The Order of Business is No. 1, Heritage Bill 2016 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 2 p.m. and to adjourn not later than 4 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 2, Health (Amendment)(Professional Home Care) Bill 2016 - Second Stage, to be taken at 4 p.m., with the time allocated for this debate not to exceed two hours.
Order of Business
Is it Second Stage of that Bill that is being taken?
Yes, Second Stage.
I want to raise two issues. The first is the recent presidential election in the United States and the second is the nurses' planned ballot for industrial action. I want to address briefly the result recorded in the US presidential election. I, like many, thought that Hillary Clinton would finally break the glass ceiling and we would see the first female President of the United States of America elected. I was saddened to see the results pour in and the candidate who spent her life campaigning for women's issues lose. It should be acknowledged that the Clintons have been great friends to Ireland and Bill Clinton's Administration in the 1990s focused on helping to secure peace in Northern Ireland. I do not in any way seek to take from the democratic will of the American people and it is incumbent on political Administrations across the world to prepare to maintain our positive relationship with the United States under a Donald Trump Administration.
However, I call on the Government to establish urgently a special task force to work with the American Administration to protect the many undocumented Irish who have built their lives in the United States. We all know the deep bonds that have existed between our country and the USA for generations. We know many Irish people emigrated during the Famine and they helped build the United States. We know that many Americans proudly call themselves Irish-American and now many Irish living in the USA will be deeply concerned about what the future holds for them under the Trump Administration, given the hard-line approach he took towards emigrants during the campaign. Those expressed views must leave undocumented Irish emigrants waking up in fear of what the coming years will bring. It is important that they see their Government back home liaising with the Trump Administration to ensure that some efforts are made to resolve this emigration lacuna for them.
The second issue I wish to raise is the threatened ballot of nurses for industrial action. We all know that we are living in very uncertain times. We are in the middle of Brexit, we have seen our exports fall, we have seen tax receipts from the retail sector decrease and we have seen the markets become more turbulent in the wake of last night's election result. We must ensure our public services continue to be protected in these uncertain times. We also know that there are 3,800 fewer nurses in our health service working under immense pressure. I know this because I have a family member who has been receiving services over the past 15 years during which there has been a steady decline of nurses. I call on the Minister to engage actively with the union to ensure this strike does not go ahead. The thought of this strike puts fear in the hearts of patients and their families. I call on the Minister to engage with a view to resolving this dispute within the confines of the Lansdowne Road agreement.
We find ourselves this morning in the middle of what I would call a perfect storm. We have Brexit, industrial relations problems that are bringing this country to its knees and, this morning, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. Some weeks ago, I warned that we need to be careful in what we said about Mr. Trump because I predicted he might become President. I also predicted that in Europe some weeks ago when people were slagging him off. The bottom line is that he is now the President of the United States. I congratulate him. I wish him well for the future, and I sincerely hope he can work with the undocumented Irish in the United States.
I congratulate and thank my colleague, Senator Mac Lochlainn, who raised the issue of the Jadotville heroes earlier this morning. It behoves everybody in this Oireachtas to ensure these people are given more than a photocopy of the presidential citation. I agree with Senator Mac Lochlainn that they should be brought to Áras an Úachtaráin, given a military medal and recognised for what they are.
I call on the Government to clarify the position with respect to county councillors' pay and PRSI issues. E-mails are being sent from this House morning, noon and night promising the sun, moon and stars to our colleagues who put us in this House. We must stop the messing and give them straight answers. Do we intend to fix their PRSI issues and increase their salaries? If not, we should tell them that straight out and stop the messing. It is unfair on people. Politicising their issues does not help anybody.
Hear, hear.
I ask that we do something straight away on that issue.
I remind the Senator that in the perfect storm, there were no survivors.
Others have spoken already about the US presidential election result and clearly that is the issue uppermost in everyone's mind today. I call on the Deputy Leader to organise a debate on foreign policy in this House in light of that election result because there are serious implications for Ireland on which other speakers have touched. Ms Hillary Clinton's defeat is a huge disappointment for progressive politics, the cause of women in politics, and for Ireland. It is fair to say that the undocumented Irish, the many people whose status in the US is uncertain, will be very concerned today. Not only the Irish but many others will be facing a period of real uncertainty this morning.
Donald Trump's victory has huge implications at international level in terms of climate change agreements - in respect of which he has made some comments - and of US foreign policy more generally. I would like a debate on the cause of women in politics because the level of misogyny expressed during the US election campaign will be very off-putting for many younger women considering a career in politics. As somebody who has always worked very hard to try to ensure that more women enter politics in Ireland and elsewhere, the outcome of the election is really worrying. We need to express strong commendation of and support for Hillary Clinton and her campaign team for putting up such a strong fight and for ensuring the prospect of having a woman President in the US is no longer just hypothetical but is a real prospect. I hope we will see that prospect come true for our daughters' sake, if not for our own.
