The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re expressions of sympathy on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on forestry, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude at 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, motion re the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the final draft revised national planning framework, to be taken at 6.30 p.m. and to conclude at 8 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Directly after the Order of Business we will be moving a motion of condolence on the passing of His Holiness the Pope. My party, Fianna Fáil, wants to be associated with that. We acknowledge the late Pope's humility and compassion and, above all, his great empathy and understanding.
Since we met just before Easter, we received an e-mail from the Clerk, Martin Groves, to say he was retiring during the Easter break. I sincerely hope there will be an opportunity to note our appreciation and gratitude for his help and guidance to all of us. Those who are new and those who have been here longer have always very much appreciated Martin's advice and guidance and I hope we will have the opportunity to show that in an appropriate way.
Last night, at the invitation of the Dublin Lord Mayor, Emma Blain, I had the opportunity to go to the Mansion House for an event to celebrate the athletes who represented Ireland in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. It was wonderful to be there with the Minister for sport, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, the athletes, their families, the volunteers, and the coaches who were involved in bringing the athletes to the games, and to witness the joy and learning, in particular from some of the coaches who were previously athletes themselves and who have progressed to become coaches in their own sport. That is a wonderful thing. Inclusion is hugely important. The Special Olympics have unified sports involving people with ability and those with disability. They train together and play matches together, in particular soccer, basketball and golf. That is very important. It would be great to have a debate with the Minister for sport about proper inclusion in sport and how all communities can be involved.
Prior to Easter, I had the opportunity to attend my first Inter-Parliamentary Union event. It was extremely interesting. What is significant about this particular one in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is that a motion was unanimously passed recognising a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. That was very significant. Amendments were tabled by some countries which did not support it, but it got through. I pay tribute to the former Cathaoirleach, now Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer. He was the rapporteur for this particular report. It is significant that Ireland is leading the way on a two-state solution. It is important to note that and thank all of those who put the work into it.
I would also like to be associated with the comments of the Leader about the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. I send my condolences to everyone who is upset and grieving at this time.
We also had a bereavement through a tragic accident in Tipperary a few days ago. A young 18-year-old girl, Bronagh English, passed away. It might not be realised by those in the House that she is connected to the House. Her grand-aunt was the former Fianna Fáil Senator, Ann Ormonde from Waterford, and her grandfather was the former Fianna Fáil TD, Donal Ormonde. Can we pass our sympathies to Ann and Donie? I met Donie yesterday and, as people would understand in such a tragedy, the family are in shock and are mourning. They are getting great comfort and support from their community and friends. It was a tragic accident to happen to a young 18-year-old just before sitting her leaving certificate examinations and to be thrown upon the family. I hope that as a House we might be able to pass on our condolences to the English family and to Ann and Donie in particular.
I also wish to be associated with the comments about Martin Groves. We were all surprised by the email. I second the motion that we should do something appropriate, when the time allows, and speak on his contribution to the State over many years. We have all had interactions with Martin as Senators. He helped and guided me along the way in the past and I am sure he did that for numerous people in the House. I wish him the best. I also wish Bridget Doody the best in the next few months covering for him. She has been a professional as long as I have known her in her role and I am sure she will carry on the same professionalism Martin showed throughout his career here.
Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome guests of Deputy Charles Ward to the Gallery. They are from Finn Valley College in Donegal.
I raise the issue of Ireland's triple lock. Over the weekend, the Taoiseach said that he has no difficulty whatsoever bringing to the democratic Parliament of this Republic the proposal to remove the aggressor's veto. By that, the Taoiseach is referring to the veto of UN Security Council mandates and resolutions. I understand where he is coming from intellectually on that, but I ask that we all stop and think about what is being proposed. The United Nations was set up as a means of protecting ourselves from complete and total self-annihilation and while it is not perfect, to paraphrase Churchill, it is the worst form of peace assurance except for all the other kinds of peace assurance that have been tried from time to time over history. Despite its imperfections, the UN has been a guarantor, for the most part, in ensuring we do not engage in mutual self-destruction, which is a likely prospect if we continue on the trajectory we are on.
I have great respect for the Taoiseach and I understand where he is coming from intellectually, but we are sending a major signal here. We are repudiating the validity of the United Nations as a legitimate multilateral agency and saying we no longer believe in multilateralism, that we will withdraw from that system and engage in whatever the Government of the day thinks appropriate. It is a bit like the referendums. The problem is not so much what is being taken out or removed, but what it will be replaced with. The triple lock is not being replaced with anything insofar as I can discern. The removal of the triple lock means that any future Irish Government - not only this one - can send any number of Irish troops anywhere in the world to any conflict. Do I trust the Government? Of course I do. However, do governments make mistakes? Yes, they do. That unilateral capacity of a government with a small simple majority to commit our troops - our sons, daughters and grandchildren - to conflict would be a seismic change.
