Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2025 - all Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m., and the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister in the debate on Second Stage not to exceed eight minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed six minutes, all other Senators not to exceed three minutes, and the Minister to be given not less than five minutes to reply to the debate, with Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter; and No. 2, Private Members’ business, Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m. or on conclusion of No. 1, whichever is the later, with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I want to raise an issue that has been highlighted to me by Bonniconlon ICA, a group of brilliant volunteers and community activists who have done great things in their community and continue to do so. They have highlighted, as concerned residents in Mayo, the policy on the shingles vaccine. They request its inclusion in the national vaccination programme funded by the HSE for the general population, similar to programmes in the UK and Australia. Shingles is a serious condition with potentially debilitating effects. It can lead to long-term pain known as postherpetic neuralgia. HIQA has assessed the vaccine and a decision was made that it would not be cost-effective at that time. However, preventative healthcare measures that enable older people to live healthy, active and independent lives can ultimately save the State significant long-term health costs and reduce hospital admissions. The vaccine is only available privately at present for those who can afford it, at considerable cost. The positive health benefits outweigh all upfront costs the State may incur in funding and supporting the roll-out of this vaccine. I use this opportunity today to highlight it on the Seanad floor and encourage the Minister to consider this request. I am sure it has been raised in other forums but it is something that could have a very positive health impact on our country if it were supported. I ask for the support of the House for consideration to be given by the Minister of this issue.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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I thank Senator Duffy for his thorough support for my Commencement matter yesterday on the shingles vaccine. The Government's new Accelerating Infrastructure - Report and Action Plan unveiled yesterday promises a lot. The single word I would apply to the plan is "aspirational". It brings to mind the old quip about Brighton Pier; it is good as far as it goes but it is a poor way of getting to France. Let me insert here that, in common with the great majority of our people, I want to see the so-called housing crisis effectively dealt with but plans that are waffly and simply aspirational will not do for this challenging business.

The plan's first pillar is based on legal reform, and within this are a number of proposals to limit and curtail judicial review. One example is the civil reform Bill, to be published by the Department of justice, that will allow the Legislature to determine the scope and application of judicial review. As we in this House all know, Article 34 of Bunreacht na hÉireann provides for the administration of justice in our courts by an independent Judiciary. The Constitution is based on a principle of separation of powers, with the Judiciary, Executive and Legislature having important but distinct roles to play in exercising the functions of the State.

The action plan speaks in general terms, of course, and so we cannot know precisely what legislative reform the Government plans, but for the Legislature to step into the realm of the Judiciary and carve up what the Constitution calls the "full original jurisdiction" of the High Court could be a move of grave consequence. I would be doubtful that it could be achieved, certainly not in any way that is meaningful, without a constitutional amendment. No such amendment is mentioned in the Government's action plan. Article 6 and Articles 34 to 37 of Bunreacht na hÉireann deal with the area of the separation of powers, even though that phrase does not appear in the Constitution. I believe the Supreme Court will always uphold Article 43, which specifically guarantees property rights.

The plan, strangely, gives to AI a deus ex machina feature, whereby artificial intelligence is going to do the devil and all for infrastructure. For example, the report states that AI could be used to identify the common barriers and bottlenecks inherent in projects.Seriously, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, does Ireland really need AI to identify the barriers and bottlenecks that have been glaring at us for over half a century? To me, the plan is aspirational and not inspirational. It is born of a need to assure that something comprehensive is being done. As I have said previously in this Chamber, nobody in this Oireachtas really believes that 300,000 houses will be delivered by 2030. It is demonstrably fatuous. Speeding up the delivery of much-needed housing and infrastructure is in all our interests, but our fundamental law must be respected, however inconvenient that may be.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome this morning's announcement that the tourism branding of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands is being extended north of the Border into County Fermanagh. That is good for tourism providers in Fermanagh. For people who may not have visited it, Fermanagh is a scenically very beautiful county, with many tourism offerings. The Minister for the Economy north of the Border, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, has added a £300,000 marketing boost to Fermanagh to welcome the initiative. This particular expansion of Fáilte Ireland's brand into the North makes a lot of sense in terms of marketing and the similarity of the offer that is found in Fermanagh to that on offer in the rest of the area that is covered by the Hidden Heartlands.

