The Order of Business is No. 1, Children First Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1 p.m. and conclude not later than 3 p.m.; No. 2, Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 3 p.m. and adjourned not later than 5 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 71, Private Members' business, non-Government motion No. 19, to be taken at 5 p.m., with the time allocated for the debate not to exceed two hours.
Order of Business
We will not oppose the Order of Business. Can a debate be organised on the situation developing in Northern Ireland? I acknowledge there was a debate in recent times, but the revelations yesterday north of the Border in a number of reports and further revelations on this side of the Border are concerning. Everybody is committed to the peace process, with 98% of the people voting for it. However, there have been allegations in the past few years about internal police forces and procedures whereby child abusers were diverted to other locations. This issue was raised by Máiría Cahill, a candidate in the forthcoming Seanad by-election, which is concerning. When we hear a claim that an army council directs the operations of a democratic political party, without prejudice to anybody in that party, it is one that requires an explanation and a debate which I am sure, as a political party, it would welcome in its own interest. This morning's contribution by Deputy Mac Lochlainn on Newstalk in which he described these reports as "nonsense" was not helpful. A prerequisite to the talks in the North which we all wish well should be that Sinn Féin, the UUP and the DUP accept and welcome the report and commit to addressing issues raised in it.
Again, without prejudice to anybody, that is the kind of positive and direct approach that needs to be seen rather than a pattern of denial which frankly, without prejudice, adds nothing but suspicion to anybody who is involved in democracy, from whatever party and no party.
I again raise the issue of rural crime. I am sure all Members at different times, certainly those based in rural and regional communities, have raised it. I believe one reaps what one sows. The facts are the Government has closed 139 Garda stations and the latest recruitment drive which produced 200 gardaí nationally has resulted in none of them being deployed to Sligo and Leitrim and only five to County Donegal. I refer to the north-west region, which is where I live. This morning a supermarket and pub were the subject of a robbery. The town has no Garda station and the nearest Garda station is located 30 miles away. In such situations it is difficult for gardaí to reach a crime scene on time, which is why I say the Government has reaped what it sowed.
Apart from the Government decimating rural Ireland through its closure of community services such as Garda stations, locations such as Dromore West in County Sligo which is where this latest robbery took place have now become targets for sophisticated criminal gangs. This morning's robbery was carried out by a gang of five who used heavy machinery. The robbers knew what they were doing, seamlessly carried out the crime and did not care about alarms going off. Sadly, because of under-resourced Garda stations and a lack of people on the ground these criminals have not yet been apprehended. We hope they will and wish the Garda well in that regard. I would like the House to debate rural crime and work out what can tangibly be done to restore normality to rural communities throughout the country in order that all of the people, including business people and the elderly, can feel safe in their homes or business by having a visible presence of gardaí in the shape of Garda stations and personnel.
I welcome the passage of Second Stage of the Marriage Bill through the Seanad last night. The legislation was greeted with a celebratory atmosphere in the House. The Visitors Gallery was full and the overflow was accommodated in the nearby AV Room where people could watch the debate. It was a heartening and welcoming experience to be part of the debate. I hope the Bill will achieve a speedy final passage through the House tomorrow in order that we can see the first marriages take place between same-sex couples without further delay.
It is welcome that we will debate Report Stage of the Children First Bill today after the Order of Business. It is also welcome that the Government has accepted two amendments tabled by my colleague, Senator Jillian van Turnhout, which relate to the abolition of the defence of reasonable chastisement. This development is hugely important and something that is long overdue. It is great to see the Seanad as a Chamber in which the Government accepts amendments of this kind and I know that we will have a good debate.
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the victims of crime. Is there a projected date for the introduction in the House of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill? This morning the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality dealt with the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. During the course of the debate powerful submissions were made by eight NGOs who work with victims of crime. They included the Victims' Rights Alliance, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rape Crisis Network Ireland, the Irish Penal Reform Trust, IPRT, and other groups. In the course of their submissions the NGOs reminded us that the Bill was important because for the first time it provided a statutory framework for the protection of victims' rights in the criminal justice system. It is also a Bill that will implement an EU directive that must be transposed in Ireland by 16 November. The legislation has reached the heads of a Bill stage. The committee is hastening through its pre-legislative scrutiny of the legislation. I wonder can we get it into the Seanad without undue delay. During the submissions we also heard from Safe Ireland, which this morning released its data on domestic violence which contained some frightening figures. As it pointed out to us, the appalling tragedy where Garda Tony Golden was murdered highlights the serious issue of domestic violence and domestic abuse.