We have to be really careful that we do not just do this in a minor defence Bill. Think of the UN since its inception; it had Stalin as a Charter member, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Shevardnadze, Yeltsin and now this aggressor, Putin. They come and go. The system is sacrosanct. We gave a solemn declaration in 2002, backed up by the Seville declaration in 2002, ratified by our EU partners, that we would not remove the triple lock. I say particularly to my colleagues in Fianna Fáil that their voters do not want to see this. We can remedy the defects of the triple lock restrictions by raising the number of troops we can send from 12 to 120. That would remedy the problem. By removing the triple lock, the Government is seriously undermining our neutral status. If it is going to do that, we need a constitutional referendum to have neutrality explicitly placed in our Constitution, as is explicitly the case in Switzerland and Austria. I say this with the utmost respect but we need a proper debate with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste on this. It is a seismic change.
I want to bring up an issue regarding section 39 workers. After a long and difficult process, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission to improve these workers' pay. They are vital front-line workers involved with disability and home care. The question remains as to when the Government will enact and recognise the agreement. In November 2023, there was a WRC agreement put in place which was never enacted. Furthermore, the section 39 workers face structural inequalities, particularly in relation to pay parity, compared to their counterparts who are directly employed by the State. When will the Government take the necessary steps to finally deliver full pay parity and when can the workers expect it to be enacted in practice, not just in principle?
Many of us were deeply disappointed by the findings of the Farrelly commission on the Grace case. Grace is a 40-year-old woman living in the south east. A lot has been said about her in the media over the last few weeks. I take the opportunity today to speak directly to Grace, who is often missing from this discussion, despite the fact that she is central to this issue. Grace, you were failed over and over again by the State. You deserved love, protection and dignity but instead, those who were supposed to protect you turned you away. For more than two decades, serious concerns were raised about your safety but those warnings were systematically ignored. You were left in harm's way and your family was left to fight alone for justice that should have come swiftly.
Today I am here as a public representative but I am also here as a human being. It is appalling what was allowed to happen to Grace. The State failed her, her family and the 47 other children placed in that foster home. It also failed the whistleblowers who had the courage to speak up when no one else would.
The Farrelly commission was launched eight years ago, after Grace was removed. It delivered a 2,000-page report this month after a €20 million investigation. It confirms neglect and a fundamental failure in care, but it stops short of acknowledging the emotional or sexual abuse, despite a €6.3 million settlement by the HSE and a public apology in court. This contradiction within the commission's report cannot be ignored. The report lacks an executive summary, making it completely inaccessible to the very people most affected by its findings. It fails to name people responsible and, frankly, fails to deliver accountability. The Ombudsman for Children has said that the ship has sailed for justice but it cannot and must not. Grace, your voice may never be heard but your story must be. That is why I am calling for a full public inquiry, one that delivers truth, justice and lasting change. Ireland does not have sufficient safeguarding legislation for vulnerable adults, in complete contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We need mandatory reporting for abuse in all care settings. We urgently need to address the appalling safeguarding abuses we have seen within the Irish care system. I strongly request that we have a debate on this.
The Leader has already proposed the motion in respect of Pope Francis. There has been a lot of discussion of him and his nature as a person. I do not agree with all of the church's teachings in many areas and have challenged the role the church has played in terms of the Irish State.
Pope Francis's quotes and messages are really important contributions to thought in our time and the moral and policy space. He said that capitalism without limits create pain without limits. He said, "How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?" He talked about the inequality of those issues. In Laudato si', importantly, he spoke about the groaning earth, the challenge of interconnectedness and climate change as urgent. He also spoke about peace - the work of peace, which has been neglected constantly in a new narrative of war that is sweeping across the world - and the rights of refugees - not as numbers but as men, women, children, families and people who are suffering.
The one I want to highlight today, because it is one we all need to remember, is his repudiation of the doctrine of discovery. This is something from the 1500s. It was the doctrine that suggested and underpinned the argument that there is any justification for colonialism, the taking of land from indigenous peoples, its occupation and their destruction. For centuries, this was the underpinning for colonialism. He repudiated it. I acknowledge these ideas because they are ideas that we in our different ways continue to take up. Right now, we have a new doctrine of discovery - a new doctrine of colonialism - that is sweeping across the world in a wave of justification of colonialism. One of the clearest examples is the justification for the genocide that is taking place in Gaza and the idea that one might be displacing an entire population or letting it starve to advance one's own interests and security. It is regrettable that at a time when ideas and words matter, we had in our Seanad somebody who should be challenged. In his tweets, he spoke about his visit to our Seanad. There was a conversation about trade and matters of defence. This is from somebody who wears his IDF uniform in the commission, has past pushed for legislation to allow for more weapons, has called for more destruction of infrastructure and, when challenged about the deaths of children in Gaza, said they are not innocent civilians. I urge real consideration. This is a moment of diplomatic urgency. Last week, the occasion when we had this diplomatic visit was the moment the World Food Programme told us that food ran out in Gaza. The food from the World Food Programme ran out. It had no more food to give. Every opportunity must be taken. These are urgent moments. We should not contribute to a normalisation of a new narrative that some countries are able to ignore international law and colonise if it makes them more comfortable.
