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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2014

Vol. 235 No. 7

Order of Business

The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on suicide and mental health, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business, 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 called on to reply not later than 5.40 p.m.

While the debate proposed for this afternoon is extremely important and welcome, it is fair to say the Government's legislative programme is very light with little legislation being put through the Houses. We will have statements on a number of days this week. That is a sign, if we needed one, that the Government is in complete and utter chaos with one side not knowing what the other side wants to do while everybody is talking about water charges which are very important.

As has been remarked on by numerous people in recent weeks, what about everything else that is happening? That seems to be ignored, while one topic is given full attention at Government level and continues to confuse and cause chaos among the public. One such issue that is being completely ignored is that of the fair deal scheme. I appreciate that we had statements on health last week, but the fair deal scheme is one that should be dealt with separately. More than 2,000 older people are waiting almost four months for a bed in a nursing home. All Members know this as the families of most of those people would have called to the clinics of Senators and Deputies in their communities. Certainly, I am aware of a number of these cases. Often one is dealing with people who have advanced dementia, whose spouse has died and whose families cannot care for them or, in some cases, they have no families. The fair deal crisis is targeting the sickest and vulnerable older people in society. It could have been avoided if a realistic budget had been allocated for health last year instead of tricking around with figures which were designed to confuse and complicate matters but, ultimately, have the effect of causing real hardship and hurt in communities.

In many counties the waiting list for the fair deal scheme has increased by 300% during the past 12 months. In Laois-Offaly the numbers have increased from 17 to 68, in Meath from 13 to 52, in Wexford from 12 to 48, in Donegal from 16 to 64 and in Roscommon, my colleague Senator Terry Leyden's county, from 7 to 28 at the end of September 2014. This is outrageous. These increases, in numerical terms, tell the startling story of what is happening to older people and what value we put on older people. We hear the Taoiseach speak regularly about making Ireland the best small country in the world in which to do business. As my leader has said that is not a value, it may be a worthy objective but values are things like making Ireland the best small country in the world in which to grow old, where one is comforted and cared for by family and friends and the State, if necessary. These figures belie that objective and are a disgrace. We should have a debate on the issue and those figures need to be highlighted as this is a cause of real suffering and hardship for people.

I thought it was particularly appropriate today on Remembrance Day that we mark the opening of the Seanad business, as we do every day at the commencement of business, with a minute's silence. I am aware that there has been some debate about this in the other House, as there is only a prayer there and no formal acknowledgement of the presence in the Chamber of persons of faiths other than the Christian faith or persons who are atheist or agnostic.

I am really glad, therefore, that we will have a minute's silence. For those in the Visitors Gallery who may not have been aware of it, that is how we open our business and it is fitting to do so.

I pay tribute to the late broadcaster Brian Farrell, whom I knew a little and whom many Members of this House would have known very well. We note his passing and convey our sympathy to his bereaved family.

I thank the Leader for facilitating today's debate on mental health and suicide, which are hugely important issues. It is an appropriate date for such a debate as we remember the hundreds of people who lose their lives through suicide each year. Many contributors to the debate will focus on suicide prevention, but in my contribution later I will also speak about dementia. Perhaps we could have a debate in future specifically about the development of the national dementia strategy. The Alzheimer's Society has been particularly active on the issue.

I am also seeking a debate on policing in the light of the Garda Inspectorate's report which is to be released today. We already know that it contains quite a number of recommendations aimed at addressing inconsistencies in the recording of reported crimes. There is a real problem whereby we see inconsistencies in the recording of crimes that are reported to An Garda Síochána, which make our crime statistics much less reliable. Given that we have had serious changes in the way in which we record crime in recent years, it makes it difficult to draw meaningful comparisons from one year to the next. In addition, the report will raise serious issues concerning policing methods and tactics. It would, therefore, be useful to have a debate on these matters. I know that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will consider the report, but this House should also debate it.

As it is Remembrance Day today, I am happy that on Thursday this week we will be having statements on commemorations. To that end, we will be hearing from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, on the strategy for commemoration planning.

I welcome UPC's ban on access to child sex abuse websites, but we still have a long way to go on this journey. My Independent colleague Senator Jillian van Turnhout will also be addressing this subject. We do not have any Internet police, and these websites can be hosted and taken down so easily. In addition, UPC is only one Internet provider among others. I ask the Leader to arrange for the relevant Minister to attend the House for a debate on this subject. There is a huge amount of regulation and all the providers should be brought to the table to discuss this serious problem. Many of us find it difficult to fathom because it is not a world in which we were educated or brought up. This intangible issue is not black and white. There is a whole underground world that needs to be addressed, which features modern criminality. It is very serious, however, because it involves children.

I apologise for and withdraw a statement I made last Wednesday when I was talking about the bridge in Kilkenny. I referred to the couple of hundred protestors, Kilkenny natives, who would much prefer not to see a modern bridge being built in that medieval city. I uttered two terms that I should not have mentioned: "corruption" and "brown envelopes". I would like to withdraw these words. However, in the spirit of openness, communication and transparency, I ask those people in Kilkenny who are at the edge of the decision-making process to engage in dialogue with protestors who have genuine opinions to voice.

I join Senator Ivana Bacik in paying tribute to the late Brian Farrell. He brought the broadcasting of political events in this country to new heights. He will be missed but will live on through some splendid books.

I welcome the proposals from the governor of the Bank of England and the chairman of the UK Financial Stability Board for a common international standard for the loss-absorbing capacity of global systemic banks. Under these proposals, creditors would become shareholders. It goes to the G10 in Brisbane in the new year.

Perhaps Ireland might support those proposals through our membership of the European Union.