I welcome the calling off of the ASTI industrial action and hope we will see a resolution through the talks and the intervention of a third party. It is very welcome for all concerned.
Hear, hear.
The House will be taking Committee Stage of the Heritage Bill today. Many of us have expressed opposition to section 8 and the provision which would allow the cutting, destroying and removal of hedgerows in August and burning in uplands in March. We have all received multiple e-mails on this and I hope we can see a way of resolving that issue on Committee Stage.
Where was everyone when I was the only one addressing the issue? I was the only one in the House.
I am reminded this morning of my late colleague from SIPTU and former Labour Party Deputy, Frank Prendergast. He used to talk about the tyranny of democracy. I was never quite sure what he meant but I have a better idea this morning given the result in America. I am disappointed. Anyone on the left would be disappointed with the result. I blame the Democratic Party because it chose the wrong candidate. It had a particular good candidate in Bernie Sanders who is genuinely of the left. Hillary Clinton was damaged and, in many ways, what happened to her replicates what happened to the British Labour Party and, indeed, our Labour Party as a result of moving too far to the right for too long. When they stood claiming to represent working people, those people looked at them and said, "We do not believe you." It is a shame because we have ended up with the worst of all possible results.
There will be serious implications for this country. As part of his campaign, Donald Trump said he would slash tax rates for corporations in America. That may have implications for future investment in this country. No doubt we will hear the usual siren voices from the right demanding ever lower corporation tax rates here in response. Those calls have already begun to be made in light of Brexit. I predict that our two conservative parties will align their cause to embrace the race to the bottom in taxation, wages and public services in the year to come. We should do the opposite. We should embrace a call for fair taxation, good public services and decent wages. We should build a broad political front for progress and a fair society. If we do not, we will see the rise of the far right - now established with a new American President-elect - across Europe and Asia. As matters stand, next March there will be a far-right government in the Netherlands and another in France a couple of months after that.
What we are seeing is a repetition of what happened in the 1930s. It behoves all of us who believe in progressive politics - I do not claim a monopoly on that because there are progressives in all parties - to try to work together to offer a real alternative based on a fair society. There will be implications for the peace process because, for all her faults, Mrs. Clinton was committed to being a positive force for engagement in the North. We cannot expect that level of help from Donald Trump. As my colleague, Senator Ardagh, said, there will be implications for the tens of thousands of undocumented Irish in America. Prospects to regularise these people have had a severe setback with this election. I will be calling for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come in and have that debate on foreign affairs. Perhaps there is merit in a task force because there is an awful lot of work ahead of us now to try - despite all of our reservations - to establish the best relations we can with this new regime and progress all the matters that are important to us in terms of our economy and our people.
I want to highlight SIPTU's Big Start campaign, which relates to child care and which is being launched this morning. There is a huge problem with child care in this country. While there is some merit in the proposals from the Government, unfortunately they do not at all address the issues of pay and conditions for child care workers. This needs to be addressed. Clearly, we cannot be in two places at one time but I urge people to have a look at the SIPTU Big Start campaign. I call upon the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Zappone, to come before the House to explain why she has excluded trade unions from her committee on child care.
I remind people that Friday is 11 November - Armistice Day - the date on which the millions of men who fell in the Great War and many other wars are remembered. I wear my Irish shamrock poppy pin today to remember the 50,000 Irishmen - Nationalist and Unionist from north and south - who fought in the armies of the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. For some reason, we forget about the Nationalist end of things and those 25,000 or 30,000 men.
Hear, hear.
I ask members to support these men who were forgotten.
When I recall what happened in the 1930s, I think of what has happened in the past few weeks and months with our near neighbours on the other island exiting the EU and now the United States has elected Donald Trump. They effectively want to retreat within their borders and build a wall. That wall should not be about a wall of minds. These were and are great countries. Ireland is now in a unique situation among the nations of the world. It can be a conduit between the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, of which Ireland is a very strong and active member. We can take that place. Dublin is an international city and Ireland is a member of the international community. I would like to think the Government will allocate an awful lot more resources to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and IDA Ireland in order that we might take the place to which I refer. Ireland has proven itself as a member of the United Nations. Various countries have been very good to us and now we must step up to the plate and try to work with our great friends in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. Our country has a great future as the diplomat of Europe and the world.