I was working on this project in my previous role as Minister for the Economy in the North with the then Minister for tourism, Deputy Catherine Martin. That function has since been brought into the Department of enterprise, under the Minister, Deputy Burke, which is a good move. We brought together the three tourism agencies on the island, namely, Tourism Ireland, which markets the island internationally, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism NI, to discuss the very successful branding under Fáilte Ireland's banner. We were told that Ireland's Ancient East is under review to assess its effectiveness. That was a year or 18 months ago. It is time we heard where that review is. Of course, the Wild Atlantic Way has been a very successful tourism exercise, and one which I know a lot of the tourism providers on the north coast are very keen to be linked into in a more formal way.

There is more work to be done. This initial step is very welcome. As part of the brief when I was a minister, I visited New York, Chicago and Toronto to talk to tour operators. With the simplicity of our message, and certainty of our branding for an island as small as this one, it makes enormous sense that we take successful brands and apply them to as much of the island as makes branding sense. That makes the job of Tourism Ireland, which does a remarkable job internationally in promoting the whole island, much easier. I have had the pleasure of hosting events internationally where we talk to tour operators. I would like to see a debate in the Chamber in relation to tourism on the island generally, particularly tourism branding, to discuss how we can make it more successful.

At the enterprise committee, we recently had discussions with tourism providers about how we help them in the job they are doing. We can make the job done by small and large providers right across the island easier. We recognise the economic benefits they bring to the entirety of the island. I would welcome a debate on that topic.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Before I move to the next speaker, I welcome the students from St. Brigid's Boys' National School in Foxrock, along with their teachers. They are guests of Deputy Maeve O'Connell and are ably guided by James Byrne. It is customary here that there is no homework for the rest of the day. I hope they enjoy their visit.

Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)
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I draw attention, unfortunately, to a very serious accident that happened in Limerick in recent weeks. A woman who is a student at the University of Limerick was jogging close to a pedestrian crossing on Corbally Road in Limerick. She was seriously injured. Our thoughts are with her and her family as she is in hospital in Cork undergoing treatment. Limerick councillors in that area have been drawing attention to the fact that it is a very busy road and close to a primary school. It is also a huge area for commuters. In the mornings, it is chock-a-block. People are not respecting the pedestrian crossing. They are not observing the flashing lights. They are not slowing down or stopping to allow pedestrians, who are often small primary school children, to pass.

It is an issue that I have raised in another part of Limerick. The Shelbourne Road in Limerick city also has a pedestrian crossing with flashing beacons close to a primary school. Drivers seem to be zooming through the crossing and failing to observe any safety measures. I have written to the county council about the issue. I have engaged with local residents about it. I would like it if we could have a debate on what further measures can be implemented at pedestrian crossings because, unfortunately, whether they are looking at their phones or speeding to get ahead in traffic, drivers are not taking due care. Many suggestions have been made to me by residents of the area I am speaking about. People are asking why we cannot have cameras on these pedestrian crossings that will read a numberplate and issue a fine to someone who is not observing a person crossing at a pedestrian crossing. I would like a discussion of that issue on a date that is suitable.

I acknowledge the front page of this week's Limerick Leader, which is one of the oldest, most established and most prominent local papers in Limerick. It has published the photographs of four women who, unfortunately, over recent years lost their lives in the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick, UHL. I thank the Minister for coming to the House last Thursday and giving us her time to debate the topic of the HIQA report. I thank her for her engagement on that matter. However, on Tuesday, HSE mid-west had, once again, to issue a media release to the local papers and radio to ask people not to come to the emergency department at UHL unless they had a real emergency because it was at such a level of overcrowding. I know the Minister would have different views on the matter, but we in Limerick are living it. I was there on Monday with a family member. The team is amazing, as is the care, but patients are waiting on trolleys for a long time. When it gets busy, it is, unfortunately, less safe. I call on the Minister to publish her views on the HIQA report as soon as possible.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I welcome Senator Fitzpatrick as acting Acting Leader of the Seanad. It is an honour for her and I know she will do a good job.

I want to follow on from what Senator Conway was talking about in respect of the Government publishing the accelerating infrastructure report and action plan. I welcome that. We all know that we need to put infrastructure in place. The Acting Leader served for a long time on the housing committee. I was with her on the committee. An issue that was constantly raised at the committee was that while there was a plan for housing, we also needed to address the issues that were impediments to housing, enterprise and industry. It is clear that we have issues in respect of critical infrastructure. Having said that, I also believe that citizens have rights and they are addressed, to a certain extent, in this proposal, at least according to media reports this morning.