I also thank the Leader for taking the decision made in the Order of Business last week about postcodes. It was announced yesterday that the postcode system is not to proceed until the concerns of the Data Protection Commissioner have been addressed. As I told the House last week, the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications was very strongly lobbied by the Freight Transport Association, which argued that it should "forestall the spending of public monies on another ill-thought and poorly executed project." We have the technology to read letters now. The system knows where County Mayo is without a seven-digit code and it will not send the Bohola post to Ballina. Further, in one of a number of articles on this issue published yesterday, Mr. Joe Leogue of the Irish Examiner stated that a firm from Cork was prevented from bidding for the contract for the system that we are now questioning, because its turnover was under €40 million. We are supposed to be trying to develop small and medium enterprises.

I do not know whether the postcodes were ever a good idea. We raised it here and I think the Minister for Communications, Transport and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, has taken some of our concerns on board. I welcome that very much, as another tribute by the Minister to the work of the Seanad. We must have a debate on the remaining issues, but the Minister made the correct decision to wait to see whether the concerns of the Data Protection Commissioner can be addressed before we proceed.

I wish to highlight the recent CSO figures recording 371,400 people signing on for the month of October. That is a decrease of 3,500 from September. I am delighted to see that Galway city is faring best of all the cities in Ireland when it comes to the reduction in unemployment. Galway's unemployment figure is currently at 8,943, which is the lowest figure since December 2008. Yesterday the Taoiseach was in Galway announcing 115 new jobs in three separate high-tech companies: 75 jobs in Avaya, a communications giant; 25 jobs in PFH technologies; and 15 new jobs in the indigenous IT company Vulcan Solutions, as well as 140 new jobs in Tuam, County Galway in Valeo Vision Systems. This is evidence of the progress made by this Government in getting people back to work and reducing the number of those on the live register.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 14 be taken before No. 1. No. 14 is the Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill which Senators Jillian van Turnhout and Fidelma Healy Eames and I published last week. The Bill is designed to do four things: to give all adoptees a right to their birth certificates and other personal records once they reach the age of 18 years, a right adoptees in England have had for over 40 years; to enable natural parents to request information about their adopted sons or daughters; to facilitate adoptees and natural parents in exchanging contact details where both wish to do so; and to put in place a supportive process to support those who do. It will be ensured no one will be forced to have direct contact with a parent or child if they do not wish to do so, but there are thousands of adoptees and mothers across this country who desperately want to reach out to the other person. I met a lady yesterday afternoon who rang me after hearing about the Bill last week. She sat down with me for a cup of coffee yesterday and told me about how she had put her child up for adoption 45 years ago and all the pain she has been carrying as a mother. She has tried to reach out through the HSE and because there is no right to information and support, she is still on a waiting list just to get an appointment with a HSE social worker. She sat down and she started crying before I said anything. She said she had not slept the night before because she knew she had to come and talk to me. She said she did not talk about this to her husband or her family, and she has not told her children. She said that she had heard me on the radio last week and wanted to know when my Bill would be passed. I had to tell her that unfortunately it will not necessarily pass - it will take the support of every Member of this House to ensure that it does pass and it cannot be taken for granted. I will be happy to individually brief anybody on the Bill, as I know my two colleagues will. I ask Members to engage with it in the next week. It is not a party-political initiative; it is bigger than that.

We have come together as three Members from opposite sides of the House to work on this issue because each of us has a personal interest in it. I am sure many Members of the House will have adoption stories from their own families and friends and understand how important it is. We have published the Bill as a draft and are willing to amend it on Committee Stage. When we table it during Fianna Fáil Private Members' time next Wednesday, I genuinely hope we will get support from across the House. It is a huge issue and a great source of pain and anguish for 50,000 Irish adoptees and their families.

Like Senator Ivana Bacik, I would like to mention the important date today commemorates. It is exactly 100 years since the end of the First World War and it is appropriate that we mention it in the House. Among the casualties in that war were over 35,000 Irish people. Several weeks ago, with many of my colleagues from this House who are members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, I had the honour of visiting Flanders and many of the memorials to the soldiers who had tragically lost their lives. Among them, we visited the Irish peace park and tower, the brain child of former Deputy Paddy Harte, father of Senator Jimmy Harte from County Donegal. This memorial was opened on 11 November 1998, the first time the then President, Mrs. Mary McAleese, and the Queen of England had come together. It was the first time that the two countries had come together to celebrate the lives lost in the First World War. The Irish peace park has ensured Irish soldiers lost in the First World War will never be forgotten. By chance I happened to see a segment on "Nationwide" on RTE last night, dedicated to former Deputy Paddy Harte and the excellent work he had carried out in ensuring the Irish people who had lost their lives there would be remembered.

I would also like to raise the matter of the aggravated and serious burglaries that have been ongoing in recent weeks, particularly in Border areas. On Sunday night there was a most heinous crime of an aggravated burglary which involved an innocent family and children. Every resource needs to be put at the disposal of the Defence Forces and the Garda to apprehend the criminals involved as soon as possible.

I second the amendment proposed to the Order of Business, that No. 14, Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014, be taken before No. 1. I proudly co-sponsor the Bill with Senators Averil Power and Fidelma Healy Eames. We have worked hard to strike a balance and ensure there would be safeguards in place, but the vindication of the right to one's identity is at the heart of it. For all of us, to know who we are and who our parents are is critical for our identity, medical information and understanding.

I welcome the move by UPC to block child abuse material. Mobile phone service operators already do this as part of an EU agreement and I hope other service providers will follow suit. I note that in February 2012, as an independent group, we tabled a motion on the issue, calling for the blocking of child abuse material. I followed it up in September 2013 with a report and we have had a fruitful debate in the House on the issue. I thank Senators for their support. Some commentators are referring to the material in question as child pornography. It is child abuse material. It is a crime scene, a digital recording of a most monstrous crime against children. This is about protecting real children from real abuse in the real world; it is not something to trivialise. I know that blocking of the material by service providers is not a panacea and will not deter people from file-swapping. People will come across an image for the first time; they will be disgusted and walk away, but quite a number of them will come back to it and then start trading in child abuse images. Where do they get these images? They make them of children in Ireland and across the world. Interpol tells us that 74% of the images depict children under ten years of age. There are images of children still with their umbilical cords. We need to urge other broadband providers to block child abuse material, as it is a most heinous crime. I ask for Senators' support in that regard.