I share in the congratulations to Donald Trump on his success in becoming President-elect of the United States of America and to the Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana, who has connections with counties Sligo and Clare. We also commiserate with Hillary Clinton. It was a very close call. I recognise the contribution she and her husband made to the peace process in Ireland. We now have a new situation. I welcome very much the speech this morning by Donald Trump. It was an embracing speech and one that would give hope. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Donald Trump's ambition now is to rebuild America and its roads and bridges. Who better to help than the Irish? Mr. Trump has proposed a corporation tax of 15%. Ours is 12.5%, so we are competitive. The reason multinational companies are here is because it provides a foothold in a Europe of over 500 million people. Mr. Trump's election does not change that. Irish American companies employ over 100,000 people in the United States of America. We are very strong. There are also 25,000 undocumented Irish. With Republican control of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Office of the President, it is now time for decisions to be made. There must be an amnesty for those who are there. There must be a properly regulated approach to emigration into the United States of America. I believe this will come about. CRH employs 24,000 people in the United States of America. That workforce is placed in 47 states and the company is the largest producers of asphalt, aggregate and ready-mix concrete. We are there and ready to help to rebuild America's bridges and roads. We have to look out and forward and be progressive and realistic.
I send my congratulations. I propose that we send congratulations from this House to the President-elect of the United States of America and his Vice President-elect on their success in the election. I hope the Taoiseach will present shamrock from the Trump golf club in Clare to President-elect Trump on 17 March 2017.
On the issue of the American election, it is important that we recognise the democratic decision that has happened. It was a unique election and, in many ways, the people doing the polling and those in the media really got it wrong this time.
I want to raise the issue of what we are doing in regard to legislating for the Irish Coast Guard service, an issue that has been raised previously. At the moment, there is legislation for three of the primary response agencies, the fire service, the ambulance service and the Garda, but there is no legislation for the Coast Guard service. It is only a footnote in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport's agenda and is not treated directly as an emergency service.
I call for a debate on this matter. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come to the Chamber to debate these issues and to outline the position of the 1,000 volunteers who work for the Irish Coast Guard service and where all their good work fits into the equation. We need legislation that covers the Irish Coast Guard service and gives it a platform so it can increase its work profile to deliver more in outreach to the community, given it is a very important part of our coastal communities. The service needs resources and needs to be more than just a footnote at the end of the Department's agenda. If it was put on a legislative footing, it would give the service the impetus to move forward and become a more viable entity. It needs to be supported.
On this day in 1989 all of us were alive and probably watched the evening news as the Berlin Wall came crashing down, a moment we will never forget. We have just had a bitterly divisive US presidential election where one candidate, now the President-elect, decided to whip up anti-migrant sentiment and anger with the suggestion of building a wall on the Mexican frontier. Here, on our island, there are 109 so-called peace walls dividing communities and enforcing segregation. We want to see them consigned to the past.
There is a disgusting undercurrent of populist anti-migrant sentiment creeping into mainstream political discourse across Europe. What is happening in Calais and the despicable treatment of some of the most vulnerable people on this planet is vile. Many blame the likes of UKIP. However, the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, has a lot to answer for as he helped, through his actions, to unleash a level of mainstream bigotry on those of different colour and race. It is worth remembering that one in four doctors in the NHS is a UK foreign national. I used to be one of them. The British health system, no more than our own in Ireland, would cease to operate if these bigots got their way. The decision to hold a referendum to leave the EU was taken to appease the rebellious Conservative backbenchers who blame everything on Europe and foreigners. We are all now reaping the fruits of what Cameron and others have sown.
Separately, this Friday, as Senator Feighan noted, is armistice day. England play Scotland at Wembley in a world cup qualifier and there is an ongoing dispute with FIFA about the plan for both teams to wear a black armband with a poppy on it. In a great desire to appear even-handed, FIFA has decided to threaten the FAI and Ireland over the jersey worn, a photo of which I have with me, in the international friendly with Switzerland on 25 March last. The jersey displayed the beautiful 1916 centenary logo. Last week, a FIFA spokesperson said that the disciplinary committee of FIFA is evaluating the matter. Is it some kind of sick joke that an organisation which presided over criminal mismanagement and questionable financial probity would have the cheek to try to sanction Ireland over this? I remind Members that this logo is not the logo of the FAI, is not a commercial logo and is not a party-political logo. It is the logo of this State and it is proudly on display in images on the website of the President, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to convey to FIFA in the most polite terms that it should get its own house in order before it starts interfering in the official State logo we have proudly used in this centenary year.
With regard to the election of Mr. Trump, I have only one thing to say in addition to what others have said, and it seems to me to be the most obvious matter for his legacy, which is that he will be nominating three members of the Supreme Court. This means America will be travelling backwards socially for the next four years. It is a great tragedy.
