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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2017

Vol. 254 No. 1

Order of Business

The Order of Business is No. 1, International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to be adjourned no later than 2.45 p.m. if not previously concluded; and No. 2, Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 - Committee Stage (resumed), to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and to be adjourned at 8 p.m. if not previously concluded.

I wish to raise the issue of the Paradise Papers. We have all been hearing in recent days about different individuals who have been able to take advantage of some of the fruitful tax arrangements to which these papers refer. Ultimately, it was a database of information that highlighted the tax affairs of some of the wealthiest individuals and companies in the world. Why is this matter important? It is important because it highlights how unjust is the wealth and income disparity across the world and among individuals who live in our country. The Paradise Papers highlight the huge unfairness that exists. Many of the schemes involved are legal and amount simply to tax avoidance rather than evasion. However, what is happening sits very uneasily with many of us, including me, regardless of whether we are PAYE workers or self-employed. We pay PRSI, PAYE and income tax and we do not have the luxury of forum shopping in respect of our income tax. It is something that disturbs and upsets many people and makes them very angry. Our country is losing out on millions due to tax avoidance schemes. I hope the Minister for Finance will come to the House and engage in a debate on this matter. I also hope he will ensure that Revenue will be adequately resourced to investigate some of these papers to see if there is anything we are missing out on and if there is a possibility that we could recoup moneys from any of the individuals involved.

This leads me to think about the money involved and what we could do if there were billions more in our Exchequer. A great edition of "Prime Time" last week highlighted the standard of rental accommodation. We saw people living in really conditions that are very unsanitary and unsafe. I call on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to come to the House to discuss an NCT-style approach, which Fianna Fáil has been advocating since 2015. Obviously, supply is one of the major issues but this is also a significant issue. We cannot have people living in hazardous conditions like this, which are, ultimately, unfit for human habitation and, on many occasions, animal habitation.

I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that No. 11, the Defence (Veterans Lapel Badge) Bill 2017 - First Stage, be taken before No. 1. I ask the Leader to consider my request.

I congratulate Senator Feighan for organising a delegation to the House of Commons and House of Lords over the past two days of which I had the privilege of being part. Incentives such as that organised by Senator Feighan are so important in light of Brexit. The discussions we had with the Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords left us far better clued into what is going on in Westminster.

Colleagues such as Senators Coghlan and Feighan and various others left the British MPs we met and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Boris Johnson, in no doubt as to what the Irish people want and expect from Brexit, as well as the protection of our country and our interests.

He had no solutions, however.

Senator Coghlan is correct; he had no solutions. We certainly did not hear any solutions, which means events such as those organised by Senator Feighan are of the utmost importance. There needs to be far greater engagement. I congratulate and thank Senator Feighan on his efforts. The administration behind getting people there and the amount of work in setting up meetings with all the political parties in the UK must have been phenomenal.

I also congratulate the Taoiseach for having the courage to walk into the Dáil yesterday wearing the Irish poppy, the funds from which support Irish veterans and Irish people who served in the British forces and who are in need of support these days. The Taoiseach is to be congratulated on this. It was not an easy thing for anybody to do.

I thank the Senator for all his congratulations. I call on Senator Gavan.

Now we will have a change.

We will.

Last week, figures showed Limerick has 315 homeless people, even more than in Cork. The housing crisis continues to get worse from month to month.

I want to paint the human picture of this. Just two weeks ago, I raised the case of a young woman, eight months pregnant, who was living in the most appalling accommodation and the fact the State offered her no support whatsoever and turned her away. I thank the Leader for following up on that particular query. Unfortunately, matters have got worse this week, the week in which she is due to have her baby. She spent last night in a car. That is the housing crisis in Limerick in 2017 where a 19-year-old girl, eight and a half months pregnant, with no supports, spent the night in a car. She had been forced out of her apartment because the landlord cut off the electricity.

The State services gave her one option, which was to stay in Thomond House. The staff there do a wonderful job but, unfortunately, it is inhabited by a large number of heroin addicts. When I asked the shelter manager if he could guarantee this young girl's safety, he said he absolutely could not. That is the reality of the housing crisis in 2017. Tonight, that girl still will have nowhere to go. It is shameful that this is happening in the week she is due to give birth.

Speaking to my office in Limerick this morning, I was told the situation will get worse, not better, because there are simply not enough new builds next year. The situation continues to get worse month after month. The blame lies solely with the Government and Fine Gael's ideological hang-up that the private market must produce solutions to the housing crisis. When it keeps that fixation with this right-wing ideology, the reality is 19-year-old girls spending the night in a car when they are due to give birth to a baby. Shame on the Government.

Figures provided by the Department of Justice and Equality in response to a parliamentary question on 19 October outline the current status of the Government's commitments to welcoming 4,000 people as refugees to Ireland. They seem to show that Ireland is falling short with only one third of that target group welcomed to Ireland to date. In that context, and given that the deadline for meeting the Government's commitment is only two months away, will the Leader invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House to make a statement on this matter and outline what he and his Department are doing to meet the Government's promise and moral obligations in the context of the worst global refugee crisis since the Second World War, affecting 22.5 million people, half of whom are children? Will the Leader invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to explain to the House what urgent action is being taken to relieve the suffering of displaced people in crisis, including children, through no fault of their own but for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time? What measures will the Department introduce, including family reunification measures, to honour Ireland's relatively modest commitments, which now seem likely to be missed?

