The Order of Business is No. 1, Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 4.45 p.m. and to adjourn not later than 6.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 2, Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - amendments from the Dáil, to be taken at 6.45 p.m. and to conclude not later than 7.45 p.m.
Order of Business
After watching the PR sideshow in the other House, I have concluded that the Government's new initiative of spring statements, which has no substance and is of no consequence, might afford us an opportunity-----
The Senator has come across some sideshows.
Those who are struggling in mortgage arrears or paying rip-off rates on variable-rate mortgages, and those whose respite care grant has been cut are being given nothing new. It was a set piece to allow the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to congratulate each other and say that everything is great. Maybe we could assist in some way if the Leader has already scheduled time in the next week or two for both Ministers to come to the House. If they wish to come together, as it appears they get on well together, I would have no problem with that. We can put in another chair and they can sit there and hold hands if they wish. We could go through the spring statement in detail. This is a very strange departure. For a Government that was elected on the promise of doing things differently and introducing a new kind of politics, this is auction politics at its best. It has tried to get a full week's publicity in the run up to statements made today that do not stand up in any shape or form and that are devoid of substance and any type of plan for future action. Will there be a budget in October? What is happening with the self-employed? What is happening with regard to assistance for the self-employed, about which there have been leaks recently, assistance for those on variable-rate mortgages and all the children in this and other cities who have not been able to access early intervention since June 2012 and who have been affected by the reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio? Nothing. It would be useful if the two Ministers came to the House, together or separately, to address these points in the statements and allow us to question them and try to get some element of substance and fact from the statements they made today.
On behalf of my group, I want to say how awful the situation is in Nepal. We offer our sympathies to the people there on the thousands of deaths and injuries due to the earthquake. We welcome the Government's initial response. I know it will be going further by way of humanitarian aid for the people of Nepal, who need it desperately. Most of the country has not even been accessed yet. Some 85% of the people live outside the capital, Kathmandu, and their villages and towns have not been accessed at this stage. The Irish Government has already started to do this, but I call for us to support as best we can all the humanitarian efforts that are being made to alleviate the suffering of the people in Nepal.
Finally, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 15, the Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015, be taken today, before No. 1.
I join Senator O'Brien and others in expressing our condolences regarding the tragedy in Nepal. We all watched with horror as the death toll rose to above 4,000 people. I welcome the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, that Ireland will pledge €1 million in aid to the people of Nepal.
We all watched the spring statement today. I take exception to Senator O'Brien's description of it as some sort of PR sideshow.
Bill and Ben. It was great television.
Senator O'Brien and his colleagues are clutching at straws when they seek to trivialise this. When the Government took office just over four years ago, it was unthinkable that we would see this level of fiscal space, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has put it.
Follow their plan.
He and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, have today announced a fiscal space of between €1.2 and €1.5 billion for the 2016 budget, which will take place in October 2015. The Ministers have made it clear that these resources will be allocated on an equal basis between additional spending and reducing the tax burden on low and middle-income earners. The enormous improvement in the economy that this represents has been made very clear to people.
The idea of the spring statement is also to be seen in the context in which the Ministers have placed it. It is part of a reformed budgetary process, enabling Government to plan on a multi-annual basis and to plan expenditure in a much more coherent manner. We all welcome that, particularly the announcement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, that gross voted current expenditure will be increased in this budget by €600 to €750 million, particularly to ease demographic pressures. There are some very stark statistics coming through on the demographic pressures facing us in education, for example, as well as in the areas of health and social protection. In education, we are conscious that we will need 3,500 extra teachers at primary and secondary level by 2021 to provide education to an additional 50,000 pupils. We know at third level that the number of students is projected to increase by 20,000 in the same period. We are facing significant demographic pressures and it is good that we are able to plan spending on this multi-annual basis and that we have additional money to allocate. This is to be greatly welcomed and the sort of petty comments being made by Senator O'Brien and his colleagues deserve to be seen in the context of their performance four and a half years ago-----
I am just like that.
-----in leaving this country in an economic mess from which it is now-----
Let us call it like it is. The Labour Party followed a plan under which it voted against everything-----
Senator Bacik, without interruption.
-----on the road to recovery. We should all welcome that.
