It is proposed to take No. 1, National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourned not later than 4.30 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes; No. 2, statements on health services for people with intellectual disabilities, to be taken at 4.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 6 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 5.55 p.m.; and No. 67, Private Members' business, non-Government motion No. 14 re Springboard programme, to be taken at 6 p.m., with the time allocated for the debate not to exceed two hours.
Order of Business
All of us are aware of the Government's decision last night to sell the 25% stake in Aer Lingus. Just to remind Members before the usual "75% was sold" is thrown back at me, the reason for the retention of the 25% was to protect the strategic interests of the State and Aer Lingus as an independent entity and, in particular, to ensure connectivity for this island nation and control over what happened to our main airline. In the past 12 months and particularly the past six months this situation has been choreographed towards a sale. I will remind people of how I debated the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 in this Chamber with the Tánaiste, Deputy Joan Burton, when she started the attack on airport and Aer Lingus's pension scheme. That was the beginning of this process. The reason was to find a mechanism to wipe out a €740 million deficit in the pension scheme so as to make the company and the taxpayers' stake in it more attractive. For €340 million, the Government has effectively sacrificed Aer Lingus and airport pensioners - those who have taken 60% cuts in their pensions and 12-week cuts to their pensions in payments - and the 5,000 current workers who have been placed in an inferior pension scheme against their permission. This has all been done to facilitate a Labour Party and Fine Gael sale of the Aer Lingus stake for a grubby €340 million. Where is the Labour Party in all of this? What of its seven Deputies who stated a short couple of months ago that they would not under any circumstance support a sale, including Deputies Brendan Ryan, Joe Costello and so on? Where are the Labour Party's principles on this matter?
The 25% stake was retained to protect the strategic interests of the State and the airline. That is a fact. What the Government is proposing to do is to sell that stake to IAG. It has received false and non-binding commitments on the retention of the Heathrow Airport slots. If the 25% stake was retained, we would have influence over them. Now we will not. Cork and Shannon airports appear to have been thrown to the wolves. Let us not forget about them in all of this. Consider what has happened in other major airline takeovers. This will lead to a pooling of services and job losses. Aer Lingus's sphere of influence will move from Dublin to London.
From the word "go", Fine Gael has been about selling State assets and privatisation. That does not surprise me. Fine Gael is not a party of the working person and never has been. It has always been interested in profit. What of the Labour Party and the last vestiges of standing up for the working person and the airport as some of its members have pretended to do down the years and as others have done with distinction, including former Deputy Seán Ryan?
What will he and his brother, Deputy Brendan Ryan, do now in this regard?
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
I am asking for a proper debate on this issue. Will the Leader arrange such a debate? I flagged it yesterday with the Deputy Leader. It is appropriate we get an opportunity to read the report which, by the way, was only circulated this morning.
The Senator is way over time.
Just two seconds and I will be done. Rather than me proposing an amendment to the Order of Business to have the Minister come to the House today, as he will be in the Dáil for most of the day, will the Leader schedule a debate for tomorrow to deal with this issue? It will give us an opportunity to look at the report laid in the Oireachtas Library this morning. Why was the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications bypassed? Why has the Government seen it fit not to give this report to the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to ask questions of IAG and all other stakeholders? How come it has gone directly to the Dáil? Will the Leader schedule a debate on this issue with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, preferably for tomorrow? That would allow us the opportunity to ask several other questions of the Minister.
The Senator is way over time.
If the Minister intends selling Aer Lingus, will he use some of the moneys raised to defray the cuts the pensioners have suffered to enable this sale?
The Senator is way over time.
The money should be given back to the pensioners from whom 60% of their pensions were taken and the elderly from whom six weeks pay have been cut by the Government.
Well said.
It is hard to hear the hollow words of Senator Darragh O’Brien across the floor of the House.
Try something new.
Fianna Fáil effectively privatised Aer Lingus in 2006 by selling off the Government’s controlling share.
I have tried to explain this to the Senator before.
The Senator went way over his time. Will he, please, allow Senator Ivana Bacik to continue, without interruption?
I wonder why Fianna Fáil privatised Aer Lingus in 2006. I wonder why Fianna Fáil got rid of the Government’s controlling share.
We kept a 25% stake.
The Senator should be embarrassed.
I am not embarrassed at all. The Senator should be embarrassed as a Labour Party Member to stand over this deal and to sell the stake to British Airways.
The Senator has spoken already.
He should have been embarrassed when he stood up to suggest that, in some way, it was wonderful that Fianna Fáil preserved a 25% Government share for the sake of connectivity.
It was important.
I have already expressed my view. I would have preferred if the Government-----
It was an important share.
I did not interrupt the Senator, although I was very tempted to.
I can see that.
Senator Ivana Bacik to continue, without interruption.
