The Order of Business is No. 1, statements, with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, on the decision by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 3 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each and the Minister to be called to reply not later than 3.55 p.m.
Order of Business
Fianna Fáil thanks the Chairman and members of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality for their support at the launch of the Oireachtas report on the recognition of Irish Sign Language for the deaf community which recommends that the Bill put forward by Fianna Fáil which I hope will be brought before the House next week be passed.
We are disappointed that in recent weeks the schedule has been very light on legislation. I am aware that the Leader is trying to get legislation into the House. I spoke to the leader of the Fianna Fáil group and our spokesperson on justice in the Dáil and we will be pushing for the Corporate Manslaughter Bill to be brought before this House in the next two weeks. I ask the Leader to liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality to arrange for the Minister or the Minister of State to be present to allow the Bill to complete Second Stage in the next two weeks and proceed to Committee Stage. Nine years ago the Law Reform Commission proposed a corporate manslaughter Bill, which has not progressed one iota. We hope the Leader will find time to progress our Bill to allow us take Committee Stage next January.0
I am sure the Leas-Chathaoirleach, the Leader and Members of the House will join me in sending best wishes to Senator Catherine Ardagh on her wedding tomorrow in County Donegal. I hope the Child of Prague has been put out in order that it will not be a day like today.
I know that the Leas-Chathaoirleach is a Killarney Legion supporter, but Dr. Crokes are playing the Kenmare District Board divisional team on Sunday. We have not been in a county final since 1987 and I hope we will beat Dr. Crokes.
I would normally correct the Senator-----
As a Legion supporter, I am sure the Leas-Chathaoirleach hopes we will beat them also.
That is not correct but anyway.
Great rivals in Killarney. My enemy's enemy is my friend-----
I should not say from the Chair that this man likes making misleading statements. No further interruptions, please.
The new assistance scheme for first-time buyers will not work. All it will do is make builders richer. If that is the Government's answer to the problem, it does not know what the question is. Sean Barrett, a former Member of this House and a leading economist, has told me that it is not a solution to the problem, which is lack of supply. We need a better solution than the one put forward. In that regard, Members on this side of the House will be proposing a number of amendments to the Finance Bill.
Of equal concern is the child care provision. The issue has been raised by Members on all sides of the House and the provision must work in a better way. In some instances, people will benefit by only 50 cent an hour, which is merely a drop in the ocean. While it is better than a kick in the head, as described by some journalists, it is not good enough. It does not take into account anomalies in the case of babies and toddlers who require to be minded by a childminder. As there are only 160 childminders registered with Tusla, from where will all of the people come if we make it open to childminders?
I express a word of caution. There are 30,000 fewer civil servants than in 2008, yet the wage bill next year will be €20 billion, or only €700 million less than in 2008. Have we learned anything in the past few years? Have we reformed the system? We have fewer public servants, but very shortly the wage bill will be the same.
I want to speak about the €35 million allocated for mental health services. The announcement was not specific in terms of where the money would be allocated. My response is that this is typical. It is a pacifier for the public in that the sum €35 million sounds great, but the amount has not increased at a time when the funding for every other Department has. Every Government gives the same amount of money every year, but it is not allocated to any specific area. For example, the numbers of gardai, nurses and teachers will increase, but nothing has been allocated specifically for mental health services. Will the Leader ask the Department of Finance why there is such vagueness about this matter. Will the Government do what it did last year and remove a chunk of money and allocate it where it wants? I understand the Health Service Executive will come up with a plan in the coming weeks, but the budgetary provision will have been forgotten by then. Is that deliberate to allow for chunks of money to be removed from the mental health budget in the hope no one will notice? No one in the Government will care. Will the Leader invite representatives of the Department of Finance to come the House to allow us to get clear answers on the way the money is being allocated?
On Saturday aircraft of the Saudi-led coalition bombed a community hall in Sana'a, the capital city of Yemen, where thousands of people had gathered for a funeral. Bombs from the aircraft struck the hall four times, killing more than 140 people and wounding over 500. One local health official described the aftermath as a lake of blood. Multiple bomb fragments found at the scene appeared to confirm the use of United States' produced NK-82 guided bombs - 500 pound bombs produced by Raytheon in the United States. The ITV news correspondent Neil Connery visited the site and confirmed the evidence. Saudi Arabia's bombing campaign in Yemen began in March 2015 after Houthi rebels deposed the US and Saudi-backed dictator. Since the war began, Saudi Arabia has intentionally targeted numerous homes, factories, markets, schools and hospitals. Given the larger number of US military Hercules C-130 and C-40 Clipper transport aircraft transiting through Shannon Airport - I saw them myself last Sunday - there is the likelihood that some, or even many, of the munitions being supplied to Saudi Arabia by the United States are passing through Shannon Airport.
