The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements for the address to Seanad Éireann by Maura Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Tuesday, 27 June 2023, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 44F) (Appointed Day) Order 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023 - Second Stage, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and to conclude at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and with the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 4, Civil Defence Bill 2023 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 5 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 3, whichever is the later.
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
It is an honour that Maura Healey, the Governor of Massachusetts, will be visiting Ireland and will speak in Seanad Éireann next Tuesday. She is the first woman to hold that position in Massachusetts. She is one of the first openly gay candidates to run for and to be elected to office. Ireland has incredible ties to Boston, Massachusetts. So many Irish people feel that it is a home away from home. Maura Healey has strong connections with the west of Ireland and many other areas, but particularly Ballinasloe. I am a Senator from Ballinasloe, and it is incredible to think that she has these ancestral connections to a small town in the west of Ireland. Those connections are through her great-grandmother, Katherine Tracy. Governor Healey's election last November was an incredible win for an excellent candidate for the Democratic Party, a person who has fought for civil rights, immigrant rights and LGBTQ rights all through her career.
At that time we spoke in the Seanad and we requested that an invitation be issued, so I am thankful the Cathaoirleach has been able to make this come to pass.
When I speak about where I come from, a small town, it is powerful to think that someone left Ireland as an emigrant and travelled to faraway shores, and now one of their family, a woman, is in this position as governor and she is coming to Ireland to speak here in Seanad Éireann. I look forward to that. It is to be hoped she will be able to visit the west of Ireland again on her next visit. I want to highlight that we will have groups from Ballinasloe to welcome her when she comes to Seanad Éireann next Tuesday. It is an important thing for young women everywhere. She spoke to this when she was elected, about how, for young girls all over the world, there is no ceiling they cannot break. It is important we are seeing someone who is such a role model coming here to speak to us in Seanad Éireann next Tuesday. I thank the Cathaoirleach for organising this. I look forward to meeting this inspirational role model who will be with us next Tuesday.
I thank Senator Dolan for giving me half my speech for next Tuesday. I hope I have half the enthusiasm the Senator has expounded. It will be a great day.
The Cathaoirleach can get it all from the blacks in the morning.
I welcome the Deputy Leader. I wish to raise two issues, one of which relates to some of our larger or medium-sized towns in rural Ireland where there is no internal public transport link. While we have transport to destinations such as Dublin, Cork or Galway, there is no internal bus service within those towns, whether that might be used by children going to school in the morning, by older people trying to get their shopping done or just to allow people to commute around the towns. Wicklow town has made a proposal on this and Arklow town is looking at it. Providing additional public transport in some of our larger towns that do not have it is a policy that should be looked at.
The second issue I want to raise relates to Arklow Business Enterprise Centre. I was approached by its manager, Mr. Donal Murray, a number of weeks ago about the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, for which it failed to qualify because it was deemed to be a passive landlord. All the businesses feed into its bill. The individual units do not have individual meters and therefore they were disqualified. I asked Mr. Murray at the time whether he could get a sense of this countrywide. There is an article today in the newspaper by Siobhán Finn that clearly indicates that more than 270 community enterprise centres and up to 1,800 small and medium-sized businesses could be affected by this throughout the country. In my own community enterprise centre in Laragh we have two tenants. We have a submeter of our own on them, so they did not qualify either. It is not abnormal to have this. It is happening throughout the country. When the scheme was designed I do not believe it was intended to exclude these. What is needed now is to look again at the definition within the legislation to allow these businesses to apply through the parent operating body, which can then distribute it back to the companies. The parent body knows exactly what is being used. Perhaps the Deputy Leader could take that up with the Minister for Finance. Initially, I did it in regard to Arklow Business Enterprise Centre, ABEC. However, the issue is now significantly larger than it was then. There is a strong cohort of businesses that could do with this support.
I call for a debate on the World Health Organization’s digital health initiative, which was recently launched. While the aim of this strategy may appear noble on the surface, it is essential we carefully consider the risks it poses to civil liberties, personal autonomy and the sovereignty of European Union member states. The WHO states it is going to take up the European Union system of digital Covid-19 certificates to establish a global system that will help to facilitate global mobility and protect citizens throughout the world from ongoing and future health threats. When the people of Ireland agreed to EU Covid-19 passports, they did not also consent to those data being retained and used to create a general-purpose global medical identification.