I would appreciate the opportunity to speak on this matter. Personally, I would have preferred for the Government to have retained its 25% share. However, I note the agreement made is significantly improved on what was offered before. IAG has agreed to an indefinite Government veto on the disposal of the Heathrow Airport slots which guarantees State control of connectivity. According to Senator Darragh O’Brien, that is why Fianna Fáil so righteously preserved the 25% share. He has his answer. The Senator was also in favour of selling off 75% of the airline. Now that the Government has secured an agreement from IAG that there will be an indefinite Government veto-----
Does the Senator believe that?
Perhaps the Senator was not a Deputy then.
I had just done my leaving certificate.
A group of eight Labour Party Deputies have been committed to ensuring as good a deal for the workers and the travelling public is achieved. Last night, the group published a statement pointing out not only IAG’s agreement to the indefinite Government veto and, therefore, the guarantee of the State control of connectivity but also the commitment given on the registered employment agreements.
That will not give them enough cover to save them. The emperor has no clothes.
Like other Members, I am also reading through the details of the agreement. There is a commitment to 600 new jobs by 2020 and a net 150 new jobs by the end of next year. The 50 job losses being projected will be catered for through voluntary severance or deployment. Accordingly, we are going to see significant and enhanced growth in jobs as a result of this deal, should it come about.
We must also remember Ryanair controls 30% of Aer Lingus shares. Since Fianna Fáil sold off the Government controlling share in 2006, the Government has lost the ability to veto the sale.
Twenty five per cent was sold off today. Give me a break.
We must remind ourselves of Fianna Fáil's position on this issue.
Pathetic.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Will the Leader arrange for a debate on this matter in due course? Will he also arrange for a debate on bringing in a ban on corporal punishment of children? I am glad the Council of Europe is making a decision against Ireland on this. It is long overdue. We should now do away with the continued defence of reasonable chastisement which is appalling and goes against the principle of children’s rights which we enshrined in our Constitution. Senator Jillian van Turnhout has spoken about this many times and I echo her words. We need to introduce legislation on this issue without delay.
On a point of order, for the record, the Government’s share of Aer Lingus is 25.1% which prevented any takeover without the support of the Dáil and the Seanad, as well as that of the board. The 0.1% was particularly significant and was introduced by a Fianna Fáil Government.
That is a very good point.
The Senator’s point is well made.
Fianna Fáil still sold 74.9% of the airline.
I back the call made by Senator Darragh O’Brien for a debate on the issue of the sale of the Government’s shareholding in Aer Lingus. I hope the Leader will look at it favourably and organise it at the earliest opportunity.
Ireland has been found in violation of the European Social Charter by the Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights. It clearly stated the corporal punishment of children should be expressly and comprehensively prohibited in law. When we look at the defence of reasonable chastisement, many people think it refers to rebuking or reprimanding severely. However, the dictionary states it includes corporal punishment, beatings and inflicting punishment such as by whipping. The fact that anyone would have this defence against children is inexplicable. Over 100 years ago, one could beat one’s wife, dog or child. We have removed this for domestic abuse and animal welfare but this defence is acceptable in cases involving children. The Council of Europe has repeatedly asked for it to be removed.
Up to 28 member states of the Council of Europe have prohibited corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the family home. Almost one year ago I forwarded an amendment to the Children First Bill to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I hope it will be accepted before it comes to the Seanad. I know I have the backing of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Children’s Rights Alliance and many other children’s rights organisations. If we want to children to be seen as rights holders, we need to remove this defence of reasonable chastisement. For the past 12 years, the Council of Europe has repeatedly told us to remove this defence. Will the Leader arrange a debate on this matter? Will he also urge the Minister to bring forward the Children First Bill to the Seanad? I know it was stalled for 18 months, but it has now passed Committee Stage in the Dáil. We need to bring it into law. I know that it has not been used in the courts, but the very fact that it remains in the law books speaks volumes about our perception of children as rights holders.
I would like a debate on this issue of corporal punishment as I am not convinced about it. I would like to be convinced. It does seem that this is political correctness gone wrong. It is interfering in the home. There are many impolite, brassy children around. I think a bit of a slap would not do them the slightest bit of harm. I agree with Pope. I know that it is an unpopular view, but that is what I think. That is the way I was treated and look at me. I am not psychologically damaged.
Does the Senator accept that he cannot slap a colleague? Children are rights holders too.
Will the Senator, please, resume her seat?
I could not hear what Senator Jillian van Turnhout asked, but I will discuss the matter with her later. It is for that reason that I would like a debate on the matter to clarify things in my own mind. There are many people throughout the country who feel as I do, namely, that giving a child the odd slap if he or she is badly behaved is very good for him or her.
It actually is not.
That is what I think. I am prepared to listen to the debate and perhaps change my mind on the matter. Of course, I am not a parent nor, despite recent developments, do I ever intend to become one.
With regard to Aer Lingus, can I reiterate in a slightly different form what Senator Darragh O’Brien said yesterday?
If Aer Lingus is sold and we get €340 million or whatever for it, part of the proceeds should be used to defray the pensions of Aer Lingus employees who were defrauded of their pensions. There is no other word for it. They were defrauded of their pensions while the company was profitable.