It is disgraceful.
In addition, the United States is supplying most of the mid-air refuelling planes for the Royal Saudi Air Force that is bombing Yemen. In June this year I asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade about the number of US mid-air refuelling planes that had passed through Shannon Airport. The Government denied that these planes were engaged in NATO exercises; therefore, it is increasingly likely that they are in the process of being delivered to refuel Saudi warplanes that are bombing Yemen. Ireland is almost certainly assisting the United States and Saudi Arabia to kill thousands of innocent people in Yemen. When I raised the issue last week, the Leader stated:
The issue raised by the Senator regarding American troops has been well documented ... The important point is that the airport is the gateway to Europe.
With respect to the Leader, that is not the important point. The important point is that we are assisting the United States and Saudi Arabia to commit massive atrocities.
And have done so for years.
That is a source of shame. We have not had a debate in this Chamber about the use of Shannon Airport. I again ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to allow us to have that important debate. What is he afraid of? He will have to do better than mouth platitudes about Shannon Airport being the gateway to Europe. It is a gateway to the deaths of thousands of innocent Yemeni citizens and it is high time the Leader and the Government stopped turning a blind eye to what is really going on at Shannon Airport.
Well said. The Senator would want to watch the Shannon councillors. They defeated it here.
Order, please.
EU Tade Ministers will meet in Luxembourg next Tuesday, 18 October, to decide whether they should support the provisional application of the comprehensive economic and trade agreement with Canada. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, if she has taken into account the motion passed in the Seanad on 5 October which called on the Government neither to agree to sign up to nor to authorise the provisional application of the comprehensive economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union or any associated invocation of Article 218.5 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and, furthermore, to uphold Article 29.5.2° of the Constitution which states, "The State shall not be bound by any international agreement involving a charge upon public funds unless the terms of the agreement shall have been approved by Dáil Éireann"? Will the passing of the motion influence her decision on supporting provisional application? As time is of the essence, is it possible to receive a written response from her before next Tuesday? If the Government is to ignore the decision of this House on matters of this level of importance, what exactly is the purpose of the Seanad? We know that the Government is accountable to the Dáil, but democracy and sovereignty should be accountable in this House. Yesterday we discussed and sent to the relevant committee the Seanad Bill to improve the functioning and role of the Chamber in the political system. Could the Government send a worse signal than disregarding the motion passed the other week?
I am seeking clarity from the Leader and probably the leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad also on the budget, in particular, the increases in social welfare payments. There seems to be some mystery about exactly when the increased payments will be made. We hear that it will be in March. I am reminded of the old saying, "We have yet to hear which March." Are they to be paid in the first week or the last week of March? If they are to be paid in the last week of March, it is an additional saving to the Exchequer of €28 million. The cost is €7 million per week. This is the first time I have ever seen a budget presented to the Dáil without real clarity on when the increased social welfare payments are to be made. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Protection have been challenged on this issue in the media, but they have failed to answer. Fianna Fáil is constantly claiming that it has negotiated all increases and payments. Perhaps the Fianna Fáil representatives might now tell us, through the Leader, exactly when the increased payments will be made. We cannot make head nor tail of the budget. We need to know how much it is going to cost.
I thank the Leader for his response after I referred to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015. I was heartened by the way he responded. He said he would ask the Minister to come to the House. I am keen to assist the Leader. Ministers have no choice. Under section 14 of the Act, they are required to come to the House in December. When the Leader is informing Ministers that they must attend the Seanad to account for their actions and those of their Departments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, will he ask them to afford the House the courtesy of furnishing their statements at least two weeks before they attend to allow for proper engagement? Climate change is the biggest challenge facing the country and the world. Two weeks ago and last week we heard about the impact it had on farming communities. We are facing into a rough winter, with possibly more people's homes being flooded. We need proper engagement in this House on the issue. As a matter of courtesy to the House, Ministers should furnish us with their statements in order that we can properly engage with them. I pay credit to the former Minister of State, Senator Paudie Coffey, who was involved in drafting the Bill. There is a strong role for the House in holding Ministers to account for their actions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I look forward to Ministers attending the House in December. As a matter of courtesy to it, they should publish their statements at least two weeks in advance to allow for proper engagement.
