The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re compellability directions, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2014 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m.; No. 3 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 12.15 p.m. and to adjourn no later than 1.45 p.m.; No. 4, Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 - Committee Stage (resumed) and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 2 p.m. and to adjourn no later than 3.45 p.m.; No. 65, Private Members' business, which is motion No. 11, to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude no later than 6 p.m. if not previously concluded; and No. 5, Court of Appeal Bill 2014 - Second Stage, to be taken at 6 p.m, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes. The Court of Appeal Bill went through the Dáil quickly as it involves implementing the will of the people as expressed in the recent referendum. If no amendment is proposed, we could explore the possibility of taking all Stages this evening. I am open to the decision of the House as to whether Members want to take all Stages or Second Stage only of that Bill.
Order of Business
We have no problem with all Stages of the Court of Appeal Bill being taken today if that is what is required. At the outset, I welcome Senator Norris back to the House. It is great to see him looking so well and back in full spirits to participate with us.
Hear, hear.
It would be remiss to fail to wish the new Ministers of State well and to commiserate with those who have lost out on this occasion. Genuinely, we wish them all well. However, it speaks volumes when one sees the absence of a female Minister of State. There was ample talent on the Government side to consider. That is borne out by many Members on the Leader's side. As somebody from the north west, it is regrettable to see so many counties from the region without representation, including Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Roscommon, Galway, most of Donegal, Longford and Westmeath. It is a gaping wound in the north west.
We have the Taoiseach.
He seems to have forgotten where he is from. That is the issue.
And the Cathaoirleach.
There is a point of view that it speaks volumes about the lack of seriousness with which the Government treats the regions, in particular its failure to empower them to perform to their potential. We express some regret notwithstanding our best wishes to the new Ministers.
I ask for an amendment to the Order of Business. The Leader might assist me in terms of what Minister should come to the House as we are somewhat confused as to who is responsible now for the roll out of the disability strategy. It seems responsibility has been removed from the remit of the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. We are not sure if it forms part of the remit of the new Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, or if someone else is responsible. I will be guided by the Leader in that regard but in the interim I propose that the Taoiseach come to the House to explain why €1.2 million in cuts has been imposed on the Pobal funding of the scheme of support for voluntary organisations. I refer to organisations including the Neurological Alliance, the Huntingdon's Disease Association, the Migraine Association, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, Chronic Pain Ireland, and the Irish Deaf Society, some of which will now have to close as their individual grants of what in some instances is €22,500 - a measly sum - have been cut. There was no audit, no contact or consultation with the groups and no suggestion that they were not playing their parts. In fact, in discussions with the Disability Federation of Ireland today, I was assured that the very point of these organisations and the vital contribution they make was as a conduit and a go-to point to ensure that people suffering from these illnesses could avail of exactly what they wanted. The CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland told me today that these people will end up as unnecessary casualties because we cannot see the wood for the trees.
We are callously cutting €1.2 million in funding. It is a measly amount compared to what the contribution of these organisations has meant. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who had been responsible for this, was in the House last night. I do not know who is responsible now as the word "disability" has fallen off the radar in terms of the full titles of Ministers of State. Incredibly, she said last night that she was not even told about this until it made it into the media last week. That is disgraceful. Surely, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which is responsible for the community aspect of Pobal and its funding speaks to the Department of Health and tells the Minister what is going on. On that basis, we want to call the Taoiseach to the House to explain what has informed the decision of Government callously to cut this €1.2 million. We would like that to happen today.
It has again fallen on the Labour Party to ensure the presence of women in Cabinet. I welcome the appointment of Deputy Ann Phelan to her Minister of State role. I note that five reports into the deaths of children who were in the care of the State will be published by the Child and Family Agency later today. The reports relate to children who died either while they were in care or were known to the State. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on that in early course following the publication of the reports.
I note that the chairperson of the mother and baby home investigation is to be named today. However, the commission of investigation's terms of reference and its membership are not ready for publication. This must happen in early course. I hope it is not suffering from the fact that we have had three Ministers in the portfolio within a very short space of time. It is a priority that must be addressed.
I remind Members that I am hosting an initiative today in the AV room. It is a question-and-answer session on the homeless prevention services in the Dublin region. It is not just a matter for the Dublin region, but one for the entire country. It is a service that must be rolled out nationally. Since the service was established on 16 June 2014, 1,252 calls have been received, and 449 families identified as at risk of becoming homeless. The statistics are shocking and demonstrate the need for initiatives like this one. It must be rolled out to the country as a whole as this is not just a Dublin problem.
I ask the Leader to organise a debate with the new Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, in early course. Very recently, UCD received 10,000 e-mails within three minutes in respect of applications for its on-campus accommodation. There is a serious shortage of accommodation in the Dublin region in particular, but elsewhere also. We have 80,000 full-time students in Dublin and there is a major problem of access to accommodation for them and of the level of rents they are being charged. I note a recent report to the effect that college rentals are to rise by up to 13%, which is entirely unacceptable.