Exactly.
I would very much like to see those people looked after. They have been left in an appalling state, which is utterly wrong.
Well said.
Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, I would like the Leader to arrange for a debate on the sale of Aer Lingus with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in attendance. Unfortunately, I cannot be here tomorrow, but I would like that debate to go ahead as I am sure my views will be articulated by my colleagues on this and the other side of the House. I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien that something will have to be done for the Aer Lingus pensioners and deferred pensioners. I suggest a portion of the proceeds of the sale be used to provide for them.
I am not convinced about the reassurance provided with respect to the 1% golden share. I confess I have not gone through the detail of the report which was provided for the Oireachtas Library, but I will read it. Any sale of Aer Lingus would have significant implications for my constituents in County Clare. I would love to know how many of the 600 new jobs committed to by 2020 will be created in Shannon. It is welcomethat there is a seven-year commitment to retain the Heathrow Airport slots. I do not know in the long term if any golden share could prevent the sale of slots were there to be a worldwide economic recession in the aviation industry and a company's existence was dependent on restructuring, part of which would involve the sale of slots. I remain to be convinced of how powerful any 1% or one golden share would be in those circumstances. Further clarity is needed in that regard. The Minister could provide that clarity if he were to come to the House to debate the matter. I believe the commitment to retain existing services for five to seven years can be honoured. If IAG, a world conglomerate, makes such a commitment in writing, surely to God, unless the sky falls in on it, that commitment can be delivered on.
In terms of the company's potential future growth, I would like that to be spelt out in much more detail. I have heard plenty of comments over the years to the effect that we will explore the possibility and that we will enter negotiations with our international aviation partners to explore potential growth, but that does not represent a tangible or real commitment in terms of growth - it only represents potential growth. The only tangible, real commitment is that IAG will retain the existing winter and summer services at Shannon Airport. That is a very welcome development because we have seen a 30% increase in traffic.
The Senator is way over time.
I will finish in a moment.
The Senator must conclude.
The Government should not try to shut down the Senator. This is a very important contribution.
A debate on the issue in this House would be very welcome.
As deputy leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe - I note that other Members present are members of the Council of Europe - I am delighted that the Council has made a ruling that the lack of a clear ban on the slapping of children is a violation of young people's rights. Europe's top human rights body today ruled that Ireland's laws on corporal punishment are in breach of the European Social Charter, the signatories of which promise to protect children and young persons against negligence, violence or exploitation. While legislation which allowed parents to use force against children was repealed almost 15 years ago, there is still the defence of reasonable chastisement in common law for parents or child carers. In response to the ruling, the Minister for Children, Deputy James Reilly, is expected to pledge later today to explicitly ban the smacking of children in foster or residential care through new regulations. It is not good enough just to ban it; those in foster homes or anywhere else should not be allowed to physically slap or beat children. That was the issue with abuse in the Magdalen homes, by the brothers and elsewhere in the past. They used corporal punishment to attack young children. This is a great ruling. As a member of the Council of Europe, I am delighted it has made this ruling and the Government should follow up as quickly as possible. There is no justification for such abuse - for slapping a child. Children should be cherished. I hope the Government will move quickly in this regard.
I add my voice to yesterday's comments on the success of the "Yes" vote in the marriage equality referendum. It was a great day. The celebrations in my home town of Dundalk were wide and vast that day. I also express my condolences to the family of Bill O'Herlihy on their loss. People referred to the atmosphere in Ireland on Saturday as being similar to that of Italia '90. Nobody signified, appreciated and brought Italia '90 better to our television screens than Bill O'Herlihy. I express my sympathy to his family on their loss.
I also welcome students from a school in Dundalk to the Visitors Gallery. I recognise the uniform. They are very welcome.
I call for a debate at the earliest opportunity on the issue of medical cards with Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I have received ongoing representations, but in recent weeks I received representations from two people regarding their applications which gave rise to concern. One person had been in possession of a medical card for five years, while the other had had one for more than 15 years and that person had received no notice of a review. In one case, the person had had a very significant diagnosis, yet he or she had no notice that a review was to take place. The medical card office had to be telephoned, it was discovered that the forms had never been received and in the meantime the person's medical card had expired. In that case, the person was fortunate in that the doctor and pharmacist were still working on the understanding the person had a medical card, but six months now having elapsed, the card has expired. Both of those who have called to me will be left without a medical card. The lack of communication in the Department is unbelievable and unacceptable, particularly when the people in question had previously been in possession of a medical card. They have long-term illnesses that will not go away and their medications and condition are not going to change. What has happened has inflicted an undue level of stress on them. I request a debate on this issue with the Minister in attendance at the earliest opportunity.