Anyway, enjoy today.
Frankfurt's way or Labour's way.
We should all welcome the very positive news in today's spring statement.
Fantastic.
Finally, I commend all the youth organisations that came together yesterday to launch a campaign in support of the marriage equality referendum. I see many non-political children's rights and youth organisations coming together to form an umbrella group in support of the referendum. That is very welcome.
As we heard today, the economy is continuing to recover at a faster rate than was previously forecast. I welcome that and I also welcome the 50:50 split between reduction of taxes and increase of public services. Many of us called for that, not least the Labour Party. That is good news. However, we must ask whether, now that we are reaching the point where we can start spending on public services again, this will ultimately be good news for everyone. I will take the opportunity to remind the Government of those who are most vulnerable in society and who have been most severely impacted by the austerity cuts.
I will focus on one group among them, the 600,000 persons with disabilities and their families, including 200,000 carers who were not protected during the downturn. Cuts in HSE funding for disability services over the period between 2008 and 2013 amounted to 14.7%, and that has resulted in those with disabilities having lost the most basic and critical services of income supports which urgently need to be given back. I refer to the primary income supports impacting those with disabilities and their families. The disability allowance and the carer's allowance have also been cut by 8%. There is a lot of spending to be done in that area. The national disability strategy was to be a significant and practical implementation plan to advance social inclusion for those with disabilities. However, the funding cuts have been counteractive to that plan and the strategy needs to be implemented effectively without delay and the funding needs to reflect its objectives.
We heard in recent days and today that the Government is predicting full employment by 2018, yet those with disabilities are experiencing considerable difficulties accessing employment and are excluded from many of the employment activation programmes. The promised comprehensive employment strategy for those with a disability needs to be completed and implemented. I request an update regarding these plans from the Minister of State responsible for disability services, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and also ask her to comment on whether there is a sincere commitment from this Government to include those with disabilities and their families in the economic recovery.
I have another question relevant to those with disabilities. I ask for an update on the completion of section 12 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014 which is to replace section 5 of an earlier Act of 1993. It has not yet been published. All the other aspects of that Bill have been published. When can we expect that section of the long-overdue Bill to be finalised in order that it can be debated in the Houses?
I welcome the spring statement because often the Government is accused of doing business on the hoof or as a result of lobbying. A projected spring statement is common in other European countries, such as France and Britain. We are part of the European Union where monetary decisions are made, not on a year-to-year basis but on a planned projected basis over three to five years. That is the way good, sound economy-based principles are advocated and that is the way the Government is doing it. In the €1.5 billion fiscal space we will have, there is opportunity. I ask the Leader to ensure we too get an opportunity to put forward our proposals for the fiscal space that has been announced today.
I was at a presentation in the audiovisual room on the national postcode system for Ireland, which I welcome. When it was first announced two or three years ago, I brought up the issue of my area of Dublin 6 west. I am glad to learn that in the Dublin 6W unique to each address, the "W" is allowed for only in the Dublin 6 west area. I welcome that wholeheartedly because I had been making representations on it.
Snobs.
Snobbery.
Senator Keane, without interruption.
It is the only area in Ireland that has its own unique letter, allowed only for Dublin 6 west. Sometimes one's lobbying in the Seanad does work and I welcome it.
Will the Leader write to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, to draw his attention to, and ask him to correct, a cruel and unnecessary anomaly in the allocation of pensions? In the 1980s, workers, particularly in the Civil Service, were circulated with a memorandum asking them whether they wished to leave their pension entitlements to a wife or husband. At that stage, long before civil partnership or anything like that, the tiny number of gay persons involved, whether couples or not, replied "No", and this reply, stating they did not want to leave their pension entitlements to husbands and wives, whom they did not have and whom at that stage they could not have, is being used to disbar them now from allocating pension entitlements to their partners. This affects only a small number of persons and, therefore, it is not a financial issue. It is merely some kind of pettifogging regulation. It is a gross injustice and should be corrected.
In respect of the marriage equality referendum, it is extraordinary that the No side is still peddling the old rubbish about surrogacy and other irrelevant issues. The Referendum Commission has stated unequivocally and authoritatively that this referendum has nothing whatever to do with these issues, which were finally and effectively resolved by Parliament by the passage of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015.