I also commend the advancement in blocking child pornography and recognise the work of Senator Jillian van Turnhout.

I pay tribute and express my sadness on the passing of my friend and former lecturer, Mr. Brian Farrell, who was an inspiration to me when I was in college. He was an inspiration to many thousands of students in college. He was probably one of the brightest and most capable lecturers I had. His sense of social justice, integrity and decency is something that has lived with me all my life since then. I remember one of my first days in college when he arrived to give his lecture. The first thing he did was pick up papers that were thrown on the ground, turned around and said, "The people who have to clean this up did not have the same opportunities that you do" and "I hope that when I come in here I will not see a repeat of this."

Mr. Farrell was also very humorous and learned a lot of humour from his students. On one occasion, when he was lecturing, he said that he did not know if former Taoiseach, Mr. Éamon de Valera, informed some of his cabinet or all of his Cabinet when he called the 1933 general election. Of course, during the summer, when he was correcting examinations papers, he saw a definitive statement that Mr. de Valera informed none of his Cabinet that he was calling the 1933 general election. He thought this was a profound statement and he looked at the front of the examination paper to see the name Síle de Valera. He very happily gave her points for research.

Mr. Farrell always believed in being very careful about how language was constructed, particularly when setting examination papers. At one stage, he put down a question asking the students to give an account of the various routes to the Dáil. One very clever student drew a map of a route from the RDS to Leinster House and various other ways of getting there. Of course, the student had to get full marks because his interpretation of the question was 100% correct.

In his latter years, Mr. Farrell spent a lot of time in my home town of Ennistymon. He would come down every year for the Merriman Summer School. I spent a lot of time in his company. I learned a lot from him. His love of Ireland, County Clare, traditional music, all of the things that are good about our country, and his love of our country, was inspirational. He will be sadly missed

I wish to be associated with the remarks about the commemoration of the First World War. My father was heavily decorated in that war. However, I have to say I think it was a frightful mistake. If I had been around at the time I probably would have fought for the Austrians because of Strauss, JB Fischer von Erlach and Franz Josef's wonderful moustache and beard. However, it was a horrendous mistake and a thorough waste of lives.

I express my solidarity with farmers. Their treatment by the meat industry has been absolutely outrageous, in particular, people like Mr. Larry Goodman whose career in the meat industry has not been covered with glory. I support them in getting a living, decent wage for the animals that they rear in this country. I do not believe they are getting it. The differential between what the farmers get and the price for which supermarkets sell the meat is really intolerable.

I also wish to be associated with the remarks about Mr. Brian Farrell. I did a couple of broadcasts with him. I knew him a bit. He was a sophisticated, decent man, a most brilliant commentator and analyst of elections. Part of the enjoyment of general elections was to sit in front of the television and watch Brian Farrell parse and analyse the figures as they came in and interview very directly and very clearly the principal participants. I had not realised he was quite as old as he was. However, 85 is nothing nowadays. I wish to send my sympathy to his family.

I, too, wish to be associated with the sorrow expressed on the passing of Mr. Brian Farrell. He was a journalist who cared about journalism. He was a journalist who cared about politics. He wanted people to understand the political system. He wanted people to be informed. He did not chase car crash headlines. He was not interested in personality politics, the sort of journalism that unfortunately we see very often today. He will be sorely missed and his style of journalism and the way in which he approached his work is something that we will all miss, whether we are politicians or citizens.

I express my gratitude, 100 years after the start of the First World War, for the sacrifice made which may, as Senator David Norris described, have been a foolish mistake, but for those who died all they could have done was give their lives, and they did so.

I ask the Leader, yet again, to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House. I know he is coming to discuss fisheries, but I refer to the beef industry. As Senator David Norris said, there should be solidarity with farmers who are standing outside in the cold all night seeking prices they ought to have to been paid. It is an absolute disgrace to see the stand-off between the industry and farmers. It is not as if they have not tried to negotiate; they have. They have tried to sort it out and have been driven to stand outside with timber fires drinking tea in the middle of the night to try to get the industry to pay them the money they should have received. This all goes back to the horsemeat scandal and whatever price the industry has had to pay as a result of its errors. Irish farmers did not introduce horsemeat into the business; the industry did. Farmers are now paying the price for this, which is an absolute disgrace. I have asked the Minister to come before the House to discuss the disbanding of the special investigations unit and I am still asking for this. What we saw over the weekend was a disgrace.

I support the comments of Senators Darragh O'Brien and Jillian van Turnhout on the blocking of child abuse material. As Senator Jillian van Turnhout said, it is a crime scene. I would like the Minister for Justice and Equality to come before the House for a broader debate on Internet content regulation. Proposals were first made in 2011, and since the UPC proposals were issued last night and the memorandum of understanding was signed, some concerns were raised about the legislative basis for the proposals. I understand the Internet content governance advisory group stated that legislation would be needed to implement the directive on blocking sites with child abuse images. Questions have been raised in the past 24 hours about legislation, and there are concerns about how the lists will be drawn up and over-blocking. The European data protection supervisor in May 2010 said, when discussing the directive, that it should be done in a strictly targeted way and under judicial control, and that misuse of the mechanism should be prevented by adequate security measures. It is important that we have a broader debate on Internet content regulation. We need to make sure that any mechanisms introduced have sufficient legislative underwriting and cannot be abused in the future.