I would like to raise the issue of our move into the museum space. It is adjacent and it is certainly very convenient for Members, so there is no question but that it is very practical. However, one cannot but listen to the voice of somebody like the very distinguished former director of the National Museum, Mr. Pat Wallace, who has made some very sharp comments indeed about this matter. I would like to suggest to the Cathaoirleach and the Leader that a delegation of, say, six Members of the Seanad go and actually visit. I do not believe I have ever been in that particular space in the museum.
I was there. It was lovely.
There we are. I believe as many as possible of us should go and ask the staff what their problems are, and see if we, as intermediaries, can relate to them and have the problems ameliorated. I believe it is probably too late to alter this circumstance. It is taking place and there we are - we are fixed with it. However, we should make life as easy as possible for people in the museum.
On that, I visited the museum officially, as did the last Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle. There has been a lot of interaction and there is a lot of misinformation out there. The matter is also before the CPP today. There has been a lot of choreography that I do not want to go into today as it went on before my time. There is some information out there that this is being foisted on them but there has been a lot of discussion at the top level, including the Taoiseach. As it is coming up at the CPP today, I will not comment further except to say that all those visits have taken place.
Thank you, but, further down the line, perhaps there will be a visit of some sort.
I want to speak on the US presidential election result, which I watched as it unfolded very late last night. What struck me is that it is almost a carbon copy of Brexit. Obviously, I wish to congratulate President-elect Trump. The American people have spoken. I also want to commiserate with Hillary Clinton. The Clintons have been very good friends to Ireland.
We have a new President-elect in place. It is important that Ireland protects its interests and works with President-elect Trump. I note the Taoiseach has stated there will be continued bilateral relations and that we will have discussions around the issues of trade and immigration reform for the undocumented Irish. At this moment in time, Hillary Clinton is winning the popular vote yet almost all of mid-America voted Republican. I believe there is a disconnect between much of the electorate and the political system. This is something we must take on board, as a country, in order to address those concerns.
Donald Trump wrote a book called The Art of the Deal. We had a prominent American in the House recently. I feel that Trump will probably end up being a very pragmatic politician. It is about the art of the deal. However, we have woken up today to the reality that the American people have spoken. Regardless of what people think, we need to deal with that issue but we must also reflect on the point that this is virtually a carbon copy of Brexit. There are issues that reflect back to some of the electorate here in Ireland and there are concerns. There is a lesson in this for everyone.
It is important to note that Donald Trump has business interests in Ireland.
The Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, is an Irish-American. We have to deal with the reality we woke up to today that the Republicans and Donald Trump will take up power and we have to deal with them in the best interests of Ireland.
Will the Leader seek clarification from the relevant Minister about the proposed maritime and foreshore Bill? It has been a long time coming and it is long promised. We hear the Government is committed to introducing the Bill, which affects many parts of the country. When will that happen?
I have been told on the corridors that the Government intends to bring the legislative changes required to give effect to the rebuilding Ireland programme of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to the Seanad first next week rather than the Dáil. I do not know if this is true and I seek clarification in this regard. There are many good aspects to the programme, which I will not debate now. It is important, however, that we know whether this will be the case because a great deal of preparation will be required for this debate. There will be substantial amendment to elements of the legislation. Perhaps the Leader will advise the House.
I have a serious problem with serial objectors, particularly in respect of one-off housing planning applications. People who apply to build a one-off house have to go to great lengths to prove their "intrinsic links" to an area. Most of these applications are made in rural areas but some are made in rural towns. Objectors can be from any corner of Ireland or even from outside the State. They can place a legitimate negative statement or objection on file without having to prove the planning application will affect them in any way. This is akin to giving guns to the inmates. Why give someone with no links to the area the right to object to young people starting out in life with their hopes and dreams of a family and the security of their local area? I call on the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to address the House in this regard. There is a serious imbalance in the planning process which must be addressed.
With regard to the US presidential election result, I pay tribute to Hillary Clinton. She is both capable and competent and, from a young age in college, she demonstrated her will and zeal for civil rights and equality. Her commitment in this regard is well documented. The US made history in electing a black President but on this occasion, the people did not want to continue in this vein and elect a woman President.
As Members have alluded to, we have to be real. Democracy has spoken and we all subscribe to democracy. I join with those who have sent congratulations to President-elect Trump. It has to be acknowledged he has succeeded against the odds. He was not supported by the political establishment of the Republican Party and, as he said, it was not just a political campaign, it was a political movement. He has given voice to an anti-establishment feeling among the majority of those who voted.
His victory also reflects people's antipathy to political correctness. Many people feel it is fake. They are suffering and politicians are being bogged down by political correctness. I agree and there is something to be learned from this. Against all these odds, he has succeeded in a democratic forum. We need to work with him and we need to get over ourselves, whatever other issues we have about what he does nor does not stand for.