It goes on to state that this is the first building block of the WHO global digital health certificate network. This is a sure-fire infringement of our civil liberties. Digital health initiatives necessitate the collection and storage of vast amounts of personal data. While the protection of public health is undoubtedly important, we must not allow this pursuit to come at the expense of our fundamental right to privacy and autonomy. The potential for abuse or misuse of personal data can never be taken lightly as it can all too easily lead to surveillance, profiling and the erosion of individual freedoms.
At a personal level, placing excessive controls in the hands of supernatural organisations may lead to a one-size-fits-all approach that disregards individual circumstances, beliefs and preferences. In addition, the impact on the sovereignty of EU member states cannot be understated. Each country within the European Union has unique healthcare systems, policies and legal frameworks. Preserving the sovereignty of member states is essential to maintaining the flexibility needed to address specific regional needs and challenges. The external imposition of a global strategy on digital health would severely undermine the ability of individual countries to make decisions in the best interests of their citizens and adapt to local circumstances. Instead of submitting to a global one-size-fits-all approach that is dictated by external entities, we should prioritise the development of our own robust national health strategy that aligns with our own values, priorities and legal framework.
There is a recommendation that the report of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity should be submitted to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. I am just wondering why that decision was made when one of the recommendations contained in the report proposes the establishment of a stand-alone committee to look at the assembly's other recommendations. There are 159 recommendations in the report. While there is something of a relationship between climate and how the use of land might impact emissions, biodiversity and the crisis relating to it cut across a number of ministerial portfolios. It would be more beneficial for us to have a stand-alone special committee to look at those 159 recommendations and to get everybody around the table in order that those who represent agricultural, marine and urban interests can be heard. This would be better than just having the climate committee, which is focused purely on reducing Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, consider the matter.
At the weekend, I emailed to every Member of this House a series of photographs of food being served to Ukrainian refugees in hotels. These hotels are being paid substantial sums of money by the State. In addition, the refugees are making a contribution of €70 per adult and €35 per child for food since changes were recently introduced. The photographs that were sent to me are disgusting. The food is presented in a way similar to that in which one would present pigswill. That is the only way I can describe it. There are potatoes in jackets, with lumps of bacon thrown on top of them. There is no sauce of any sort. They are served on polystyrene plates, with plastic knives and forks. The hotels have cutlery. They have plates. Why would they not treat these people as ordinary human beings or in the way they would treat paying guests? That is what they are: paying guests, although the State is funding their position. I ask that we raise this matter with the relevant Minister, and that we get inspectors to go to look at the food that is being served. I understand that some of the hotels do a fantastic job. They publish menus and everything else. Other hotels publish menus and serve absolute muck. We have to put a stop to that.
I want to refer very briefly to President Higgins's intervention on neutrality at the weekend. It distresses me greatly that prominent leaders who hold positions of authority speak about neutrality without understanding what they are talking about. What is positive neutrality? What is militarily neutral? What is politically neutral? Where do these terms come from? The President's intervention has done one thing: it has raised significant interest in the political discussion on where Ireland will go. The Taoiseach made it very clear yesterday that we will not be going into NATO. That is a positive thing that has come out of all of this-----
Go raibh maith agat.
-----but I think the President should keep his nose out of politics.
Go raibh maith agat. The Senator had been doing well. I call Senator Malcolm Byrne.
Last weekend, the Association of Irish Musical Societies held its annual awards ceremony. We know the positive impact active musical societies make in all our communities. I pay particular tribute to the winners of the overall show, namely, Gorey Musical Society.
How much did that cost you?
The best of all is here.
Gorey Musical Society is my hometown musical society. It has had a number of successes over the years and has won a number of awards. We should recognise musical societies all over the country for the contribution they make. It was also appropriate that the winner of the best musical director award was Fintan Cleary of the Wexford Light Opera Society. Mr. Cleary has sadly passed away since being nominated. It was an appropriate recognition of his contribution to music and theatre life in County Wexford. He was a great friend to me and many others in the area, and to recognise him in that way was appropriate.