What we are seeing unfold this morning in Aleppo through media pictures is a modern-day Holocaust. The Russian airforce and Syrian air and army forces are bombarding an area no bigger than the Phoenix Park.
It is just like Yemen.
In one area alone more than 200,000 women and children are caught and being slaughtered. If people had seen the pictures on Sky Television this morning, they would have broken down and cried. It is an absolute disgrace. I call on the Leader and the Government to go to the Russian Embassy in Dublin to tell the relevant people that Ireland will not stand by and watch this unfold.
Good man.
Anyone looking at the media reports coming from Aleppo would have been horrified by the slaughter of the innocents. We can talk and waffle all we want, but we need action. I need all Members to write an email to the Russian Embassy this morning to tell those responsible that we will not stand by and let this happen.
Circulate it and we will all do it.
At the end of December at the Dublin north-east regional health forum a motion was put forward on children's dental health. The motion called on the HSE to make available sufficient funding to ensure all primary schoolchildren would receive a minimum dental service in second and sixth classes and, ideally, in fourth class also. It came as a result of the problem posed by tooth decay in children. Tooth decay is a major oral health problem in most industrialised countries, affecting 60% to 90% of all children. It remains the most common chronic disease in children aged six to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. It is four times more common than asthma among adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. Cavities, even in children who do not yet have permanent teeth, can have serious and lasting complications such as pain, tooth abscesses, tooth loss, broken teeth, chewing problems and serious infections. My party colleague, Dr. Claire O'Driscoll, has said that, realistically, once children start to get teeth they should be seen annually by a dental professional. Given that almost one in three young children drinks sugary and sweetened drinks every day and that 411 million litres of sugary sweetened drinks were sold in Ireland in 2014, it is clear that the need for dental professionals is only going to increase. According to the chief executive of the Irish Dental Association, Mr. Fintan Hourihan, the population of children under the age of 16 years in Ireland has increased by 20% in the past decade to 1.1 million. However, the number of dentists tasked with looking after these young people has fallen by 20% in recent years owing to the recruitment embargo. The result is that a large number of primary schoolchildren are missing out on screening in school and their dental problems are not being identified in the early stages. This can have knock-on effects in emergency cases in later life. As in the case of so many preventable diseases, these problems are a strain on the embattled health service. Irregular access to dental care results in higher use of emergency services. We all know that we need to make smarter use of the health service. We need to use preventive measures. We need to stop the problems before they really start. This is a prime example of where we can do that.
I wish to raise one simple issue related to the national harbour and ports policy. The policy document now covers national ports and harbours and has gone through a number of Ministers. Most recently, the responsible Ministers in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have been Deputies Leo Varadkar, Paschal Donohoe and now Shane Ross. Fundamental changes have been made to national harbour and ports policy. A decision was made to take a number of ports considered to be of regional significance out of the control of the Department which so happens to be the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, which is where the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, comes in.
The transitional period has not been smooth, with the single exception of Wicklow Port, on which I stand open to correction.
I am very familiar with Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company because I was a director for ten years. It is important that the Minister come before the House to explain the status of the roll-out of the national ports policy and, more importantly, his failure to appoint directors to fill vacancies at a number of ports within his remit. I want to give him an opportunity to come and be questioned about the matter rather than read every week in The Sunday Business Post about the 30 or 40 appointments within his brief that have never been made for some peculiar reason or about somebody taking the moral high ground. I want to be given an opportunity to ask him questions in this Chamber. That is very important. I also want to find out about the process of due diligence. There is a very expensive process of due diligence at a number of ports, yet there seems to be no action. Why is it that three Ministers with responsibility for harbours have failed to proceed with the transfer of harbours, which is Government policy? It is really important to have the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, come here early to explain the issues involved. In particular, I want to make reference to Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company which has four vacancies on its board. As the harbour is falling apart, it is really important that the Minister come before the House to outline when he will sign the necessary documentation for the transfer of the port from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
I want to discuss the proposed merger of Cork City Council and Cork County Council, about which there has been a debate for many years. It is a topic that has been debated for over a decade. The Alf Smiddy report which was published last year recommended a merger and we are now having a review of that report. There is genuine concern that we are reviewing another report. There should be only one local authority in Cork. I will park that view for now and say we need to look again at the process and what we are doing. As the executives and members of the two local authorities have made their views known, it is about time we asked the public its view. We need to hold a plebiscite. The people of Cork city and county have to be asked whether they want to have one local authority. That is the key. Everybody is having a say except the public. It is inappropriate and if we were to have a plebiscite, we would have a decent debate on the topics and issues that affect the people of Cork. We have seen mergers happen in places such as Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick and they have worked to a degree. We need to engage in this debate and get everyone involved. The debate is being run by academics, the executives of the two local authorities and, to a lesser degree, public representatives. The people are being kept out of it. A plebiscite is the only appropriate avenue to have a genuine discussion and I hope come up with a conclusion that can be backed by the people of Cork.