These issues can be discussed in another forum. There is a great deal of trade between the US and Ireland. There are many US multinationals here, with many of them being the mainstay of employment in my own county of Mayo. I agree this result is similar to Brexit and we have to take a similar professional approach. Along with joining Senator Leyden in asking that we send our congratulations from this House, I would like the House to extend an invitation to Mr. Trump to address it at the earliest occasion he can do so. We must accept that there is a new order. We have to adapt and deal with that and we have to work with the President-elect.
I join colleagues in wishing the President-elect, Mr. Trump, best wishes in office. It has come as a bit of a surprise to the majority of us, similar to the Brexit vote. Perhaps there is a message for all of us that a large cohort of people feel disenfranchised and disconnected from the general populous. We would be foolish to ignore this and I address that remark to all politicians. To coin a phrase, we are where we are and we have to get on with it and respect the wishes of the American people.
Will the Leader bring to the attention of the Minister for Education and Skills an issue that has arisen in respect of SUSI grants, particularly for applicants who live independently? The general consensus is SUSI is working well and I compliment the staff. However, an issue has arisen for those who live independently and who do not meet the tight criteria SUSI applies. An example is a person on the rent-a-room scheme or someone who is renting an apartment and in receipt of a rent reduction for whatever reason. They do not seem to meet the black and white criteria of SUSI. It is disappointing that this barrier should exist at a time we are trying to encourage as many people as possible into further education. Will the Leader bring this anomaly to the attention of the Minister for Education and Skills in order that it can be addressed as a matter of urgency?
I congratulate Mr. Trump and I wish Hillary Clinton all the best in the future. She was a good friend to this country. The media and the polls got it wrong. People laughed on national radio about Mr. Trump and his carry-on but there is a lot of egg on a lot of people's faces. I would like us to open up Spike Island for all the celebrities who supported the Clintons and said they would leave America. We might have a bit of room for them down there because many of them were going to leave if Mr. Trump became President. He got the message right in the final two weeks about working class families and the way in middle America factories, coal mines and the steel industry were closed down. He hit the right chord and it won him many votes.
Two weeks ago, my local newspaper reported on the closure of accident and emergency departments, including the one in Navan hospital. The following week, politicians were saying it was not closing but it might close. Will the Minister for Health come to the House to let us know what is going on in accident and emergency departments that are threatened with closure or only opening for 12 hours? I would like him to come to the House to give us the full picture in order that we can debate the issue and not have politicians going to local newspapers scaremongering and getting people out to march around towns when there is no need to.
Like other Members, I would like to send my congratulations to President-elect Trump. I am sorry poor Hillary Clinton has not made it but, as a nation, we will have to deal with the American President. We have a great relationship as a country with America and no other country has the same access we have on St. Patrick's Day.
Very few other countries have a national day when the US President automatically meets a leader. I hope that next year our Taoiseach, whoever it is, will be there to meet Donald Trump with the bowl of shamrock. As Senator Leyden said, it is possible that may come from his own golf course.
Nobody has mentioned it yet but I welcome the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, ASTI, and the Department attending talks at the Teachers Conciliation Council with the chair, Ms Anna Perry. It is very important. I raised the issue the week before the mid-term, in that we were looking at one further scheduled day of school because of strike action on the Thursday before the break. It is very welcome that last night the ASTI agreed to suspend its action, although we cannot be complacent about it. I am the chairman of a school board and the action of the ASTI caused enormous difficulty for school boards, pupils, parents and teachers. It would be helpful if the Leader could get the Minister in to speak to us about the difficulties so we could air them. According to the ASTI deputy general secretary, there is a very big gap between the Department and the ASTI. I welcome the development but we cannot be complacent. It would be helpful to have the Minister before us to explain where he is going on this. We cannot allow a position to develop where more than half the secondary schools in the country are closed with parents and pupils being seriously discommoded. Students, particularly those in exam years and studying for junior and leaving certificates, should not be put in a position where they cannot have their normal curriculum dealt with. They may be competing with other pupils who are getting taught because they are in a school with Teachers Union of Ireland or non-ASTI staff.
Ba mhaith liom ar dtús báire iarraidh ar an gCeannaire Gníomhach díospóireacht a bheith againn ar chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. I ask for a debate on the Irish language, Gaeltacht and island affairs. It was noted that such a debate would occur in the House but to date it has not occurred. Is it possible to bring the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, come before the House for that debate?
I add to the congratulations and sentiments of goodwill towards President-elect Trump. I am not particularly shocked by the outcome, to be honest, when we drill down through some of the detail of voter apathy and democratic interchange with the way political correctness, as has been referred to, has gone a bit mad, particularly right through the media, not just in America but across the developed world. The ordinary voter does not really get political correctness and he or she is more concerned by his or her own economic whereabouts. America has an unemployment rate of only 4.9%, which would be the envy of any European country, but people were still disenfranchised in a way so they voted as they did.