The spokesperson for UCD stated the university had commissioned an estate agent to provide a report on current private rental markets within easy access of the campus to ensure the licence fees were not out of kilter with those charged in the private rental sector. That is outrageous. What relevance does the wider private rental sector have to the provision of on-campus accommodation? The property and land in question was provided by the State. The units were built using public private partnerships and the State had to forgo tax to build them. It is outrageous to suggest the same sum should be charged for on-campus accommodation as is being charged in the wider private rental sector. Education is a right, not a privilege. For those who are not from urban areas and must attend educational institutions, the charges being levied by universities for on-campus accommodation are entirely unacceptable. I ask that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, be invited to come to the House to debate the availability of accommodation for students generally and ensure measures are put in place to ensure fairer charges are levied for on-campus accommodation.
The Leader was asked about the Court of Appeal Bill. I certainly support the view that All Stages should be taken together. The legislation reflects the will of the people. I have examined it and I am very supportive of it. I look forward to speaking about it.
I am concerned about the time allocated for the Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill. More questions arise the more I look at it. Sixteen amendments have been tabled. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, have been very good and provided some very detailed responses to my concerns, but there are some concerns that warrant a debate in the House. I am concerned that only 30 minutes have been allowed for consideration of the Bill.
Senator Aideen Hayden has raised an issue I wanted to raise today, namely, that of children who died in the care of the State and the reports to be produced by the national review panel on serious incidents and child deaths. This is a wider issue for the House to debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly. The debate should cover the issues of aftercare for children who were in the care of the State, special care placements, out-of-hours services and the role of alcohol and drug addiction. I ask that the Leader organise this debate at the earliest opportunity.
I refer to the cuts in funding under the scheme to support national organisations, an issued raised by Senator Marc MacSharry. I have been raising it since or even before May 2013. I had a premonition that what has occurred under the new scheme would happen. I wish I had been proved wrong, but, unfortunately, the cuts have happened. It is not the Taoiseach who should come to the House to address the issue but the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. With the greatest of respect to Senator Marc MacSharry, this matter is within the remit of the Minister. The scheme has long been connected with community services for people with disabilities. If we study the funding allocations for 2011–13, we will note that there were 64 participating organisations, almost half of which had a disability or caring orientation. Yesterday, when I spoke about this issue, I stated it went to the heart of every community. I wish to list the organisations that have been subject to cuts: the Alzheimer Society of Ireland; Arthritis Ireland; Aspire; Brí, the acquired brain injury advocacy association; the Centre for Independent Living; Chronic Pain Ireland; the Disability Federation of Ireland; the Dyslexia Association of Ireland; the Genetic and Rare Disorders Organisation; GROW; the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland; the Irish National Council of AD/HD Support Groups; Irish Autism Action; the Irish Deaf Society; the Irish Heart Foundation; the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, IMNDA; the Irish Stammering Association; the Migraine Association of Ireland; MS Ireland; Muscular Dystrophy Ireland; Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland; the Neurological Alliance of Ireland; the Post Polio Support Group; the Asthma Society of Ireland; and the Carers Association. The Seanad should stand up in this regard. If we were to considere what we spent on consultants' reports alone, we would realise we could fund these organisations.
Senator David Norris is very welcome back to the Chamber.
I thank the Cathaoirleach and my colleagues for their good wishes. I hope to return full-time in the autumn.
At the beginning of the year, in January, I raised the question of a visit by His Holiness Pope Francis to Ireland. On 18 February the request was put through the Committee on Procedure and Privileges unanimously. On 19 February it went through the House unanimously and was sent to the Government. I would like to have an answer on it, or at least a partial one. I would like to see some movement by the Government. All of the churches have welcomed my call and stated it would be very good if the visit could take place. Remarkably, the leader of the DUP, Mr. Peter Robinson, has said he would meet the Pope. That would be a considerable advance in the complex structures of Northern Ireland. The attitude of the people is very positive. The Pope is a man who is not stifled by bureaucracy and whom I believe would definitely come if he received an invitation. However, we are being stymied by the attitude of the Government. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges has twice contacted it and requested an update. All it has received is an acknowledgement, which is extraordinary. It is part of the Government's arrogant attitude. The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin raised the issue-----
The matter will arise at the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges later today. We will receive an update on it.
Yes, but I imagine it will be another acknowledgement. Therefore, I want to push for a visit through this public forum and let the people of Ireland know that the Government is sitting on the matter and doing nothing. We have a new Minister from my county, County Laois, who may have something done about it. At this juncture, I wish him and all of the other new Ministers well. However, I would like to see a little action. There is a kind of selective democracy. The Church of Ireland Archbishop repeatedly asked about Bethany Home, as I did, but the Government ignored him. I cannot imagine it ignoring the Roman Catholic archbishop.
There was a question on the process of nomination regarding the presidency and its financing. I have no intention of running for the presidency again. Some 96% of the people at the Constitutional Convention supported a motion in my name in this regard, but the Government did nothing with it. It has done the same on the Pope's visit, which is most regrettable. I ask for some action. If the Government does not want the visit to take place, let it have the courage to state it does not want to have the Pope in Ireland and sign in the name of its constituent parties, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party.
In response to Senator Marc MacSharry, it is important to realise 2,600 organisations are receiving funding from the HSE's budget. Their allocations account for 25% of the budget. Some €3.27 billion is being paid out to them. It is in this context that we should be considering the matter. I agree with the views of Senators Marc MacSharry and Jillian van Turnhout on the way in which the funding was cut in that no notice was given. I certainly do not agree with no notice being given. We should debate the number of organisations that have cross-representation. We talked about quangos being run by Departments. There is a need to examine how taxpayers' money is being paid to so many organisations with a view to determining whether we can get the organisations to work together, while providing for the same level of representation and care.