UNICEF posted that the children - the starving, starved and dying children of Gaza - are too emaciated and exhausted to cry out. It behoves us as parliamentarians and this Seanad to use every opportunity we have. I say with respect to the Cathaoirleach and my colleagues across the House and Government that we cannot let those issues - trade, technology and others - become the only things on the agenda and let the fact of a genocide and let pass us by the fact it is a choice not to let food into Gaza at a time when the population is dying. We must cry out and speak out. We cannot justify silence. I urge a redoubling of our diplomatic efforts in these matters. When the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade came to the House, unfortunately, the timing naturally meant that the focus was on tariffs, but we need to have that debate on what Ireland is doing on Gaza. We need to know at every level what is happening and we need to know that, behind closed doors, the same messages are being given to any delegates who come, particularly those who come with a doctrine or message of hate or dismissal in respect of the human rights of the people of Gaza.
Today I want to highlight the work of the RNLI following the publication of the data for 2024. Across the 46 stations on the island of Ireland, lifeboat crews launched 881 times last year and volunteer crews brought 1,007 people to safety. Some 234 of the launches were carried out in the hours of darkness. In my county, Galway, the crews' work was especially important as the RNLI rescue figures for 2024 show the charity lifeboats in Clifden, Galway city and the Aran Islands had a total of 104 rescue launches, coming to the aid of 94 people and with 38 of the launches carried out in the hours of darkness. This is extraordinary work by a charity that perhaps does not get the recognition it deserves and whose volunteers are lifesavers who drop everything else when needed to run the lifeboat station, often at considerable risk to themselves. Their busiest time of the year is upcoming and they are seeking to raise funds that will help their life-saving service continue, through their national fundraising effort, the Mayday Mile. I will certainly be supporting the cause and I urge all in a position to do so across the Houses to do likewise.
It has come to my attention that an issue I raised several weeks ago, on the provision of public health nurses in Dublin 12, has continued to escalate. I have been contacted by a number of parents of children aged between two months and four years who are not being seen for developmental checks. In one instance, the mother of a four-year-old boy was in touch to say her son's final sign-off before starting school will not be provided. She received a letter from the public health nursing team in the HSE in the past three weeks informing her that her four-year-old son would not be receiving his routine final developmental check due to what the letter describes as staffing shortages, Covid-19 and HSE or Government restrictions and guidelines. The letter also stated that unless she was to raise a concern herself, the child’s health record would be closed on the active register within two to three weeks. As you can imagine, the language used regarding a time limit has caused a certain amount of alarm among parents. More to the point, parents do not feel equipped to make the assessments, or to look at their children and make clinical assessments. Developmental checks are not a formality; they are a key opportunity for trained professionals to assess the critical aspects of babies', toddlers' and children's development, whether it is in respect of speech and language, vision or hearing, or fine-motor, gross-motor or even just social development. The assessments exist to identify potential issues before children start school, when early intervention can make the greatest difference. The oversight needs to be addressed urgently. I have raised it before and would like to invite the Minister in to help explain why children in Crumlin and Drimnagh, and maybe elsewhere although I am not sure, are not being seen by their local public health team, and how the Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting this area of Dublin but perhaps not other areas of Dublin and of the country.
I draw the attention of Members of the House to what has happened regarding the enjoyment of broadcasting in our country over the past couple of months. Not long ago, it was announced by the BBC that it was withdrawing its BBC Sounds app from everybody outside the United Kingdom, which meant people who enjoyed digital radio of great quality through the app were to have it taken away. This is very regrettable for people in the Republic of Ireland and also people all over the world who like the standard of broadcasting and the educational and cultural input of the BBC. Many of us treasure it.
As somebody who lives in the south east, I know that up until BBC Sounds came along, we had to try to tune into BBC Wales, getting a very ropey and fluctuating signal, or listen to BBC Radio 4 on long wave, but now there is a crystal-clear flawless reception on the radio. It came with great sadness that the app was going to be withdrawn.
There was a chink of light last Sunday week, however. I was listening to the "Feedback" radio programme. There seems to be a bit of a reverse ferret within the BBC in that it is going to look at this again and there may be a reprieve. Fundamentally for us in Ireland, I strongly believe that the removal of the BBC Sounds app goes against the spirit of strand 3 of the Good Friday Agreement insofar as it refers to cultural inclusion and diversity. I am also speaking up for the 100,000 people in Gaeltacht areas who listen to Irish-language broadcasts from BBC Ulster. Every one of us in the House should use our influence in our parties or wherever we can to entreat the BBC and the cultural attaché in the embassy to look at this question again.
I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 9 be taken before No.1. The Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025 seeks to provide protection to people working on the front line of retail. There are more than 300,000 people working in retail throughout the country, in every town and village. We buy our milk and newspapers from them. They are essential in all of our communities. Unfortunately, far too many retail workers are going to work every day and night in fear of being assaulted, be that verbally or physically or through threats to their lives and their livelihoods. These assaults can be in the form of verbal assaults, casual sexism, casual racism, aggressive behaviour, physical assaults or more grievous bodily harm. I hope we can debate this Bill tomorrow in the House. With the Leader’s permission, I ask Senator Alison Comyn to second the proposal to take No. 9 before No. 1.