There is a message here for political parties and politics in general. As politicians, and particularly leaders in politics, we must stop following the media and instead set the agenda. The politicians are forgetting to listen to the people and instead they are following the melee of media commentary on where a country or society wants to go. They are forgetting to ask or to lead people where they should go. There is a message there for us. We will now see the fallout, and it will extend to this country as well due to the quite naïve decision of the Taoiseach and other Ministers to deny an opportunity to meet Mr. Trump if he had been available to come here as a Republican nominee before the presidential election. The issues remain. We have St. Patrick's Day and there are many Irish citizens living in the United States. It is vital that engagement is instigated with the new Administration with President-elect Trump at an early date.
I ask the Acting Leader to facilitate the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in coming to the House to discuss how those bridges can be built with the new Administration. That will not only see President-elect Trump in the White House but it will also see the Republicans controlling Congress. There are serious issues at stake.
I join other Senators in very much welcoming the lifting of the strike threat by the ASTI and please God there will now be suitable conciliatory talks so the matter can be remediated satisfactorily. Equally, I join other Senators in congratulating President-elect Trump. We have nothing to fear and there is a great relationship between the two countries. I have no doubt the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, will be there with him on St. Patrick's Day, as is traditional. I appreciate very much Senator Mulherin's proposal to invite him but I presume, now that he is President-elect, that the Taoiseach will invite him to make a joint address to both Houses of Parliament here. I have no doubt he will speak about his visit to Ireland when they meet, and that could be before St. Patrick's Day. We have much to look forward to, although there are some regrets about the other candidate, with whom we commiserate. We must look forward in a positive way and we do. Events happen. Who was surprised that the pollsters got it so wrong? Look at what happened with Brexit. It is becoming a pattern, is it not? We are going forward with optimism and confidence.
I ask the Acting Leader when it is proposed to invite the Minister of State responsible for defence to the House. The Leader gave a commitment he would be in within the next couple of weeks. I would like a date to be arranged for that, as there are a number of important issues we wish to raise with him. I also welcome the decision by the ASTI to call off its industrial action and to enter discussions with the Department of Education and Skills. As we are all aware, disputes are always sorted out by talking. The teachers have called off the strike and are speaking with the departmental officials. I hope those discussions will be meaningful on the part of the Department. This House should offer whatever encouragement it can to the Minister for Health in cutting off at the pass any threatened industrial action by nurses. They have a very legitimate case and should be listened to. The issue should be dealt with as a matter of urgency before it comes to strike action.
Finally, I join other colleagues in congratulating President-elect Trump on his election as the next President of the United States. I understand the Taoiseach will be in contact with him today to offer his congratulations on behalf of the people of this country. I encourage the Taoiseach to invite President-elect Trump to visit this country as President of the United States of America. There is a very special relationship between the peoples of both countries and I want to see that relationship continue in a positive manner. I hope President-elect Trump will have an open door policy for St. Patrick's Day that has been the tradition for many decades. I support Senator Mulherin's proposal that unless there is a joint address to both the Dáil and Seanad, I would like to see him addressing this House as well. I wish him well. I believe he will be pragmatic and we have already seen a change in tone. I hope that continues and he will take into account everyone living in the United States of America. Our relationship with America is very important to this country and I would like to see it continue.
Before calling on the Acting Leader to respond, I convey my best wishes to President-elect Donald Trump. I am somebody whose grandfather was an American citizen, with five sisters as American citizens.
Many of my nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins have been successful after having to emigrate from Ireland to America. I hope the Irish diaspora will be to the fore in Mr. Trump's mind when he takes up office. Having said those words of congratulations to Mr. Trump, I ask the Acting Leader to respond.
I think a total of 18 Senators contributed this morning. I thank all of them for their contributions.
The 127 million people who voted in yesterday's elections in the United States used the democratic system to decide who their leader will be for the next four years. We have to respect the decision they have made. I join others in conveying my congratulations to Donald Trump on his election. I wish him and his country well over the next four years. Like this country, the US is facing major challenges not only in local communities and urban areas, but also from an international point of view. As the US is a major player on the international stage, it is important for Ireland to work with it to deal with the many issues we face domestically and globally.