We must salute and commend Senator Darragh O’Brien in his attempts to find something negative to say today. It really is a remarkable achievement to be able to find a way to criticise the hard work and sacrifice of the people that enabled the economy to turn around.
Give me a break. Come on.
Senator Gilroy should sit down.
Is Senator O'Brien now saying that it was not the people who made the sacrifice?
It was. We know it was.
If it was not the people whom Fianna Fáil is prepared to say made the sacrifice-----
If Senators have personal antagonism, they should please stick to the subject and avoid comment.
What is the Senator talking about?
-----perhaps it was the negativity that Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin poured out for the past four years that has turned the country around. On every occasion when the Government announced a target, Senator O’Brien criticised it and said it was unachievable. He said it was announced that we would create the conditions to-----
What about prescription charges?
When it was announced in 2012 that we would create the conditions to create 90,000 jobs, Senator O’Brien and his party were the first out of the traps saying it cannot be done. In that time 100,000 jobs have been created. When it was announced that we were reducing the VAT rate to 9% to stimulate employment and activity in the tourism sector, Senator O’Brien, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin said it could not be done.
I argued against the pension levy that took €2 billion out of the economy.
The reduced VAT rate has been a great success. No commentator would think differently. When we said we would remove 400,000 people from the universal social charge, which Fianna Fáil introduced in 2010 and it kicked in at €4,000, they said it could not be done.
Senator Gilroy should stand with Kathleen again in the next election.
By the end of the year 500,000 people will be removed from USC. Senator O’Brien is calling for a debate on the economic recovery, which has been driven by the people, and would like to have one or both Ministers in the Chamber to discuss it. I am fully in favour of that and endorse his views on it. I recognise that it is not possible to do it today but as soon as possible. We will all support that call.
Whatever about being negative, I am positive about the future of this country.
Well done.
There is a big difference between challenging unfair Government policies as we see them and being negative. I support positive and fair policies and I want to see a fair recovery.
What is the Senator doing in Sinn Féin?
The Senator chastised people for interrupting him so now it is his turn to listen to what is being said. The quarrel from the Opposition in recent years has not been about any attempt to reduce the deficit or create jobs but how unfair the adjustment has been on many working families.
Despite what we will get from the Government over the next few days, statement after statement, Minister after Minister patting themselves on the back, commending themselves on what a great and wonderful job they think they have done, many families who do not feel any recovery and are living in poverty will be very angry. A total of 20% of all workers in this State are in low-paid jobs. The Minister for Finance made some very outlandish commitments on job creation today when he said we will pass the 2 million mark in employment next year. I do not see how, if 60,300 net jobs have been created over the past four years, the Government will increase that by 50% over the next couple of years. I will see exactly how that plays out, although obviously we would welcome it if it does happen.
Fewer people are employed in the west, where the figure has fallen by 4,800 since the Government took office, there are 5,000 fewer employed in the south west, and while there has been some marginal improvement in the south east recently, unemployment there is still well above the national average. There are huge regional disparities. Many young people continue to emigrate despite the Government saying it wants to bring people back. Patients are lying on hospital trolleys and people wait longer than 12 months to see a consultant despite promises made.
People with disabilities still have problems accessing services. There is no timeframe regarding when any of the cruel social welfare cuts will be reversed by this Government. We can all celebrate a recovery and uplift and the fact that there may be €1.5 billion extra to spend. My quarrel with the Government parties is how that money will be spent, whether any recovery will be fair and whether we will see a dividend to those people who have paid a disproportionate price for the sacrifices made by the Irish people. I am calling for a debate on a fair recovery. It would be useful for us to have this debate in the Chamber because there is much talk of recovery but is it fair and equitable and who is benefiting from it? I do not think cutting the top rate of tax for the top earners when there are such levels of poverty across the State would be considered fair.