Yesterday, I was on the picket line with Irish Rail workers. I listened to their frustration over the lack of proper engagement by management in this industrial dispute. As we are heading towards Christmas, we may be looking at further days lost in the workplace due to the lack of proper engagement by management. I also spoke to many commuters across the city who spent hours in traffic delays yesterday. Many of them came into work late and lost part of their salaries at a time when they can least afford it. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is more interested in finding a solution for North Korea than finding one for our capital city and country. I listened to workers in Cork on “Morning Ireland” who had to club together to get the taxi fare to get home because trains were not running. It is unacceptable that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has more interest in - and less influence over - what happens in North Korea. I hope the Leader can put a rocket under the Minister to encourage him to pay attention to his brief.

At the weekend the Citizens' Assembly met on climate change, an issue I raise frequently in the House. The two line Ministers responsible are the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, and, unfortunately, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross. We see a growing carbon footprint in the transport sector but no solutions coming from the Minister.

At his earliest convenience, will the Leader arrange a debate on and all-party approach to climate change? Obviously, transport is one major element of this. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport's contributions on climate change in this House have been poor. Will the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, also attend as the Minister with direct responsibility for this area? The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine also has a large responsibility in this area because the agricultural sector contributes significantly to carbon emissions. I recognise the farming community has, in many ways, endeavoured to reduce its carbon footprint.

We need a whole-of-government approach to climate change. Unfortunately, Ireland is well behind the curve. While the previous Government made great progress with climate change legislation - the Leader himself contributed to this - nothing has happened since. We have seen public consultation after public consultation but no plan or direction. We will miss the 2020 targets, meaning we will be looking at fines of over €500 million. That money would be far better invested in our transport infrastructure and agricultural sector to reduce our carbon emissions. I look forward to that debate at the earliest convenience which the Leader can arrange.

I join with Senator Craughwell in congratulating our colleagues Senator Feighan and the MP for St. Helens North, Conor McGinn.

I am afraid Radio Luxembourg is butting in.

We are used to that. This organisation - if I can all it that -and this two-way flow between ourselves and Westminster is important. I encourage many more Members to get involved. When Brexit happens, there are so many connections with Britain, whether we like it or not, trade-wise, relations-wise and more. This will be more important than ever. We have to pay attention to it and do something about. They are on our side regarding wanting a soft Brexit but no specific solutions are there yet. Without a customs union, we do not know how that is going to be achieved. My colleague, Senator Paddy Burke, referred to a pleasant meeting with Boris Johnson but he had no solution either.

Until they drill down into the detail of the negotiations and see who will blink or compromise, no one will know, and the uncertainty and volatility that exists will continue. There is an acceptance that there will have to be a transition period. They are saying two years but it might have to be longer. I think business would welcome that. For the sake of their economy and ours, I would say the longer the better. Let us keep up the contact. More Members of this House and the Lower House should get involved.

Will the Leader invite the Taoiseach to the House to outline the discussions he had with Tim Cook, the boss of Apple, in San Francisco? The situation relating to the proposed €850 million data centre for Athenry is very serious. The project has overcome many planning difficulties in the past two years. The last of these were cleared in the High Court last week. The project should be going to tender at this point. I recognise the contribution Apple has made to the Irish economy, with 5,000 jobs in Cork and 1,000 new jobs expected. Let us be clear that Tim Cook and Apple have been good friends to Ireland, but Ireland has also been a good friend - from a taxation perspective - to Apple. The company should bear that in mind when making its decision. The Taoiseach said that consideration is being given to what it is going to be done in respect of this project. In the words of Pete St. John, "Low lie the fields of Athenry". It will be a very low day for Athenry if this project does not go ahead.

The construction jobs will be magnificent and afterwards there will be 50 to 100 jobs available, although we do not know the exact number. From a psychological point of view and from an international perspective, to locate this centre in Athenry, which is situated in the west of Ireland, would give hope and encouragement to those seeking employment in the region. Martin Shanahan, head of IDA Ireland, seemed to indicate that he is not that hopeful the project will go ahead. It will be for him and IDA Ireland to concentrate on bringing jobs to Athenry and the west of Ireland to compensate - if it happens - for the loss of the project. We should appeal to Tim Cook to reconsider the situation and proceed with the project. Last night, the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, stated in the Lower House that the project has not been abandoned and is part of our future. That should be confirmed because there are two conflicting views. The Taoiseach seemed pessimistic. It was not a good exercise to go there and come back with bad news. Normally, when taoisigh go abroad on industrial missions, as I did myself, they come back with the bacon and not bad news.

The Senator came back with no news many a time.

We were there when Apple came to Ireland. I was a Minister of State when Intel came to Leixlip so I can tell the Leader one thing: it was Fianna Fáil that made us great.

There he goes again.

I can tell the Leader that this project would not slip through Ireland's hands if we had a Fianna Fáil Taoiseach because we knew how to handle business. We were the party-----

Fianna Fáil bankrupted the country. It closed down the country.

The Leader's intervention prolonged matters by one minute. Ciúnas. He will have time to respond later. I call Senator Freeman.