I call on all sides involved in the beef dispute to come to the table. There is a beef forum meeting tomorrow and it is to be hoped progress will be made. Farmers have been outside the gates of factories for 48 hours, and were outside for 24 hours two weeks ago. They do not want to be there, rather they want to be at home looking after their livestock and producing the quality beef which does so well in Ireland. Farmers are a vital link in the beef chain and it is vital, given the Food Harvest 2020 targets, that we keep them in business. They had responded to the situation, which is part of the problem. I raised this issue as far back as last April. Extra cattle came into the system and as soon as factories saw that they saw an opportunity to cut the prices paid to farmers. If the dispute is not sorted out at this juncture, we will have serious difficulties in the future. It is important that all sides come to the table and solve the problem once and for all.

I can see from where Senator Martin Conway got his great grasp of politics, namely, the master himself. Well done to the late Professor Brian Farrell on the production of his intelligent student in the House. I share the sympathy expressed to the family of the late Brian Farrell. I knew him very well. He married into the Dillon family from Ballaghaderreen. I, too, met him at the conference in Ennistymon. He was a brilliant writer, journalist and professor, and an icon of RTE.

We all want to share in the sympathy being expressed to his wife and family. We will probably be given an opportunity in the future to extend our respects to the late Joe Walsh, the former Deputy, Minister and, for a short period in 1981 and 1982, Senator. Joe was an extremely good Minister and he played an important role in preventing the spread of foot and mouth disease in this country. He was outstanding in the way he took on that task. He was authoritative and committed to his brief. I extend my deepest sympathy to his family.

It is ironic that farmers were out on strike during the period in which Joe Walsh died because he fought on the side of the farmers. He set up Bord Bia and established good pricing structures. I agree with Senator Michael Comiskey that a crisis has arisen for farming. Having been on a farm, I understand the amount of work involved in the production of quality beef. Farmers are doing an outstanding job but a price cartel is operating among the factories. They are responding to supply and demand but supply will not be there unless farmers are given a fair deal because many beef farmers will be out of business in the next 12 months. In terms of inputs, the costs of silage production and other aspects of operating a beef farm are enormous. The price of supplies is increasing but the price is coming down for cattle. It is becoming an impossible task and factories need to respond quickly or else the industry will be destroyed. It is a crisis and the IFA and everybody else were right to protest. I hope there will be a response at the forum tomorrow and that better prices will be offered from Friday. The Seanad should appeal to all concerned to reach agreement in this regard.

I express my sympathy to the family of Brian Farrell on his death, including in particular David, whom a number of us got to know very well during the Constitutional Convention. I was in college with David. In terms of famous stories, the story about the route to the Dáil has been mentioned. It is up there with famous UCD stories. Probably the most famous question ever asked by a UCD student was "Is this a question?", and the answer was "Is this an answer?". Possibly the biggest irony is that the person who apparently gave the answer to Brian Farrell's questions about routes to the Dáil was the son of a prominent Deputy. Perhaps that says more about Irish politics than the question.

I did not name him.

He was a wonderful man and a wonderful lecturer - I claim him for UCD. I spent many hours in the bar in UCD being inspired by people such as Brian Farrell, Maurice Manning and Tom Garvin.

Tom Garvin was wonderful, too.

They were all wonderful people. I again ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the statement by the Governor of the Central Bank on mortgage lending. The report is to be finished by January and this House needs to have its say on the matter.

The Irish Cancer Society issued a report today which brought to public attention a map prepared by NUI Maynooth which indicates that the incidence of cancer has a direct correlation with where one lives. The map shows that the death rate in some of the poorer communities in north Dublin is three times higher than in more affluent neighbourhoods 2 km down the road. In parts of north Dublin there is one GP for every 2,500 people, in comparison to more affluent neighbourhoods nearby where the ratio is 1:1,600. The society asked that health inequalities in cancer be recognised in the new ten-year national cancer strategy. I ask the House to take that on board.

I welcome Councillor Forde from County Meath to the Visitors Gallery.

I join my colleagues in remembering Armistice Day. I personally visited the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Flanders, where I learned that a Craughwell and a Quigley had both died on the same day in Childer Wood. My mother being a Quigley and my father a Craughwell, I found it rather ironic. Having worn a uniform for ten years in two armies, I believe politicians make war and soldiers die.

I ask the Leader to set aside time for a debate on the serious issue of lead in drinking water. While the debate on water charges continues unabated, residents of a small development of houses in Tralee, County Kerry, are drawing their drinking water from a tap at the local council depot in Rock Street. The residents of St. Brendan's Park, Tralee, are at their wits' end in the saga, which began earlier this year and is only now being addressed by Kerry County Council and Irish Water. Apart from the very substantial risk to residents' health from lead contaminated water, Irish Water's handling of the issue is yet another example of the ineffectiveness of this new State utility. The plight of the residents of St. Brendan's Park has been highlighted in a very active social media campaign by residents and uncovers an issue that concerns not only them but 150,000 houses nationwide. While Irish Water has publicly acknowledged that more than 100,000 homes have lead service pipes, it is also aware that 30,000 to 40,000 homes have lead piping on their properties.

The Tralee case highlights a number of important issues and the public's general lack of awareness of this very serious health risk associated with drinking lead contaminated water. Several people to whom I spoke this week, including members of the media, believed the problem could be solved simply by boiling the water. For those in affected areas in Tralee, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and other parts of the country, a consumer information package must immediately be distributed. Legislators such as us need to examine the efficacy of the public health perspective of the situation whereby environmental health officers, EHOs, in HSE offices can only advise local authorities-----

The issue might be more suitable for an Adjournment debate.