I, too, wish to be associated with the remembrance of Pope Francis. I had the pleasure of attending mass in the cathedral in Ballaghaderreen last Saturday delivered by Bishop Kevin Doran and Vicar General Fr. John McManus in recognising and celebrating the Pope’s life. I also wish to be associated with the good wishes towards Martin Groves on his retirement.
I take this opportunity to raise an issue that came up in the local media in Roscommon during the Easter break, that is, a pilot scheme delivering Safe Pass courses to transition year students. It is a pilot scheme spearheaded by Selina Galvin of John F. Hanley Limited in collaboration with a local construction company, Shannon Valley. They have been delivering Safe Pass courses to the students of Scoil Mhuire in Strokestown. It is an initiative that should be replicated and delivered throughout all transition year courses in the country. When I was growing up, you were able to go builders, construction workers and tradespeople during the summer holidays to look for work experience and get paid employment. Students now are hit with safety regulations that are impeding their ability to do something like that during the summer. Delivering a course like this as part of the transition year programme will empower and open up opportunities for those students that will stand to them when they go on to third level or further education. I commend this pilot scheme which took place in Roscommon and look for a discussion with the Minister for Education, Deputy McEntee, or the Minister for further and higher education, Deputy Lawless, to see whether there is an opportunity to introduce this scheme for transition year students nationally.
I express deep concern at the recent announcement that the long-awaited primary care centre in Kanturk in Cork has suffered a significant setback. The developer has withdrawn from the project, necessitating a retendering process by the HSE. This facility was envisioned to provide essential services, including GP consultations, mental health supports and ancillary healthcare services, to the community. Its delay is a profound disappointment to the Kanturk community, who have been waiting for improved healthcare infrastructure since planning permission was granted in 2018.
This situation underscores the broader issue of the persistent neglect of rural healthcare development. While urban centres see rapid progress in healthcare projects, rural communities such as Kanturk face repeated delays and setbacks. The disparity raises questions about equitable access to healthcare services across the nation. I request that the Leader allocate time for a debate with the Minister for Health. We need to understand the reasons behind the developer's withdrawal, the anticipated timeline for the retendering and the measures being taken to prevent such occurrences happening in other areas in the future. It is imperative that we ensure that rural communities across Ireland have the same kind of commitment and resources as urban areas.
I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I admit that I stand here as a woman torn. I have somewhat divided allegiance because I live in a place that straddles two counties, Louth and Meath. I speak, of course, of the senior championship game which took place over the weekend. Louth saw off Kildare, so commiserations to my colleague, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, and Meath saw off Dublin. Now we will have a long-awaited showdown. It took 15 years for us to be able to see it again. I wish both teams great luck. Do I wear the red and white of Louth, where I was born and bred and now live, or do I support many of my family and friends in east Meath? On the day, I will just say may the best team win.
Speaking of Louth, I congratulate Louth GAA on receiving funding for a long-awaited stadium in Dundalk. It will be a state-of-the-art stadium, with 6,000 seats in the first phase. Of course, once we have taken the cup, we will need many more seats.
With respect, I ask the Leader to invite the Minister with responsibility for sport to come to the House. The first round of funding has just been announced but in a debate in the House, I could put the begging bowl out and talk about the second round of funding for the stadium so that Louth has a fully fledged stadium. An Lú abú.
After the last contribution, I should thank Jim McGuinness and the Donegal team for seeing off Down.
This debate is beginning to sound like an episode of "The Sunday Game".
We will be waiting for you.
I raise the issue of defective concrete blocks in Donegal, which has been raised here a couple of times. On behalf of the Fine Gael councillors in Donegal, Jimmy Kavanagh, Martin Harley and Michael Boyle, I express deep concern regarding the defective blocks scheme. Numerous homeowners face real financial hardship. The delay in the implementation of the scheme is costing families many thousands of euro. Children are living on building sites. Last week, I visited a couple of the affected houses. You could put your hand through the gable walls of the houses, which is a sight I thought I would never see. The Minister really needs to engage. We need to invite him to the House to find out what is going on with these scheme. It needs to be pushed on. The people affected are at their wits' end. I never imagined that the problem was as bad as it is. I come from Donegal which is where the problem is the worst, including north Donegal.
On my recent visit, I met a family who have been looking for temporary accommodation for their daughter for two years. She is wheelchair bound and they cannot get accommodation. They want to build a house beside their family home so they can move between the two. Incredibly, they are not allowed to do that under the scheme. It is ridiculous that they cannot build a house just 12 ft over the field from their home.
I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to come in here to address where the scheme is going and how we can push it on. It has been kicked down the road for far too long.
I wish to be associated with the comments made about Martin Groves. I wish him all the best and hope there is an opportunity to pay tribute to him at some point.
On behalf of the Green Party, I join in the expressions of sympathy for the late pontiff, Pope Francis. His encyclical letter, Laudato Si ': On Care For Our Common Home, was mentioned. It was a rallying call for nature restoration and a deconstruction of our economic growth model. His embrace of the LGBTIQ community and trans people will also be notable. I listened to Colm O’Gorman this morning and, certainly, there is a mixed legacy there but it is still largely a positive legacy.