When we resume in plenary session in September, we will be facing the budget. It would be helpful if there was a debate before the budget on relevant issues. A very relevant topical issue which I constantly raise concerns the number of junior doctors who are leaving the country. An issue that has caught my attention is that of the number of people who are studying medicine under the graduate entry programme and paying over €16,000 a year in fees to the colleges. If they borrow the money, they cannot write off against tax the interest they pay on these borrowings. This incentive should be introduced in the next budget. I am sure every Member has an idea that could help to improve the taxation system. We should have a debate on this matter at an early date when we return in September. I ask the Leader to consider this suggestion seriously.
On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I call on the Government to clarify immediately which Minister of State has responsibility for older people. Yesterday the Cabinet signed off on removing the older people brief from the responsibilities of the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. In 2011 she was appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for disability, equality, mental health and older people.
However, today, the Minister of State has special responsibility for primary care, mental health and disability.
Last week, the Taoiseach spoke in a very profound manner when he said he wanted Ireland to be the best small country in the world in which to do business, raise a family and grow old with dignity and respect. However, the reality is older people have been hit very unfairly with regressive cuts to social support by this Government and, now, they seem to have slipped off the radar altogether. Over seven years ago, Fianna Fáil recognised the need for older people to be given a specific voice within the political structures of the country when we created the post of Minister of State with special responsibility for older people, working across three Departments - the Departments of Health, Social Protection and the Environment, Community and Local Government - but this role is barely recognisable today.
One of the key organisations looking after older people, Alone, was set up, as many in the Chamber will know, by Willie Bermingham, a Dublin fireman who died 24 years ago. As a fireman, he regularly saw the condition of the residences of older people who could not look after themselves properly, and he set up Alone. Today, Sean Moynihan is a superb CEO of the organisation.
The reality is that everyone, including everyone in this Chamber, is going to grow old, although they all seem to forget about it. Certainly, this Government is forgetting about it. The number of people over the age of 65 is increasing by 20,000 a year. The demographics of the country are shifting considerably and it is essential that the Government immediately clarifies this situation and reinstates its commitment to giving older people a voice in government.
I thank Senator Hayden for raising the issue of housing and for holding her event this morning. There are 4,700 older people on the waiting list for housing, which is very serious.
My issue relates somewhat to what Senator White has raised, and I support her points. I have come from a committee meeting this morning where we did not know which Minister we should contact about an issue. I ask the Leader to ask the Government to issue a document today to all Members of the House to clarify the roles within the new Ministries. It is extremely important that we know to whom we should direct our concerns.
I want to raise the issue of the fair deal scheme, which was set up to assist people who had to move into nursing homes, whether public, private or voluntary. The current system provides that the person who is moving in contributes 80% of their assessable income and 7.5% of the value of their assets on an annual basis, or they can forgo that during their life. That scheme has worked quite well but, in recent months, something has started to occur across the country, where nursing homes have requested extra money from residents for extra facilities, some of which they are not availing of. This is causing great distress to elderly people in the nursing homes and to their families. In some cases, they are being asked for an extra €1,000 per annum. If one considers the 80% contribution that is taken off their pensions, there is very little left weekly to pay for their personal needs, yet they are now being asked for more money.
My understanding was that the facilities that were provided in a nursing home were catered for under the 80% contribution but another charge is now creeping in. I ask the Leader to get clarity on this matter from the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who I believe is responsible. It is causing untold distress. I have been told by families of residents that the answer they got from the nursing homes was that they should pay the money. The reality is that those families do not have it because they are strapped for cash themselves. I am looking for clarity on this issue before we break for the summer recess. It has been going on for too long and it is starting to get legs now. We should not allow it to go on any longer.
With regard to the suggestion on the Court of Appeal, we would have no problem with that and we support what the Leader is trying to do.
I support other Senators who have talked about the cuts made to the different community groups. It is interesting to note that this funding came via Pobal. There was a media report recently that Pobal spent €250,000 per preschool visit for a number of the preschool visits that were undertaken. To see that it has cut on average €43,000 from the community organisations in question is an absolute scandal and this money needs to be reinstated immediately.
As we stand today, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating minute by minute, with the continuous Israeli military escalation, threats to expand military operations and the continued and tightened closure of the Gaza Strip. The ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza has resulted in 181 Palestinians killed, of whom 147 are civilians, including 36 children and 29 women. Some 1,181 others are wounded, mostly civilians, including 368 children and 253 women.
We call on the Government to call upon the international community to act immediately to stop these crimes, and to call on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil their obligation, under Article 1 of the convention, to ensure that it is respected at all times and, under Article 146, to pursue perpetrators of serious violations of the convention, which are determined in Article 147, which lists violations of the convention amounting to war crimes. We call for the establishment of a UN fact-finding mission to investigate suspected war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and to take necessary steps to prosecute those responsible for them, which is a very serious issue.