Perhaps, but I want to bring the matter forward and I ask the Leader to give it priority. It affects not just the Tralee residents. My discussions with the HSE tell me it is a problem in most urban areas in the country. Lead was first recognised as a contaminant in 2000 BC, and we are talking about it today. I ask the Leader to provide time.

I agree with Senator Gerard P. Craughwell on St. Brendan's Park in Tralee. Some time ago, I was at a meeting with the hospital authorities and the HSE, and it is true that the lead piping, which is probably 100 years old, or whatever, badly needs to be replaced.

I thank the Leader for arranging a debate later today on mental health, and we will have more to say on it when we come to it. I also thank him for scheduling a discussion on commemorations for Thursday.

I welcome the 14th report of the Credit Review Office and compliment the credit reviewer, Mr. John Trethowan. The report stated that in 56% of appeals, the Credit Review Office found in favour of the borrowers, which has resulted in €29.7 million of extra credit being made available to SMEs and farms, thereby helping to protect or create 2,090 jobs. Ensuring SMEs and farmers have access to credit is a key priority. They play a crucial role in economic and employment growth. In the recent budget, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, announced that permanent tsb will shortly recommence actively engaging with and lending to the SME sector, and that it has agreed to participate in the Credit Review Office process. Ulster Bank is actively considering making a similar commitment. The Credit Review Office was established to help SME and farm borrowers, as well as others, which have had an application for credit of up to €3 million declined or reduced and which feel they have a viable business proposition and have not been treated fairly. Where conditions are changed unfairly or where onerous, extra impositions are made on borrowers, they can use the office, which is vital. The process is confidential and the office has done great work and we should take it on board. Perhaps when we debate financial matters, I hope in the near future, we might incorporate it. I compliment the office on its success.

I add my voice to those of Senators who have spoken about the late Mr. Brian Farrell whom I got to know in UCD. However, I do not have stories about him to compare with those of other Senators, but I regarded him very highly.

I was away yesterday and did not realise the former Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Joe Walsh, had died. Senator Terry Leyden has mentioned that Mr. Walsh was a Member of this House in 1980 and 1981. I was not aware of that, but it gives us reason to speak about him in the future. I send my sympathy to his family. He was actively involved in raising Irish food standards through Bord Bia and I worked with him at the time of establishment of that body. I mention this because the solution to the beef problem lies in food standards. If higher prices are to be achieved for Irish beef, they will be achieved by customers believing it is worth paying more. The Irish public is not paying more, but people in Britain are paying more for English beef, while French people are paying more for French beef. We must do something, but stopping supplies is the wrong approach. Strikes can be frustrating and people may react to them by not serving and delivering Irish beef, but this will not help the beef business. I hope that at the beef forum tomorrow a solution will be found because Irish beef is top quality. As stopping supplies will damage the future of the industry, we should ensure a system to solve the problem is agreed to at the forum tomorrow.

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming my good friend Councillor Wayne Ford from County Meath to the Visitors Gallery.

I wish the Republic of Ireland soccer team success in the match against Scotland on Friday. If the scramble for tickets is a measure of returning interest in the game, it is a good sign. A win on Friday will put us in pole position to qualify. As the Leader recently won tickets for the game, I ask that he facilitate the Seanad by giving us a comprehensive report on how it went.

Last week there were a number of calls in the House for a debate on technological universities, not only in the south east but across the State. I support this fundamental change to the provision of university education in the State and on the island. The merger of institutions and applications in that regard, some of which are on shaky ground, highlights the need for a general debate on the issue. As the Minister for Education and Skills knows, one of the partners in the south east has withdrawn completely from the process. An individual has been tasked to lead a review and hold consultations, but in reality this is a simple issue. I will talk briefly about the situation in the south east as it is very simple. Either the collectively merged institutes can meet the criteria or they cannot. An independent body is required to set out for the people of the south east how and when the merged institutes will meet each of the criteria. This will give them confidence that it can be done. Senior people at Waterford Institute of Technology tell me the criteria cannot be met, but I cannot verify this as I can only take people at face value. Honesty is required from all interested parties, including the Department, the Higher Education Authority and the institutes involved. I enthusiastically support the idea of having a multi-campus university but not at any cost. The failures of the system and the importance of the changes to third and fourth level education mean that a debate on the issue in this House would be constructive. Does the Leader agree? Having a broad debate would give us a greater opportunity to ventilate issues than a narrow Adjournment motion. As Government Senators called for a debate on this issue last week, it would be both constructive and worthwhile to have one. I, therefore, ask that the matter be examined in the coming weeks.

Today the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, launched a day of remembrance for the victims of road accidents in Ireland.

Next Sunday victims of road collisions globally will be remembered on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. To mark the day, the Road Safety Authority, local authorities and members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services are joining forces to urge people to monitor their behaviour on the roads as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives in traffic accidents. Since records began in 1959, 23,600 people have died on Irish roads. Of the 166 who died in the past 12 months, one in five was not wearing a safety belt. That is an alarming statistic. The RSA, local authority road safety officers and road safety support organisations throughout the country have organised masses, services and commemorative events to take place next Sunday to remember the lives lost and the lives changed forever. For every person lost on the roads, hundreds more are devastated. Behind every tragedy lies a traumatised family and community. The number of people lost since 1959 is equivalent to two thirds of the population of Dundalk. I am calling on the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on the issue. It is imperative that we take a moment to consider the changes we can all make to keep the roads free of carnage and ensure fewer families will be grieving for loved ones this Christmas.

I support the proposed amendment to the Order of Business that the Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014, authored by Senator Averil Power and co-sponsored by Senator Jillian van Turnhout and I, be introduced today. Those of us who have access to our birth certificates are fortunate; it is a facility which is not yet available to adopted persons. We in this House have an opportunity to bring into law something which would make 50,000 people in this country very happy. We have taken care in the Bill to balance the right to privacy of the natural parents with the right to identity of adoptees. I look forward to the debate on the Bill.