I also pay tribute to Katie McCabe, our first women's national team member to reach a Champions League final. That is a huge achievement for a member of the women's national team. I am not an Arsenal fan, but it is a great achievement for her.
The main issue I wish to raise is a report that came out from Uisce Éireann on pesticides and herbicides in water supplies and drinking water. There has not been a marked increase but there has been a significant increase nonetheless in pesticide residues in our water supplies. Uisce Éireann is attributing much of this to surface run-off and inappropriate use. The fact you can buy glyphosate and weed killers in supermarkets and stores is something that needs to be given consideration. There are much more stringent conditions on it in other countries or jurisdictions. Some legal restrictions on over-the-counter availability of these dangerous and harmful herbicides should be considered. They have important uses in agriculture, it must be noted, and certainly in the management of invasive species, but if we have increasing levels of pesticide residues in our water supplies, it is of concern to us all. We are now looking at issues with herbicide resistance in species like Italian rye grass, and that is going to be of concern to the farming community. There is a wider regulatory regime needed for herbicides and pesticides in this country, and it is something I ask the Minister to give consideration to.
I wish, first, to be associated with the remarks about Martin Groves and to wish him all the very best on his retirement. From the first day that I was elected to the House, he was always a breath of fresh air and very supportive of new Members especially, offering them guidance. I wish him well and I hope we will have the opportunity to have him in some day to wish him all the best.
I wish also to be associated with the votes of sympathy to the late pontiff, Pope Francis. I actually went to the concert in Croke Park when he visited in 2018, and I think he was a man whose legacy will stay with us for quite a while.
The main issue I wish to raise is the tenant in situ scheme and the number of people who are now being refused and cannot get into the scheme. We are still in the month of April and there are people being refused because organisers are saying there is no money left. If we do not have the tenant in situ scheme, we have to have some sort of a scheme because there are too many families who are being threatened with eviction because the council is saying it does not have the money to buy the home. I would like the Minister, Deputy Browne, to come to the House to have a debate on the tenant in situ scheme and how we can deal with the situation because we already have people who are homeless and we do not want to add to that list. We should have statements in the House and a debate with the Minister, Deputy Browne, on the tenant in situ scheme and how we can resolve this issue into the future.
Before I call the next speaker, I welcome to the Public Gallery guests of Senator Frances Black, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, and Deputy James O'Connor. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.
I wish to be associated with the remarks on the retirement of Martin Groves. He was a great help to me in my early days, although I am still in my early days in the Seanad, and I put on record my thanks to Martin for his assistance. I would also like to associated with the remarks on the Holy Father, the late Pope Francis, and his contribution to community, society and faith right across the world and the indelible mark he made on inclusion and broadening the church's work for those in the most disadvantaged areas.
Just this weekend gone, I visited Erris Athletics Club in north Mayo, whose members have to travel 90 km to access standard and adequate sporting facilities. The club has more than 250 members. It has more than 250 members and 198 members under the age of 14 alone. They have to travel for more than an hour to access adequate athletic facilities. The Erris area is neglected in respect of sporting infrastructure and almost 2,000 people in Erris are registered with disabilities. The community has identified a location that would be located between the Irish Wheelchair Association's facilities and a secondary school. It is desperately needed from a public health and mental health point of view. I ask that the Minister for sport be invited to the Seanad to discuss the opportunity that exists for the State to invest in proper standards and facilities for an area that is sparsely populated but has huge demand for sporting infrastructure. It is often a forgotten area. I compliment Councillor Gerry Coyle, who has been working on this issue and who I will be working to support to deliver this infrastructure for Belmullet. I ask that we that invite the Minister for sport to a discussion on this, that a world-class athletics track be delivered and that we support the Belmullet community in delivering it.
I call on the Minister for Justice to come before Members to answer questions on the crisis in An Garda Síochána with recruitment and retention. I highlight an incident in Carrickmacross as an example of what is happening around the country. I have received many calls and emails from worried constituents relating to an increase in crime, which has been an issue for a long time. This is coupled with a low visual presence of the Garda in the area and fear for safety due to recent frightening incidents in the Cavan-Monaghan-Louth Garda division. People understandably are nervous and are appalled that shocking incidents are now happening in broad daylight. On Sunday, a man wielding a knife on the main street and acting in a threatening manner caused major worry and upset. Thankfully, this individual has been charged with that offence. The fact that he had three bench warrants already issued to him, however, is deeply concerning.
Garda numbers are falling countrywide and the Cavan-Monaghan and Louth Garda division is no different. The level of crime is rising. Burglaries and other serious incidents of crime are increasing. Criminals are taking advantage of closed Garda stations and reduced Garda numbers. Our jails are bursting at the seams. People who have been convicted for crimes are doing little to no time or are being let out after a very short time. Since 2011, at least 140 Garda stations have been closed across the country. This is truly shocking in the face of an ever-increasing population and is leading to further demand on already overstretched resources. Garda morale is at an all-time low. They have no confidence in the Garda Commissioner. For the second year in a row, neither he or the Minister for Justice will attend the GRA conference. How on earth can the public have any confidence in Drew Harris if front-line gardaí have expressed no confidence in him? An Garda Síochána is in total crisis and we need to address this as soon as possible.