Agus mé i mo sheasamh anseo, caithfidh mé comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na hAirí Stáit nua atá ceaptha, ach chomh maith céanna caithfidh mé mo dhíomá a chur in iúl maidir leis an gceapachán atá déanta ó thaobh an Aireacht Gaeltachta. Is mór an náire i ndáiríre píre é duine gan Ghaeilge a bheith ceaptha mar Aire Gaeltachta. Is botún mór é seo agus ba cheart don Rialtas a admháil go bhfuil botún déanta aige agus ba cheart duine le Gaeilge a chur sa ról sin le ceannródaíocht a thabhairt agus le taispeáint go bhfuil an Rialtas dáiríre faoin Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge agus nach bhfuil sé ag déanamh ceap magaidh den ról sin.
Tá sé sách dona gan Aire le Gaeilge a bheith againn, ach níos measa fós go bhfuil Aire Stáit againn nach bhfuil ábalta fiú labhairt lena chuid feidhmeannaigh sa teanga ina bhfuil siad ag feidhmiú. Tá sé sin ag sárú na gcearta atá acu ó thaobh fostaíochta de. Ba cheart go mbeidís ábalta a gcuid oibre a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Beidh mise ag diúltiú Béarla a labhairt leis an Aire Stáit nuair a thagann sé anseo ar cheisteanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Sílim go raibh daoine ann go mb'fhéidir leis an dTaoiseach a cheapadh sa ról sin agus sin is cóir a bheith déanta. Ba chóir don Taoiseach tarraingt siar as an ainmniúchán áirithe seo agus daoine a bhogadh timpeall le cinntiú go mbeidh duine le Gaeilge sa phost.
I regularly speak in the House on the importance of tourism. I would like the Leader to organise a debate in due course, possibly in September or October, with the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Michael Ring, on how we can source international sporting events. An American football match is coming up in Croke Park later this year and there are facilities all over Ireland, not just in Croke Park, where we can accommodate international sporting events showcasing the country, particularly in the area of golf. As we all know, Trump has taken over Doonbeg in Clare and there is also Lahinch in that county. There is significant potential to develop golf tourism.
In the context of the Wild Atlantic Way in particular, I would like to see a specific strategy promoting walking, hiking, cycling and running. This is an international phenomenon. In the Cathaoirleach's own county of Mayo, we have seen the huge success of the Westport to Achill walking and cycling pathway. There are significant developments in terms of creating cycle pathways throughout the west, in conjunction with the Wild Atlantic Way. However, I believe that, at this stage, we need a dedicated strategy for walking, hiking, cycling and running whereby we can attract groups and individuals from all over the world.
We have the raw material or the resource, which is the landscape. We just need the tourists. While we have had success in this area, there is still huge potential for further development.
I support Senator MacSharry's call for the Taoiseach to come to the House for a debate on the funding cuts to those who represent the most vulnerable in our society. As Senator van Turnhout said, the Irish Deaf Society is among the organisations that had its funding cut.
I also thank colleagues with regard to the initiative we took last year to recall the Seanad in August. They will be glad to know we will not be repeating that this year. However, I wish to inform colleagues about the result of that. While it did not attract a huge amount of attention, it was due to the recall of this House that the night before it sat, two people were employed by the national transplant authority, which only had one person prior to that and one-seventh of a secretary. This August, 20 people will be employed in organ donation. People in that area have informed me that had the Seanad not been recalled in August, the issue of how our transplant process was not as good as it should be would not have been highlighted. Colleagues will recall that on the Sunday of the preceding weekend, the head of the Spanish transplant authority, Rafael Matesanz, said that the Irish organ donation system was the worst in Europe. Due to the recall of the Seanad, the efforts of all concerned and the fact that 20 people will be employed in our organ donation system this August, we will have a better system.
However, there is always a "but", because there is always more that can be done. When we had the debate last year we talked about the need for legislation, the human tissue Bill. The legislative programme we received from the Government stated that the human tissue Bill would be published in the spring and summer session of 2014, but we still do not have it. In the first 90 days of this session, the House dealt with one legislative measure. The human tissue Bill is an important part of the organ donation infrastructure. Colleagues on the opposite side of the House read statements they were given by the Government stating that the human tissue Bill would be introduced. Those statements were made in August 2013 and the then Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, said in the House that it would be introduced in the next parliamentary session. That did not happen.
An important part of the infrastructure required to have the best organ donation system in Europe is human tissue legislation which would provide for better systems and processes. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on that but, hopefully, not in August.
I agree with the calls for a debate on housing as a matter of urgency. I have received numerous representations over the last number of months from people with very serious disabilities and medical conditions, which are daily becoming worse due to a lack of appropriate accommodation. I understand there are cutbacks due to the current financial situation but, in the meantime, over the last year I have been approached by many people with a disability who are waiting to be moved to a house, but one is continually told that they cannot be moved. It is a huge problem.
I raised the issue of long-term rental for persons with a disability in an Adjournment debate. When I raised it with the local authority the council said it could not be done because it could not make adaptations to any house. I seek clarification on that matter from the Minister. I know she spoke about it last week in the House, but in situations where changes could be made for people who are in social housing or who need to have their houses adapted for disability reasons, this should be done. Housing, and specifically the issue of disability and homelessness, must be a priority issue for debate in this House early in the new session and particularly before there are discussions about the budgets.