My second point relates to the crisis in agriculture and in the beef sector, in particular. I am delighted to hear Senator David Norris add his voice to the many which have spoken in the House on the issue. Farmers' backs are to the wall; they are being walked on by the meat processors, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, is allowing the situation to continue. The price issue is bad enough, but we are now in a situation where factories are refusing to take cattle aged over 30 months and weighing over 40 kg. The Minister could do a great deal to change these specifications. If there is no progress at the beef forum tomorrow, I intend to take the opportunity in this House to urge farmers to stand together and refrain from selling animals for one week. We would see then who was in control.

Is the Senator seeking a debate on the matter?

I certainly am seeking a debate on it. There is too much monopolising in the sector, with meat processors having way too much control. Even the processing of offal is controlled by one man and one factory. As I understand it, there have been threats that offal will not be taken unless the price drops by 20 cent. This is wrong; it is unacceptable and I look forward to that debate in this House with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in attendance.

On a point of order-----

Is it a point of order the Senator wishes to raise?

Yes. The word "fulsome" has been used quite inaccurately several times today. As it means false, grovelling, unctuous and servile, please do not use the word "fulsome" inaccurately.

Thank you, Senator.

I join in the expressions of sympathy to the family of the late Brian Farrell. For everybody who had an interest in politics, Brian Farrell brought elections to life. As we all thought of him yesterday, memories flooded back of the great events in Irish politics where crucial seats were lost, Governments changed and Taoisigh conceded defeat. Those memories came flooding back as we remembered an outstanding broadcaster who contributed so much to the education of people in politics.

I also join in the expressions of sympathy to the family of the late Joe Walsh, a man who understood the value of public service. The professional manner in which he handled the foot and mouth disease crisis certainly is something for which he will be fondly remembered. There will be an opportunity in the future to pay tribute to him again in this House.

Today, on Remembrance Day, as we remember those who lost their lives in the First World War, it is also important that we would remember all of our citizens who lost their lives in both world wars. It is also important to remember the futility of war and to reflect on the fact that 100 years on, many people are losing their lives as a result of conflict and war throughout the world. It is incumbent on all politicians at every level to do everything possible to promote peace, reconciliation and unity in communities and countries throughout the world.

I wish the meeting of the beef forum tomorrow well. It is outrageous that farmers are out in this awful weather trying to protect their livelihoods. They are entitled to a decent standard of living. The meat factories and the processors must step up to the mark. I have every confidence that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, will achieve a satisfactory outcome tomorrow. He is to be congratulated on his recent mission to China and on the success he achieved for the agricultural industry in securing new markets in China.

Ba mhaith liom, as mé fhéin, comhbhrón a chur in iúl do chlanna Joe Walsh agus a rá go raibh brón ar a gcuid, agus clann Brian Farrell freisin. De réir mar a chloisim, is Gaeilgeoir a bhí in Brian Farrell chomh maith céanna. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha go léir.

I wish to discuss the issue of Irish Water. It is a topic of serious debate inside and outside these Houses. I appreciate the Leader did his best to arrange for a good debate on that issue in this House but we need to return to it. What is happening on the ground is a shambles. We had a meeting in Galway last week with the Oireachtas representatives and the local authority on the issue of water services and so on.

A number of issues related to Irish Water have arisen locally with regard to the way it is handling the transfer of undertakings, as such. We had plans in Connemara for a regional water scheme which is half completed. We have been told it is currently being reviewed by Irish Water. The former director of services in Galway County Council told us last week that it appears that an upgrade on our local water scheme in Carraroe that was done last year would do the job for the next year or so and that water might be supplied from there and another local system. That was fine until we heard in the local media during the week that the water system in question has failed the last five EPA tests for trihalomethanes.

The water in that system, which we have been told might be good enough for human consumption, has failed that test five times in a row. I am very concerned that the local authority involved did not tell us about that. It has informed me that it was not its role to tell me that and that it is matter for Irish Water. We are using the Oireachtas helpline to try to contact Irish Water, but it keeps kicking to touch. It has told us that it will get somebody who is qualified in the area to come back to us and give us clarification.

They have not come back to us and it is an absolute shambles. A leading scientist has indicated that the danger surrounding trihalomethanes is very serious in the long term; if this is allowed to continue, people might have an increased chance of contracting cancer and could die as a result. It is a serious life and death issue. I appreciate that the Leader did his best when we sought the debate and indicated he would try to return to it. We must get back to the discussion as there are many issues apparent on the ground. I would appreciate if the Leader could update us on how the negotiations with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, are going. Will the leader of the Fianna Fáil grouping in the Seanad ensure all his soldiers are on-site next time round and behave properly?

Senator Mary Moran referenced the young mother and two children held and terrorised in their home in Dundalk. Perhaps that trauma will be with them for the rest of their lives. This is the second such incident in that area in recent days but similar problems occur every day of the week in this country. In my area last week, we held a meeting with representatives of An Garda Síochána, with 40 cases reported to gardaí. Only last week, a lady was putting out a bin in the evening when she was assaulted by four men wearing balaclavas and bundled into her house. Her children were beaten up until the thugs got some money. A gentleman who lives only a number of doors away from my home was watching television last Friday week but when he went to bed, he noticed the bedroom had been ransacked and there was a golf club on the bed, although he does not play golf. He checked his closed-circuit television footage and discovered thugs had been in the house for 20 minutes ransacking it. They had crowbars, a baseball bat, hammers and golf clubs. Gardaí cannot be blamed for this as we know there is a lack of resources. Nevertheless, these thugs will strike morning, noon and night and they are fearless. We are becoming prisoners in our own homes and we are reaching a stage where we may have to put iron bars around windows to protect ourselves and stop these thugs from getting in. I blame the bail laws and court procedures. There may be 30, 40 or even 50 charges levelled against thugs and yet they are allowed out. I call on the Leader to facilitate a debate in the Seanad on the bail laws as these people should not be allowed to get away with their actions. After three strikes, they should be out. We must find a way to incarcerate people when they commit serious crimes.

