The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Orders of Reference of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding pre-legislative consideration of Government Bills, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, the 13th report of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight on the amendment of Standing Order 78, to be taken on conclusion of No. 2, without debate; No. 4, motion regarding the establishment of a special committee on gender equality, to be taken on conclusion of No. 3, without debate; No. 5, motion regarding the appointment of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner - referral to committee - to be taken on conclusion of No. 4, without debate; No. 6, motion regarding the Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021 - back from committee – to be taken on conclusion of No. 5, without debate; No. 7, motion regarding the Sectoral Employment Order (Electrical Contracting Sector) 2021, back from committee, to be taken on conclusion of No. 6, without debate; No. 8, Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 - Second Stage to be taken at 1 p.m., and to conclude no later than 3 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 9, statements on Covid-19 and the new measures, from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to be taken at 3.30 p.m., to conclude no later than 5.30 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 10, Finance Bill 2021 - Second Stage, to be taken at 5.40 p.m., to conclude no later than 7.40 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 97(3), the Seanad administrative panel debate, motion regarding maternity and paternity leave for county and city councillors, to be taken at 8 p.m., with the time allocated to the debate not to exceed two hours.
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
I call the father of the House, Senator Norris.
I have received a communication from a very distinguished former Member of the House, Sean Barrett, whom we all remember with admiration and affection. He is very concerned about something that is happening and that perhaps does not have a direct bearing on the business of the House, but I think he has found a link. It is apparently proposed to destroy a notable beautiful green space in the heart of the city of Dublin. We are very lucky to have the likes of St. Stephen's Green, Merrion Square, Mountjoy Square and so on, but green space is at a premium in this city. Apparently, the authorities in Trinity College intend to develop on College Park. They intend to dig it up. A notable historic green space in the centre of Dublin, it is proposed by the college to be the temporary - question mark - location for a gallery and souvenir shop. These things have a habit of getting lodged in and then becoming permanent by accretion. The gallery and shop are supposed to be in place for three years while the Long Room is refitted. However, this business in College Park was never mentioned once at the fellows' meetings at which the Long Room project was discussed. It seems extraordinary it was left out of those discussions. It seems to have been a last-minute addition after a Government grant was secured.
I would like to know whether the Government was told that digging up College Park was part of the deal. This is a political angle, but did the Green Party support digging up College Park? Could the Comptroller and Auditor General investigate before the bulldozers move in? Is this another case of understating the cost of a project, getting it going and then saying, "Oh, it is too late to stop it now as there will be a huge overrun", as with the children's hospital? Could the Government lodge papers in the House stating what precisely it is funding? Was the loss of College Park a later add-on? We in this House are entitled to answers to these questions.
Last Thursday, in The Washington Post, an article opened with the following paragraph:
Europe's ambition to lead the world on data privacy has a weak spot: Ireland. The country's Data Protection Commission works on behalf of 447 million EU citizens to defend their data from Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc. ... Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc. and roughly a dozen other tech giants — and it's been too lax on the job.
On Sunday, in the Business Post, in an excellent story by Aaron Rogan, the Data Protection Commission, DPC, itself acknowledged that it needed a radical reassessment of its structure as it is. This is what the commission said: "unsustainable and unfit for purpose". Yesterday we saw MEPs from all groups in the European Parliament whose members sit on the Parliament's committee on justice and home affairs write to the relevant European Commissioner and copy our Minister for Justice expressing concern about how the general data protection regulation, GDPR, is applied and enforced in Ireland and the operation of the Data Protection Commission.
This has also been raised at the justice committee by its Chair, my friend and colleague Deputy Lawless. Last year, on 23 September and 18 November, I tabled Commencement matters in the House on the functioning of the DPC and the significant reputational risk to Ireland if we do not ensure it is properly structured and adequately resourced. Frankly, I do not believe the Government is taking this issue seriously enough. We need a debate on the role and function of the data protection commissioner. We need the appointment of three data protection commissioners. Given how important and serious this issue is, and given that it is increasingly being brought to global attention, it is time for the Government to wake up and take the issue of the proper resourcing and function of the DPC more seriously.
I also note we had a very good debate on China last week. At the time I raised the question, as I know colleagues have, of a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. We have seen that President Biden's White House has announced it will engage with a diplomatic boycott in line with many other Governments to show their opposition to the human rights abuses of the Chinese Communist Party. How long more do we have to wait before the Department of Foreign Affairs finally makes up its mind?