There were a few bad apples in Fianna Fáil.

Please allow Senator Freeman, who is standing, to proceed, without interruption.

Fianna Fáil pulled the country down.

The Leader will have ample time to respond in due course. He usually gets plenty of time. Ar aghaidh leat, Senator Freeman.

I second Senator Gerard Craughwell's amendment to the Order of Business. I also take the opportunity to thank Members. We just had a sort of corrosive conversation a moment ago but I meet Senators and hear lovely compliments about the launch of Solace House in New York for the Irish diaspora, for which I thank them most sincerely. It was a pilot project until last week but is now a permanent service for members of the Irish diaspora who are in suicidal crisis. I thank the Members for their good wishes and will keep the House updated on the service.

I thank the Senator for her brevity and call Senator Conway.

I thank the Members of both Houses who attended the "Dine in the Dark" event last night. This sought to promote and increase awareness among Members of vision impairment and blindness and it was a great success. I also thank the many colleagues who, for various reasons, were unable to attend. It is hoped that we will be able to repeat the exercise in 2018.

This morning, I had the great pleasure of launching a phenomenal community initiative on the part of the Blanchardstown drugs task force and the Safer Blanchardstown community organisation at the Gresham Hotel. The campaign, which is trying to make a start on dealing with recreational drugs, is called "Think Before You Buy" because buying drugs will harm someone and it is targeted primarily at the people in middle Ireland who go out on a Saturday night to dinner parties and decide, for whatever reason, to take recreational drugs. They are not the quintessential or traditional drug addict one sees from time to time. These are people in white collar and blue collar jobs who have families. They go out and, whether it is weed, hash or cocaine, they buy and take drugs. The consequences not just to their own health and lives but to society are enormous. The money they spend, whether they like it or not, funds organised crime and results in deaths in inner city Dublin and throughout the country. I commend the people in Blanchardstown on the initiative, which needs Government support and which should be rolled out across the country. They are doing their best on a shoestring budget. It would be worth bringing the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House to discuss how we deal with those in middle Ireland who are taking drugs on Saturday nights. In the Leader's own good time, perhaps this House could have a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the issue.

Tréaslaím le Marty Walsh atá athtofa mar mhéara ar Bhostún. Tá muintir Chonamara, na Gaillimhe agus na hÉireann an-bhródúil as an éacht atá déanta aige agus as an bhfoireann ar fad a bhí ag obair leis. I congratulate Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston whose parents both come from Connemara. He is a proud Irishman, an Irish speaker and a man of the people and he was re-elected as mayor of Boston last night. It is a fantastic achievement. The reports on the campaign indicate that one of the biggest things he did was tackle the housing crisis in Boston. This created significant employment in recent years and provided affordable and social housing for those who needed it. He also did a great deal of work with people who have drug and alcohol addiction problems. It is fantastic to see him being re-elected.

A week is a long time in politics. Shortly before the break we had a debate on Catalonia. In the intervening period, half the members of the Government of the region have been put in prison and the other half are in exile in Belgium. Before the break, we heard from most Heads of State across Europe that this is an internal issue for Spain. We cannot say any longer, however, that this is the case. The two leaders of the cultural organisations are still in prison. Even teachers who had debates in schools in respect of the events relating to the referendum are being threatened with imprisonment. This is an absolute assault on fundamental human rights, including the right to free speech. It is important that our Government reassesses its position on the issue. From Brussels, President Puigdemont denounced the fact that there is a Eurocratic elite which only obeys the member states and which has betrayed and corrupted the defence of the foundational values of Europe. For him, this elite has shown a lack of connection with what people are interested in.

There is a fundamental debate happening about what the European Union stands for, and what its leaders and prime ministers stand for. The contrast between the way the judicial system in Belgium has treated President Puigdemont and the way the Spanish system has treated the Ministers who are now imprisoned is massive and we need a further debate on the continuing issues in Catalonia and how they will affect every single European state.

I note that Senator Conway mentioned Dine in the Dark and congratulated people on attending and participating in it. I was there last night and I am very happy to acknowledge the work he did and congratulate him on it. It was a very enlightening event by virtue of being in the dark. It was a moment when we could realise what daily life is like for some of our fellow citizens.

Before I attended the event I was reading a report by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland and the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice. It examined the cost of living for basic needs, not what people want. The minimum essential standard of living for a single adult with visual impairment cost €285.76 per week in 2016. That is €44.54 more than the main minimum essential standard of living for a single adult with vision. There are real but ordinary extra costs, daily and weekly, for people who have disabilities. I acknowledge that the Government increased the disability allowance and other related income supports by €5 to commence early next year. That is across the board. The Central Statistics Office, CSO, a Government outfit, told us in January of this year that people with disabilities are going further into poverty while the rest of the population is thankfully, and that is my word, moving slightly in the other direction. I request that the Leader now call on the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to come to this House to set out the issue. The facts are presented in this bird's eye report on one group of people, but according to the CSO people with disabilities are in fact experiencing more poverty and exclusion.