There is no doubt that the first steps towards the privatisation of Aer Lingus were taken by the previous Government, when 74.9% of the stake in the company was sold off. The Government, the Labour Party especially, opposed that move at the time - they opposed privatisation - yet they can come in today and stand over the selling off of the remaining stake. By selling off the remaining stake, we are fully privatising Aer Lingus. We are surrendering the national airline to a foreign company with so-called legal guarantees which have no standing whatsoever. Again, the Government is asking the people to buy a pig in a poke. We were asked to do exactly the same with Irish Water by the same Government, and on three occasions they had to come back with their tail between their legs with three Bills to get the same process through because of the mistakes they made. I think we are making a monumental mistake by selling off this stake.
Aer Lingus is a profitable company. It is a vital body which maintains connectivity for Ireland internationally. As a small island nation, for us to be without a national airline, or at least to have no democratic control of that airline, is wrong. There will be concern about the Heathrow Airport slots because the CEO of IAG is on record as saying that the airline is desperate for extra slots to serve the very profitable and expanding Asian and South American markets from Heathrow Airport. That is the reality. Despite whatever commitments the Government says it has received from IAG, everybody knows they are not worth the paper they are written on. Fine Gael and the Labour Party know it and we on this side of the House and the people know it also.
The Government has, again, sold off a very profitable State-owned company, which is in our national interest to maintain, own and manage for the people, to a foreign company to do with it what it pleases. It is an absolute insult to tell people this is about job creation when everybody knows that when airline companies are consolidated, job losses ensue. It has happened in other airlines taken over by the same company; therefore, please do not try to pull the wool over people's eyes and pretend this is in the interests of the people and that it is about creating jobs when the Senators sitting across the floor know that this will lead to job losses.
The Senator is way over time.
At least have some honesty about what is being proposed.
I am surprised by Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments about the private sector. Fianna Fáil relied very much on the private sector for donations for many years-----
What is the Senator talking about?
-----therefore, I am surprised by his criticism of the private sector. I have no difficulty-----
The Senator must not deal with the issue whatever he does. He is good at that.
The private business sector employs many people in this country and it is important that it get support. I will not comment further on the Aer Lingus takeover.
The figures just announced in respect of medical services and the review for the month of March show that collective inpatient admissions are up by 2% and outpatient attendance by 3.8% ahead of target. For the month of March alone, there were 12,911 attendances at BreastCheck. The target is 140,000 for the year. We are ahead of target and, while it is important that there is criticism where issues arise in the health service, it is also important that where there are good results, they are put in the public domain. We have a good health service. There are difficulties in some areas that need to be improved and we must continue to work towards this. The Minister and the HSE should be thanked for the work being done and it must be recognised that there is positive news in a number of areas.
I join the other Members of this House who have spoken about the sale of Aer Lingus. I travel around Europe, like most of us, and arriving in new cities, one sees tram systems. What did we do with the tram system in Dublin? We pulled it apart about 100 years ago and now we are paying a fortune to put it back together. I look at Irish shipping which was mentioned yesterday and it is destroyed; it is gone. I look at Aer Lingus now. The media are full of stories this morning about conflicts of interest for senior members of the board of Aer Lingus who were advising the country and the Government. There seem to be conflicts of interest in the financial institutions that are advising the country and the Government. It is an extremely serious issue. To go back to what Senator Darragh O'Brien said, we robbed the poor unfortunate pensioners who gave their lives to build the company. We took their pensions off them and now we are going to hand over approximately €560 million to IAG. We must get real about where we are going. I know that Members on the other side of the House feel exactly the same way as I do. We need a debate in this House on Aer Lingus and need it tomorrow. I second Senator Darragh O'Brien's call for such a debate.
I also want to speak about the issue of humanity in the health service. I visited a neighbour last night who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. He told me there were a number of forms of the disease. This man was at the top of his profession, one of the most competent men I know, who worked for several multinationals. Six weeks ago, he was diagnosed. Three weeks ago, he was told he needed further tests-----
The Senator has about two seconds.
Two minutes, please, a Chathaoirligh. He was told he needed further tests to determine what form he had. We all know the sentence that is motor neurone disease. Nobody in the health service will pick up the telephone and tell him when he can have the appointment.
That could be the subject of a Commencement debate if the Senator wishes to put it forward.
I appreciate that, but I will give the name of this man to the Leader and perhaps he might ask the Minister for Health to get some doctor to pick up the telephone and alleviate his pain. Have we lost all humanity? Do we not understand people's suffering?
I agree with other Senators who have asked for a debate on the issue of Aer Lingus. I am sure the Leader will facilitate such a debate. Like many people, Aer Lingus to me is "Look up, it's Aer Lingus". I have a huge emotional attachment to it. A very interesting case has been made by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, in the past 24 hours relating to the future of Aer Lingus and the fact that it may not have a future if it does not have an investment of the type that IAG can put into the company. However, I want to be sure that the workers in the company are protected, whether those workers be the former workers, the deferred pensioners, the pensioners or the existing workforce. Legally binding assurances must be given on outsourcing and compulsory redundancies. Until SIPTU is happy with what is on the table, I personally would not be happy.