I echo Senator Craughwell's concerns. Senator Conway looks worried when we raise some of these issues, but I have a concern about some of the remarks that were made about Professor Louise Richardson. I have had the pleasure of meeting her. She has made an enormous contribution to education on these islands and across the Atlantic. The way in which the President quite frankly insulted her was not acceptable.
Hear, hear.
There were some throwaway references to admirals. I do not see any admirals speaking on the programme.
Tá an t-am beagnach thart.
It is important that we respect the office of the President. If, however, the President oversteps with his remarks, he deserves to be criticised.
I am reasonably lenient because we are a democratically elected parliamentary Chamber. Members will be aware that the President has apologised for any offence his remarks-----
He did not apologise to the Defence Forces
-----about the forum chair may have caused. In that regard, the matter is best left there. Members know better than I do that the ruling of the House by successive Cathaoirligh in respect of the matter of the office of President is that it is above-----
If he can speak about us, we can speak about him.
Sorry, the office of President, irrespective of who is the holder, is above and should always be above and outside debate in this House.
He brought it on himself.
The conduct of the President, whoever is the President, in performing the role, is not open to criticism. I will not allow it. The office of President is one we should have the utmost respect for, regardless of people's views of the holder of the office at a particular time. The office is one that we in this House should-----
Respect is earned.
No. Senator Craughwell, who has been a Member of the House for a long time, knows that the office of President is above criticism on the floor of this Chamber. While I am here, I will not allow any criticism to happen.
I do not want to add to the Cathaoirleach's troubles but I fully support the comments of Senator Malcolm Byrne and other colleagues. I have been a Member of this House for 16 years and have always restrained myself when it comes to comments about the Lower House or Áras an Uachtaráin.
As a veteran, I hope the Senator will maintain that level of equanimity during his contribution.
I will certainly not cross any lines. All I will say is that it cannot continue like this. If this kind of thing continues, it will test the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and the whole body politic. That is the feeling of the people on the ground, despite the group on the left who think they can cheer on anything that is said. We have a Constitution. We have had great Presidents and none has crossed the line.
Hear, hear. Up until now.
I know that Senator Craughwell is trying to provoke the Chair. I remind him of the rulings of successive-----
I would never do that to the Cathaoirleach.
-----Cathaoirligh on the matter. That position is unchanged and will remain so during my time as Cathaoirleach.
My time is almost gone. I will briefly draw the Deputy Leader's attention - I am sure she is aware of the matter - to the announcement today by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and a number of Ministers of the shared island cross-Border funding to expand Ulster University's Derry campus.
This is grant aid from our Exchequer to support the Derry university to the tune of €56 million. This is a very significant investment in the youth of the country and a very important step forward in the normalisation of politics on this island. We have seen too much of the orange versus green and of the cant and rhetoric. The Tánaiste started this two years ago and he received a very faint welcome but I am delighted to see that the Taoiseach and the whole Government are rowing in 100% behind it. It is starting to click in and the effects are there to be seen.
I was very disappointed that a prominent director of a group that calls itself Ireland's Future, in referring to the shared island unit, said it was small potatoes. These people have been talking themselves into a corner for the past three years and I do not see any potatoes.
They are overboiled at this stage, I inform the Senator, because his time is up. I call Senator Kyne.
I raise with the Deputy Leader the matter of public transport and our Local Link services, which, I believe we can all agree, provide a very valuable service across rural Ireland in respect of both the request and fixed services. We have seen investment over many years where new routes have been created. I ask for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the continued roll-out of and the flexibilities required within the service. We certainly have situations, for example, on the new 432 service in Connemara, which serves Carraroe, Carna, Casla, Roundstone, Ballyconneely and Clifden, which has fixed stops. You cannot request a stop along the route. Someone living halfway between Ballyconneely and Clifden will have to go back to Ballyconneely to pick up the bus to go forward to Clifden. This obviously defeats the purpose of taking cars off the road, particularly when it comes to pensioners and non-drivers. Putting in more request stops would make perfect sense when it comes to increasing the use of the service, taking cars off the road and saving time. I appreciate that if a house is on a bad bend on a road, there could be issues with just putting out your hand and requesting a bus to stop. However, more designated stops along particular routes would make perfect sense.