I also join in thanking my colleagues who took the time to visit Westminster on Monday and Tuesday. The meetings were very worthwhile. We need to do a lot more of this. We have taken our east-west relationship far too lightly because much more can be done. A total of €1 billion of trade is conducted every week between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. After the Queen's visit in 2011, the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce was set up. That tells us this was a relationship we took for granted. Much progress has been made since the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement. Relations are at an all-time high. There is a strong feeling of goodwill among the politicians from all sides in Westminster and there is a huge Irish diaspora that we sometimes do not understand. It is very vocal. We need to do much more of that. That is why I would like to thank Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, for taking the time out to meet us for an hour. It was a robust meeting. Our views were different but at least it was a good meeting with Vince Cable, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Emily Thornbridge, the Labour Party shadow foreign secretary, Ian Blackwood, the leader of the Scottish National Party in Westminster, and Adrian O'Neill, the Irish ambassador to the United Kingdom. When politicians from the United Kingdom come here, I urge all Members in this House to meet them. They will meet people who have fathers and mothers, and grandfathers and relations from the island of Ireland and their own areas. When they meet them, they will realise that we are very united in many ways.

I pay tribute to the Taoiseach for wearing the Irish poppy pin in the Dáil yesterday. It reflected the mature direction we are taking as a nation. When I first saw the poppy 25 years ago, I hesitated, thinking it was not mine. We have to remember the 50,000 young Irish men from the whole island, nationalists and unionists, who fell in the Great War. My favourite song about the poppy is the Green Fields of France: "Well the sun now it shines on the green fields of France, There's a warm summer breeze it makes the red poppies dance." We sing it and love this song and we should be able to embrace a part of our history that we conveniently airbrushed.

Many Members have raised the decline of rural Ireland. I do the same in light of a report presented to the members of the Monaghan County Council this week by a group called the Irish Central Border Area Network, ICBAN. Its research estimates that at the very best it will be the end of 2025 before County Monaghan has full broadband connectivity and the end of 2023 for County Cavan. The council debated the issue and concluded that this was shocking news. If rural Ireland is to have a future, broadband is a vital component. It is vital for business and for communities. When one considers the risk that Brexit poses for this country, I would claim as I often have that it potentially affects the Border counties worst. If ever there was a case for prioritising the Border region, it is now. The Government could prioritise the Border region for broadband because it is vital if we are to have a present, never mind a future. I ask the Leader to bring this to the attention of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and ask him to seriously consider prioritising the Border region with full broadband connectivity as soon as practically possible.

Much has been said about how the Garda Síochána has conducted its business in recent years. To give credit where it is due, I congratulate it on how it has combatted crime in recent months and the success it has had in breaking the drug gangs in this country.

The way it has conducted itself over recent months is outstanding and I congratulate it. The public should not be afraid to go to the Garda Síochána. Gardaí are the only people we can turn to in our hour of need when there are break-ins, drug crime and so forth. The more people go to them and the more information they have, the better.

I wish to raise the use of drugs in the greyhound industry. In 2015, the Greyhound Industry (Racing) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations were introduced, coming into effect on 1 October 2015.

It specifically provided for the immediate disqualification of any greyhound that returns an adverse analytical finding. Such greyhounds were to stand disqualified. However, it has come to my attention that a greyhound that tested positive on three occasions for the banned substance, cocaine, was allowed to race by the Irish Greyhound Board last Saturday evening, where he won the Irish St. Leger. There is a major issue in the greyhound industry. The owners and breeders are not being listened to. We have heard from the Government. I gave the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, some credit when he was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. However, since he has become Minister of State there has been little progress in allowing the ordinary breeders and owners to have their voices and concerns listened to.

The greyhound legislation is to come before these Houses. However, existing legislation is not even being adhered to by the governing authority, which is in receipt of almost €300,000 of taxpayers' money each week. It will not even listen to the breeders and owners. This industry is in decline and the issue is going to explode. It is one of our traditional industries. The greyhound is the poor man's racehorse. The situation is absolutely unacceptable. I urge the Leader to ask the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, to come to the House to listen to the serious allegations that will be brought before him and to answer some of them and provide some clarity as to why the Government is allowing this situation to continue.

I rise today to address the issue of tax avoidance once again, particularly in light of the Paradise - or parasite - Papers. This is not a new phenomenon. I was absolutely amazed last night to hear a Fianna Fáil Deputy state that he could not say whether Fianna Fáil supported Apple in respect of the €13.5 billion it has been asked to return to the State to put into an escrow account. He could not tell if Fianna Fáil was for Apple giving back the tax or against it, nor if it was supportive of the Government, which it is propping up, in taking this case against the EU. The other thing I found astounding was that, while trying to stress the importance of foreign direct investment which is very important, the same Deputy said, "remember we have no natural resources". He actually said that. I am not surprised. He was probably speaking on the basis that Fianna Fáil gave away all our natural resources.

Fianna Fáil then told the company that took them from us that it did not have to pay tax for at least 20 years, just as the banks have been told now. People in County Mayo and rural Ireland who listened to that would ask what in the name of God is going on in terms of our natural resources and the tax avoidance. It is very clear from the Paradise Papers that the golden circle is absolutely still in operation. Fianna Fáil set it up and Fine Gael has continued on with it. The illusion that is given year after year that tax loopholes are closed down is just not true. The Leader should ask the Minister for Finance to come in here for a full and frank debate about our fiscal sovereignty, taxation and the tax loopholes that he is not genuinely closing. They are losing billions of euro to this economy while we have children with no homes to go to this evening.