On the comments made by Senator Jillian van Turnhout regarding children and slapping and so forth, there is no need for a debate. There is no debate to be had. It is a statement of the obvious. My question is what we are going to do about implementing the law that is required to ensure that smacking children is outlawed and treating them in any way that takes away from their dignity should also be illegal.
I ask the Leader for a debate on the Commission's country-specific recommendations for Ireland. In that context, one of the leading recommendations on labour market activation and the number of lone parents, in particular, living in poverty and so forth, related to the lack of child care in Ireland. In the context of the country-specific recommendations, could the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs come to the House to discuss how Ireland intends to respond to the Commission's recommendations and what measures the country is taking in response to the recommendations made last year on the same subjects?
I join my colleagues in calling for a debate on the sale of Aer Lingus. It should probably have happened yesterday, but I support calls for it to happen tomorrow. The justification for many decisions in this country seems to be that it makes good economic sense and a few bob can be made out of it. That is not a good enough reason for many decisions.
I was interested to see a debate that happened this morning, one year on from the amalgamation of Limerick county and city councils on how it had affected people. It really came to my attention last Monday night, when I attended a public meeting behind in Shanagolden to do with a proposed gasification plant on the site of the old Gortadroma landfill. That project is of major significance to the area. It has the potential to have knock-on effects on human health, animal health and the valuation of property and land in the area. That project was supported at municipal district level by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent Fianna Fáil and no debate whatsoever took place at county council level on such a significant plant. In fact, the disposal notice, which was signed on Monday, before the communities could have any input into something that will have a massive effect on-----
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Where does the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government stand on all this? Where do gasification and incineration fit into Ireland's waste management strategy and our 2020 targets? It will not help at all and other waste management strategies would be much more appropriate. What we are opening up here is a monster gasification plant that will be importing all types of waste from everywhere else.
The Senator is way over time.
I do not think it is something the communities in Shanagolden, Foynes, Loughill, Ballyhahill and other areas in west Limerick will stand for and want.
The Senator is way over time.
I call for that debate on waste management, which should happen sooner rather than later.
A debate is needed on children, but the debate on spanking children is over as far as I am concerned. It was over long ago. A survey carried out last year and the year before by the ISPCC and the Children's Rights Alliance found that two thirds of the adults surveyed thought it had already been banned. To think smacking a child would be acceptable is like saying assault on an adult would be acceptable. One does not inculcate respect by the heavy hand of authority, which is the old-fashioned way of doing it and which went out the door long ago. I call for a debate on positive parenting.
If one does not have positive parenting and parents are not helped in terms of how to help their children, problems will arise. Parenting classes are included in the child care model. Tusla is considering the matter. It is important for a child to observe the parent solving problems in a creative way rather than by force. Might is not right in any society. If a child does not observe the parent doing it properly, it inculcates unskilled parenting and that can continue from one generation to the next. It does not encourage learning, independence or other positive skills. There is a lesson to be learned. One speaker said there was no need for a debate, but I seek a debate to ensure we help parents to help themselves and, in turn, help children in future years.
I second what Senator James Heffernan said about the proposed waste management gasification, which is a new word for me, instead of incineration. It makes one feel better to use "gasification" instead of "incineration". He referred to the old Gortadroma landfill site to which tyres from all over the world will be imported which we will incinerate. Goodness knows, the environment will once again be destroyed. I welcome Nuala and Pat Geoghegan who are in the Visitors Gallery and who are from Askeaton, County Limerick. The Aughinish plant and Moneypoint are near their farm. If the EPA allows this new waste management business to go forward the area will surely compete for being the most polluted small area on the planet. We will become a global player. We need a debate on the matter, environmental pollution in this country and the EPA and what it is not doing to contain industry and its ruination of the environment and climate that we so proudly try to protect but which we are not protecting.
I find it somewhat amusing that a number of speakers have called for a debate on the sale of Aer Lingus. I am just trying to figure out how much more time we can spend debating the sale. This issue has been ongoing for five, if not six, months.
The Government only decided yesterday evening.
Senator David Cullinane has said Sinn Féin knows, Fianna Fáil knows, the Independents know-----
We will not bother talking about it at all then.
-----and everybody knows that it is not right for Ireland.
That is fair enough.
Senator Eamonn Coghlan should be allowed to speak without interruption.
I find it somewhat hypocritical of Fianna Fáil to state anything when it sold 74.9% of Aer Lingus several years ago.
I will tell you what, do not worry about it. We will just forget about it. No problem.
Senator Eamonn Coghlan should be allowed to speak without interruption.
Senator Darragh O'Brien said we had held on to 25% or 24.9%-----
It is 25.1%.
-----to protect jobs, pensions and the landing slots.
That commentary is just for populist reasons and it is not true. There is nothing to be afraid of whatsoever. I like to look at the big picture-----
That is fair enough then.