It is interesting to see the recent focus on Siteserv and IBRC. I commend the Minister for Finance for the review he has instigated into the transaction. He has moved quickly to demonstrate that any concerns and issues will be quickly resolved. We know that Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society morphed into IBRC. Reading some of the material between the Department of Finance and IBRC, which has been released to the media, it strikes me that there was a real sense of impatience on the part of the Department regarding the manner in which IBRC was being run down. The subtext seems to be that while the Department regarded IBRC as a zombie bank that was in run-down mode, the senior management in IBRC might have had a different view regarding its independence and lifespan. Reading some of the correspondence from IBRC to the Department and some of the public commentary from IBRC sources over the past few days, one could be forgiven for forgetting that IBRC was an entity that was fully funded by the taxpayer and not market-capitalised. I am glad that IBRC was put into liquidation and that processes for winding down its operations in Ireland were accelerated. There were some in IBRC who might not have liked the pace of the acceleration of the wind down under the liquidators but it was definitely the right course of action. I look forward to the report in due course and ask the Leader for the opportunity to discuss it when it is available.
Today's spring statement is definitely politically strong but economically weak. As we saw in the last budget, which was much trumpeted by the other side of the House, what we see is a continuation of the Government's policy whereby those on €70,000 were four times better off as a result of the last budget than those on the minimum wage. Is this what we can be promised in the next budget? It will be touted that it is an improvement for some but it will not be an improvement for all. The ESRI, which is the Government's own body, has said that it is not an improvement for those on the minimum wage.
I think I have found the pen used by Deputy Ruairí Quinn to sign the pledge that he would not increase the registration fees. I do not know what happened to the prescription charge but I do not see that in the spring statement. I do not see any promise to pay back the €2.2 billion robbed from private pensions. Perhaps there might be something about that in the autumn statement but there is certainly nothing about it in the spring statement. What we must be clear about is that this Government is borrowing money to buy votes. It is as simple as that. We still have interest payments of €7 billion per year and the money is being borrowed. That is about the size of it. Will the Leader organise a debate on this?
The Government talks about more teachers. Last autumn, when the Government spoke in the budget about 1,700 extra teachers, it failed to mention that this was just to keep in line with growing pupil-teacher ratios. That is what it was about.
Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
Could the Leader arrange a debate on that?
I second the amendment to the Order of Business relating to the Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015, which is a very good one produced by Fianna Fáil councillors in Dublin City Council in conjunction with Senator Darragh O'Brien, who has led the charge on this issue. I know the Senator's relatives were involved in the 1916 Rising. It is very important that Moore Street and that entire historical quarter is revived, revamped and revitalised in the same way Temple Bar was.
Senator Darragh O'Brien's proposal will do it, and I hope the Leader will accept the amendment.
I join Senator Bacik in extending our sympathies to the people of Nepal on the awful tragedies that have unfolded over the weekend. While I welcome the Government aid of €1 million, I hope we will be able to find much more to alleviate the appalling humanitarian situation that is evolving there and to help other countries to provide resources to rebuild some level of accommodation for those very unfortunate people.
I would have thought that all sides of the House would welcome the spring statement, which indicates, nationally and internationally, that the country is back on track and heading in the right direction. Four years ago we were almost over the cliff, whereas today, through prudent management, we have managed to bring the national deficit from €15 billion per annum to €4.5 billion this year. The Action Plan for Jobs published by the Government at the start of its term of office, indicated that we would hopefully create an environment that would yield 100,000 jobs by 2016. This target will be achieved a year earlier and, hopefully, we will achieve full employment by 2018, with the benefits spreading out into all regions of the country.
It is estimated that the economy will grow by 4% this year and by 3.25% per year for the next decade, which will bring very significant benefits to all parts of the country. The Minister has indicated that he will have flexibility of between €1.2 and €1.5 billion this year, and I am pleased that it will be split 50:50 between tax reductions and spending on vital public services. I want special consideration to be given to children and adults with disabilities and I want additional resources to be pumped into the provision of respite care to give relief to parents who are severely stretched as a result of caring full-time for children with disabilities. I hope today's announcement is a step on the road to further prosperity. There was additional good news in the CSO figures published today that show that 14% more visitors have come to Ireland in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. While we are heading in the right direction, we still have an enormous amount of work to do.
I welcome the HSE's statement last Thursday evening on the new alcohol policy it is drawing up. It is looking to ensure there will be no links between the alcohol industry and any HSE funding or policies or any of the organisations it funds. This vindicates the position I have taken, and I hope the Department of Education and Skills and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will consider introducing a similar policy.