I compliment RTÉ on the series "The Case I Can't Forget". Last night it showed the Don Tidey case. Next week will mark the anniversary of the murders of Private Patrick Kelly and Garda Gary Sheehan. We should always remember them. Their families are still entitled to justice for their murders.
I want to raise the serious work of the Future of Media Commission. We have yet to see the publication of its report, which sits with the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and the Taoiseach. The Future of Media Commission is not to be confused with the future media commission, whoever came up with that. It is an independent panel set up under the programme for Government. It had its inaugural meeting on 29 October 2020. It was required to report within nine months, which brought us to 29 July. I have learned, in an article by Pat Leahy in The Irish Times, that it has given its final report to the Government. We learned much more through the leaks that led to the article by Pat Leahy.
The report has been considered by the Government for the past five months. Why is it taking the Government so long to publish it? Why are we reading leaks in The Irish Times about the content of the report, specifically with regard to the licence fee? We should not be reading in this way about the contents of a report that cost the Government the considerable amount of €420,000 to publish. It contains a range of measures, not only with regard to the licence fee. It deals with how media should be funded, how the licence fee should be collected and split and conditions attached to funding. These are all critical issues that need to be addressed with media. The Government is still sitting on the report. We have yet to see its publication after five months. We are learning about it through leaks. I feel it will be buried at Christmas. When will we see the publication of the report?
I want to raise several issues. I have received a series of calls and emails in recent days from teachers in the main. The message was the same in all of the correspondence I received. The conditions in which they are working and in which our children are attending school are totally unacceptable. There are stories of windows being left open with the heating turned up to the last but the temperature in the classroom reading just 6°C. I am sure other colleagues in the Chamber are also hearing this. Searching clothing shops for outdoor clothing with a high protective body warmth content is the norm for many teachers in order for them to teach indoors. All the time our children, particularly our younger children, are trying to learn to read and write. In some cases they are unable to hold a pen or pencil due to the cold conditions.
Following these worrying contacts, I tuned into the six o'clock RTÉ news yesterday to listen to Professor Orla Hegarty, who said she believed that all schools should be given HEPA filters. Ms Hegarty is an assistant professor of architecture in University College Dublin and a former member of the special National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, group on ventilation. She stated that if we can control the conditions of infected air, which can be done by measuring it in a building, we can drastically reduce transmissions. She went on to say that if a classroom manages its ventilation and filtration, we can make every school low-risk. The Department of Education tells schools that HEPA filters are available where needed. The problem, schools tell me and as was mentioned in the RTÉ report, is that the process of applying for the HEPA filters and undergoing a risk assessment is too slow. We need to take care of our children. We need to take the red tape out of this process. We are in the middle of a crisis that is affecting both our children and, indeed, our teachers.
The second item I want to raise with the Leader is colour blindness and the case of an apprenticeship for a young person from my home town of Athy, County Kildare. The young person has found a job they enjoy. More important, they have an employer who values them and their work and wants that young person to begin an apprenticeship. The problem is the course involves a colour blindness test that, unfortunately, this young person has failed. However, with corrective lenses they would pass this test every time. I have tried to raise this with the two different Departments with responsibility for education but continue to be passed from one office to another. It seems to me, at a time when we need more and more apprenticeships, we are stopping this young person from following their dream because of an outdated test.
Hear, hear.
We are in the age of technology advances, yet when we have a simple solution, as in this case, it seems we are not willing to accept it. I am sure there are many more young people affected by this than this young person from my home town. I would appreciate it if the Leader would support this person's young dream by way of a follow-up letter to the Department.
I rise to ask the Leader about two issues. I recently met with members of the Collins committee in Clonakilty which is apolitical. They are doing a lot of research on history, and their wish and hope is that somewhere in the capital, which is very important in the context of the treaty etc., in the time that is in it, a life-sized statue of Michael Collins would be erected. It is not a big request. As I said to a former Lord Mayor, ideally it should be in the precincts of Leinster House, which is the political armpit and the basis of our Parliament, but if that is not possible, perhaps Merrion Square or somewhere adjacent to this historic building would be considered.
My second issue is, perhaps, something which I should put down by way of notice of motion. I heard this morning that my home town of Bantry has again been flooded. Last year it was flooded three times. Many of the businesses, because of the annual or biannual flooding, will not get insurance for the property because insurance companies say they will not do it again. The cost to the Bantry Business Association and many traders is severe.