I ask the Leader for a debate on Northern Ireland in the light of yesterday's reports of paramilitary activity in the North. As it happens, I will be in Stormont tomorrow and will speak at a conference in Belfast. It is good that we have close links with our parliamentary colleagues in the North. To that end, I ask the Leader to consider at our next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges what role the Seanad can play in supporting the peace process and bringing about the restoration of the institutions in Northern Ireland. When former Senator Martin McAleese was here, one of our speakers in the House was the head of the Orange Order. There may be some other way in which the Seanad could support those who are trying to ensure there is a return to proper structures in the peace process and proper parliamentary structures in Northern Ireland.
I, too, would welcome a debate on the North. We debated the matter in this Chamber a number of weeks ago. On that occasion the contributions made by most of the Senators were comprised of a long list of political charges against Sinn Féin. Nothing constructive was offered on how to solve the problems with the peace process or successfully conclude the talks.
I wish to respond directly to Senator Marc MacSharry who asked about the claims made by MI5 in a report that had been published. I recommend that people read the report in full and not take their cue from headlines broadcast by the media or from anywhere else. I urge people to read what the report actually states. In it MI5 shared its view that some members of the IRA believed the army council had a direction in regard to Sinn Féin. I wish to state that is untrue. I have been an elected member of the Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Féin for the past three years and was elected on the floor of the Sinn Féin Ard-Fheis. The media come to my party's Ard-Fheis every year. I am elected democratically by the membership of my party because that is how it works.
Senator Marc MacSharry wants to talk about criminality. I can tell him that the only political party that I am aware of that had, in its ranks, people who were convicted of criminality and for taking brown envelopes of cash and stuffing them into their pockets, is his own. These acts went to the very highest level of his party. If he wants to have that debate, my party will have it with him. As I said in this Chamber a number of weeks ago when we debated crime, it does not matter to me who is involved in criminality. If some former members of the IRA are involved in crime, they should be ruthlessly pursued by the authorities in the North and the South. Yesterday in the Dáil my party's justice spokesperson, of whom the Senator spoke about, supported stronger cross-Border initiatives to bring the people in question to justice. Sinn Féin wants such people to be brought before the courts and convicted. Sinn Féin and its members have put their lives on the line by standing up to such individuals who are involved in criminality in Border areas and the North. I contrast the leadership given by Martin McGuinness on all of these issues with the leadership of the Fianna Fáil Party that has, for political and electoral reasons, taken a harder line than that of the DUP. Let us contrast all of this with what Mr. Peter Robinson, MLA, said and did yesterday. He is now back in the talks and wants the DUP back in the Executive. That is what we should focus on. I would welcome a constructive debate. I hope we will look at the real issues, not at contrived crises, which happens all of the time for political and electoral purposes. We must identify the real issues in the peace process in the North that need to be addressed in the same spirit that was applied to the process which was supported by people like Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair, Martin McGuinness, MLA, Deputy Gerry Adams and Albert Reynolds. They were all part of a constructive peace process. Let us get back to that type of politics. We must ensure we make the agreements work, that the institutions stay in place and that we have institutions in the North that work in the best interests of all communities. I would welcome a debate and hope the Leader can arrange it as soon as possible.
I agree with Senator Marc MacSharry and some aspects of what was said by Senator David Cullinane. We all wish the talks well in the North. The two separate reports are in agreement, as regards headlines, that a former paramilitary organisation is still in existence, albeit not for military or terrorist activities. Unfortunately, in the supposedly democratic society on both sides of the Border, particularly on the other side of the Border in the south Armagh district, there are some crime families who may have been members of an illegal organisation that run the areas as though they are still their personal fiefdoms. In the area I mentioned there is a proliferation of blue metal community alert type notices imbedded in walls here and there which some Members have probably seen.
The citizenry are being advised that if they have anything to report in terms of disturbance in the community or otherwise, they should ring this number, but it is not the number of the police force. There should be only one police force.
Does the Senator know the number?
It is in the notice.
The community alert notices are everywhere. That is what they are about.
We are not getting into that issue now.
Will Senator David Cullinane, please, allow Senator Paul Coghlan to continue? He did not interrupt the Senator.
The point I am making is that the notices purport to give the impression that those involved are the law.
There are community alert notices in Waterford.
Unfortunately, in this area there is a fear factor and people, for historical or other reasons, do not report to the police.
The MP is a Sinn Féin MP.
