organise that at some stage.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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I add my words of support to my Fianna Fáil colleagues here on the matter of the student contribution. We are in coalition and in government together. It is beholden to both of us to address this issue and come to an agreement. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, made it perfectly clear what is happening with the student contribution and did not promise an increase. We are looking at a cost-of-living measure, which, as we know, is just not feasible this year. We are both committed to our programme for Government.We have to be more patient and put this back to the Minister for Finance because he is also beholden to come to this agreement. I refute putting it back to either the Minister, Deputy Chambers, or the Minister, Deputy Lawless. We both agree on having to come to an agreement on the student contribution, so we have to show patience and wait to see what will happen, as is promised, in the new year.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I rise to bring up a point about the urgent concerns facing women in Irish prisons. As of May, our national prison capacity stood at 131%, but it is women's prisons that are suffering the most. The female prison in Limerick is at 152% of capacity, while the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy is at 127%. These are not just statistics; they are women sleeping on floors, traumatised by overcrowding. Many of them I face in our homeless cafés when they are released, and they are released into homelessness and a housing crisis. It breaches the dignity of what we have signed up to under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Bangkok rules. From my visits to the Dóchas Centre, I can see that most women in custody are non-violent. They are mothers, carers and survivors of abuse, yet we keep cycling them through a system that punishes trauma and poverty instead of addressing it. Education, mental health supports and rehabilitation within the Prison Service are exactly what is needed. Prison services are overwhelmed, and that can be seen from the statistics. Staff are burnt out, and the costs, both human and financial, are mounting.

I call on the Government to commit to immediate reform of the prison system, starting with gender-responsive, community-based alternatives to prison, proper post-release support and policymaking that is shaped by lived experience. Let us end a system that breaks people down. What I have learnt, even with the Tiglin programmes, is that such reform creates a system that builds people up.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Anois, the Leader to respond on the Order of Business.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all Senators for their contributions. A number of issues were raised but I will start with the one that was raised the most, which was student fees. It was raised by Senators Nelson Murray, Harmon, Scahill, Maria Byrne, Clifford-Lee, Duffy, Cathal Byrne, Boyle, Ahearn and Comyn. I draw people's attention to the programme for Government and to the Private Members' business that was debated in this House on 7 May. It was in the name of Fine Gael Senators and was supported by all parties. The Minister himself attended for that debate, which agreed the presentation to continue to reduce the student contribution fee during the Government's lifetime. The programme for Government also commits to having no surprises. Comments made last April which encouraged Fine Gael to table Private Members' business at the time and again last week certainly were a surprise. They were not agreed, and that is the important point. Normally, when Ministers fly kites it is on something they know will happen in a positive fashion. This was a strange kite to fly and it has taken off into outer space. I hope it can be recovered because it is the right thing to do to continue to reduce the burden on students. We must remember as well that it is not just €1,000. That €1,000 has to be earned, so that is €2,000 gross. If you have two kids, that is €4,000, and if you have three it is €6,000 that has to be earned to pay for that. The Government has to decide on this. It is right that no decisions have been made and that this will be part of budget negotiations. There is a commitment from the Tánaiste, as the first Minister for further and higher education, that the fees would be reduced over the lifetime of the Government. As others here have said, it would be a bad start if fees were to be increased on this occasion. I will certainly raise that on the Senators' behalf with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister, Deputy Chambers. Senator Fitzpatrick raised the welcome news of pre-legislative scrutiny of the occupied territories Bill commencing and commended Senator Black. She also called for a debate on the post office network. I will request that the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, come to the House to talk about this issue. Senator Fitzpatrick also wished Dessie Farrell well in his retirement.

Senator Nelson Murray mentioned the proposed 17% rise in personal injury awards. She is passionate about this topic and spoke about it in the House in the context of the motion on insurance. As I understand, this is to go before the Cabinet subcommittee on insurance before going to Cabinet. There are now rules in relation to SME tests. It is an important issue. We will see what comes out of that. It has to be voted on subsequently by both Houses.

Senator Clonan raised the protest in Washington D.C. and what happened there. I had not seen it but it is not hard to believe at the moment. He also raised issues regarding last week's debate on his disability Bill. He asked for an discussion on that early in the new year when we come back following the review of the pilot scheme. I will keep that in mind and try to arrange that.

Senator Collins raised issues regarding foster children and the means test. Perhaps she could submit a Commencement matter. It will have to be looked at the context of budget proposals.

Senator Harmon also raised Bessborough mother and baby home and argued that the site needs to be protected. I concur. Perhaps she could submit a Commencement matter on that and she might get a more direct response on what is happening.

Senator Maria Byrne raised vaping. The issue is a particular passion of hers. I know she is a member of the health committee. I will get an update from the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on that.

Senators Keogan, O'Reilly, Clifford-Lee and McCarthy all raised issues in relation to Women's Aid, women's rights, women's prisons, the case of Sarah Montgomery and domestic violence. Senator O'Reilly raised the issue of a refuge in Cavan. I do not have an update on the specific case in Cavan. I am sure she could raise it in the House as a Commencement matter. It is the right thing to have a refuge in every county and, indeed, there may be a requirement for more than one. That would certainly be the case in cities or larger counties. It is the least that can be provided to ensure there is safe place for women and their children. I will call for a debate on prison spaces and women's prisons, as the Senator raised. On what Senator Keogan raised, I am not familiar with what Bill will come before the House. It is not on my radar at the moment but there will be an opportunity to debate those issues at that stage.

Senator Boyle raised issues regarding Irish Water and Malin Head. As he knows, there are Oireachtas phone lines to Irish Water. He can also engage locally with the people involved in the different projects and issues in Donegal. We have those contacts in Galway and I assume it is the same in Donegal, whereby we have to speak directly to people about issues like that. Nevertheless, he is right; information is key to keep people informed of what is happening. If the water will not be back until tomorrow or the day after that, at least people would know and have access to another supply.

Senator Craughwell raised the debate last week and today at the defence and national security committee and talked about the bounty scheme to encourage air traffic controllers to come back. He stated that the measures put in place will not assist in getting people back. I encourage him to raise that perhaps at the next private meeting of the defence committee or to submit it is as a Commencement matter to get a more detailed response.