Ar son mo phairtí agus ar mo shon féin, ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá faoin iar-Sheanadóir Gordon Wilson agus faoin ionsaí a tharlaigh in Enniskillen 30 bliain ó shin.

Today is the 30th anniversary of that ghastly attack in Enniskillen by the Provisional IRA. The killing and injuring of so many civilians was a turning point in the Troubles and it did signal a new emphasis on peace. The Hume-Adams dialogue recommenced and ultimately in 1997, Gerry Adams apologised for the bombing on behalf of the Provisional movement. Gordon Wilson lost his daughter Marie that day and his response to this atrocity was remarkable. In a BBC interview, he recounted the last words of his dying daughter:

She held my hand tightly and gripped me as hard as she could. She said, 'Daddy, I love you very much.' Those were her exact words to me and those were the last words I ever heard her say. But I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life. She was a great wee lassie. She loved her profession. She was a pet. She is dead. She is in heaven and we shall meet again. I will pray for these men tonight and every night.

This message of reconciliation and the call for no retaliation was a sign of a true Christian. Born in Manorhamilton in Leitrim, Gordon ran his family drapery shop in Enniskillen, yet he became an unexpected campaigner for peace. He was nominated as a Member of Seanad Éireann in February 1993 by the Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, Albert Reynolds. Who is afraid of peace? This was the question that Albert Reynolds asked. Gordon Wilson was not afraid of peace. His death in 1995 was an immense loss to Ireland.

I am raising the issues of sexism, abuse of power, misogyny and sexual harassment that have come to light in the last few weeks in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. The discussion of these issues has obviously made its way to Ireland. I thank my friend, Grace Dyas, who was very brave in releasing a blog post two weeks ago about the ex-director of the Gate Theatre.

It has broken the seal for other women to come forward and speak about abuse of power and sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace. We are going to see a lot more of it over the coming weeks and months. It will take varying amounts of time for women to feel comfortable. Some may have to talk to family and friends first, and tell them first about an experience they have had before they are in a position to talk about it publicly. I think there is an avalanche on the way. It is welcome and I thank the women who have spoken up so far for their courage.

In Grace Dyas's blog, if people have not read it yet, there is a very important line that says, "I believe you before you open your mouth." It was such an important sentence for me. It is because of that fear of not being believed that the culture has existed to facilitate silence of sexual abusers and people who abuse their power in certain sectors. This House could send a very important message to those women, that we believe them before they open their mouths, by calling for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come in and talk about abuse of power, misogyny and sexism in the workplace.

The Leader had the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, come to the House to discuss councillors' pay and conditions, an issue the Leader has raised himself on a number occasions. The Minister of State gave an undertaking before the mid-term recess that the ongoing neglect of councillors' pay and conditions would be addressed. As of yet, it has not been. I hope the Leader has some update on the issue.

I would like to respectfully disagree with my colleague, Senator Ruane. I think it is terribly dangerous to say, "I believe you before you open your mouth." Everything we do must be evidence based. There have been false accusations. We should be very careful in this sensitive area.

The banks are at it again - what else is new? I would like to talk a little bit about the poppy. I listened to Senator Neale Richmond this morning on the wireless and I thought he was extremely dignified in what he said. I used to wear the poppy. I do not any more because I am so much against war. The poppy was a symbol that also raised money for the people who were mutilated and injured in the two great world wars.

My father got the marine VC in the First World War and a knighthood in the Second World War. He was English but, if anybody challenges me, I am descended from one high king, six kings of Leinster and I do not know how many kings of Ossory, so I am as Irish as anybody else in this place. There were 250,000 Irish volunteers at the time of the First World War and 50,000 in the Second World War. I am delighted my colleague raised the question of Gordon Wilson. I remember Gordon Wilson very well as do other Members of the House. He was a good friend of mine. We used to go to a conference in Oxford every year where we met people from the violent republican movement. It was an opportunity to exchange views and to try to bring peace. He was a very remarkable man and I am glad his words were echoed today.

I would like to end with one memory of that period. On the day of the Enniskillen bombing - or the day after, I cannot remember which - somebody brought a poppy and laid it on the Cathaoirleach's desk and the Cathaoirleach wore it that day. It was breaking the rules but it was a very important signal of solidarity. The people who were blasted into nothing in Enniskillen on that tragic day were just ordinary simple people going about their business remembering their relatives and family who had died. It was a tragic and disgraceful thing. Gordon Wilson's words were wise and Christian and it is appropriate that we honour him here today.

I want to highlight the RTÉ investigation in the "Nightmare to Let" programme. I saw the programme, as I am sure all of us did. It is very sad that we depend on RTÉ to highlight issues that we have been constantly highlighting to the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. He is doing absolutely nothing about it. Only 4% of rental properties are assessed. It is unacceptable. I have brought this up several times with the Minister, Deputy Murphy. People who are in receipt of HAP or rent allowance come into my clinic because they are looking for the landlord to do work. There is no staff in local authorities to go out and check the properties. People cannot find another property. There is no accountability, regulation or staffing yet the Minister will tell us there is plenty of money in housing. It is unacceptable. I say well done to RTÉ for highlighting issues that we know are happening. The Minister is not listening. He is telling us he is doing the work but is absolutely not. There are good landlords out there too. There are a lot of properties that are not inspected and which are not up to standard which people, families and children should not be living in.