Unfortunately, there is not normal policing as we know it in the South or other areas in the North. This issue needs to be addressed. There is so much more that all of us can say arising out of the two reports and as such I would welcome a debate on the matter.
I, too, welcome the appointment of Professor Philip Lane, economics professor at Trinity College Dublin, as the new Governor of the Central Bank. It appears an unseemly row has broken out between the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, over that appointment. They should not be washing their dirty linen in public. It undermines the credibility of the new Governor that the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, is not in agreement with his appointment. It is disturbing, to say the least, particularly in the European context, that there is a doubt, cloud or shadow cast over the appointment of this highly reputable person which, I think, everybody here welcomes.
I ask that the new Governor investigate the activities of Mars Capital which acquired the 2,200 loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society. Mars Capital is a vulture fund which, although registered in Ireland, does not appear to be under the control of the Central Bank. I cannot find any evidence on its website that it is under the control of the Central Bank. It was brought to my attention this morning that it was regularly in touch with compliant customers and mortgage holders about their accounts. I would regard this as a form of harassment. I would like to see Mars Capital brought under the control of the Irish Central Bank, in particular with regard to mortgage loans and interest rates. I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Finance to come to the House for a debate on the matter which I may also raise as a Commencement matter.
I reiterate my sympathy to the family, friends and Garda colleagues of the late Garda Tony Golden. The scene last Thursday in my local parish church was one of devastation and immense grief that another member of an Garda Síochána had been gunned down in a cold-blooded murder. When I visited the family last week, the late Tony Golden's wife and mother-in-law pleaded with me to ensure something was done to ensure our laws on bail for people who had been convicted of serious crime, as in the case of the person who carried out this murder, were changed.
We must ensure the Border is adequately manned and patrolled. I welcome the announcement that 27 additional gardaí are to be deployed to the Dundalk district, but I hope this will be a permanent resource, not only a token six-week presence, as happened following the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. We need to wake up. It was devastating, not only for people in the locality or members of An Garda Síochána, to whom my heart goes out but people generally that we were faced with the murder of another garda less than two years after the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I, too, would welcome a debate on activity in the North of Ireland. While we have previously had such debates, there are now more serious allegations to be discussed, as highlighted in the reports published yesterday. I agree with Senators that we all have a lot more to say on this issue.
I also pay tribute to the people of Blackrock and Haggardstown who came together from last Sunday and have showed what true community spirit is. It was unbelievable to see people, some of whom knew the Golden family, while others did not, coming together and doing whatever they could to help, including making tea, providing refreshments, directing traffic and so on. It was a proud moment, if one could take anything at all from it. I hope that in the long term it will be a source of comfort to the family. Blackrock is renowned for the fact that the tide comes in very seldom. Last week, even the sea was silent and the atmosphere in Blackrock was reflected in the heavens.
Tacaím leis na moltaí atá á ndéanamh go mbeadh díospóireacht againn maidir le cúrsaí an Tuaiscirt, an proiséas síochána agus an ról atá againn anseo chun é sin a chur chun cinn. I support the calls for a debate on issues in the North. It is important at this stage that we focus on the real issues at hand, including budgetary issues and their implications, the proper functioning of the institutions in the North and how we can foster North-South relations. In the aftermath of the visit to this House by Drew Nelson of the Orange Order, an invitation to the House was issued to the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. It would be timely if the Seanad were to reissue that invitation to the new First Minister, when known, and the Deputy First Minister.
Tréaslaím le Dónall Ó Cualáin atá ceapaithe mar leas-choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána. Is garda as Conamara é. Fear breá é a bhí ag feidhmiú i gceantar an iarthair. Guím gach rath air san ról sin. I again call for a debate on the direct provision system, particularly implementation of the recommendations of the working group on direct provision. We have rightly had a lot of discussion about the Syrian refugee crisis and how it is to be handled, but I am concerned that the new accommodation to be provided in this regard, as per the advertisements for same, will be direct provision plus. There are 4,000 people languishing in direct provision centres, in respect of which there are many recommendations made in the working group report, including an increase in the €19.10 per week benefit provided for the people in them. I expected the announcement of such an increase in the budget last week, but I have not yet been able to obtain clarification on the matter. There are huge concerns within the direct provision centres about the manner in which the working group report recommendations are being implemented, how it is being managed, who is in charge and so on. I understand there have been a number of changes in personnel in the agencies leading the work. It is important that the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, come to the House to update us on the matter.