I join colleagues from all sides who expressed concern about the current crisis in the beef industry. It is putting livelihoods and jobs at risk both in the short and long term. The forum will meet tomorrow and we are hopeful progress can be made. There are certainly profound questions concerning competition and cartel issues that can be deliberated. Perhaps if there cannot be a domestic solution to the problem, the newly appointed Irish Commissioner, Mr. Phil Hogan, who now presides over the European agriculture industry, could be called upon to review matters. From a European perspective, we must always ensure competition and fair trade. There are serious questions to be addressed in that regard.

They need to wear the green jersey.

This is a week of commemoration and we have mentioned war death commemorations and those who died on the roads. On Sunday, the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall was marked and this was surely part of the most momentous political development in the past 50 years. We should remember all those people who in the decades before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain lost their lives for simply attempting to be free citizens. It is ironic that some people in this country, including in this or the other House, who claim to be progressive, left wing and daring in their politics would have the Berlin Wall still standing if they had their way. It represented the politics which they now represent. I salute all those people whose efforts led to the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago. For all of the current imperfect politics, Europe is now a much better, safer and more free and democratic place.

We should never forget the people who wanted the wall to remain standing and the sort of politicians and politics they stood for. Some of them are still with us.

I join in conveying our sympathy to the Walsh family on the death of Mr. Joe Walsh. He was an outstanding Deputy for west Cork and an extremely progressive Minister for Agriculture and Food. He made a major contribution as a Minister and it is important we recognise that fact. I join in conveying our sympathy to his wife and family. Even before he came into politics, he was involved in the agriculture industry and his entire life was devoted to making a contribution and continuing to grow and expand the industry. We owe thanks to him for his work.

I ask the Leader to bring to the attention of the Minister for Health and to consider having a debate on the promised reform of the health system. It was one of the key planks of Fine Gael and the Labour Party before the last general election and reform would have ended our two-tier health system. Two pieces of evidence illustrate it this week. Data were published in the past 24 hours, although I have not had a chance to see the raw data. The coverage in the press suggests something that is widely known, namely, there is colossal disparity in cancer mortality rates based on socio-economic status. There are complex reasons for this in terms of the causation of cancer but also, possibly, access to the treatment and diagnostic services. If this is the case, it is a crisis that must be addressed urgently. In the past decade we have made cancer a poster child for such reform as has occurred in the health system and it is dispiriting that, so many years after so many bureaucracies were set up, there is still colossal disparity. I would like some explanation as to why it is the case.

There is coverage in the newspaper today about a young girl called Genevieve Costello. I could not make this up. She waited not one, two, three, four or five but six years to see a specialist in allergies. During this time, she had several presentations with potentially lethal episodes of allergic reaction, which may have related to peanut exposure. She had to go to emergency rooms to have the reaction sorted out. She was told at one stage there would be a four-year waiting list and then told some years later that she had to reapply. She then found out there was no specialist consultant in a post to do it. When a specialist consultant was appointed, she was told the waiting list to be seen was one year.

There is something seriously wrong. This is not only inhumane but bad medicine and bad business. Having people going to accident and emergency units, possibly having severe reactions, which can cost tens of thousands of euro to treat if they are in intensive care units, is not a clever way of dealing with a problem that should be dealt with in a timely fashion through prevention. I ask the Leader to bring this to the attention of the Minister and, in whatever form he sees fit, we can have some report back on how the issue will be dealt with. It is very dispiriting to see this kind of problem and to see that, 21 years after I came back to Ireland and started highlighting issues like this, there has apparently been no progress.

I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy on the death of the former Member of the House and former Minister, Mr. Joe Walsh.

Senator Thomas Byrne referred to the making of statements on issues included in the schedule and the lack of legislation. This is the first week we will have statements on each of the three sitting days. In the preceding nine sitting weeks we dealt with legislation every week. We have debated various Stages of 13 items of legislation this term. Two new items of legislation will commence on Second Stage next week and there will be further legislation before the House rises for the Christmas recess. I, therefore, reject the Senator's assertion that there has been no progress on the Government's legislative agenda. An ambitious and reforming agenda has been pursued since the Government took office in 2011.

This will continue until the completion of its term of office. All of the debates scheduled for this week were repeatedly requested by Members on all sides of the House. It is a coincidence that they are occurring this week.

I note and agree with the Senator's points about the fair deal scheme. Members of the Dáil are due to have a debate on the matter during Private Members' business this week. Finance has been approved for over 500 people per month under the scheme, but the figures are greater than 500. That is the problem. There is, therefore, a need for more funding. An extra sum of €25 million has been provided, but there will be a need for much more. The Minister for Health is well aware of the position and I hope the matter will be addressed in early course because it is undoubtedly causing problems for many families throughout the country.

Senator Ivana Bacik and many other Members expressed their sympathy to the family of the late Professor Brian Farrell. He was an excellent broadcaster and academic and we heard some very nice stories about him. People involved in public life and politics would have seen him as an excellent person, broadcaster and academic. He gave wonderful service in everything in which he was involved, both as an academic and a broadcaster. I express my sincere sympathy and that of the House to his family.

Senator Ivana Bacik called for a debate on the dementia strategy. It is the intention of the Government to publish the strategy prior to the Christmas recess. I will try to arrange a debate on it when it has been outlined.

The Senator also referred to the new policing authority. I understand the Bill is to be brought before the justice committee. Perhaps we might debate the heads of the Bill also. However, we will debate the Bill on Second Stage in early course.