On a lighter and happier note, I had the pleasure of attending the fifth annual Dundalk LGBT - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender - Pride Festival launch on Monday. The festival has grown each year and it was brilliant to see the number of people there. It was launched by Fine Gael Deputy Jerry Buttimer. The festival aims to bring awareness to LGBT issues and to bring the excellent work being done by Dundalk Outcomers, which I can attest is an excellent local organisation, to the wider community. The theme this year is family. I have watched the festival grow in strength over the last five years and I was delighted to take part on Monday. I commend Dundalk Outcomers and everybody who is taking part in this excellent and inclusive initiative.
Cromwell's words, "To hell or Connacht", have been enshrined in our memory. However, when the Taoiseach was making the appointments yesterday, even at Minister of State ranks, he appears to have forgotten Connacht. I realise that he is a west of Ireland Taoiseach but a Taoiseach cannot function as a Minister. I am appalled, in the interest of balanced regional development, that Galway was forgotten.
Hear, hear.
Hear, hear.
It is not just about Galway, but about Galway as the economic driver for the region. It has 250,000 people, is a cultural capital, is a university city and has attracted foreign direct investment, FDI, although less in recent times. The majority of the announcements are now in Cork and Dublin. The entire west relies on Galway. If the Taoiseach had read the reports from the Western Development Commission, he would realise that there must be balanced regional development. Galway is an important counter-point to the other regions. Why has Cork had four appointments? It is unthinkable. To be fair, I do not often agree with Senator MacSharry, but it leaves a gaping wound at the Cabinet table. Can the Leader say what the Taoiseach's plan is to redress the balance for the west of Ireland?
This House has no role in that.
It should have.
On another issue, will the Leader write to the chairman of the UN Human Rights Committee, Sir Nigel Rodley, who described Family & Life's submission in defence of the unborn child as "breathtakingly arrogant"? I ask him to remind Mr. Rodley that the unborn has constitutional rights in this country.
The issue I wish to raise, namely, Alzheimer's disease, is related to an issue raised by Senators White and Landy. A very interesting study published earlier this week showed that a walk three times a week can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It has been much publicised. What was not highlighted in the report was the fact that research presented to the Alzheimer's Association international conference in Copenhagen last week demonstrated ways to identify the disease at a much earlier stage, involving simple, non-invasive eye and smell tests to catch the early clues that a person might suffer from Alzheimer's disease in years to come. This evidence is obviously subject to further study, but by the time Alzheimer's disease symptoms come to the fore, brain degeneration is often irreparable. These latest findings could be a game changer and are something our Department of Health should investigate. According to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, 48,000 people are currently suffering dementia in this country. With a rapidly ageing population, the figure is set to almost triple to 132,000 by 2041.
Could the Leader arrange for the national dementia policy strategy, which is to be published in September, to be discussed in the House with the new Minister for Health next September of October? According to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, there are currently gross inadequacies across Ireland in terms of accessing dementia-specific services, which is a particular problem for people with dementia living in the regions and for those under 65 years of age. It is vital we address the gaps in the supports. I ask the Leader to invite the new Minister to the House in September of October to debate the strategy the Government intends to implement.
I find it extraordinary that despite the comments made by our side of the House about the cuts to the voluntary sector, we have heard references to disability and Alzheimer's disease but no references to the 26 organisations that have had their funding cut from the Government side of the House. Fintan O'Toole published a very insightful piece about this particular proposal in The Irish Times yesterday. The amount involved is €7 million, which is spread across these 26 organisations, many of which employ people on a part-time basis and pay part-time wages for full-time jobs. These organisations are more or less doing the job of Government.
The leader of Fianna Fáil in the other House has raised the issue. The acting leader of Fianna Fáil has raised it here, as has Senator van Turnhout. It is becoming a major issue. If the Government thinks that the medical card fiasco was something terrible that came down the tracks, it is nothing compared to the reaction that will come from the voluntary organisations. I fully support the proposal of Senator MacSharry that the Taoiseach should come before this House and explain this miserly cut. What kind of lack of humanity does this Government contain that somebody somewhere with a stroke of a pen can get rid of an amount of money that is modest in the overall scheme of things considering the waste that is involved and whose removal will have such a detrimental effect on 26 voluntary organisations? It is a disgrace and those on the Government side of the House should be ashamed of themselves.
I join with other colleagues in welcoming back our dear friend and colleague, Senator Norris. I am glad to see him looking so well and long may it be so. I fully agree with his remarks concerning Pope Francis who is seen and recognised internationally as a great unifying figure. I believe that what Senator Norris is proposing, which I fully support, would do great good in Ireland both North and South. I intend to fully support Senator Norris at the next meeting of the CPP regarding the matter.
I am delighted to see Senator Norris here. Tá mise agus muintir na tíre ar fad a bhfuil grá acu don Ghaeilge ar buile maidir leis an mhasla atá tugtha ag an Taoiseach do Roinn na Gaeltachta, do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus don Ghaeilge mar phríomh theanga bunreachtúil na tíre. Níl sé ceart ná cóir go bhfuil beirt Airí sa Roinn sin nach bhfuil in ann obair na Roinne a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge agus, mar a chonaic muid ar maidin, nach bhfuil in ann obair na Dála a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Ní bheidh siad in ann teacht isteach sa Seanad, áit ina bhfuil a lán Gaeilge á húsáid, agus obair an tSeanaid a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Tá sé seo go huafásach.