I commend to the House the report published this morning by the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on the recognition of Irish Sign Language as an official language of the State. The committee heard from the Irish Deaf Society a fortnight ago. Its presentation, on the back of the very important work of Senator Mark Daly on the issue, had a profound impact on the members of the committee. The relevant Bill is awaiting Second Stage in the Seanad. I hope it will be brought before us sooner rather than later and that all Senators will support it. We have the opportunity, through legislation, to support, encourage and, ultimately, empower deaf citizens.
Agus cúrsaí teanga luaite agam, impím arís ar a ngCeannaire go mbeadh seal díospóireachta againn leis an Aire ó thaobh chúrsaí Gaeilge de. Tá díomá agus fearg anois tagtha ar phobal na Gaeilge mar gheall ar an bhfógraíocht a rinneadh le linn an bhuiséid an tseachtain seo. An tseachtain seo caite, bhíomar uilig thall ag an imeacht a bhí ag Conradh na Gaeilge in Óstán Buswells. Chonaic mé roinnt de na grianghraif ón imeacht. Táim ag smaoineamh go ndúramar uilig go ndéanfadh muid ár seacht ndícheall ar son na Gaeilge, ar son phobal na Gaeilge agus ar son phobail na nGaeltachtaí ar fud na tíre. Mar a chonaic muid i bhfógairt an bhuiséid, tá laghdú de 9% anois tagtha ar an mbuiséad do chúrsaí Gaeilge. Is cinnte go mbeidh tionchar thar a bheith diúltach agus gasta ar an bpobal Gaelach mar gheall ar an gciorrú seo atá déanta ag Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael.
Cuireann sé sin béim ar an bhfáth go bhfuil an tAire de dhíth, go mbeadh seal againn na cúrsaí seo a phléigh agus go mbeadh muid in ann impí ar an Aire agus an Rialtas an cinneadh seo a thiontú thart. Tá an díospóireacht de dhíth ionas go mbeimid in ann an tábhacht eacnamaíochta, sóisialta agus cultúrtha a thagann de bharr na Gaeilge a aithint i réimse leathan den saol, chomh maith le na buntáistí a thugann sé dúinn, go háirithe don aos óg ar fud na tíre. Glacaim leis, mar a dúirt sé cheana, go ndéanfaidh an Ceannaire a sheacht ndícheall an tAire a thabhairt isteach. Tá súil agam go mbeimid in ann é sin a dhéanamh chomh luath agus gur féidir.
Will the Leader consider a re-examination of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2013? There is a housing crisis on this island. Approximately 11,000 properties have been taken under the judicial court procedure owing to implementation of the Act. One of the consequences is the fast-tracking of thousands of cases under a thing called the Circuit Court procedure. The Circuit Court sounds fine, but it is the country registrar, not a judge, who decides these issues. Many of the registrars are not really familiar with this area of the law. They are known as the eviction courts.
That is not true.
I am making a statement.
All Senators will have an opportunity to speak.
Senator Michelle Mulherin can make her point, but I am making mine and I have been well briefed by a constituent on the issue.
I am just telling the Senator that it is inaccurate.
I am seeking a debate in order that my friend and colleague can make her point, as I will make mine very forcefully. People are hurting because of this procedure. Cases are being adjudicated on by county registrars, many of whom do not have familiarity with this area of the law and they do not always adhere to Circuit Court rules either. That is the evidence I have been given. In most counties, except Dublin and Cork, the county registrar is also the sheriff. They receive a 7.5% premium in making the judgments. There is, therefore, an obvious conflict of interest. If one stands to gain financially from a decision against a family in a property case, of course, there is a conflict of interest. Therefore, the Act needs to be reviewed. It has been in operation since 2013 and we should now look at it in the light of the case history. All I am asking for is an examination in order that those who take a different view can express it. I have been briefed very strongly on the issue. Anything that can be done to alleviate the position of people who find themselves in these difficulties should be done.