Senators Mary Ann O'Brien, Jillian van Turnhout, Martin Conway and others referred to the decision of UPC to block access to child abuse material. That is welcome, although obviously there is a great deal more to be done in that regard.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien withdrew her comments on corruption and brown envelopes in the planning of the bridge in Kilkenny. I agree with her about the planning process. There should be much greater consultation on items such as this, as provided for under the planning process. I hope that consultation will take place with all interested parties.

Senator Sean D. Barrett raised the issue of postcodes and referred to the need for further consultation, which will now take place. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, has addressed the matter. The Senator also mentioned a procurement issue, which must be addressed.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton referred to the decrease in unemployment. It is welcome that the unemployment figure has fallen so much during a period of many months. Job creation remains the first priority of the Government and that will continue to be the case.

Senator Averil Power proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 14 be taken before No. 1. I will accede to her request. It is a matter that must be addressed and about which she spoke very well.

Senator Mary Moran referred to Remembrance Day and recalled the work of former Deputy Paddy Harte on the Island of Ireland Peace Park. He was joined in his work by Glenn Barr at the time. It was a humbling experience for me to visit the peace park and its graves a few weeks ago as a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. We should never forget the sacrifices of Irish people who fought for the freedom of small nations. Many of them also believed they were fighting for home rule in Ireland. An article in the Irish Independent today notes that in 1966, during the 50th anniversary commemorations of the 1916 Rising, the then Taoiseach, Mr. Seán Lemass, stated he would not question the motives of Irish people who had fought in the First World War.

Senators Mary Moran and Eamonn Coghlan raised the issue of aggravated burglaries and called for every assistance to be given to the Garda. They also requested a debate on law and order issues.

Senator David Norris correctly described the First World War as an horrendous mistake. Practically all wars are horrendous mistakes.

The Senator also referred to farmers and the beef crisis, an issue that was also raised by a number of other Senators. There is no question that farmers must be given a fair price for their produce. I hope tomorrow's meeting of the beef forum will find an amicable solution to the problem. For some time farmers have been accepting prices for certain types of animal that are not comparable to those secured by their counterparts in the United Kingdom. I hope a resolution will be found by all of the relevant parties tomorrow. Speaking on the same issue, Senator Susan O'Keeffe stated farmers were paying for the mistakes of the factories and made a valid point about the horsemeat and other scandals.

Senator Kathryn Reilly called for a debate on the regulation of Internet content. I will try to facilitate such a debate.

Senator Michael Comiskey referred to the beef crisis and other problems in farming. A number of Senators, including Senators Terry Leyden and Feargal Quinn, extended sympathy to the family of the late Joe Walsh, a former Member of the House. I will try to facilitate in early course an opportunity to discuss the life of Mr. Walsh who was an excellent politician and public representative. He did much for his constituency and the country, especially in preventing an epidemic of foot and mouth disease.

Senator Aideen Hayden called for debates on the issues of mortgage lending and deficiencies in cancer services, an issue to which Senator John Crown also referred.

Senators Gerard P. Craughwell and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh referred to problems with drinking water in Tralee and the greater Galway area, respectively. We also heard about the continued use of lead pipes and other problems with water services infrastructure. The Senators' comments highlight again the need to put in place proper infrastructure to ensure people will have proper drinking water at all times. This is one of the Government's priorities and I hope a solution will be found. In the next eight to ten days the Government will announce a policy that will help to establish an investment structure to fix the country's broken water infrastructure.

Senator Paul Coughlan mentioned the statements on suicide and mental health due to take place after the Order of Business. He also mentioned the importance of the Credit Review Office and its report. The statistic that some 58% of appeals on loan applications were upheld is high. It is important, therefore, that the report be noted by everyone involved.

Senator Feargal Quinn referred to the beef crisis and paid tribute to the late Professor Brian Farrell and Joe Walsh.

Senator John Gilroy mentioned a sporting matter. I will have a conversation with him after the match on Friday.

Senator David Cullinane asked about the criteria to be met by technological universities and referred to the need for clarity on the part of the Department and the Higher Education Authority. I agree with him in that regard. The Government is in the process of drafting a technological universities Bill which is expected to be published early next year with a view to being progressed through the Oireachtas in the first session of 2015. Therefore, there will be ample opportunity to discuss the matter at that time.

Senator Terry Brennan referred to the remembrance of victims of road traffic accidents. It is a shocking statistic that 23,600 people have been killed on the roads since records began in 1959. It highlights the need for all of us to take more care on the roads, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames supported the adoption Bill. I understand the Bill will be introduced by Senator Averil Power next Wednesday. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames also made a number of points about the beef crisis.

Senator Michael Mullins again highlighted the futility of war. We all agree with him.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of the quality of water.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan referred to the bail laws, a matter which was raised last week. I will certainly ask the relevant Minister to come to the House for a debate on the matter. The numbers of burglaries and other crimes committed by people on bail are shocking. It is an issue that will have to be addressed by the Government.

Senator Paul Bradford raised agricultural matters and mentioned the possibility that the newly appointed Irish Commissioner, Mr. Phil Hogan, might have to intervene. He also noted the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, remembering all those who had died while seeking their freedom. I note the Senator's comments on those who supported states that advocated support for maintaining the status quo at the time.

Senator John Crown mentioned the discrepancies in cancer treatment and called for a debate on the reform of the health system. The Minister for Health was in the House last week, but I will certainly try to have him come here again. The case of the person mentioned is shocking. It is an issue that will have to be addressed. Perhaps it might be tabled for discussion as an Adjournment matter and addressed in that manner.

Senator Averil Power has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 14 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated that he is prepared to accept the amendment. Is the amendment agreed to? Agreed.

Order of Business, as amended, agreed to.
Barr
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