I welcome the Supreme Court's decision last Friday on the appeals on the children's rights referendum. I attended the court to listen as it adjudicated. Eight hundred and ninety-five days after the referendum, we at last heard that the Supreme Court had dismissed both appeals. It was all over in a matter of minutes. When will the adoption legislation related to the children's rights referendum come forward? I am very conscious that approximately 2,000 children in long-term foster care have not been able to be adopted because of the delay. I am eager that we do not delay further, given that the right to be adopted is extinguished when a child turns 18. It is urgent legislation.
I was also delighted to address the seminar held by the children and youth organisations which came together yesterday to campaign for a "Yes" vote in the upcoming referendum. These organisations campaign every day throughout the year on a wide range of children's rights and welfare issues, such as poverty and homelessness.
They are very similar and they came together during the campaign relating to the referendum on children's rights. Yesterday, they came together again to strongly call for a "Yes" vote in the marriage equality referendum. They also sent a clear message on the issue of surrogacy. There is room for a debate on this matter and it should take place with the Minister for Health, who is drawing up the legislation. Whatever the outcome on 28 May, that legislation will stand alone because it has nothing to do with the referendum to be held on that date. The debate on surrogacy should take place where it belongs, namely, in the presence of the Minister for Health.
In legal terms, Senator van Turnhout is wrong on her final point. However, we will have plenty of time in the coming weeks to discuss how-----
On a point of order, I am not wrong.
-----the issue of surrogacy is intimately bound up with the choice the people will be obliged to make in the referendum.
We have often had occasion to discuss the EU and our membership of it has been of great benefit to many people in various ways. However, EU bureaucracy can drive one nuts. It is particularly sad when our Government fails to spot the madness in proposed EU laws and to ensure that such laws are changed in circumstances where they might impact badly on us. An example in this regard is the sustainable pesticides use directive, which was introduced in Ireland during the past year. The stated aim of this directive is good, namely, to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. New classes of pesticide users have been created. In particular, farmers will now be classed as professional users of pesticides. The directive stipulates that all professional users must be registered by 26 November next. After that date, only a registered professional or a person operating under his or her direct supervision will be able to purchase and use pesticides. What people do not realise is that in order to be registered, one must first obtain trained professional user certification. As a result, a farmer who uses pesticides, regardless of how much or how little, will be obliged to complete a module of a level 5 or 6 Teagasc-FETAC at a cost of up to €1,000. This directive will apply regardless of whether one uses a small, hand-held pesticide sprayer or a massive, tractor-pulled trailer sprayer. The directive also contains a requirement to the effect that those who use pesticides must maintain records of how and when they are used.
The new regulations that will apply in this regard have been correctly described by John Comer, president of the ICMSA, as being excessive and outright ridiculous. The majority of those involved in farming in this country are grassland farmers who raise livestock. In comparison to large-scale tillage farmers in Britain and on the Continent, these individuals rarely use pesticides. It is absolute madness, therefore, that small livestock farmers will be required to do a training course in order that they might use even knapsack or hand-held sprayers. Small farmers in the areas surrounding Athenry and Tuam who do not undertake large-scale spraying operations will be obliged to sit through lectures aimed at farmers who sprays thousands of gallons of pesticide each year and to pay for the privilege of having their time wasted while they do so. Failure to comply with the requirement will make these people liable to prosecution.
I request that we hear from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in early course on this matter. The infuriating aspect is that there was originally a proposal that low-level users of pesticides should be exempt from the training requirement. However, this was dropped. Just as in the case of the negotiations on the nitrates directive, the various energy directives, so many other directives and rules and regulations which emanate from Brussels, those who represent the Government seem to have been asleep at the wheel. We had an opportunity to carve out exemptions which would have been tailored to our particular situation here in Ireland. However, the Department either ignored that opportunity or simply did not care enough to seize it. These new rules will impose additional levels of bureaucracy and costs on farmers. As Mr. Comer has stated, they border on the outright ridiculous. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, should review the regulations and, even at this juncture, he should seek an exemption in respect of low-level users of pesticides. It would be appropriate for him to address the Seanad on this matter at the earliest opportunity.