Tá agóid ar siúl inniu faoi seo agus táim ag tacú leis an agóid sin atá ar siúl taobh amuigh de Roinn an Taoisigh. Táim ag iarraidh ar an Taoiseach agus ar Pháirtí Fhine Gael an cinneadh seo a chur ar ceal agus cinneadh eile a dhéanamh. Tá Gaeilgeoirí i bPáirtí Fhine Gael, cé go bhfuil an páirtí sin i gcónaí ag iarraidh na Gaeilge a chur faoi chois. Caithfidh Fine Gael daoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu a chur isteach sa Roinn. Nuair a d'inis mé an scéal seo do beirt fhear i gContae na Mí aréir, thosaigh siad ag gáire láithreach. Ní raibh siad in ann a chreidiúint go raibh seo á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas. Tá deis ag an Rialtas Airí a mhalarta agus tá Aire Stáit i bPáirtí an Lucht Oibre, an Teachta Ó Riordáin, agus d'fhéadfaí an tAire Stáit sin a chur isteach sa Roinn chun obair na Roinne agus obair na tíre a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge, le cruthú don tír go bhfuil stádas oifigiúil agus bunreachtúil ag an nGaeilge agus go bhfuil muid ag iarraidh na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn.
I wish to again raise the issue of wind energy and wind farm developments. I see in today's edition of the Irish Independent that there are proposals to put up 46 wind turbines, each of which is 165 m high, in County Meath. I see the way that Element Power does its business. Instead of community engagement, it goes to the GAA and offers the clubs of County Meath €375,000 to buy them off. All this does is, yet again, divide communities in two. The way Element Power does its business is disgraceful.
I will be calling on the Leader to have a debate on the issue of wind energy in September with our new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government because it is time this issue was dealt with. Unfortunately, it was not dealt with by the previous Minister in respect of proper setback distances. Whatever the Department is suggesting to the Minister in respect of setback distances is not sufficient to deal with this huge problem that is coming down the tracks. I call on the Leader to ensure this urgent debate takes place in September.
I look forward to the Senator supporting my Bill tomorrow on a moratorium.
I will be at a wedding.
I ask the Leader to convey to the Taoiseach as a matter of urgency the need for the preservation and restoration of the buildings in Moore Street. I know the Taoiseach met with relatives of the families of the 1916 leaders this morning and has arranged for them to meet the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in this regard but there is real urgency. In particular, I ask the Leader to bring to the Taoiseach's attention the fact that the National Museum has stated that this is the most important national historical monument in the country and it needs to be developed. The buildings and the evacuation route could be a major tourism attraction given the existence of Kilmainham Gaol. When people from foreign countries come and see what the British did in this country, it gives them an insight into our sad history and the evils of colonialism in this country and as a consequence, Ireland gets respect internationally.
The people in the GPO were all English.
I raised the recent goings on in Geneva yesterday along with Senator Keane, particularly with the UN Human Rights Committee. The committee's bias was challenged, particularly with regard to the abortion situation in Ireland. The committee claimed that abortion was a human right, which flies in the face of the very convention it is charged with upholding. The committee claims that Articles 6 and 7 are the basis for giving a right to abortion whereas Article 6 guarantees the individual's right to life and Article 7 prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The chairman, who was critical of Ireland in this regard, comes from a country where babies who happen to survive an abortion are left to die on the work tops of their sluice rooms and in some instances, they use the work tops to put the pieces of the dismembered baby back together to endeavour to see that they have all the pieces and that there is nothing left, which can obviously be a risk to a woman. I would challenge some of the pseudo-feminists on the other side of this House - I have already done so privately-----
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
We should have a cross-party motion here with regard to the combination of gendercide. This is where people make decisions to have unborn innocent babies aborted simply because they are female. I cannot understand how people who would classify themselves as a feminist would not be revolted at such a procedure being allowed under law, as happens on the neighbouring island.
Ba bhreá liom i dtosach báire fáilte ar ais a chur roimh mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Norris. Ba mhaith liom a rá freisin go dtacaím go huile agus go hiomlán leis an méid adúirt an Seanadóir Byrne. Is aisteach an rud é amach is amach gur ceapadh beirt Airí le freagracht ar chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta gan iad a bheith in ann a gcuid gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Tá súil agam go mbeidh siad ag freastal ar chúrsaí sar i bhfad, mar léireoidh an cinneadh seo dímheas ar an nGaeilge agus ar an nGaeltacht mura ndéanann siad é sin.
I note the various reports in past number of days, some of which are deferential, about what the UN Human Rights Committee, so-called, had to say about various issues connected with Ireland's past and from which we must certainly learn lessons. Following on from what Senator Walsh and others have said, it is high time we reassessed our attitude and the attitude we present formally to scrutiny by groups such as the UN Human Rights Committee. The behaviour of Sir Nigel Rodley in particular was quite frankly a disgrace.
One does not have to be a staunch Irish republican to resent the attitude of this particular Englishman to Ireland's abortion laws, given the barbarity with which British abortion laws operate on a daily basis and the welcome in the 19th century within the British establishment for Malthusian attitudes, which led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Irish people in the context of the famine. Mr. Rodley said he was sorry that the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act did not extend to abortion due to, supposedly, a threat to the health of women, when he knows very well that it is the very ground of health that has led to such routine abortion in Britain. Not only did he ignore this reality, but he chose to suggest that Ireland was somehow unsafe for pregnant women. Not only that, but he described Dr. Tom Finnegan's submission that there was no right in the UN treaties or international law to abortion as breathtakingly arrogant. In private, he was even more arrogant. When told that embryology textbooks supported the proposition that life began at conception-----
How does the Senator know this if he said what he did in private?