I will leave the Leader to answer that question, but I will just say-----
Come on.
It is a matter for the Leader.
When cases come before the country registrar, it means that everyone involved has consented to it happening.
The Senator should deal with her own item.
If there is opposition to it, the matter will go before a judge.
I want to highlight the looming deadline for spreading slurry. Farmers have until midnight on Saturday, 15 October, to spread slurry.
There is enough of it spread around this place.
It is not really a funny matter for those who are trying to contend with the wet weather that has made it impossible to spread slurry in an environmentally-friendly fashion. The position is that the deadline will not be extended. A decision has been made that there will be no blanket derogation sought from the European Union. At this juncture, there are farmers in parts of the country who will not make the deadline. There is an exceptional circumstances procedure, whereby if animal welfare is in question, farmers can make a case for a derogation of sorts.
Exceptional circumstances include, for example, where animals are about to be housed and a holding tank for slurry is about to overflow, with environmental consequences. In the next few days these farmers need to contact the district veterinary office in their county to make it aware of their situation and make it known that they will not be able to meet the deadline owing to weather conditions and other circumstances. It is very important that farmers move now in order that they will not be in a catch-22 in which they will have a full slurry holding tank, they cannot spread the slurry and have animals they are trying to house. Their animals will be in a desperate situation and there will potentially be other environmental consequences if slurry tanks overflow. It is a very important issue for farmers in particular parts of the country.
One of the disappointing aspects of the budget was the silence on local government issues, particularly providing funding for the restoration of town councils. Members will know that in the previous Government Fine Gael showed fair contempt for democracy. It attempted to silence this House, which did not work out. The then Minister, Phil Hogan, had more success in silencing democracy at local level by abolishing town councils. Members will know that rural towns are struggling. In my town, Listowel, despite the best efforts of a very go-ahead business community, there are many empty premises for sale and to let and very little inward investment. Town councils were very important assets in towns such as Listowel and the Cathaoirleach's town of Killarney. My party, Fianna Fáil, is committed to restoring them when we return to office. Our spokesman, Deputy Barry Cowen, has a very clear document outlining how we will do it. In the next couple of years of the Government's term, I hope the issue of local government will come to the fore again. I hope there will be all-party support for Fianna Fáil's position on restoring town councils.
In response to Senator David Norris, it is important to highlight the case dealt with by the Court of Appeal. The matter was referred in a case stated in the High Court. The Senator is right that it was in relation to the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act. It was decided that such cases could not be brought before the Circuit Court but could be brought before the High Court. One case involved a landlord who owned six properties on which repayments were not being made to the financial institution. If they are not being made to the financial institution, the taxpayer is paying. While I am very concerned when a family home is repossessed, I am not concerned in the same way about cases in which landlords are collecting rents but not making repayments to financial institutions, which is happening.
Neither am I.
That is important. In my experience of dealing with county registrars, in any case in which the property owner is not consenting, the matter is referred to court for decision, as Senator Michelle Mulherin said. The county registrar does not take the decision. County registrars do not receive a premium of 7.5% when they give a decision. The issue does not arise in the scenario in which they make a decision on such a matter. They are not entitled to a premium of 7.5% if the bank repossesses the property by consent. The figure of 7.5% arises only when the county registrar acts as a sheriff. It is important to clarify the matter. I have produced a detailed reply which I have already given to Senator David Norris. I have replied to the queries raised.
When did the Senator give it?
The Senators can have that chat outside.
I sent it in early August. We need to clarify the role of the House in the bringing of new legislation before the House. In the previous Seanad a number of new Bills were introduced and carried forward to the other House. I am concerned that we seem to be on the back foot and that new legislation is not being introduced in this House. I am wondering if that can be changed. We need to expedite a number of Bills and the Seanad would be the appropriate place in which to introduce them.
Senator Mark Daly said Fine Gael was getting it wrong on housing. He also said we were getting it wrong on job creation. We have created 160,000 jobs since 2011. He also said we were getting it wrong on the economy. When we took over, expenditure was €20 billion higher than income. The deficit is now less than 1%. I would, therefore, take the Senator's concern about the grant with a grain of salt.
One would need more than a grain.
The Senator does not have to listen to me. He should listen to the economists.
It is important that we support first-time buyers and that it is be appropriate support.
There may be cracks showing in the perfect marriage, but that is a matter for another day.
It is more of a casual relationship.
Is it?