Yesterday I raised the issue of the departure of the boxing head coach, Mr. Billy Walsh. This morning I attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications with the chairman designate of Sport Ireland, Mr. Kieran Mulvey, who reiterated much of what he had said during his interview on television last night. What has emerged out of all of this is that the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, IABA, has serious questions to answer. For the benefit of the House, it is funded almost totally by the taxpayer and is, therefore, accountable to the taxpayer. Last weekend the president of that organisation assured the Minister of State with responsibility for sport that the matter of Mr. Walsh's tenure would be resolved, yet two days later he tendered his letter of resignation. There was much anger conveyed at the meeting this morning, not only by Mr. Mulvey but also by members of the committee, about the details which had emerged in the past week.
It was not about money. Mr. Walsh is a true patriot and did not wish to leave Ireland, but he is leaving tomorrow. He is the best boxing coach in the world, as Mr. Mulvey put it, and from this small nation. We are ranked fourth among boxing nations because of Mr. Walsh's tenure. The point made by Mr. Mulvey which I would like to convey to the Minister is that the IABA showed disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring; the Irish Sports Council and the taxpayer. This has to stop. The organisation is dysfunctional and must be held to account. Will the Leader convey this message to the Minister of State? Perhaps there might be an opportunity for him to come before the House to outline the relationship between sports bodies and the Department in the context of the new sports body being set up. It is important that we clarify what the relationship is. Is it fair, right and equitable that all of the taxpayers' money is being given to an organisation that is getting rid of Mr. Walsh because that is what it is doing? The IABA has more or less stated it does not want him and that he can go. As Mr. Mulvey said, it issued a crocodile tears statement yesterday that it regretted the matter and wished Mr. Walsh the best of luck. That is unacceptable. To thumb the nose at the democratically elected Government of the country and the Minister of State who is responsible for providing sports governing bodies with taxpayers' money is not acceptable either. In normal circumstances, I would propose an amendment to the Order of Business to have the Minister of State brought before us because the departure of Mr. Walsh is imminent, but I will not do so. However, I strongly urge the Leader to convey these comments which I am sure are supported by all sides of the House to the Minister of State and to have the Minister of State to issue a public statement, possibly later today, outlining his plans for the future governance of the IABA and perhaps to take money off it and give it to the high performance unit as a separate autonomous body, as has been done in the United Kingdom, in order that the boxers will not suffer as a result of this and that the dysfunctional group of dinosaurs in the IABA is brought to account.
I welcome the rounding to be introduced for one and two cent coins from 28 October. There is an awareness campaign running. There was a successful trial held in Wexford in 2013 and 85% of participants were satisfied. As I said previously when I called for this to happen, people tend to hoard one cent coins because they do not want to carry them. Therefore, I welcome the development. It is not the biggest issue in the world, but it is certainly a cost to the State and I am glad to see the move happening.
I commend Laya Healthcare for an activity programme it has introduced across the country. It was piloted last year when it received a very positive response. It is called Super Troopers. Research involving 379 national school teachers and almost 1,000 parents nationwide indicates that the programme which incorporates activity homework has been a success, with 71% of teachers and 70% of parents confirming that taking part in it resulted in an increase in children's daily activity. Meanwhile, one in four teachers remarked that children's concentration levels had improved as a result. Children are also feeling the benefits, with 57% of those aged between four and 12 years admitting to eating more fruit and vegetables and 64% saying they drank more water. It is vital that children get used to being active at a young age; it is all about preventive health care and the good of the nation.
I heard many of my colleagues call for a debate on Northern Ireland in the light of the publication of two important reports yesterday. I certainly support their request. When we reflect on the difficulties on that part of the island which are profound and serious, we must remember that the starting point is that for the past 21 years or thereabouts we have had relative peace in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We are, therefore, starting from a positive perspective. Not too many Members of this or the other House served when we had a daily diet of bombs, bullets, murders, condemnation, hopelessness and despair. Therefore, let us not forget that we have moved a long way and that people on all sides and none have been responsible for this. That must be the starting point. There are very profound troubles to be addressed, but I have often made the point that if we can ensure the current generation, particularly in Northern Ireland, at least stops killing each other, perhaps the next might grow closer and that there will be a stronger community ethos and stronger and more normal politics. That is what we must aim for. The reports are significant and perhaps serious, but they are not really surprising because they simply tell us what we know. We have been walking and dancing on egg shells for the past ten, 12 or 15 years so as not to cause difficulties, but we are reaching a stage where we must be a little more blunt in our analysis and discussions. We will want to hear much more from Sinn Féin about its relationship or otherwise with the army council-----
It does not exist.