Senator Ardagh referred to some of the challenges we are facing in Ireland, including the plight of more than 50,000 undocumented Irish people in the US and the need to deal with the industrial challenges we face. We have to work with the American authorities to try to deal with such issues. When this country decided many years ago to introduce a 12.5% corporation tax rate, it was pursuing a policy of looking into the future and making sure it would be ready and able to deal with challenges like those arising now because of the changes that are about to be proposed in the US. American companies are based in Ireland because they want to access the European market of 500 million people. Ireland is an important location from that perspective because it has skilled young people, educational institutions, infrastructure and the supports provided by all the service industries that serve these companies. We have been fortunate. Nine of the world's top ten pharmaceutical companies are based in America but have a presence in Cork. They have done well to employ people. The issue of how Cork has done so well to attract international companies was raised at last night's Cork Chamber of Commerce dinner in Dublin, which I attended. I hope other areas of the country will do similarly well and we will continue to attract investment to this country. I agree with Senator Ardagh that we need to work even harder on this issue. As a number of Senators said, we need to ensure IDA Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade get far more personnel and financial support so that this country has a presence in the places where decisions are made.
Senator Ardagh also raised the prospect of industrial action by nurses. I agree with her that this is an important issue. I think the Government is fully committed to the Lansdowne Road agreement. The work of the public service pay commission, which was established recently, is getting under way. The commission will make a valuable input into the future development of public pay policy. I agree that the nurses' issue should be dealt with fairly within the whole process of the Lansdowne Road agreement. We cannot go outside that at this time. We are facing major challenges in this country as a result of Brexit and the policy changes that will occur in the US.
Senator Craughwell spoke about Brexit, industrial relations problems and councillors' pay. I can inform him that a Committee Stage amendment to the Social Welfare Bill will address the PRSI issue. That will be dealt with in the Social Welfare Bill to ensure councillors will have the same entitlements as self-employed people. This change is coming about. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, is dealing with the other aspect of the matter. I am sure he will come back on that issue in the not too distant future. I will raise with him the concerns that have been highlighted by Senator Craughwell and other Senators. As recently as yesterday, I was contacted by councillors who believe this cannot be left unchanged and must be addressed within a short period of time.
Senator Bacik and a number of other Senators spoke about foreign policy. I agree with Senator Bacik that it might be appropriate to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to speak about how we might deal with the foreign policy issues and changes that are arising in the context of Brexit and the changes that are occurring in the US. I will certainly make such a request because it would be appropriate to facilitate Senators in raising with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade their concerns about how the Department is planning for the future.
Senator Bacik welcomed the decision to call off the ASTI industrial action and strike. I remind the House that there are four different industrial disputes between the ASTI and the Department. It is not just one issue. I hope all four issues with the ASTI can be resolved. It is important for our educators to be able to get on with the job they want to do and for our students to be able to get the benefits they want to get from our education system.
Senator Gavan raised the issue of corporation tax in the context of the US election. It is not that long ago that his party was complaining about the rate of corporation tax, which goes to show that all the parties which were in agreement about the 12.5% rate were correct. I remind the Senator, who spoke about "the race to the bottom", that despite this country's economic downturn over the last five years, over €20 billion was provided each year to make sure people with disabilities, the unemployed and people who suffered as a result of the recession received the proper supports.
While I agree with the Senator that this was not enough, in fairness there was a change in last month's budget in relation to increases. The total daily cost of our social welfare budget is €57 million, which is a huge amount of money. It is important to emphasise that we cannot provide for social welfare increases or support people on lower pay unless we make sure there are more people back at work. If we want to be able to pay for services, we need to ensure an increased amount of tax is coming in.
Senator Gavan also highlighted the pay and conditions of child care workers, who play an important part in our society. We need to be conscious of this issue and keep it under review. It might be worthwhile for the Senator to table a Commencement notice to make sure the Minister is aware of his anxiety with regard to this important issue. I think this concern is shared by every Member of this House.
Senator Feighan reminded us that 11 November is Armistice Day and mentioned that between 25,000 and 30,000 Irish people died in the First World War. It is important to recognise their commitment and acknowledge that they died so that we might have the freedom to say what we believe in today. It is important that we give recognition to Armistice Day and to the many people who died.
Senator Feighan said that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and IDA Ireland should get the support they need as they face major challenges. I have referred to the need for additional staff.
Senator Leyden also referred to the US election. He acknowledged the contribution former President Bill Clinton made to Northern Ireland and it is important that we acknowledge both Hilary and Bill Clinton. We must acknowledge the amount of time and effort he, and all of those involved, invested in order to ensure that the peace process worked. Mr. Clinton made a major contribution to ensuring it worked and was delivered on. I agree with Senator Leyden. I listened to this morning's speech by the President-elect, Donald Trump. It was very conciliatory. While we all may have different views about how things should be done, we all have a common interest in trying to improve the lives of everyone and ensuring that people who are less fortunate get the necessary support. The Senator also raised the very important issue of the contribution of Irish people in building and rebuilding America. Vincent Browne recently interviewed somebody from Castlegregory, County Kerry, who is building tower blocks in New York on his television programme.
Correct.