With regard to the water refund planned before Christmas, the legislation is to be voted on in the Dáil. It is crucial it goes ahead because a lot of people have contacted me in my clinic who are waiting for the refund. It is only seven weeks to Christmas. I ask that the legislation is passed as soon as possible because there are people who are waiting on that money for Christmas.

I thank the 21 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. Senators Ardagh and Conway-Walsh raised the issue of the Paradise Papers. I join with Senator Ardagh in saying that, as a society and State, there can only be one tax code for all citizens. Any complex, labyrinthine way of getting around the paying of tax by tax residents of this country should be eroded. We all agree with that. The more people who pay tax, the more people we can have availing of essential public services. It is important to recognise the importance of taxation in our economy, whether direct or indirect. Senator Conway-Walsh referred to the Apple issue in the context of the Paradise Papers. Ireland has acted to address definitively the issues around stateless and double Irish status companies. When the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, comes to the House he will be discussing the changes he has already brought forward for a regime for capital allowances. Ireland has always been very compliant despite the Senator's protestations. We will play and we have played a full part in implementing international tax law. The Senator need not be so dismissive. I know the Sinn Féin Party does not like to hear good news.

It would be good to have a debate on the issue.

We are holding a consultative process to establish how we should, as a State, implement the remaining reforms. I have every confidence the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and the Government will work with the Revenue Commissioners to ensure there is compliance with our tax laws. If any Member has information he or she should share it with the Revenue Commissioners. In view of the Apple case, as Senator Conway-Walsh knows quite well, the Government has a different viewpoint to her. The case is before Europe, and the Government will continue to ensure we are collecting tax from all corporations and foreign entities whether it is Apple or another. I would be very happy to have the debate in the House for Senators Conway-Walsh and Ardagh.

Senator Murnane O'Connor and Senator Gavan raised the issue of housing. The "Prime Time" programme is one we all watched with incredulity. We did not need "Prime Time" to tell us about some of the standards we have to watch because we actually go into those houses ourselves. We made representations to the RTB and the city and county councils regarding the matters. It is not correct to say the Government is inactive in the matter. The Senator may shake her head and dismiss me but sometimes it might be good to listen. All of us recognise that the landlords preying on people who require accommodation must be taken to task, investigated and held to account. Whichever way it is done in terms of accountability-----

I am very disappointed by that answer.

I am not finished at all. The Senator did not let me finish.

It is a very disappointing answer. When we have to see RTÉ-----

There she goes again.

-----yet we are telling the Minister every time we see him.

There she goes again.

I am telling the Leader the truth.

The Senator should respect the Chair. Senator Murnane O'Connor has had her full quota of time. She should allow the Leader to respond. If she does not like the response, she can come back tomorrow and raise the issue again. I do not want interruptions. The Leader should be cognisant of that himself.

I was in the middle of giving a response.

The Leader is being provocative.

I did not hear Senator Leyden.

I said the Leader is being provocative.

The Leader should proceed.

The introduction of new standards has already happened and was set out by Government. There is a commitment of funding for increased inspections. That has already commenced and now extra resources have been ring-fenced for 2018. A new system of compliance will be progressed as part of the change management plan for the RTB which the Minister, Deputy Murphy, announced in September, prior to the "Prime Time" programme. In addition, the Government strategy for the rental sector published in December of last year sets out a wide range of measures with which I ask Senator Murnane O'Connor to familiarise herself.

I attend a housing meeting every week. I am very familiar with them and I know there is nothing being done.

The Senator has had her time. If Senator Murnane O'Connor continues interrupting I will not let her in the next day. We have to have some co-ordination from the Chair. I do not mind a brief interruption but it seems to be an interaction between the Leader and a Member which is not appropriate. The Senator should speak through and respect the Chair.

A total of €7.5 million has been provided to local authorities for inspection purposes over the four years to the end of 2017. In addition, the Government has increased the provision for inspections with €2.5 million in funding to be provided in 2018. The Minister, Deputy Murphy, intends to further increase the annual allowance up to 2021 and €10 million will be invested. This will allow for inspection rates to increase to 25% annually, which means there will be inspections of a property every four years. Each house or apartment will be inspected every four years. The issue of housing and homelessness is one we all want to see addressed as a matter of priority. It does not give any of us any solace to come in here to raise these kind of matters about citizens.

Senator Gavan made reference to the young woman in Limerick. It is unacceptable, whether the lady is living in Cork, Galway, Limerick or wherever, that she is forced to be in the situation she is in. None of us condones or accepts that situation.

I would be very happy to accept Senator Craughwell's amendment to the Order of Business and I commend him for the Bill that he is bringing forward. It is an important piece of legislation that will give recognition to the people who serve our country, in particular those who have died in defence of our nation, and in other armies as well. It is an important Bill and I welcome the fact that he is bringing it to the House. I will accept the amendment.

Can I join with Senators Craughwell, Norris, Swanick, Burke and Coghlan in congratulating Senator Feighan on organising the visit to Westminster yesterday. The issue of Brexit is of course one that is of gargantuan importance to us as a nation, and it is through dialogue and engagement through parliamentarians that we can bring our voice to the table. I know that Members of this House have been very involved with the Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, which produced a very fine report.