I welcome today's spring statement by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. Last week, representatives from Comhairle na nÓg and Young Social Innovators visited the Houses and the students who won the Young Scientist of the Year award for 2015 made a presentation to the Joint Committee on Health and Children. These ambitious young people are risk takers and innovators. They are the future of this country. The proportion of the population comprising young people is growing. We must ensure that they will be able to remain, work and grow old in this country. The Government is trying to engage in careful and balanced planning in respect of spending and investment and that is what the spring statement involves. The statement is a welcome way of dealing with this and other matters and of ensuring that there is no need to rush about making budgetary decisions at the last minute, as was the case prior to our entering office.
Senator Daly has been critical of the spring statement. He should go to his nearest town, Killarney, and talk to people involved in the tourism industry. Every one of them will say there has been a significant change over the past three or four years in the numbers visiting and in the growth and development of businesses because the correct policies have been put in place to encourage foreigners to visit the country and to encourage Irish people to stay there as well. It is important that we are positive about what is happening in the country and that people who visit the country see that we are working to deal with the issues we had to deal with when we came into government.
One in five children is on the poverty line.
We had a difficult financial position, which we have stabilised. We are now moving on to plan for the future and that is what the statement is about.
It is sad to reflect on the Government predicting a land of milk and honey on the same day representatives of gardaí have been on the nation's airwaves bemoaning the fact that they do not have sufficient resources or personnel and there is a danger-----
There are plenty of extra gardaí in Templemore.
The Senator should not interrupt.
I am always interested in what Senator Gilroy has to say, particularly if he is justifying the Government's inaction in providing resources and pay rates for new and existing gardaí. A member of the Garda representative body said on the national airwaves earlier that gardaí have to sleep in their cars at a time we have to listen to all this propaganda from the Government along the lines of "Live horse and you will get grass". It makes for hollow reading.
It is an absolute indictment of the Government that those who uphold law and order and do a job that most people would shy away from are not only finding that they have inadequate resources to carry out their duties on behalf of all us in order that we can sleep in our beds safely, but they are unable to sleep in proper accommodation because they do not have enough money. I ask that the Minister for Justice and Equality come before the House at the earliest opportunity to outline, in the context of the brand new Jerusalem we have been hearing about from all those on the Government side, what she will do for the Garda. Will the Government parties provide more resources? A rank and file garda in County Monaghan said on radio earlier that he was one of only two members operating out of a station. He or his partner were the only people manning the patrol car and it can take them up to 45 minutes to get to the scene of a crime within their own district. If that is joined up thinking and progressive government, then God help this country. We should have a debate on the Government's proposals for the money it has found and will expend to buy the election next year-----
The Senator does not want-----
That is what the Government parties will do. They must think all of us and all the people in the country are stupid. I ask that the Minister comes before the House to discuss specifically the question of Garda resources.
As Senator Mullins mentioned, the CSO tourism figures for the first quarter of this year were issued earlier and they are most welcome. It is a positive message. Tourism is a key element of the Government's economic recovery strategy, which sets out ambitious targets for growth in overseas visitors. This will increase revenue and the number of jobs in the tourism sector. Visitor numbers for the first three months of this year are most encouraging with the number from France up 26%; Spain, 28%; and Italy, 36%. These are remarkable increases.
This trend is to be commended as these figures represent a wonderful start to 2015. It is a tosnú maith and it is the aim of the Government and Tourism Ireland that 2015 will be the best year ever for Irish tourism. There is no doubt but that this year has seen the best start to the tourism year since the days of the Celtic tiger. The growth to date this year in visitor numbers has been at the strongest rate in more than 15 years, which augurs well for the rest of the year. This year could well be a record year for tourism and the achievements made in this regard to date should be celebrated and acknowledged.
I share in the concern and sadness expressed in respect of Nepal and the terrible earthquake that occurred there. I commend the relief agencies, including Irish agencies, such as Concern and GOAL, which are on the ground and are helping speedily, in any way they can, to alleviate the suffering of those involved. There may be up to 10,000 casualties with 8 million people affected. It was an horrific event.