The plan contains and sets out 30 measures intended to remove the barriers to infrastructure and development across Ireland. That will include legal and regulatory reforms, which is important.

The Taoiseach is quoted in the press as saying that issues should be resolved in the planning system and not the courts. I agree. Issues should be resolved at An Coimisiún Pleanála and the planning authorities.

There is a wake-up call that we must take seriously what our citizens are saying and what people are engaging with. We need to focus on that because citizens have rights. I have no doubt that most TDs, councillors and Senators have made submissions. Indeed, I have objected to particular things. I have successfully pursued issues through An Coimisiún Pleanála where the board has found in favour of my case. That is true of many other people here. There are processes in place and we must exercise them, but it must be done in a balanced and fair way.

The Tánaiste's comments on the plan have been reported in all media today. He echoed the sentiments that the Government must address the imbalance that currently exists. The president of the Irish Planning Institute, Mr. Gavin Lawlor, welcomed the plan and said that this initiative is to engage with communities more around the concept of the common good and the benefits that sustainable infrastructure will bring to wider society and the environment. We are beginning to see greater understanding in the language. There is great hope in this plan. I ask the Acting Leader to convey, at some appropriate time, my wish for a debate on the 30 objectives in the plan.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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It is good to see the Acting Leader in the chair.

I concur with my colleague, Senator Conor Murphy, in relation to having a debate or conversation on the new national tourism policy that was launched during the week in Mullingar. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Burke, on the work that he and his Department have put into it. Coming from Portumna, as I always tell Senators, on the banks of the Shannon, I am on the fringes of the Hidden Heartlands, but just inside in the city I have the Wild Atlantic Way. I jokingly say that sometimes the people in the west do not know about the Hidden Heartlands and the people in the Hidden Heartlands forget we exist. I would really welcome a conversation and a debate because there is so much to offer, not just within Ireland but on the platform of Europe and on a wider level as well. We need a collective conversation about what we have on offer within our communities and the indigenous businesses. Only last week we saw the wonderful work that was done in relation to the crafts industry. We can do a revitalisation but we need to be able to market all our towns and villages. We need to give them the belief in themselves that they can market and be on that national stage. That digital world and digital marketplace ensures they can be exposed but you need to have the Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland branding supporting and endorsing your community and branding. I really would welcome it. However, I compliment the Minister and his Department on the work they have done.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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Ireland has the unfortunate status of being the puppy farm capital of Europe, with a massive industry of underground breeding establishments continuously producing puppies under appalling conditions. This has all happened under the watch of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Ireland falls far short of what most dog lovers would recognise as an acceptable environment for puppies and their mothers. The breeding and sale of pets urgently demands stricter regulations to combat issues such as puppy farming and irresponsible breeding practices. I fully support the legislation introduced by the Social Democrats in the Dáil on this issue. It will make a real impact in improving animal welfare standards for dogs and end some of the cruel practices that occur on these puppy farms. Likewise, we need further security when it comes to the sale of pets online, in the course of which there are often attempts to deceive the public on the conditions in which dogs were bred. There needs to be an information campaign rolled out, in conjunction with new legislation in this area, informing the public how to recognise a verified advertisement and to be able to know whether a dog has come from a licensed breeding establishment. Being registered does not equate to being ethical. Just because the person selling the pups is nice, that does not mean he or she is ethical. A lot of research has been done and there are clearly many red flags. It is important to warn people that they should meet the mother of the pup in their own environment. They should not meet them in a carpark, which is what happens a lot, and it should not be cash only. That is a red flag. The animal rescue services are absolutely overwhelmed by the number of dogs and it is horrific for them. It is really important that, this Christmas, when families are going to be under real pressure to get a pup, it is important to watch for red flags, to not buy a puppy-farm pup, to adopt from a rescue and not to shop.

Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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As we are in the first week of December, I want to give a massive shout-out to all our An Post workers who are working around the clock between now and Christmas. My postman popped his head over my gate last week on Saturday and he said they were so busy delivering packages after package. I give a big shout-out to all the An Post workers who are working really hard trying to get us all our lovely Christmas presents before Christmas.