-----not the sentiment of losing the brand of Aer Lingus, which we will not lose. That is really good for Ireland. After all, one must remember that in the big picture Aer Lingus is only a tiny little operator on the world scene and an IAG takeover of Aer Lingus will be good for Ireland. However, I will get to the point I wish to make, which would also be somewhat inclusive of Aer Lingus. I refer to the stunning reports from the CSO this morning on the growth of tourism alone this year. Between January and April, the numbers are up by 13.5%. A total of 1.8 million more visitors have come to the country in the period. There has been an increase in visitor numbers of 20% from North America. Visitor numbers from Europe have increased by 14.7%. Visitor numbers from Great Britain alone have increased by nearly 10%, while visitor numbers from the rest of the world have increased by 23%. That is all part of the Government's economic strategy of investing in tourism and it has proved to be an enormous contribution to economic recovery, in particular in rural areas where jobs have been on the increase. Initiatives such as the Wild Atlantic Way and now Ireland's Ancient East are adding to it and we expect further growth.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
I expect the growth of Aer Lingus and tourism through the ownership of IAG will prove the Government is right in continuing with the debate and coming to the overall conclusion that Aer Lingus should be passed on to IAG.
It seems on the face of it that the sale of the national airline to a foreign company is now a fait accompli. That is why so many people are confused and stunned about what is happening. With hindsight, the debate which has taken place in recent months was disingenuous because we did not have any information to debate. It is now that the debate should start. The matter should go before an Oireachtas committee in order that the report which is available to the Government could be examined. Then we could come back to the Seanad and have a proper debate. Aer Lingus is a good national brand. It is a PR brand for us also. It is also a brand for many of our emigrants, and a symbol of who we are as a people and the manner in which we developed and were able to take on board independence and to sustain sovereignty. They are all big questions. One must ask whether the recession has killed that sense in us as a people. Are we frightened by the prospect that there might be greater competition in the aviation business? That is what is being said. I find it very difficult to understand that people who were capable of setting up a national airline and who showed the strength of character and commitment to ourselves as a people in control of our own destiny could after all of that arrive at a situation where we no longer have that tenacity of character. I suggest that if we are going to debate this issue, which we should debate because people want us to debate it, the first thing that should happen is for the report to go before a committee and that ample time be given to examine it. I think when we start to unravel the report, we will not be happy with the legal guarantees. I do not believe they are enforceable and with the passage of time, in three, four or five years, we will forget about them. The problem is that we will then be at a point of no return. As Senator Darragh O'Brien has stated, as an island nation it is an absolutely vital imperative for us to have an airline of our own over which there is democratic control and at the same time that we can act in the best interests of the people.
I commend and welcome the report published yesterday on farm safety which was compiled by the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. I commend, in particular, Senators Martin Conway and Denis O'Donovan and the other Members who were involved in it. There is a farm-related death practically every week. Last Sunday a two-year old child died in Cork in an accident with a horse box. I read the report yesterday evening. Simple solutions and safety precautions can help to avoid many accidents. I ask the Leader to put on the schedule a debate following the publication of the report.
I also support Senator James Heffernan on the issue he raised relating to Limerick. Other Members referred to the use of the word "gasification". It brought all sorts of terrible connotations to my mind when I heard it being used. I never heard it used in an environmental context previously. The proposal for Limerick must be investigated. I spoke this morning in the Commencement debate about the first anniversary of the Putting People First document becoming legislation and then being used at local government level. This is a case in point of policy not working. What has happened is that officials are informing councils in certain municipal areas of issues and measures are being rubber-stamped by councillors without a full debate in the council. This is wrong and we must put a stop to it. We must open up the issue and have a proper debate. We must question the EPA on what it is doing. Currently, we are questioning the EPA on many issues in this House, including the issue Senator John Whelan raised in Portlaoise.
One of these days, it will have to appear before us to provide answers. When its representatives appeared before the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, they spluttered rather than answered members' questions.
I welcome the publication this week by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, of legislation to deal with the validity periods for gift vouchers. Many people find they cannot use these vouchers because they are out of date. I have been calling for action on this issue. The legislation is, therefore, welcome as it will help people who find a gift voucher in a drawer six or eight months after receiving it only to discover it cannot be used because it is out of date.
I would be grateful to the Leader if he were to arrange a debate, at the earliest opportunity, to discuss with the Minister for Health the provision of general practitioner services in rural areas. I have raised previously the rural practice allowance, which is a statutory scheme that has been in place since 1972, having been provided for in the Health Act 1970. The allowance is paid to general practitioners in rural areas to help them to defray the higher costs of running a rural practice. These costs include the greater number of house calls rural doctors must make to older patients than doctors in urban areas. As I have noted previously, some general practitioners must act as dispensing agents of medicines in rural areas where pharmacists are not readily available. The rural practice allowance is paid where a general practice is located at least three miles from a town or village with more than 1,500 people. I do not need to stress the importance of general practitioners in rural areas. A local medical service is vital to older persons living in relatively isolated areas with limited or no rural transport. Access to primary care locally helps to reduce the number of people who present at hospital accident and emergency departments.