When I was appointed by the Taoiseach nearly five years ago, I spoke a lot about not wanting to be pigeonholed and not always wanting to just be the Traveller Senator. That is something that I am grateful for, especially in the past few months. I have proven my worth by getting elected on my own merit. I thank all of the people who voted for me. It is absolutely amazing.
What I am going to say next will be like me wanting my bread buttered on both sides but this is not the case. I emailed the Labour Party three weeks ago and not once did Deputy Smith reply. I am not doing that out of entitlement. I sent him a message simply asking if we could speak about the Chair of the Traveller committee. I got no response until today. He provided me with a few words saying that Deputy Lawlor is now the Chairperson of the Traveller committee and to basically speak to him. The Government failed as well.
I will not use the word 'lied', but they misled the public in saying there was no opposition to the Traveller committee being formed using the d'Hondt system. It is my understanding that at the meeting of the Business Committee on the formation of the committees, even Government TDs said members should take the opportunity to decide, as they did the last time, without using the d'Hondt system. It is brilliant that the Traveller committee is a standing committee as it means it will be here long after my time. However, this is misrepresenting our community. It is like having an Irish language committee of the Houses with a French speaker leading it. It is absolutely appalling this has happened. I understand there is nothing the Leader can do about it, but I want to put my concerns on the record and address the Government and Labour Party. While many people will be surprised at the Labour Party, I remember what it did to people on the margins of society when it was in government. This is another example of that.
I, too, extend my good wishes to Martin Groves on his retirement. He obviously knew something we did not and picked his moment when the weather was good. He has always had a good sense of judgment.
Over Easter, news came out that an International Protection Accommodation Services, IPAS, centre was not going ahead. All we hear from the Government is that communities do not have a veto. It seems, however, that the wealthy and affluent in Donnybrook and other affluent areas do have a veto. If you live in the inner city or in other neglected communities that are lacking basic resources and amenities, your voice is not heard by the State. If you are living in flats that are below any acceptable standards and the State treats you like a second-class citizen, then it will claim you are anti-immigrant. If you live in the affluent area of Donnybrook, you are, at worst, a NIMBY. In news reports, residents were complaining that their multimillion euro houses were going to be devalued because of the IPAS centre. This is how Ireland works; there is one law for the wealthy and another law for working people. Wealthy communities can pick and choose what is built in their areas while working-class communities have it imposed on them with little or no consultation or input. We need to know how these decisions are made, who actually makes them and if wealthy communities have a veto unlike working-class communities. We also need the Minister to come in here and explain how these decisions are made.
I want to be associated with the expressions of sympathy for Pope Francis. I welcome the one minute of silent prayer at the end of this session.
Outside this Chamber there is a rising issue that is dominating Irish society. Inside this Chamber we hear nothing about it. Out there, in the bars, in the taxis and on the streets, it is all people are talking about. Yet, in here, on the benches of the Seanad and the Dáil, we hear absolutely nothing. The issue is, of course, immigration. I speak of the gigantic national rally that took place last Saturday, when up to 20,000 people marched through Dublin to oppose the Government's suicidal open-borders policy. Despite the numbers, we have still heard nothing about it. I have previously warned that if we in these Houses do not address immigration, others will. However, our ruling parties still seem intent on ignoring it, hoping it goes away. RTÉ has followed this approach on perhaps the only area in which it seems to have a good relationship with its Government funders at the moment. When RTÉ did pay attention it focused on the counterprotest which was organised by the taxpayer-funded NGOs that tell Irish taxpayers that any problems they may have with mass, uncontrolled migration are imagined. The Opposition parties have not proved much better. In fact, many of them threw in their lot with the vastly outnumbered counterprotestors. They waved banners saying "We have a housing crisis, not an immigration crisis". It is simply delusional to think the immigration crisis can be separated from the housing crisis, the law-and-order crisis, the healthcare crisis and so many other crises. Politicians and elites are prone to delusions but, luckily, the Irish people are not. You can keep ignoring them but their numbers will only keep growing.
First, I commend our leaders - President Higgins and Mrs. Higgins and our Taoiseach and Tánaiste - on representing our country so well at Pope Francis's funeral. Everybody will agree this was a deeply fascinating pontificate and the late Pope Francis was a voice of conscience on many issues. He made us all, whatever our views, sit up and think on many important issues of the day. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.
This would be a good opportunity for a revival or to see more of the church-State dialogues that had been going on but which have only really been happening haphazardly in this country. There is great potential in meetings between the Government and the different faith communities, including non-believers. Some steps have been taken on this in recent years but not enough. There are many issues we could make progress on in our society. There are many people searching for meaning and many social challenges in our world in which voices of faith have an important contribution to make. I ask for a debate on this and on whether we could see a renewal of that. Issues like education, human dignity and many things need to be thrashed out and there needs to be much wider consultation. Voices of faith are an important part of the solution to many of the problems we have in our society today.