I want to bring up a related issue. An Post pensioners in Navan, Trim and Athboy have been in contact with me about a delay in a pay rise that was due to them in their pensions. They are very concerned about it. Obviously, they have given their life's work to working in An Post. I would like to get an answer as to when they can expect to see the pay rise in their pensions. Again, well done to all the An Post workers working very hard at this time of the year.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I recently saw that €330 million was allocated in the budget to the hot school meals programme. That is a huge amount of expenditure and it is a new item of expenditure in the budget. Yet, across Cavan and Monaghan, it is now becoming clear that the new bureaucracy surrounding the serving of these meals is pushing providers out of the scheme altogether. In recent weeks, I have been contacted by teachers who have been formally instructed by their unions not to place pre-prepared meals in school ovens. This follows a wave of providers withdrawing and leaving hundreds of schools uncertain about whether their pupils will continue to receive a hot meal every day. The new food safety and procurement guidelines issued by the schools procurement unit, SPU, and the FSAI have dramatically raised the bar for compliance. Many schools are now expected to have dedicated food-heating rooms and for smaller or rural schools these demands are just not possible; they are unrealistic. The Joint Committee on Education and Youth heard that 112 schools have been affected by the withdrawal of just two suppliers. At the same time, there are hundreds of schools across the country that have chosen not to participate at all. No child should arrive to school hungry but I know the quality of some of these meals leaves a lot to be desired. It is not good; it is poor. A lot of food provided is dumped straight into the bin by parents when children come home from school and parents end up packing lunches for the children anyway. Will the Government revisit the current guidelines, consult properly with teachers and school staff, and ensure the programme is workable for schools? The Government must also ensure quality is not sacrificed. Many providers, though not all, are receiving substantial funding for food that simply is not up to standard, and that is unacceptable. To get value for this investment, it cannot be just a tick-box exercise. I want to see children who need a hot meal receive appetising and nutritious food and that is not happening currently. We must always ensure the taxpayer, who is footing the bill for these schemes, gets value for money.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senators for their contributions. We started with Senator Duffy, who gave a great compliment to the Bonniconlon ICA from County Mayo. The shingles vaccine is a very important issue. As Senator Duffy acknowledged, it has previously been raised by other Senators. It is available in other jurisdictions but in Ireland it is only privately available. I completely agree with him that prevention is always better than cure. It is a vaccine that is proven to work, that can protect our citizens, primarily our senior citizens, and it should be included in the medical card vaccine programme. This is an issue that I and others have raised. It would be helpful to table a Commencement matter on that specific issue with the Minister for Health to see if she can find within her budget - the health budget is very significant, as the Senator alluded to - provision to ensure every senior citizen and every vulnerable individual who requires the shingles vaccine can have access to it without any additional cost.

Senators Joe Conway and Boyhan both spoke about the plan announced by Government to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure. One would think that we are living in two parallel universes, to hear them speak about it. I was disappointed to hear Senator Conway speak in such defeatist terms about a plan, as enunciated by Senator Boyhan and referred to by independent authorities outside this House and the Dáil, that will unblock the logjam that exists. It is going to streamline the regulatory and approval process.It is going to reduce timelines, accelerate delivery and increase efficiency, which are all values every Member of this House could subscribe to when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure. When we talk about infrastructure, it is really important to remember that infrastructure means homes, school, roads and train stations. It is the structures upon which our families, communities, enterprises and tourism are built. I believe, therefore, that the infrastructure announcement is a very positive one. It highlights the ambition that the Government and the State have to meet the requirements of our citizens. I believe that the Minister with responsibility, Deputy Chambers, will be delighted to take the opportunity to come into the House. I will extend an invitation to him to come in at his earliest convenience and have a debate with the House on the infrastructure plan.

I commend Senator Conor Murphy on his enthusiasm for the tourism activities on both sides of the Border. It is a great example of all-island working and us acting as an island to maximise our potential. I share with him in commending Fáilte Ireland on its extension of the Hidden Heartlands to include County Fermanagh. It is a beautiful part of the country. I was not surprised to hear Senator Rabbitte join in the praise. It would be important to have the Minister for enterprise into the House. Tourism is now under the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. That was a very positive move by Government to move tourism into the Department of enterprise because it is the foundation of many of our local economies right around the country. We will invite the Minister in for a debate on not just the Hidden Heartlands but, as Senator Rabbitte alluded to, the Wild Atlantic Way as well, which does very well out of tourism. Let us have that debate soon, however, because this House should support the Minister and the Department in that.