Steady on. No locker room commentary, please.
I will try not to do so. This week and in the weeks ahead many people will receive letters informing them that their loans with Ulster Bank, many of which are in arrears, have been transferred to Cerberus, a by-word for murky deals and money lost to the public purse. Project Eagle is an example of the massive discount given in the utmost secrecy. Many of the loans involve farmers and small businesses which have experienced difficulties during the financial crisis. No figure was released for the discount at which the vulture fund bought the loans and we will probably never know. Once again, we have no idea how much of a haircut the company received. In Britain there was a parliamentary investigation into the sale of Northern Rock and the total was £13 billion. It had failed to pass on reductions in interest rates to its customers. Now that the Government talks about recovery, it is deeply worrying that many people who have attempted to recover are at the mercy of ruthless vulture funds. We need more concrete action to help those in mortgage distress and this can be done. It was up to my colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, to introduce a Bill last week to remove the Statute of Limitations in the making of complaints against financial institutions. We, in Sinn Féin, are here to make progress and find solutions, regardless of the Government's inaction. It would be worthwhile if we could have the Minister for Finance or the Minister of State at that Department in the House in the near future to outline the Government's plans to protect mortgage holders from vulture funds.
I join my colleagues in calling for a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the atrocities in Yemen and Syria. Ireland is very well placed as an independent arbiter to try to highlight these very difficult and gut-wrenching horrors. I look forward to having that debate.
We also need to bring the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the House. A map of the island shows motorways running to Belfast and Galway, but there is an area between Galway and counties Donegal, Sligo, Roscommon and over to Belfast that has no motorway or dual carriageway. We talk about the A5 and other roads. If we are serious about bringing the country together, we must bring these roads up to dual carriageway or motorway standard. While I can drive from Galway to Dublin in two hours, in coming here from Boyle and Roscommon one has to pass through two or three towns in which there is traffic. Such a development could help us to attract further jobs to the areas mentioned.
If one can be within two hours or an hour and a half of a major city, it will make sense. I know that some work has been done, but I do not think the NRA has been at the forefront in treating the issue with the respect and urgency it needs. I would be delighted if the Leader asked the Minister to come to the House to discuss these few outstanding roads issues.
I support Senator Frank Feighan in his comments on interurban roads. He is dead right. The interurban road network serves most regions of the country well, but the north west is not served at all. There was a plan involving the A5 route, with a commitment from the Governments, North and South, to provide funding for a new 2+1 road network linking Donegal and Derry with Dublin. Of course, that project was shelved in 2011 by the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who cut the funding committed by the previous Government from over €400 million to around €50 million, which sum was to be used for design purposes. I am not having a go at the previous Government. All I am saying is there seems to be a lack of commitment on both sides of the Border to the A5 road project. The shift in Northern Ireland appears to be towards the link road from Derry to Belfast rather than the road which runs through Northern Ireland linking Donegal with Dublin. I would really welcome it if the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport came to the House to discuss the issue. The NRA is now known as Transport Infrastructure Ireland. I suppose it would provide the funding needed, but the difficulty is that capital funding has not been made available even in budget 2017 to meet the commitments that are required to be made. There is a need for political will on both sides of the Border to put the issue back on the agenda. I am glad that Senator Frank Feighan raised it because it is an important one. It would be welcome if the Leader brought the Minister here to talk not just about the route mentioned but also other interurban routes and bypasses around major towns. The Ballybofey-Stranorlar bypass and the Macroom bypass in west Cork are example of bypasses that have not been progressed but are at design stage. When will the funding be made available to progress these projects? Perhaps we might have a debate on all of these issues.
I thank the 17 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. I join Senator Mark Daly in wishing our colleague and friend Senator Catherine Ardagh and her future husband every success, joy and happiness tomorrow. I hope the Child of Prague has been put out because rain like we have had this morning certainly would not help. On Tuesday Senator Catherine Ardagh ordered me not to mention it, but as Senator Mark Daly has broken protocol, I believe I should congratulate her on behalf of the House.
The Bill on the recognition of Irish Sign Language for the deaf community will be before the House next week. I join Senators Niall Ó Donnghaile and Mark Daly in congratulating the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on the publication of its report today. I hope we will receive the support of the House next week for the Bill.
It is beyond my gift to bring forward the Corporate Manslaughter Bill, but we have asked the Department of Justice and Equality about it.
Senator Mark Daly raised the issue of child care. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone, will be in the House next week to discuss it.