Equally I commend Senator Swanick for raising today the memory of the late Senator Gordon Wilson and his daughter. One of the key phrases that he used this morning was "reconciliation". It is by building bridges, as Mary McAleese in her Presidency tried to achieve, that we can bring lasting and secure peace to our island. That is what we all want to see achieved, so that both sides of the political divide can live together in mutual respect and co-operation. I commend the Taoiseach for wearing the poppy yesterday. I note what Senator Norris said about the issue of war, but it is important that the symbolism that we saw yesterday is transferred across all divides. I know that many Members of the House are playing very key roles in that. I would be happy to speak to Senator Gavan, who I think has just left, on the issue he raised yesterday with me as well.

In response to Senator Kelleher, I would be happy to have the Minister for Justice and Equality come to the House. Ireland is committed to adhering to the numbers of refugees that we have agreed to accept. The Senator is right in saying that it is the worst global refugee crisis in modern times. There is Private Members' business tonight in regard to the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017, and the Minister will be here. We will be happy to have the Minister come back again in that regard.

Senator Humphreys raised the issue of the rail strike. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, is not in North Korea. The Minister was on the public airwaves-----

He is there mentally.

Senator Norris, le do thoil.

I cannot speak for his state of mind, but he is very much committed to ensuring that-----

Sorry, Stepaside.

(Interruptions).

He is very much hoping to see both sides return to the mechanisms of the State. Whether he steps aside from the debate or not, I am not sure. However, he is willing, and he is urging both sides to go back to the mechanisms available to them. It is a very serious matter, because to be fair-----

(Interruptions).

-----the issue of rail is one which affects the travelling public. It is also one where the workers, who are frustrated at not having a pay increase, should have their pay demands met in some shape or form. The interesting point that I noted yesterday was that Dermot O'Leary, while on a debate on radio, was reluctant to have Deputy Ross get involved at all, because he felt that the mechanisms of the State were the way to go. That is the way we should go.

In regard to North Korea, it is a very important issue, there is no doubt about that. I am very much of the view that there must be continuing attempts to avoid any type of catastrophe in that part of the world. I welcome the remarks-----

(Interruptions).

I welcome the remarks of President Trump, who said this morning in South Korea that he wanted to avoid military action.

In answer to Senator Humphreys, the Citizens' Assembly produced a report last weekend, and I welcome its deliberations. The national mitigation plan and the energy White Paper reflect the recommendations that came from the Citizens' Assembly last weekend. As the Senator will know, we are having a series of ongoing debates here regarding the annual transition statements. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, will be before the House in the coming weeks in continuation of that. I would be very happy to have that debate continue in regard to the matter the Senator has raised.

In answer to Senator Leyden, the issue of jobs in Athenry is one of absolute importance. The Government has been very committed to the project. It will not be the fault of the Government if the jobs do not come. It ill-behoves us to play politics with it on the floor of this House, when we should have a unified approach, working together to ensure that the jobs are delivered. That is why the Government has been very strong through the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, the Taoiseach, the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Breen, and the Tánaiste in ensuring that the jobs come to our country. We are very fortunate that Apple is located in Cork city. It is a huge employer in our region-----

Thanks to Fianna Fáil.

-----and the previous Government, and all Governments who brought in any type of policy to ensure that as a nation we are open to business, deserves to be complimented. However, it does not behove us at all to come in here and play politics with it.

I am not playing politics with it at all. We are being very constructive.

Where I agree with Senator Leyden is on the point that we must ensure that the regions outside of Dublin and outside the M50 are prioritised for job creation. The Industrial Development Authority, IDA, did this when the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, was at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and this is continued now by the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, and the Tánaiste. Senator Gallagher's point in regard to broadband internet in Monaghan and Cavan is one of extreme importance and seriousness here, because it is about connectivity.

A report was referred to that was given to Monaghan County Council yesterday. I did not quite understand the name of the group that put it forward. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, and the Government must act on it as a priority. I agree with the Senator. Whether it is in west Cork, west Cavan, Monaghan or parts of Mayo, we must ensure that the regions are connected and that we have a platform within which jobs are created outside of the urban areas. That is something the Government is prioritising, and I am very much of the view that what the Senator is referring to should be prioritised.

I join with other speakers in congratulating Senator Freeman on her new appointment to head up Solace House for the Irish diaspora in New York, and I wish her well in her appointment. I know she is not here. Certainly the diaspora was a theme of the last Government, through the appointment of the Minister of State at the then Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional and Rural Affairs with responsibility for the diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan. This continues in this Government through the appointment of the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon. The diaspora is very important to us. The mental health of our diaspora is something that has been perhaps forgotten sometimes, but I am glad to see it prioritised now.

I congratulate Senator Martin Conway on his Dine in the Dark initiative last night. This is about raising the visibility of those who are vision-impaired or blind, and it is important that we continue the work that he has started.

Equally, the Blanchardstown local drugs and alcohol task force's "Think Before you Buy" community initiative is one that we all support and we hope sees results. It is not about different socio-economic groups, but about all of us combined, working to combat the misuse of drugs in our society.