Senator Dee Ryan mentioned that serious accident. I am sorry to hear that it is one of only a series of accidents. Road safety is an issue the Senator has been championing. She mentioned not just Corbally Road but the Shelbourne Road and the fact that drivers are just not observing the rules of the road and the infrastructure that has been put in place to ensure pedestrian safety. It would be really important that this matter is aired in the House. We will invite the Minister in to have a debate on what can be done specifically to improve the effectiveness of the measures that are already in place. The Senator mentioned how the pedestrian crossings are there, but they are being ignored. She also asked whether car number plate technology can be deployed in that instance.

I am sorry to hear that Limerick University Hospital continues to suffer from overcrowding. It is not acceptable that the hospital is having to send announcements inviting people not to attend the emergency department. When people are ill and unwell and need emergency help, they need to be able to go there confident that they are going to receive the care they need and deserve. I recognise that the Senator asked for the Minister to release her views on the HIQA report. We will write to the Minister and ask her to do so.

Senator Rabbitte spoke about the tourism policy. She also made a very good point, not just about the broad national tourism activity but the very need to instil confidence in local communities. She spoke about the indigenous business and craft activities, and she is absolutely right. We have a unique culture and unique traditions and enterprises that can take their place on the world stage, and the World Wide Web makes that possible. However, we need to support those communities to amplify and champion and show what they have to offer to the rest of the world. Those are points the Senator can raise with the Minister once we get him in.

Senator Andrews raised the issue of puppy farms, and I smiled, not at the issue, but because he was alluding to attributing all of it to my party and the other party. I am disappointed he did that because it is a really serious issue, and I agree with him. Dogs Trust Ireland and other rescues will be overwhelmed this Christmas. It is cruelty; it is just the cruellest thing. I support the Senator's call for people to be vigilant. There are regulations in place, but they are not being properly enforced.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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That is the Government's problem.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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That is an issue we need to address, 100%. I completely agree with the Senator. We should have a debate with the Minister on the issue and on what action can be taken. I personally believe it is a matter of resourcing local authorities and having local authorities actually enforce the regulations that are in place. That is not under debate. In the meantime, we all need to call on the public to be vigilant and not to buy puppies from people who take cash only and who only meet them in a car park and do not show the mother of the puppy. It is cruel, unbecoming and something none of us should support.

I say well done to Senator Nelson Murray for giving a big shout-out to the postmen and postwomen who are out there and who will be there come hail, rain or snow over the next days and weeks. They will be delivering parcels and letters from loved ones right up to Christmas. They will bring everybody closer at Christmas, so well done to them. We will write to the Minister to seek an answer on the issue about pensions and, if necessary, let us bring the Minister in for an actual debate on that. This House did a lot of work for the postmasters over the course of the last year, which everyone in the House can be proud about. I know the postmasters were quite pleased with the outcome. However, individual post workers need to be looked after too, and we will do that.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly mentioned the €330 million of taxpayers' money that the Government has allocated for hot school meals. The idea of hot school meals is to ensure that every child has the nourishment to fully participate in the classroom and every child is equal in a classroom, regardless of what or where they come from. When they come into school, they are all equal, they all take their place, and they are all equally supported. It is very disappointing, therefore, to hear Senator O'Reilly's characterisation of what is going on in the schools. I was alarmed to hear that unions are instructing teachers not to support the delivery of hot meals to schoolchildren. This is a very serious matter and it is one the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth would be ideally positioned to examine because it is going to take much more than just an Order of Business debate or a Commencement matter here. I suggest that Senator O'Reilly refer the matter to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth and I will personally refer it too.

On that, I conclude the Order of Business.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge that children from Presentation Primary School, George’s Hill in Smithfield were in the Gallery during the Order of Business. We are now joined by Deputy Cormac Devlin who has three transition year, TY, students with him today, namely, Marcus McGovern, Kelly Chen and Charlotte Hannon. I hope they enjoy their visit here to Leinster House today. Maybe they are politicians in the making. They are very welcome.