On the first-time buyer's grant, I do not want to provoke a fight this morning, but we have come through the worst recession in the history of the State and the supply of housing is at rock bottom. We had a very good debate on the issue in the House yesterday. We must build and supply housing and ensure first-time buyers can access credit to get on the property ladder, something they cannot do. The Government is committed to facilitating the building of houses and providing first-time buyers with a grant. Academics disagree as they will do, but the important point is that we need to incentivise the market. We need people to be able to buy second-hand houses, which is the reason the home renovation scheme is in place, but it is also important that they be able to access credit.
In response to Senator Gabrielle McFadden, I have met the Government Chief Whip to discuss the initiation of legislation. In its legislative programme the Government commits to the publication of 25 Bills this session. It is important that Bills be initiated in this House because in that way there would not be a legislative backlog. Part of the difficulty which some in the commentariat do not understand and about which they do not write is that lots of legislation is subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. That was a very positive departure in the last Dáil and Seanad, but it means that the process has slowed down. However, it makes for a better parliamentary system. As somebody who chaired the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children in the last Oireachtas, pre-legislative scrutiny is very important. However, the Senator is right and we all agree that there is a need for more legislation to be initiated in this House. This is something for which we have asked.
Senator Joan Freeman referred to mental health services. It is a very important issue. The important point is that there has been an increase in the Government's commitment to the provision of mental health services which the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Helen McEntee, has been very successful in promoting. An extra €35 million will be allocated this year, in addition to the €35 million provided last year. There is the commitment to the Central Mental Hospital in the capital plan, as well as to the construction of a new forensic mental health service in Portrane.
The important point which we need to put into perspective concerns how the HSE allocates money in its service plan. Therein lies the difficulty in the health service. The Government has allocated €14 billion to the Department of Health, the highest ever spend. It is in excess of the amount allocated when Deputy Micheál Martin ran out of the Department and when former Deputy Mary Harney was stuck in it because no one would take the job. Senator Mark Daly referenced the increase in numbers and wants to see more services being provided, something with which we all agree, but that will cost money. How is it to be allocated? That is the big question we should be asking the HSE. How will it apportion, allocate and spend the money given to it by the Government and the Department? It is a matter to be dealt with in the context of the service plan.
Senator Paul Gavan again referred to Shannon Airport. I can tell him clearly that I am not afraid of anything. Our neutrality has not been compromised or altered.
It has been completely compromised. Bombs are being transited that will be landed on the Yemeni people.
The Senator must find another to raise that issue. The Leader should be allowed to respond without interruption.
I refer Senator Paul Gavan to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions which during the last Oireachtas held hearings in which it heard from witnesses. I might be wrong, but I think Deputy Peadar Tóibín chaired the committee, although it might have been Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. I cannot remember, but it was one or the other. I will, however, be happy to have a debate on the issue, on which the Senator has engaged in a lot of protestations. Where I join him is in the condemnation of the bombing and killing of people in Yemen. There can be no ambiguity in our expression of not just outrage but also solidarity. There is a need to see a resolution-----
We have helped to transit the bombs.
I do not agree with the Senator.
Senator Grace O'Sullivan referred to the CETA. I will be happy to invite the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, to come to the House to address the points made by the Senator.
Senator Kevin Humphreys referred to social welfare payments and referenced savings of €28 million. I will answer the Senator's question. On the ambiguity about the payment date, the position is very simple. The Government wanted to give a €5 increase to everybody, although some did not want to give an increase to anybody. If one looks at Sinn Féin's alternative budget, one can see that it would give less. I have read Sinn Féin's documentation and it was proposing to give less.
The Leader is wrong.
The figure is €5.70.
Sinn Fein was proposing to give less.
We can debate that matter another day.
As a consequence of the budgetary measures, 840,000 people will benefit.
We cannot have a debate on the budget today.
I accept that, but I am replying to the points raised on the Order of Business. Up to 840,000 people will benefit from the increases in social welfare payments included in the budget. It is important that we welcome them.
When will the measures be introduced?
In March. They will be introduced either in the Finance Bill or the Social Welfare Bill. What Senators should welcome and focus on is the fact that all those in receipt of social protection payments will receive an increase of €5 which will restore and uplift their fortunes.
How much are Deputies and Ministers getting?
And so they should. It is ridiculous that there are attacks on what Deputies and Senators are getting. They should be paid appropriately.
Order, please. That matter does not arise for discussion today.
They are paid well.
No; they are not paid enough.