I informed the House recently that it had come to my attention that the Health Service Executive was revising by stealth the terms of the statutory scheme under which the rural practice allowance is paid and systematically withdrawing the payment from general practitioners in rural areas. I have spoken to doctors in east County Galway and other rural areas about their concerns. The effect of the withdrawal of the allowance has been to leave some general practitioners in east County Galway and elsewhere in the west without an economic basis for continuing to provide their services. It is common knowledge that it is proving nearly impossible to attract young doctors to establish general practices in rural areas.
Since I last raised this issue, it has been reported in the media that one general practitioner in the west took the HSE to court to compel it to pay the rural practice allowance. Other doctors have come forward indicating that their rural practice allowance payments have been similarly withdrawn. This is disgraceful. If the Government is serious about the provision of medical services in rural areas, it should call a halt to the withdrawal by stealth of allowances for general practitioners. The HSE is acting in a high-handed and arbitrary manner in the way in which it is administering and restricting a scheme the Oireachtas has laid down in law. I would be grateful if the House could hear from the Minister for Health on this matter.
Some of the negative comments on the Government's disposal of the State's minority shareholding in Aer Lingus are very much at variance with the positive comments we have heard from business and tourism interests in Dublin and the regions.
The Senator is referring to a stage-managed public relations exercise.
None of the critics has stated that if the deal, with its commitments and guarantees, is not accepted, the alternative will be a hostile takeover, which would not include any such guarantees. I am glad that the Aer Lingus brand will be retained and the company's headquarters will continue to be located in Dublin.
For how long will it remain in Dublin? Will Aer Lingus pensioners have €340 million returned to them? The company's former employees were savaged by the Government in January.
It is significant that the sale has the potential to create 150 additional jobs by 2016 and a further 650 jobs by 2020.
What will happen to Shannon and Cork airports?
Will the Leader ask the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to make a statement on the industrial action being taken by psychiatric nurses in University Hospital Galway, UHG? Concerns about health and safety issues and staffing levels have been raised for some time. It has been reported that 36 staff in psychiatric services have been assaulted since January. Staff want an agreed complement on the wards at all times. Psychiatric services in UHG have been under constant pressure since the decision was taken last year to reconfigure them and remove 22 beds from the system in Ballinasloe. What progress has been made on the promised state-of-the-art facility? The Minister of State and Health Service Executive must honour the commitments they made at the time of the decision on reconfiguration. People in counties Galway and Roscommon are entitled to a world class psychiatric service. I call on the Minister of State to deliver on the commitments she made in the House more than a year ago.
I very much agree with Senator Michael Mullins. Contrary to much of the poppycock we have heard from previous speakers about Aer Lingus, the proposed deal is a good one.
The Senator should tell that to the pensioners whose pension fund has been cut by 60%.
Some €150 million was put into the pension fund earlier this year.
That was done to fatten up Aer Lingus for sale. The pensioners had their income cut by 60% and 80 year old former employees are to receive six weeks pay.
Under the deal, 635 new jobs will be created by 2020, of which 150 will be created next year. Senator David Cullinane described the guarantees as worthless. They will be written into the articles of association. One cannot have more than that.
There is a question mark over the legality of that proposal.
The Senator need not worry. If the guarantees are written into the articles of association, they will stand up. In addition, four new transatlantic services are planned. All of the airports affected have expressed support for the deal. To echo the words of Senator Michael Mullins, do opponents of the sale want a hostile takeover of Aer Lingus?
The International Airlines Group has stated it is not interested in a hostile takeover.
With respect, the Senator should drop the cute hoorism of his party's old guard and speak straight on this issue.
Will €340 million be returned to the pensioners who took a 60% cut in their pension in order that the sale could proceed?
Does Senator Paul Coghlan have a question for the Leader?
I will short-circuit this discussion by supporting calls for the Leader to arrange a debate on the issue. Senators will be able to straighten the matter in a proper debate.
I raise an issue related to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB. Landlords sign up every new tenancy with the PRTB but do not receive any protection. When a landlord has an issue with a new tenant he or she is given the run-around from the PRTB for 18 months and is eventually forced to employ a solicitor to have the tenant removed from his or her property. We hear horror stories daily about landlords having to pay tenants to leave their properties. I call on the Leader to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister of State with responsibility for housing because the legislation needs to be changed urgently.
Senator Darragh O'Brien and many other Senators referred to the proposed sale of the State's stake in Aer Lingus. The neck of Fianna Fáil when it comes to Aer Lingus never ceases to amaze me. As has been correctly pointed out, in 2006 a previous Fianna Fáil-led Government sold 74.9% of the State's stake in the company. Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú described the proposed deal as the sale of the national airline. The national airline was sold in 2006 when a 74.9% stake in it was sold under Fianna Fáil's watch. Aer Lingus was privatised at that point, as even the birds in the trees know. Fianna Fáil Senators can try to twist it any way they wish to suit their political needs, but it will no longer wash. As usual, we must listen to the prophets of doom.