I ask, therefore, for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the flexibilities the National Transport Authority, NTA, could provide with this service. It is something that is catching on and will continue to catch on into the future. We can see additional services being rolled out along routes with regard to both frequency and the addition of new routes. There needs to be that level of flexibility to ensure this service is enhanced and becomes something of greater benefit to local users. It makes perfect sense also in respect of the environment and taking cars off the road.
I want to talk about the public services card. The Department of Social Protection has been building a biometric photo and template database of 3.2 million people. There is no legal basis for collecting these data in exchange for services people are legally entitled to. Through a freedom of information request, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, and Digital Rights Ireland have found that the Department of Social Protection has known since 2021 that this database is illegal. This processing of personal and sensitive data obviously affects most of those who access State supports. There are statements on data protection this week but this is an issue which the Department of Social Protection must answer for because this is essentially a mass infringement of privacy by the State.
I thank the Cathaoirleach and colleagues. In reply to Senator Warfield, I am certain the Department of Social Protection will respond, when it can, to the accusations and, in particular and more importantly, to the results of a finding by the Data Protection Commission. I will certainly pass on the Senator's message and I will see if I can seek a response for him.
Senators Kyne and Casey both brought up relevant issues on the same topic, so I may ask for a debate on rural transport. Senator Casey's request was to look for interlinking within a town and Senator Kyne made a very logical suggestion that we should have more spaces and places where people can actually stop to pick up the service instead of having to get into a car to go to a bus stop, which makes no sense whatsoever. We will ask that that debate combines both those requests.
I say to Senators O'Sullivan, Malcolm Byrne and Craughwell, while not commenting on any of the comments, that there is a Barbra Streisand effect here given that a public consultation, which would have probably gone over most people in this country's heads and to which they would not have paid much attention, is now the focus of much conversation at many breakfast tables, which I think is ultimately the Tánaiste's aim. It is really welcome.
I cannot tell Senator O'Sullivan how pleased I am this morning. What disappoints me are the comments he made regarding the reaction from some people. This is a huge step forward by the Tánaiste and by the shared island group to try to bring unity in certain aspects of our country where we can co-operate and where we benefit. My daughter tried to go to Ulster University in Derry a number of years ago to do nursing. A huge number of students from the Republic of Ireland travel to the North of Ireland and we should be seen to support them-----
Hear, hear.
-----and today's announcement is very welcome.
On Senator Malcolm Byrne's contribution, I have a number of young friends who were at the Association of Irish Musical Societies, AIMS, celebration over the weekend. It is a great event every year which brings much excitement but it also brings gratitude for what they give to all our communities and societies. I congratulate the Gorey Musical Society and wish it continued success. I am sorry for the Senator's loss on hearing about the passing of Fintan Cleary and for those in the Wexford Light Opera Society.
I did not see the photographs Senator Craughwell sent me. I am sorry. I do not know whether I just missed them. There definitely should be an inspection. With any amount of money, and we know we are spending a significant amount of money with our new guests, there certainly should be a measure of quality and a uniformity of quality. I will look into it and will come back to the Senator and let him know what we can do.
I am not sure if I have the motion referred to by Senator Boylan.
It came through at 11.20 a.m. today. I had not seen it either but we got it-----
I did not read it out on the Order of Business. I have two motions.
That is what I thought.
We have not had sight of it either. What is the motion on again?
It is on the climate action report.
It is to refer the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss report to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. It is on the Dáil paper but it came in at 11.20 a.m.
We will clarify that and we can take it tomorrow.
Even if it is on it, we will remove it today. We will seek clarification.
To help the Deputy Leader, it has been circulated. I am told it will be on the Order Paper next week.
I am ahead of myself.
It will be on the next Order Paper.
I will bring the Senator's feedback back. I think it is a logical request.
Senator Casey brought up the anomalies in the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS. I did not realise it was that large. Given that it is on that large a scale, I definitely think the Minister for Finance should do something. I will write a letter but I ask other Senators to make appeals on behalf of our own local enterprise centres and all the businesses impacted by it. We certainly did not put a huge pot of money out there for people then to deny them access to it. Let us try to get that fixed.
Senator Dolan opened with a very lovely welcome for H. E. Maura Healey, who is coming to see us next week, which I am very much looking forward to.