He teaches us all a lesson, in that he has to build a floor of a tower block every two days. A 70-storey building took him a total of 148 days. The O'Sullivan brothers from Castlegregory are making a contribution to the US. Senator Leyden raised an important point. A message to the President-elect that the Irish are working hard in the US and will be there to help rebuild and to do the work required..
Hear, hear. We can and we will.
The Senator also referred to the number of people CRH employs in the US and the major contribution it makes there.
Senator Lombard raised the US election and the lack of legislation relating to the Irish Coast Guard service. I will convey his concerns to the Minister. It might be appropriate to table a Commencement Matter and have the Minister come before us to try to expedite the issue.
Senator Swanick raised the concerns about the anti-migrant sentiment. He also referred to FIFA. I have no difficulty speaking to the Leader and asking him to deal with the matter. I will convey the concerns FIFA had regarding the logo on the Ireland jerseys. The Leader might be the person to deal with that matter. The Senator said one out of four doctors in the UK is of non-UK origin. In Ireland, 38% of our doctors are non-Irish graduates and we need to be conscious of the contribution they are making to our health service.
Senator Norris raised concerns about the National Museum and the Cathaoirleach dealt with the matter. I will pass the Senator's concerns on to the Leader and ask the latter to revert to him.
Senator Kieran O'Donnell referred to the US election and the fact that the Vice President-elect is Irish American. It is important that we send our congratulations to the Vice President-elect on the role he will play in the next four years and wish him well.
Senator Boyhan referred to the maritime and foreshore Bill. I will raise the matter with the Minister. A Commencement matter might be an appropriate way to bring it forward and get the Minister in to give the Senator some idea on the issue. I am not passing the buck.
Senator Davitt raised the very important issue of serial objectors. A major development in the midlands - I will not mention it by name - has gone beyond An Bord Pleanála. The Senator raised a very serious concern, especially regarding young people. I was recently approached about a similar case involving a young couple who want to build a house on an outlying farm but whose plan has been objected to by somebody from outside the area. This is a major concern, particularly when it is so expensive to build new homes. Families can contribute by giving sites to their children or whomever. This is being restricted as a result of planning objections and uncertainty.
Does the Deputy Leader think we will get the Minister to come before the House to discuss the matter?
Yes, it would be appropriate to ask the Minister to come here.
I thank the Deputy Leader very much.
Again, it might be appropriate to table a Commencement matter. Sometimes, it is a more expeditious way of getting a Minister to come before the House.
I will take the Deputy -----------Leader's advice.
I will convey the Senator's concerns, which I share, to the Minister.
Senator Mulherin raised the US election and the fact that we need to work with the President-elect. I agree with her in that regard. We should have no difficulty in inviting the President-elect to Ireland.
Senator Gallagher referred to the US election and SUSI grants. I will raise his concerns regarding the latter with the Minister for Education and Skills, and I hope the Minister will come here in the near future to deal with a number of education issues. It might be appropriate to put down a Commencement matter to get the Minister to provide a written response on it. While I can convey my comments on it and get the Minister to respond to the Senator, a Commencement matter might be the way to deal with it.
Senator Butler referred to accident and emergency departments. I am sorry if it looks like I am passing the buck. However, if the Senator has a concern in respect of this issue, then a Commencement matter might be the way to obtain full clarification. I will convey his concerns to the Minister.
I have dealt with Senator Horkan's issues, namely, the ASTI, the US election and the need for the Minister for Education and Skills to come before the House. It would be appropriate to get the Minister here given that a number of Senators want to raise a number of issues including the strikes, the ASTI, a number of industrial relations issues and SUSI grants. I will ask the Minister to come to the House at an early date.
Senator Ó Domhnaill referred to the US election and the part played by the media. The latter operate in a democratic system and we must respect their contribution. We cannot criticise them. They are doing a job and dealing with election coverage in what they feel is the appropriate way.
Senator Coghlan also raised the US election and the prospect of inviting the President-elect to Ireland, which I have dealt with.
Senator Wilson referred to the Minister of State with responsibility for defence. I have no difficulty in asking the latter to come here to deal with a number of issues about which the Senator has concerns. I will ask him to do so. I think he will be here reasonably soon. I will ensure the Senator gets a response.
Is the Order of Business agreed to?
Is it agreed that the Cathaoirleach and the House should formally send congratulations to the President-elect and the Vice President-elect as opposed to on a personal basis?
Hear, hear.
It was proposed by me and Senator Mulherin.
The Leader has responded. The advice I have received is that it is not the norm for the Seanad to send messages of congratulations to foreign dignitaries.
In this case, I suggest it to the Leader. It has unanimous support here.
I object. It is not appropriate.
The Order of Business is concluded. It is a matter for another day.
The Senator is a bad loser.
Order of Business agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 12.40 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m.