There is a simple reason for this situation. I served in the Bantry Town Commissioners before it was abolished, for whatever reason. The proper flood relief programme was never put in place. If you marry a lot of heavy rain that flows through the rivers and what we call a spring tide or a very high tide, it is inevitable there will be flooding because the water cannot get out, and seawater is clashing with freshwater. This will continue unless serious action is taken by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. This is going on for some time. I have raised this issue since 1989, in this House, of which I have been a Member most of the time, and in the other House. It is unfortunate it is falling on deaf ears. I and the people from that area whom I represent are very frustrated. Perhaps the Leader would raise this issue to see whether a response is forthcoming. If it is not, I will be knocking on the door of the Cathaoirleach to table a Commencement matter early in the new year.
I wish to raise an issue that was actually raised in a Commencement matter earlier by Senators Malcolm Byrne and Cummins. It is about supports for the pantomime and theatre industry following the announcement on Friday. A significant number of these groups are already booked out for the Christmas period and into January. A concert organised by Longford County Council under the live and local fund took place last night.
Tickets had to be returned to people to make sure that the 50% limit was reached. Many pantos are run by voluntary organisations. A fund relating to operating costs was brought in a number of weeks ago but the minimum cost had to be €150,000, which only relates to professional productions. The vast majority of productions are run by local people, including a production in my home town. Longford Traditional Panto has organised a production of Snow White this year and the people involved are Paul and Tracey and their Evolution Stage School. The first panto in the county of Longford was in 2019 and that production was sold out for its ten nights and was attended by 4,500 people. I am involved in the county tourism committee, which sponsors the panto as it is a significant event in the town of Longford and brings people in from around the midlands. The reality is that these groups cannot be sustained. The scheme that was put in place must be extended to cover all groups and theatres over the next four-week period.
I bought tickets to the panto for myself and my children. I was looking forward to going but I do not know whether I will get there now. The organisers are looking to add extra dates to accommodate people or they will have to refund tickets. I ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to encompass all groups in the funding.
I object to the Order of Business and request that No. 4 on the Order Paper be taken with debate. That is the motion regarding the establishment of a special committee on gender equality. This summer, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth launched a consultation seeking the public's view on a review of the Equality Acts. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m, tomorrow and everyone should make their voices heard.
There is significant concern among parents as to the presence of harmful ideological beliefs being taught in our schools, having been introduced by political lobby groups. The Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, LGBT+ Teachers' Group has resources that introduce trans ideology to junior infants - children as young as four years old. The training video shows a teacher telling a class that a boy can change into a girl and that a girl can change into a boy. At any level of biological reality this is simply not true. Teaching this to young children who lack the critical thinking ability to assess the claim is the textbook definition of "indoctrination" and disrupts a critical developmental stage when children need certainty and consistency in their lives. It is intellectual abuse en masse of a captive and impressionable audience who trust the adults in charge of them.
The INTO LGBT+ Teachers' Group, BeLonG To and ShoutOut have been allowed to bring harmful and inappropriate resources, interventions and programmes into school. The fruits of such activities were readily seen last month when an Educate Together secondary school displayed a poster that stated lesbians are non-men attracted to non-men. Why are we so afraid of the word "woman"? I fear for our children, particularly young girls who are the future women of this country and who have been given the short end of the stick by these organisations achieving their political goals. This is a very important issue for debate in this House and we would welcome it.
Did the Senator propose an amendment to the Order of Business?
Just that the issue is taken with debate.
No country has been as affected by emigration over the decades and centuries-----
Hear, hear.
Indeed, since 1800 more than 10 million Irish people have emigrated. I, therefore, welcome the decision that was taken by the Government to introduce a programme in January to regularise the undocumented migrants in this country. This is a welcome and important decision. It will give an opportunity to people who live in our communities or work in our shops, restaurants and care facilities, or deliver stuff to our doors to come out of the shadows, hold their heads up high and take part as full citizens in society.
Hear, hear.
The decision is very welcome and must be championed by all Members.
Definitely.
I commend everybody who campaigned for it so that is the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland, many NGOs and many individuals. It was a very brave decision to campaign for this because many of these people live in very vulnerable situations where if they get sick, they are frightened to ask for help or if they are victims of crime, they are reluctant to go to the Garda or any authority figure.