I also wish to congratulate Dr. Síofra O'Leary, who has been elected a judge of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. While people may not be aware of this, the Irish delegation last week voted en bloc for the appointment of Dr. O'Leary, who has a tremendous curriculum vitae and who is taking up that role as one of the 47 judges of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. As representatives of Ireland, we were delighted, when the recommendation came out, that the majority recommended her appointment. The entire assembly had a vote on this appointment and she received an overwhelming vote. She will take up her role shortly as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights and I extend best wishes to her on this appointment. At present she is working in Luxembourg and will head to Strasbourg to carry out a very important role. One of the most important roles of the Council of Europe is the Court of Human Rights. I am very pleased that a woman from Dublin has been appointed and has taken up that position.
Hear, hear.
I was shocked to hear the latest statistics from the Garda Representative Association, GRA, conference this morning, which revealed that 600 gardaí were injured in the line of duty last year, 46% of which were directly as a result of an assault. Gardaí are also being spat at and assaulted by a small sinister minority at some water charge protests. Alarmingly, a new trend appears to have emerged whereby gardaí are being trolled on social media with money offered online to obtain the names and addresses of gardaí policing such protests. At present, gardaí have extendable batons, pepper spray and firearms but nothing in between and what is needed is a deterrent that is effective but which, unlike a firearm, is not designed to be lethal. The current riots in the United States follow a number of previous fatal shootings by police in which firearms were used instead of tasers. Although the misuse of tasers has resulted in relatively minute numbers of deaths globally, they were introduced in the United States as non-lethal weapons to be used by police to subdue potentially dangerous people who otherwise would have been subjected to a firearm. In 2009, the Police Executive Research Forum showed that the number of officers injured dropped by 76% when tasers were introduced. Although I strongly believe it should be used as a last resort, I support the use of tasers if and when the situation merits it. As such, I am calling for resources to be made available to facilitate these.
I welcome all the positive vibes coming from Senator Darragh O'Brien in respect of the spring statement.
The Leader is welcome. We must get some substance there.
It is wonderful that GDP is growing strongly-----
There are 5,000 people waiting for procedures.
-----that exports are at historic highs, that employment is expanding and the public finances are in a much healthier position than when the Government took power. I welcome the Senator's positive words in that regard.
The Leader is welcome. He should-----
One could not be but positive because of those results.
-----talk to old people waiting for medical procedures.
I assure the Senator that-----
Talk to the children with no early intervention.
The Leader to respond.
The Senator asked when Members would have a debate. They will have a debate in this House next Wednesday-----
Fantastic.
-----from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the spring statement. I agree with the Senator it is very important that the benefits that will accrue, as a result of the people making sacrifices in recent years and of Government policy, are debated in this House.
I can assure Senators that we will have that debate. In regard to the Senator's reference to Ministers being very cosy with each other, it is important that Ministers get on.
They get on very well.
This Government has proven not to be a temporary little arrangement. When Fianna Fáil was in government-----
This Government is hanging on by its fingernails.
-----it viewed all of its partnerships as temporary little arrangements.
Wait until after the next election.
Fianna Fáil will be waiting a while to find another partner.
Fine Gael might have to talk to Deputy Michael Lowry and another batch of Independents.
Senators are bordering on the unruly. Please allow the Leader to respond, without interruption.
The Leader is goading me.
Senator O'Brien has had his opportunity to speak.
Senators Bacik and Darragh O'Brien spoke about the dreadful tragedy in Nepal. Our sympathies go out to everybody in Nepal after the earthquake there. Senator Leyden and others have complimented the Irish aid agencies involved in Nepal. We hope the Irish people who are still missing return home safely to this country.
Senator Bacik also mentioned that the spring statement is part of a reformed budgetary framework, which is true. Senator Zappone welcomed the increased economic growth. I can assure her that the most vulnerable will be a priority for the Government. The Senator also called for a debate on disability services. I will endeavour to have the Minister responsible come to the House for a debate on that matter. On the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill, I will find out for Senator Zappone when it will come before the House.
Senator Keane spoke about the national postcode system, with specific reference to Dublin 6. I understand the postcode issue is being debated at length by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications.
Senator Norris called on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, to address an anomaly in pension entitlements for gay people. I am sure if the Senator provides the information to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform he will consider the proposal outlined by him today.