Déanaim comhghairdeas le Marty Walsh as a bheith athtofa mar mhéara ar Bhostún. I join Senator Ó Clochartaigh in congratulating Mayor Marty Walsh. I join the Senator in wishing him well in his new term as Mayor of Boston. He has been a very dynamic Mayor in his first term, and as the Senator quite rightly said, he has never been ashamed or afraid to cite and use his Irish links as a part of his mayoralty. It is a good day for the city of Boston now that Mayor Walsh has been returned.

The situation in Catalonia is an ongoing evolving issue. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Government are aware of that, and are maintaining an overview on the situation. I am sure we will get an insight in the coming weeks when we have a debate in the House on that issue. The issue of the future of Europe and what it stands for is a different issue, and we will have that debate in the coming weeks as well.

Senator Dolan raised the issue of the cost of living for people with disabilities. The budget did see an increase in the allocation of payments to people with disabilities. However, the Senator is right that we need an ongoing debate on the disparity between those who need to pay more to maintain a standard of living and the rest of our citizens. I would be happy to have that debate in the House.

Senator Feighan referred to the issue of Brexit. I hope that we have a debate in the House on Brexit in the coming weeks.

I thank those Members of the House who travelled to Westminster. It is important that we have dialogue. Whether we agree with Members of the UK Parliament on this is irrelevant, this is about ensuring our voice is heard.

Senator Paddy Burke commended the Garda on its work in combating crime. It is important that people who have information regarding a crime go to the Garda. The importance of community policing cannot be overstated. I join the Senator in congratulating the Garda on its work.

Senator Ó Domhnaill referred to the greyhound industry and the issue of the greyhound that tested positive for cocaine. The Irish Greyhound Board, IGB, has a proactive control mechanism in place. Its control committee is carrying out an official investigation regarding that greyhound. The prize money has been frozen, as the Senator is probably aware. It is important to stress that the prize money has not been paid out pending an analytical outcome of no adverse findings. The IGB has enhanced its anti-drug doping regime. If there is an issue that needs to be addressed, the IGB will not be found wanting. The Senator was right in that it is important the IGB listens to the owners and breeders because they are at the heart of the greyhound industry. I join him in emphasising that point.

I have addressed the points raised by Senator Conway-Walsh and Swanick. Senator Ruane raised the issues of sexism, misogyny, sexual abuse and sexual violence. Abusive power has no place in society - none whatever. All of us who are in positions of responsibility as Members of this House and Members of the Oireachtas must play our role in ensuring our work is carried out in a manner that is fair, equitable and has no tolerance of any misuse whatsoever. I would be happy to arrange for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to address the matters the Senator raised. The Minister was to meet members of the Gate Theatre either yesterday or today. This is an issue to which we cannot turn a blind eye. I commend all those women and the men who have come forward who have been victims. I hope they will be given the support and help, in some cases, that is needed for them to get on with their lives and to right a wrong.

Senator Davitt raised the issue of councillors' pay and conditions, an important issue which unifies all of us in this House. Many Members of the House are writing, emailing and telephoning councillors regarding this issue and sometimes I think they do that too much. There is a need for the role of the councillor to be recognised, the hard work they carry out on behalf of the people who elect them and on behalf of their communities where they serve on a variety of boards and strategic policy committees, SPCs, and are involved in amending development plans which require them to be very competent and capable. We are lucky with the quality of people we have in local government. I am confident that the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, together with the Minister with responsibility for local government, Deputy Murphy, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance will address this issue in the coming weeks. It is important that councillors' remuneration is kept up to a level, not least because they deserve it, but that the rate of pay will ensure we have quality people staying on in their roles and continuing to work in local government.

There have been a few false dawns. We had a firm commitment to address this issue, as the Leader is aware because he has been quite active in this respect.

I did not want to leave this issue unaddressed. The time for addressing it has come and gone, which is the reason I raised it.

I appreciate that. I was not referring to the Senator per se. It is important that, collectively, we work to ensure there is success in terms of the pay and conditions of councillors who are doing a huge amount of work in changed circumstances. We recognise that there needs to be an increase in their pay. That is not a matter of us trying to appease our electorate, rather it is based on the fact that we must recognise that the work of a councillor has changed over time. It has now become a more full-time role. We must keep people interested and involved in local government and not lose a body of knowledge and experience that could be lost at any time.

We must keep the coal on the fire.

Absolutely.

The point Senator Norris made about the listening to people and hearing their side of the story first is an important one. I join him in commending Senator Richmond on his dignified response on the radio this morning. The issue of our history in terms of recognising those who died and served in armies in other countries is one we should not just airbrush from history, but one upon which we should reflect. I know from reading the Senator's autobiography that he made a very strong point about that. It is good we can do that. It is a great sign of our maturity as a nation that our Taoiseach or a Member of our House can come in here with a lapel pin recognising and remembering our own people as well.

On the issue of the water refunds, I join Senator Murnane O'Connor in expressing the hope that the people who have paid will get their money back before Christmas. We will not hold up the debate in this House. I am sure that when we get the Bill from the Dáil, it will be passed in this House.

I am happy to accept Senator Craughwell's amendment to the Order of Business.

Senator Gerard Craughwell has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 11 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated that he is prepared to accept the amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.

Order of Business, as amended, agreed to.
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