I commend the Government and everybody who campaigned for this. I wish the best of luck to all the applicants in January. It will be open for six months. It is something we should all be proud of and should all champion.
I would like to try to get some clarity in the new year from the Minister for climate action about the concept of one-stop climate shops. There is a clear commitment for this in the programme for Government. It has been discussed in the climate action plan. It is due to be rolled out in the new year. I would like context in regard to how are they actually going to work, how they will be funded by the Government and where they will be provided. For example, will staff in local authorities provide them? The concept is quite simple. There are so many people in Irish society today who are climate conscious and want to be able to make improvements to their own homes to make a contribution to counteract the climate crisis, whether that is retrofitting their homes, getting solar panels on their roofs or making the transition to electric vehicles. The problem is that it can be difficult and daunting for people to get that information, and get the right information. The concept of these one-stop climate shops is that you can rock in and meet somebody who knows this area inside-out and can give you the proper advice, direct you towards the proper funding applications and tell you about the pros and cons of various initiatives. These one-stop climate shops would be rolled out through our local authorities, meaning that somebody could walk into Louth County Council or any local authority in the country, set out the key things he or she wants to try to do to retrofit his or home or to make a contribution towards climate action and ask how to go about it. The sooner we have them rolled out throughout the country, the better as they will be very useful. I would appreciate an outline from the Minister in the new year about how they intend to work, when they will be rolled out and how much Government funding will be put behind them.
At the earliest opportunity, perhaps in the new year, I would welcome a debate in this House on the generation of electricity from wind, recognising that many of the areas suitable for the capture of wind energy on shore have now been used up and that planning attempts continue to seek to put wind turbines in areas that are not suitable. Frankly, many communities believe there is an overconcentration of wind turbines in their areas. The latest wind energy guidelines have not yet been published and that is unfortunate. I would like to see a more advanced strategy from the Government to look at the potential for offshore wind energy generation. There have been some developments in recent weeks about proposals on the east coast of Ireland but there is an abundance of wind off our west coast. The technologies are developing and it is a bit more complicated because similar to oil rigs, the wind turbines will need to float. We should and could be at the cutting edge of this development. There are real opportunities for us to be part of the beginning of something, to capture the ideas at the start and ultimately to export the technologies that will be developed to secure this kind of electricity. There are real opportunities and I hope we can have a debate on that particular strategy.
I commend the people in the emergency services today who are going out and risking their lives. They are doing so to save lives and to keep our communities safe. On 4 January 2014, the west coast of Clare, including my parish and Lahinch, was ravaged by the sea. Damage to both public and private property amounted to millions of euro, but thankfully we rebuilt. We have one of the best rock armoury systems available, after millions of euro of Government investment following the damage of 2014. As a country, we need to spend billions on flood defences. We are an island nation. We are subjected to major climatic change. We have seen many storms in recent times. In the past decade we have seen more storms and severe weather situations than in the previous two decades. We need to invest in our coastal communities, which do so much for us from a tourism, sporting and a quality of life perspective, and ensure the type of investment made in Lahinch is matched for them.
I call on videographers and social media people who want to get the best photos over the next 24 hours, in addition to those who want to be adventurous and go out and risk their lives without heeding the red warning, to realise this is serious. Lives will be lost. The emergency services in this country have enough to be doing without going out to rescue clowns who believe they are braver than the storm, the sea and the weather. I call on all those types of people, who have been very prevalent in our recent weather experiences, not to go out and to respect the people who are risking their lives to keep our communities safe.
I wish to raise two issues. First, I join Senator Fitzpatrick in respect of the undocumented. I compliment the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and all involved in the launch of the campaign that will allow people to register in January. I met constituents over the weekend who fall into the category in question. They have been studying and doing everything under the radar and want to make a contribution here in Ireland. The opportunity is very welcome. I encourage all who qualify or who are able to apply to become a resident to avail of the opportunity to do so and regularise their circumstances.
I thank all the front-line staff who are outdoors today restoring power and picking up fallen trees. I include the staff in the county councils and OPW and volunteers all across society who are working today to make sure we are all kept safe. I agree with Senator Conway that people should not make unnecessary journeys and stay at home as much as possible.