I also wish to briefly mention the death of Bishop Brendan Comiskey, whom I knew personally. I note what Colm O'Gorman had to say this morning in that we all know the catastrophic consequences of the failure of church leaders and other leaders in society in handling properly reports of abuse down through the years. We all know the tragedy which flowed from all that and it can never be forgotten. It was, at the same time, Shakespeare who talked of the good people do often being interred with their bones. Knowing Bishop Comiskey and some of his family members personally, I can say he was a very well loved and lovable person who did an awful lot of good, particularly as an ecumenist, in his role in founding the Christian Media Trust and so on. That is to be remembered today where we have a mature understanding of the undeniable tragedies and failings of the past that can never be denied but also that the good in people should never be forgotten. It is a complex reality and one we must all grapple with. I extend my sympathy to his congregation and family on his sad loss.
A Chathaoirligh, apologies for the misunderstanding earlier. On behalf of our group, I offer my sympathies on the death of Pope Francis, someone who was considered a courageous leader and who spoke on behalf of the marginalised and vulnerable. It is not surprising, given he was a Latin American cleric, that he followed that doctrine which sees the proper role of the church on the side of the most vulnerable and dispossessed rather than the wealthy and powerful.
His nightly calls to the parish in Gaza epitomised the empathy and sympathy he had with people, as well as his being completely and vehemently opposed to unjust wars and illegal occupations. I was in Dublin Castle when he visited and heard his speech, which rightly understood the pain and suffering of those Senator Mullen has referred to, namely, those who were traumatised by their experience of various church institutions, and the recognition that those grievances needed to be addressed in a just and fair way. I sincerely hope the church continues to follow in this way and that whoever succeeds Pope Francis places that same emphasis on the need for reparation and healing. There is still much unfinished business in Ireland in that regard today.
He was a vital voice for peace in this world and will be deeply missed for that. On behalf of our group, I offer our sympathies on his passing. I also take this opportunity to offer my best wishes to Martin Groves. He was full of patience and understanding for those of us who were new to this place. I deeply appreciated his support in easing our passage into the House and giving us an understanding. I wish him the very best in his retirement.
I join the Senator in wishing Martin Groves all the best in his retirement. He did it without ceremony, which is how he did a lot of his work here in the Seanad, quietly behind the scenes. He wanted to make sure we were in recess before he announced it as he would not welcome the tributes in public many members have given him for his long and distinguished service of four decades to the State. I thank everyone for their kind words and wishes. He will be around the House from time to time. I am sure he will appreciate Members saying it to him in person.
I have no problem agreeing to Senator Fitzpatrick's request. I thank all Senators for their contributions. Martin Groves is in good company, having been mentioned in the same breath as Pope Francis. I have spoken to Martin and, if he wishes and in his own way, we will see what he is comfortable with in terms of valediction at a future date. He will certainly appreciate all the comments here today.
I acknowledge all the tributes to Pope Francis - we will have a minute's silence after the Order of Business - and to all practising Catholics, and indeed some non-practising Catholics, who felt strongly about Pope Francis. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins summed up his role and his values - the values of the Gospels as the Vatican said - and that he lived that life with courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. We will remember him later today. I had the pleasure of attending Dublin Castle at the time of his address and visiting him and seeing him at Knock and bringing my mother there at the time. It was certainly an honour to witness him in Ireland on those days.
Senator O'Loughlin raised the issue of the Special Olympics. I acknowledge her work as an advocate for the Special Olympics down through the years. She and others have asked for a debate on inclusion in sport. I will certainly ask the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, to come to the Chamber to deal with that. It is a very important role.
Senator Duffy also raised matters relating to sport. There has been much investment in sports capital funding over the years. The athletics club in Erris can apply in future, if it has not done so. The crux may be the availability of land. It is a matter the Senator has raised, whether there is a scheme to assist clubs in purchasing land, and it is something about which there is uncertainty at the moment. When we get the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, in, that can be raised with him.
Senator Ahearn raised the tragic loss of Brónagh English over the weekend. Our sympathies to Ann and Donie Ormonde on their loss.
Senator Tom Clonan raised the issue of the triple lock. We have asked the Taoiseach to come to the House at a suitable date. That is between me and the Deputy Leader, Senator O'Loughlin. He has agreed to come in, subject to a date. We can have an opportunity to thrash out that matter with him at that time.
Senator Collins raised the issue of section 39 workers. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has indicated this is a priority. I will ask her to come to the House. In the meantime, the Senator may wish to table a Commencement matter on the issue.
Senator Stephenson raised the Grace case and called for a full public inquiry. I will request the Minister to come to the House to have statements on that matter. Once the committees are up and running in the next few weeks, that may be an issue the representatives on the children's committee may wish to raise and pursue. It would be a worthy exercise. It is a very comprehensive report of more than 2,000 pages. It is absolutely worth considering it, for Grace's case and indeed for all those in care, so that such things do not happen in future.
Senator Crowe highlighted the work of the volunteers in the RNLI. I agree with the Senator, acknowledge those volunteers and wish them well in their national fundraising day.
Senator Ní Chuilinn raised the matter of primary health care nurses in Dublin 12. Again, I ask that she table a Commencement matter specifically on the area, but I will also raise it with the Minister.