-----which I think is a throwback to former times. It probably consists of some sad old men who are still meeting and talking about the war which they actually lost; their plans to drive 1 million Unionists out of Northern Ireland which they have failed to do; and their plans to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Ireland which they have failed to do. We are sometimes afraid to remind them that if they had been fighting a war, they would actually have lost. Let us move forward and have a constructive debate and appreciate the peace we have enjoyed on the island for the past 20 years, but let us also deal in a mature fashion with the problems that remain. Let those who want to live in the past be consigned to history because most people on the island, North and South, have moved on.
I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator Paul Bradford. We can engage in negative or positive politics. While there are problems that must be addressed, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we have come a long way. The best way to deal with the situation in the North is to have cool heads and try to be as professional as possible in our dealings on it. We owe this to future generations.
This is mediation awareness week, as perhaps some Members of the House might be aware, but I suspect many are not. Many practitioners involved in mediation, be it through professional bodies, the Family Court, company mediation services and NGOs, are giving of their time this week to promote mediation services. When one thinks of the problems in the North, society is always conflicted. Individuals, community groups businesses and families become involved in conflict. Is it not far better to deal with issues through mediation to come up with solutions rather than having to go into four goldmines to make millionaires of barristers and senior counsel? Mediation services are in their infancy in this country and have to gain huge traction. I commend all of the professionals who are working voluntarily this week to promote such services. I also commend Councillor Josepha Madigan, a Fine Gael councillor in Dublin South, who has written extensively and published books on the issue. Mediation is the way forward. Perhaps we might organise a debate on the issue at some stage.
I have tabled a Private Members' motion on it in the past. It may now be time to celebrate mediation awareness week by committing to having at least statements with the Minister for Justice and Equality on how she sees the future for mediation in the country.
With Senator Paschal Mooney, I attended this morning's meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications which was addressed by Mr. Kieran Mulvey, chairman designate of Sport Ireland. Having listened to him, I believe the IABA has serious questions to answer. We had the best boxing coach in the world at our disposal. He has had great success not alone at home but also across the world. In the year before the Olympic Games it is a sad loss for the sport and the country. It was not an issue with remuneration. Apparently, all the man wanted was respect. He was not being respected by the IABA. It is a sad state of affairs. To lose a man of his calibre is the United States' gain and Ireland's loss to sport.
On the Northern Ireland issue, cool heads are needed now and people will decide the fate of Sinn Féin. However, regardless of the outcome for Sinn Féin, the nation needs peace above everything else. Everything needs to be stabilised. I would support having a debate on Northern Ireland.
Two other debates mentioned last week are very important. I have been out campaigning and the issue of crime is coming up frequently on the doorsteps. There is a need for urgent revision of the bail laws. Three houses in an estate in Newcastle were burgled last week.
I am outlining priorities here because this is the Order of Business. The other issue is the need for an urgent debate on housing, including housing certainty and rental certainty. People are being made homeless by being given their notice. They have no place to go and the councils have no homes.
My story for today is that the hospital in Galway is still in trouble. I have been asking myself what difference the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has made to the health system since his appointment. I do not know if he has made any difference. I know of a young woman in intense pain who has lost a stone in weight rapidly in the past month. She is vomiting and spent ten hours in the emergency department the night before last and was sent home at 8 a.m. She knows what her problem is. She went to a private hospital and got a diagnosis of the problem; she could afford to pay €220, but she cannot afford to pay €8,000 to €10,000 for the operation. This young woman presented herself at the emergency department and was simply told to come back again in three weeks. There is no guarantee that she will even be admitted in three weeks. It is wrong. At a fundamental level beds are needed. The HSE and the system are putting this young mother and probably many more through the hoops. She is otherwise a healthy woman and needs a procedure that she has had verified in a private hospital, but she cannot afford to have it. That shows that there is still a private-public sector divide. There is no universal health care when people need it. Money is not following the need. In addition, she could end up being treated by the same consultant in the public hospital who treated her in the private hospital. What has our great Minister for Health achieved? He takes one hospital and makes an example of it and says he will tackle the issue by coming up with a model that will work and then replicate it. Until he decides to come out of his Department, drills down, asks why it is happening and looks at how to bring about a solution, I do not believe anybody will solve the problem. I find this young woman's story very moving.