-----he sneered, "Perhaps Irish embryology textbooks." We should take no lessons from these people who purport to be defenders of human rights.
The Senator is way over time.
Sir Nigel Rodley is in fact an abuser of human rights. Let us consider our attitude to these committees and their membership in due course and let our Government not be so fawning on them when they meet them in international forums.
Hear, hear. It is a corruption of human rights.
I had not intended to speak on the Order of Business today but must now do so as there was a reference to my having raised a particular issue yesterday with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald. I complimented the Minister on her excellent performance at the United Nations committee in Geneva and also complimented her on how quickly she has read into her brief. It was Senator Walsh rather than I who raised the issue of abortion. As the issue has been raised again, I agree it is an important issue, but I would like the record to reflect that I did not raise it yesterday. I only asked the Minister to deal with the issue of gardaí having to obey red traffic lights.
I would like to read into the record an article I read, which states:
The last two days saw Ireland’s human rights record being examined by a United Nations panel. Among the subjects discussed was Ireland’s law on abortion. The panel warned that the Irish State could still be in breach of human rights legislation on the issue of abortion - because it criminalises pregnant women who seek a termination following a rape or due to a fatal foetal abnormality. Particular mention was given to recent opinion polls that indicate support for termination for medical reasons.
This issue formed part of the discussion at the United Nations and was not raised in the House. I believe it is worth putting the above quotation on record. Discussion on the issue is ongoing. While debate is no harm, it is important that the full story rather than part of it is put on the record.
I, too, welcome Senator Norris back to the House. It was great to witness him in full flow this morning. I agree with the Cathaoirleach that this House has no role in the appointment of Ministers. Perhaps, however, it should. We should certainly have had some influence in regard to the four excellent members of the newly formed Cabinet who are former Members of the previous Seanad, including the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. I also welcome the appointment of two other former Members of this House, Deputies Joe McHugh and Paudie Coffey, as Ministers of State.
I rise primarily to welcome the appointment of Deputy Ann Phelan as Minister of State with special responsibility for rural affairs. As stated in this House many times, this Government has been the worst in the history of this State in dealing with rural Ireland. It has overseen the closure of rural Garda stations, schools and post offices. It has also overseen emigration from rural Ireland on a vast scale. I hope the appointment of Deputy Ann Phelan as Minister of State will focus this Government's attention on positive discrimination towards rural Ireland.
I do not propose to accept Senator MacSharry's amendment to the Order of Business. On the Senator's question in regard to which Minister has responsibility for the disability strategy, a change has been made to the official title of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to incorporate primary care. The Minister of State is still responsible for the disability strategy and older people. It is not possible to include every responsibility in the title of a Minister or Minister of State's portfolio. I can assure the Senator that is the situation.
I thank Members for their agreement to taking all Stages of the Court of Appeal Bill 2014 this evening. I propose to amend the Order of Business, which currently provides that only Second Stage be taken at 6 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given five minutes to reply, to specify that Committee and Remaining Stages be taken thereafter. I also propose to amend the Order of Business in relation to Private Members' business in that I referred to No. 65, motion No. 11, when I should have said No. 69, motion No. 12.
Senator Hayden spoke about women in Cabinet. The number of females at Cabinet level has doubled from two to four, which is to be welcomed by all. Senator Hayden also called for the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to come to the House to discuss the issue of student accommodation, on-campus accommodation and the availability of accommodation for students generally. I will certainly ask the Minister to come to the House next term.
Senator van Turnhout raised the issue of employment permits and said that we might not have allocated sufficient time for that debate. If additional time is necessary, I will amend the Order of Business. I have no intention of curtailing the debate on this issue. If further time is required, it will be provided later or on Friday. The Senator and others also raised the issue of the scheme to support national organisations. The current funding scheme commenced in July 2011 and was due to expire in December 2013, but it was extended to June 2014 with a view to the commencement of a new scheme from 1 July this year. The overall budget for the new scheme is €8 million. During 2013, officials of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government carried out a review of the scheme. The review found that the scheme has fulfilled its main objective in providing national organisations with multi-annual funding towards the core costs associated with the provision of services. The review recommended that organisations be required to clearly demonstrate the added value of the work proposed. Effective use of the core funding in recipient organisations also requires that robust governance and cost control procedures be in place in all of these organisations.
The new scheme was advertised for application during the first quarter of this year. Pobal was asked to undertake an assessment of the applications received and this process, from submission of application to notification of suitable and successful applications, took place in quarters 1 and 2 this year. Pobal has significant experience of the design and assessment criteria and completion of assessment functions in this regard. A large number of applicant organisations sought the maximum level of funding available. In some cases, an amount in excess of the maximum available funding was sought. As a result, the number of organisations that could potentially be funded under the scheme within the budget available was lower than for previous schemes. In order to make the funding available to as many organisations as possible in these difficult times, the situation was assessed and the allocations under the scheme were announced last week. Pobal received 157 applications for funding under the scheme, three of which did not meet the basic eligibility criteria. The remaining 154 applicants were appraised against the criteria as outlined in the application guidance, with 55 approved for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2016. Pobal has put in place a dedicated team to deal with inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback to applicants.