Senator Joe Conway talked about the BBC Sounds app and having it taken away. Again this might be an issue that could be raised by the committee on communications that might be coming. It is something that has caused some concern to those who have enjoyed the BBC Sounds app.
Senator Scahill raised the issue of Safe Pass. That is very interesting and it would be very worthy. Safe Pass is now mandatory on construction sites, with the hard hats and high visibility jackets. Thankfully, these things have helped with safety and it would be a very good idea to roll out similar courses in transition year. This is something the Senator could raise as a Commencement matter or on a future date with the Minister for further and higher education.
Senator Ryan raised the matter of Kanturk primary care centre and the disappointment of the community. Unfortunately, these things happen from time to time and tenders fall. It has planning permission and there is a commitment to pursue this project. It is to be hoped it can be got back up and running and retendered. There have been other examples, but if the Senator wishes to table a Commencement debate, she might get a more immediate answer on this project. Obviously, there is a commitment to pursue this project if it has gone to tender, and it is to be hoped it can be got back up and running as quickly as possible.
Senator Comyn raised the potential of the Louth versus Meath final. I know our former colleague in this Chamber, Senator Cassells, would be on the other side cheering and we wish them well. I might pose for a nice picture of the two of them on the day and I will not say who I will be shouting for.
Senator Boyle has again talked about the defective concrete block scheme. I have no easy or immediate answer on that matter. I will certainly raise it with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and will ask him to come to the Chamber. I have engaged with our councillor colleagues in Donegal as well and I know it is an issue that is heartfelt there, as it is with former councillors like Johnny McGuinness and his late father Bernard, who was one of the first people to raise these matters a number of years ago. I know there is investment and commitment to investment and that there is work taking place, but there are still issues, some of which the Senator has highlighted. I will ask the Minister if he will come to the House specifically to talk on that matter.
Senator Noonan talked about the increase in our water of residue from herbicides and pesticides, which is worrying. I know a lot of investment, education and training for farmers has been undertaken. The Senator raises valid issues on the sale of Roundup and other herbicides and pesticides over the counter and whether they are being utilised correctly. It is something I will certainly raise with the Minister, Deputy Heydon. Perhaps the Senator may wish to table a Commencement matter on the issue as well.
Senator Maria Byrne raised the tenant in situ scheme and the refusal of applications because no money is left. I have had a number of concerns about that myself, including the fact that, even if a local authority or individual is applying, if the homeowner has planning irregularities or if there are some defects to the house, as there have been in some cases, these can take a number of months to be decided upon. By the time they are decided, three, four or five months of the eviction period have gone by, and suddenly the tenant in situ scheme is not available because the house does not have planning or is defective. There are serious issues and I will certainly request a debate on that matter.
Senator Sarah O'Reilly asked for a debate with the Minister for Justice on crime issues. Obviously, there has been increased investment in Garda numbers. Where gardaí are allocated is a matter for the Garda Commissioner but numbers have increased. We made changes when the Minister, Deputy McEntee was in the role, which have continued with the increase in the age of retirement and the age at which a person can join An Garda. We have seen an increase in the numbers interested in joining the Garda and hopefully that can continue on through to graduation. I will ask the Minister if he can come to the House to talk on matters of crime.
Senator Flynn raised her disappointment regarding the Chair of the Traveller committee. She is right. I had no hand, act or part in that and those decisions were made in the other House. I acknowledge her disappointment. I know from experience that being a member of a committee is as good as being a Chair. I know it does not have the prestige but being an active member of any committee is important. I know the Senator will continue to play an active role as a member of the Traveller committee.
Senator Andrews raised IPAS and Senator Keogan raised the immigration protest at the weekend. I will ask the Minister for Justice to come in. I think the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, is still waiting for the transfer and delegation of functions so the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, may wish to come in as well. IPAS centres are refused from time to time. There was a refusal in Oughterard in my own county and I know there are other applications pending. I know first hand it is an issue of particular concern in communities in different areas. No one is suggesting, I would say to Senator Keogan, that it is not a real live issue - it is in many communities. I will ask for a debate on the matter. The Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, received approval from the Cabinet today to publish legislation to provide decisions on international protection within three months. He has indicated that decisions are taking far too long and that up to 80% of people who applied for international protection in Ireland were not eligible for asylum. He has also indicated that there were 42% fewer international protection applications in the first three months of 2025 compared with the first three months of last year. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, to come to the House to debate these matters.
Finally, along with other Senators, Senators Mullen and Murphy expressed sympathy for Pope Francis and the voices of faith. I do not know who I should ask to be involved in that.
The Department of the Taoiseach. It did it before anyway.
Okay. I hope the Taoiseach will come to the House before the summer recess. This is a matter the Senator may wish to raise. He does raise valid points on the importance of faith. There are many people of faith both in words and in deeds as well, which is important.
Senator Fitzpatrick has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 9 be taken before No. 1", which was seconded by Senator Comyn. The Leader has indicated he is prepared to accept the amendment. Is the amendment to the Order of Business agreed? Agreed.