Senator Marc MacSharry called for a debate on Northern Ireland in the aftermath of yesterday's reports. As has been stated, we had a debate on Northern Ireland only a few weeks ago, but I will try to facilitate a further debate, given that so many Members have requested it in the aftermath of the reports mentioned.
The Senator also spoke about rural crime, which is a major issue. That is why the Government decided that the Garda Training College in Templemore would be reopened after it had been closed by the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government. We have an extra 500 gardaí on the streets and 600 more are provided for in the budget. Yesterday we had the announcement that 260 new high-speed vehicles were to be purchased and in action by the end of the year, in addition to the 370 already in place this year. The Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill, the bail Bill and the victims of crime Bill will all be brought before the House before Christmas. There will be a considerable amount of legislation dealing with the matter before Christmas. Senator Ivana Bacik mentioned that the heads of the victims of crime Bill were being discussed by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. I will try to ensure the Bill will be published as a Seanad Bill. We are willing to take it in the House as soon as it can be processed.
Senator David Cullinane spoke about the problems in the peace process. After so many years one would have thought normality had been restored in Northern Ireland, but, unfortunately, that is not the case. We need greater dialogue to address the problems that are holding up the process. In doing so we cannot forget the problems on the policing side. As Senator Paul Coghlan mentioned, there seems to be a code of omerta in place, a fear in the community in south Armagh and other areas of people who seem to be policing it but who are not part of the police force. The matter will need to be addressed by the Government on this side of the Border but, in particular, by the government on the other side of it. There seems to be the absence of a police presence which is allowing criminals to act with impunity. The matter was addressed last year in a report by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly which called for a task force to eliminate them. Some of them may have links with the Provisional IRA, but there is no doubt that its army council is still in existence, as we all know. Whether it is engaging in criminality is another matter.
Does the Leader have any evidence?
I do not believe it is orchestrating terrorism.
If the Leader has evidence, he should bring it forward.
It is obviously still in existence and, as has been mentioned, it is controlling Sinn Féin also. That is something that will have to be addressed.
That is not what was stated in the reports.
The Leader to continue, without interruption, please.
No one from Sinn Féin commented on the reports yesterday, including Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh who was present.
I waited until I had read them. The Leader should also read them.
That was surprising. I am glad that Sinn Féin Members have their briefing documents with them today.
I waited until I had read them. Perhaps more Members might do the same.
Senator Mary Moran reiterated the sentiments expressed by Senator Jim D'Arcy about the murder of Garda Tony Golden. She commended the people of Blackrock and Haggardstown who had acted as a community last week.
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh called for a debate on the reports on Northern Ireland, including the Garda report. He also called for a further debate on the report of the working group the on direct provision system. We will try to facilitate that debate. As he knows, we have had a number of debates on the issue.
Senators Paschal Mooney and Terry Brennan referred to the debates at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications and Mr. Kieran Mulvey's presence there today. They are right in saying the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, IABA, has serious questions to answer. It showed complete disrespect to the Minister and the taxpayer. Whatever about funding the IABA, it is important that the high-performance unit be funded properly and that our boxers receive the financial support they need to continue their good work in bringing such success to the country. Perhaps the high-performance unit might be divorced from the IABA.
Senator Catherine Noone spoke about the proposed abolition of 1 and 2 cent coins, a development which has been welcomed by many. The Senator also commended Laya Healthcare for its Super Troopers programme which, as she outlined, has many benefits.
Senator Paul Bradford referred to the situation in Northern Ireland. He is 100% correct in stating we have come a long way. We have moved a long way from the time when we would come into the House and hear about bombings and killings which had taken place. As he indicated, the reports on the army council and other matters are significant. However, to many, they are not surprising. Even while discussing these problems, there is a need to move on and try to facilitate talks that will ensure the Executive will be up and running properly in Northern Ireland. Jaw-jaw is always better than war-war and we must ensure that will continue to be the case.
Senator Martin Conway spoke about Mediation Awareness Week and highlighted the positive benefits of mediation.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames referred to a number of matters about which she was concerned. I have addressed the issue of crime and the legislation which will be brought before the House. We will try to facilitate a debate on housing with the relevant Minister. I understand there will be further announcements in the next couple of weeks, at which stage perhaps we might invite the Minister to come before the House.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames might table a Commencement matter on the specific health item she mentioned. On what the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has done, there will be an extra 400 beds in the system before the end of the year. That is a very positive step in the health service.
Order of Business agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 12.25 p.m. and resumed at 1 p.m.