Surely, they are. It is being greedy. Is it not enough money for us?
At the risk of rising to Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile's heckling-----
The Leader should not rise to it.
-----his party is changing its policy on paying the average industrial wage to its members who will also see an increase.
There has been no decision on that matter.
It cannot have it both ways.
There are a lot of bloody hypocrites among its lot.
We proposed the same decrease in pay in the North.
(Interruptions).
You are spoofing.
Look at all of the money Sinn Féin takes at Westminster. Its MPs take their allowances but do not even show their faces in the place.
(Interruptions).
Senators are out of order.
Members should not make false statements.
On a small point of order, if this House is to be taken seriously, what has happened in the past few minutes does not help. I know that it is a difficult job to chair proceedings, but if we want the public to take us seriously, we have to act in a serious way.
Okay. Will the Leader respond without provoking anyone?
I will rise above the heckling.
Senator Kevin Humphreys made an important point about keeping the focus on our climate change obligations. I have no difficulty with the relevant Minister coming to the House to discuss the matter. However, I do not think we will receive all of the reports and speeches two weeks in advance.
We could get some.
Senators Ray Butler and Frank Feighan referred to the situation in Aleppo. I will be happy to have the relevant Minister come to the House to discuss the matter. It is important that we put pressure on Russia and the United States to find a solution and that we see both powers not scoring political points because people are being killed, while the survivors have nothing to look forward to. Senator David Norris also spoke about the matter.
Senator Keith Swanick raised the important issue of tooth decay and the provision of dental treatment for the youth. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has provided €2.5 million to fund the restoration of dental and optical treatment benefits. The Irish Dental Association has been raising the issue for some time. Its fine chief executive officer is Mr. Fintan Hourihan. It was a Fianna Fáil Minister, former Deputy Mary Hanafin, who cut the benefit and it is right to restore it. Potential future problems must be tackled now. I agree with the Senator with whom I will be happy to work on the issue.
Senator Victor Boyhan mentioned harbours and ports which are a critical part of our infrastructure. The Port of Cork is a very important gateway to the city and the rest of Munster.
Senator Tim Lombard raised the contentious issue of the merger of the two local authorities in Cork. I welcome the appointment by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, of a review group to consider the report mentioned. I am not so sure the Senator is correct in his call for a plebiscite, on which I respectfully disagree with him.
Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile referred to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the context of Irish Sign Language. Beidh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Séan Kyne, istigh sa Teach go luath i Mí na Samhna. The Minister has increased the budget for Gaeltacht support schemes by €440,000; there has been an improvement to the tune of €250,000 in the allocation for the Irish language support scheme; an extra €250,000 has been allocated for the 20-year Irish language strategy, while there has been an increase in the budget of An Coimisinéir Teanga. There has also been an increase of €1 million in funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta, while there is €9.275 million to assist the islands and €13.29 million for the agencies within the remit of An Coimisinéir Teanga. Like all Members, the Minister is committed to the promotion of the Irish language. As I have said before, my biggest regret is that, having taken honours Irish in the leaving certificate examinations, I do not have the gift of comhrá, although I do try.
Tá ag éirí go maith leat.
Senators Michelle Mulherin and Colm Burke replied to Senator David Norris's remarks. I will be happy to arrange a discussion on the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2013 with the relevant Minister.
I thank the Leader. There is much concern about the matter.
The Senator has obtained a response.
Senator Michelle Mulherin raised the issue of slurry spreading. There are several issues linked to it, including animal welfare and the impact on the environment. I hope the relevant Minister will look at granting a derogation.
Senator Ned O'Sullivan referred to town and regional councils, of which a review is taking place. He is stretching it a little when he blames the abolition of town councils for the fact that there are idle shops and no factories in many towns. He might look at his party's policies when in government which caused the recession that forced many shops and factories to close. However, I accept his point on the need for a return of some town councils. In the budget there is an allocation to expand national rural development schemes, an additional €8 million for town and village regeneration projects, with the maintenance of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector.
I have already answered Senator Colm Burke on the initiation of Bills in the House.
Senator Rose Conway-Walsh raised the issue of Ulster Bank and Cerberus. I will be happy to have the relevant Minister come to the House to discuss it.
Senators Frank Feighan and Brian Ó Domhnaill made good points on the issue of transport. It is important that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, come to the House to discuss it. My office has submitted a request in that regard.
Order of Business agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 12.30 p.m. and resumed at 1.30 p.m.