Will the Government give a commitment to return the money it cut from the pension fund?
Please allow the Leader to continue, without interruption.
Senator Darragh O'Brien has a habit of interrupting practically every speaker. He was not interrupted once and it is about time he listened rather than chirp in with comments all the time.
I am trying to get answers to my questions.
The Senator will receive answers to his questions.
There is the lack of a gender balance on the other side of the House.
We will have a greater gender balance after the next general election.
The fact that all of the airports involved in the operation of the Heathrow Airport slots have welcomed the proposed deal is an indication of the confidence they have in the guarantee given. No such guarantee is in place. The Government has secured a seven-year guarantee. It has also been in contact with the European Commission on the legal mechanisms provided for and received indications that it will not oppose the guarantee given.
The guarantee holds and will be written, as Senator Paul Coghlan mentioned, into the articles of association. Members have sought a debate on the issue and I have requested that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport come to the House, preferably today, rather than tomorrow. As he is due to debate the issue in the Lower House from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m., I have asked that he come to the Seanad at 9 p.m.
That is fine; we will facilitate that arrangement.
I have not yet received a response from the Minister's office.
When does the Leader think he will get a response?
If it can be facilitated, we will have the debate at 9 p.m.
When does the Leader think we will know?
As soon as I receive word, everybody else - certainly group leaders - will be informed.
I thank the Leader.
Senator Darragh O'Brien and quite a number of other Members spoke about the ban on corporal punishment and called for a debate on the issue. We will certainly try to arrange such a debate with the Minister responsible for it.
While Aer Lingus and corporal punishment were the main issues raised, others were also raised. Senator Colm Burke welcomed the good results published on parts of the health service. It is right and fitting that these results be published and that the good news stories within the health service be highlighted.
Senator Gerard P. Craughwell spoke about a case of a person with motor neurone disease, which specific item might perhaps be tabled for discussion in the Commencement debate.
Senator Aideen Hayden spoke about the European Union's country-specific recommendations for Ireland, on which she called for a response from the Government. We will certainly try to arrange such a debate.
Senators James Heffernan and Mary Ann O'Brien spoke about waste management gasification, or incineration, in the context of a proposed project in Senator James Heffernan's constituency. With that specific item in mind, tabling a Commencement matter would probably suffice for the Senators to obtain the answers they require. On the overall topic of environmental pollution, I will certainly try to arrange for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to the House for a debate on the issue.
Senator Eamonn Coghlan spoke about the growth in tourist figures in view of the tremendous 13% increase in the first four months of the year. This can only be good for the economy and highlights the role of the Government's economic strategy which has been very successful in the context of tourism.
Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú referred to the sale of the national airline. The Aer Lingus brand will be retained, which is a very important part of the deal.
Senator Denis Landy spoke about the public consultation committee, the report of which was published and launched yesterday by the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I will arrange a debate on that very important report with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Senator Denis Landy also referred to the need for a review of the document on local government, Putting People First. He also proposed tabling the issue for discussion in the Commencement debate and I support him in that request. He welcomed the measures the Government and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, had put in place in respect of gift vouchers. They are long overdue.
Senator Rónán Mullen has previously raised the question of GP services in rural Ireland, rightly so. He might table the matter for discussion in the Commencement debate. I have received requests for a number of debates on the health service and I am trying to arrange for the Minister to come to the House. Senator Michael Mullins spoke about industrial action being taken by staff in the psychiatric hospital in Galway. Again, perhaps, that issue might be tabled for discussion in the Commencement debate.
Senator Paul Coghlan commented on the Aer Lingus deal, a matter to which I have alluded, while Senator John Kelly spoke about the Private Rented Tenancies Board and the possible need for further legislation to give it more teeth. This issue has been raised on several occasions in the House and elsewhere. I will ask the Minister of State concerned to come to the House to address the matter in early course.
Tá
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Brennan, Terry.
- Burke, Colm.
- Coghlan, Eamonn.
- Coghlan, Paul.
- Comiskey, Michael.
- Conway, Martin.
- Cummins, Maurice.
- D'Arcy, Jim.
- Hayden, Aideen.
- Henry, Imelda.
- Higgins, Lorraine.
- Keane, Cáit.
- Kelly, John.
- Landy, Denis.
- Moloney, Marie.
- Moran, Mary.
- Mulcahy, Tony.
- Mullins, Michael.
- Noone, Catherine.
- Norris, David.
- O'Brien, Mary Ann.
- Sheahan, Tom.
- Zappone, Katherine.
Níl
- Craughwell, Gerard P.
- Daly, Mark.
- Heffernan, James.
- Leyden, Terry.
- Mooney, Paschal.
- Mullen, Rónán.
- Ó Domhnaill, Brian.
- Ó Murchú, Labhrás.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Donovan, Denis.
- White, Mary M.
- Wilson, Diarmuid.