There is also an appeals process and Pobal has provided applicants with detailed information in respect of it. The appeals process is now live and it would not be appropriate to make any further comment on the funding process as a result. As Senator Colm Burke stated, some 2,600 organisations are in receipt of funding from the HSE. A call was made on yesterday's Order of Business for a debate on the issue of funding for such organisations. A number of these organisations represent one or two groups. Perhaps encouraging them to work together would be a good idea. I am sure we will return to this matter early in the next term.
Senator Norris referred to extending an invitation to Pope Francis to visit Ireland. As the Cathaoirleach stated, that matter will be discussed by the CPP. I assure the Senator that the Government and the Papal Nuncio fully support the notion of extending such an invitation to the Pope. I understand that moves are afoot.
I thank the Leader.
For the information of Senator White, I have already outlined the fact that Deputy Kathleen Lynch is Minister of State with responsibility for older people. In the context of the housing list relating to older people, I need not remind the Senator that very little social housing was built during the Celtic tiger years when the country was awash with money. Social housing was forgotten by those in the previous Government.
Woe on them.
Senator Landy referred to the fair deal scheme and the fact that nursing homes are seeking additional funding. I will raise that matter with the new Minister and ensure that it is debated in the House.
Senator Ó Clochartaigh referred to the situation in the Middle East. I have invited the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come before the House to discuss that matter.
Other Members referred to the appointment of a new Minister and Minister of State at the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the fact that neither has full command of the Irish language. I am sure both will brush up on their language skills. Fianna Fáil was one of the first parties to appoint a Minister who possessed very little Irish-----
That Minister was fluent----
-----and who was the granddaughter of the party's founder.
-----and her cousin was a Minister of State.
There is no point in the pot calling the kettle black in this instance. I assure the House that the two individuals who have been appointed are extremely capable and I am sure they will go on to prove that.
Senator Conway referred to the potential for tourism development in the context of walking, cycling and running. I agree with him in that regard and I am sure the matter will be discussed with the new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Senator Daly referred to the organ donation system. I am aware that this system has been improved significantly and that it now employs over 20 people. The previous staffing complement was one or two. That is a good news story. I will seek to ascertain from the Government when it is intended to introduce the human tissue Bill.
Senator Moran referred to long-term rentals and adaptation grants for people with disabilities. Significant improvements in the money available in the form of such grants have been announced in recent times.
Senator Healy Eames referred to Galway being an economic driver for the region in which it is located. As she stated, there has been significant foreign direct investment, FDI, in Galway. I am sure this will continue to be the case. As the Cathaoirleach mentioned, the House does not have a role in respect of the appointment of Ministers. Like Senators Mullen and Walsh, the Senator raised the issue of the Human Rights Commission and the views of a certain member of that organisation. There are constitutional provisions in place and these will be upheld by the Government until the people decide otherwise. That is and will remain our position.
Senator Noone referred to the need to study the advances that have been made in respect of Alzheimer's disease and called for a debate on the national strategy relating to it. I will try to arrange such a debate for the next term.
Senator Kelly referred to wind turbines and wind energy, a matter in respect of which Senator Byrne has tabled a Private Members' motion. The House engaged in several debates on this issue previously, I will certainly invite the new Minister to come before the House following the summer recess in order that we might discover whether the policies that have been advocated up to now remain in place. I am sure the latter will prove to be the case.
Senator Walsh referred to Moore Street. As he indicated, the Taoiseach met the relatives involved. I am sure matters will be progressed as a result of that meeting.
Senator Wilson highlighted the number of Ministers and Ministers of State who are former Members of the House and wished them and their colleagues in government well.
The Leader has proposed two amendments to the Order of Business, "That Second Stage of the Court of Appeal Bill be taken at 6 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given five minutes to reply, and that Committee and Remaining Stages be taken immediately thereafter"; and "That Private Members' business be No. 65, motion 12." Are the amendments agreed to? Agreed.
Senator MacSharry has also proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate with the Taoiseach on the €1.2 million cut in the funding from Pobal for voluntary organisations be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?
Tá
- Barrett, Sean D.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Crown, John.
- Cullinane, David.
- Daly, Mark.
- Healy Eames, Fidelma.
- Heffernan, James.
- Leyden, Terry.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- Mooney, Paschal.
- Mullen, Rónán.
- Norris, David.
- O'Sullivan, Ned.
- Ó Clochartaigh, Trevor.
- Power, Averil.
- Quinn, Feargal.
- van Turnhout, Jillian.
- Walsh, Jim.
- Wilson, Diarmuid.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Brennan, Terry.
- Burke, Colm.
- Coghlan, Eamonn.
- Coghlan, Paul.
- Comiskey, Michael.
- Conway, Martin.
- Cummins, Maurice.
- D'Arcy, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Gilroy, John.
- Hayden, Aideen.
- Henry, Imelda.
- Higgins, Lorraine.
- Keane, Cáit.
- Kelly, John.
- Landy, Denis.
- Moloney, Marie.
- Moran, Mary.
- Mulcahy, Tony.
- Mullins, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Noone, Catherine.
- O'Keeffe, Susan.
- O'Neill, Pat.
- Sheahan, Tom.