Senator Gilroy reminded Senators on the opposite side of the House of the Government's many achievements which they said were impossible. There is no denying that is what was said. On the same theme, Senator Cullinane expressed doubt that we would have 2 million in employment by 2018. Four years ago, the Opposition dismissed the idea that we would have an additional 100,000 people in employment this year. More people will return to employment into the future.
Senator Cullinane also welcomed the good news about jobs for the south east. There is a lot more to be done in that area and for Waterford. Tomorrow, we will hear more good news on the jobs front for Waterford, with more good news to come. I can assure Senator Cullinane that this Government will deliver. There is a lot more to be done in terms of job creation in the south east and Waterford. I am sure the Senator will welcome the number of job announcements made over the last number of weeks and those to be announced over the next couple of months.
Senator Coghlan raised the issue of IBRC and Siteserv. This matter will be investigated and the review will, I am sure, be debated in this House. I will try to facilitate that debate.
Senator Daly suggested that the benefits of the last budget for those on high earnings were proportionately greater than they were for those on low incomes, which is not true.
It is.
On borrowing to pay for benefits, four years ago Ireland found itself in the situation of not being able to borrow.
That is not true.
We could not borrow.
No. I am sorry, that is not true.
We could not go to the markets. We had a deficit of €22 billion.
The Government still comes up with the nonsense that it was three months from running out of money.
Senator O'Brien, please.
We are now in a position to borrow for good purposes, and we will do so.
Fine Gael and the Labour Party followed a plan-----
Allow the Leader to respond. There will be ample time next week for the debate.
Senator O'Brien needs to remember the situation we were in four years ago. We were unable to borrow.
Senator Mullins spoke about the prudent management of the economy. It is the key to having greater resources available for additional services.
Senator van Turnhout spoke about the policy on alcohol. It certainly will not be dictated by the drinks industry. It is something she has mentioned on several occasions in the House. I will find out when we intend to discuss the proposed adoption legislation and get back to the Senator.
Senator Mullen spoke about EU laws and bureaucracy with regard to the directive on the use of pesticides. I wonder why it was not picked up by the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs. I agree these items and directives should be debated by the committee and the House. I do not know how it slipped from the Oireachtas committee involved. I advise the Senator that we in this House will debate the EU work programme next week. A briefing on the European work programme will be held tomorrow, about which I have sent notice, and I hope there is a good attendance at it because we will have a debate on it in the House next week. As part of the EU work programme a sub-committee which was formed in the House will deal with three specific items we intend to debate in the coming months. I hope we will have a great input from Members when we debate the matter next week and that we have a good attendance at the briefing session tomorrow.
Senator Burke reminded us that last week Comhairle na nÓg was here to discuss mental health issues. It was one of the biggest attendances I saw in the audiovisual room. Many other youth organisations made presentations last week. This is to be encouraged and we should listen to the young people, who were very articulate when making their points on a number of issues last week.
Senator Mooney spoke about Garda resources. Additional resources are required for the Garda and there is no question about it. The Government has reopened Templemore college, and 300 extra gardaí-----
Earning €23,000 a year.
And another-----
It is a disgraceful amount of money.
And another 300 are in training.
The sum of €23,000 a year to protect the community is disgraceful.
There is €10 million in extra vehicles and more resources have been provided for the Garda. More are required and there is no question about it. As the economy improves, the resources will become available, and need to become available, for our Garda. I note what Senator Noone mentioned about 600 gardaí being injured in the line of duty last year. I certainly favour greater penalties for those assaulting gardaí or any emergency personnel.
And threatening their families.
I have no problem with the use of tasers by gardaí. The Government is monitoring the situation and I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to discuss law and order and additional resources for the Garda.
Senator Brennan spoke about the positive messages in the tourism sector. We have seen remarkable increases in the first quarter of this year. As he said, tús maith leath na hoibre. Let us hope it will be a record year for tourism.
Senator Leyden congratulated Dr. Síofra O'Leary who has been appointed a judge of the European Court of Human Rights. I am sure we all welcome the appointment.
I propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business as proposed by Senator O'Brien.
Senator O'Brien proposed an amendment: "That No. 15 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated he is prepared to accept the amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.
Order of Business, as amended, agreed to.