This week we celebrate the first anniversary of the setting up of the shared island unit. This is at a time when we are celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. It is 23 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Society and Members of both Houses have an opportunity to finally put to rest grievances and differences in this country and have a final peace settlement. It behoves us all to work in that direction and to avail of what is a fantastic opportunity under the Taoiseach's model of a shared island. Given the funds that will be behind the unit over the next five to ten years — €500 million between now and 2025 and another €500 million beyond that — in conjunction with other cross-Border funds, totalling €3.5 billion to 2030, it behoves us as politicians to finally grasp the model of peace, say "No" to sectarian division, and create trust and a way forward to ensure that future generations will recall the difficult times in this country over the past century and that the next century will be one that we all desire.
Today we got notice that Ballinasloe is going to be on the Galway–Athlone cycleway. This is absolutely phenomenal. Members might remember that, at the start of this year, we were asking everyone to support submissions calling for Ballinasloe to be on the route. Its inclusion will really transform the town. The route that has been selected is red route No. 5. We received notice from the cycleway project team this morning. I would like to thank all the groups who made submissions. It just shows the difference that making a submission and taking part makes.
There were more than 1,600 submissions regarding route No. 3 to Mountbellew, and a further 800 submissions regarding route No. 1. It was incredible to see people getting involved, whether families, community groups or businesses. The real challenge is that we need to seek further funding from, I hope, active travel to develop these cycleways and connect these towns. It is wonderful news today, at the end of a long campaign that ran all year. We are looking forward to what it will mean for people in our area.
This morning, I tabled a Commencement matter with Senator Malcolm Byrne in respect of the live entertainment and theatre sector, the 50% capacity constraint that has been placed on venues and the challenges it is causing for local groups and not-for-profit organisations that are in the middle of organising productions, concerts and pantomimes. I gave the examples of Waterford Panto Society, which had a sold-out run of 26 shows at the Theatre Royal, and the producers of A Christmas Carol at Garter Lane Arts Centre. Those groups have bravely decided the show must go on and they are continuing with their productions. Even so, aside from the logistical nightmare the 50% capacity presents to them in having to decide which 50% gets to see the show, they face substantial losses of €47,000 and €25,000, respectively, as a direct result of the 50% capacity limit.
I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent debate with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on this sector. I am cognisant of the supports that have been, and will be, put in place for the professional sector. That is right and proper and it is all well and good, but the local community, not-for-profit, voluntary organisations that are the lifeblood of theatre throughout the country also need to be supported and need urgent clarity from the Government. It would be appropriate to fit such a debate in to the schedule of the House as a matter of urgency.
I invite the Leader to respond on the Order of Business.
Senators Cummins, Malcolm Byrne and Carrigy raised the issue of the supports that are needed for the not-for-profit sector in the theatre and arts industry. The schedule is very busy this week but I will do my best to organise something next week. The Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, met representatives of the industry yesterday, so I hope to hear some fruitful announcements arising from that. I will keep the Senators posted.
I congratulate Senator Dolan. The inclusion of Ballinasloe will make a massive difference to the town and I know she is very pleased about it.
Senator Blaney raised the shared island unit. He is correct about the milestones we have reached and commemorate and in regard to how it is about looking to the future and the opportunities to do things co-operatively and respectfully. Sometimes we lose something in the debate from the politicking around it. People may say they want a particular outcome but all their actions ensure that outcome cannot be achieved. I commended the Taoiseach when he appeared before the House a number of weeks ago, because it is a wonderful initiative. In particular, in his commitment to Northern Ireland and the united Ireland project, the greatest contribution he makes is to listen.
Senators Maria Byrne and Fitzpatrick talked about the campaign announced by the Minister for Justice last week. It is a really generous campaign and the announcement is very welcome, not least when we see how some of our migrant cousins, for want of a better word, are being treated across the EU by certain countries. It is a very generous scheme. When we opened the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, scheme last year in what was an unprecedented time, 16,000 people who did not have PPS numbers came to our Intreo offices because they had no other way of earning money than by coming to the State and taking that big step of declaring themselves as not supposed to be here. We welcomed them and gave them PPS numbers, and that is exactly how human beings and a just society should treat other human beings.
Senators Conway and Maria Byrne commended our outdoor staff and local government workers, the ESB and the OPW. We are in the grips of a storm and some counties are experiencing far worse conditions than we are in Dublin. I commend our staff and thank them for what they do and for keeping us safe.
Senator Dooley asked for a debate on wind energy generation. At a time when we see very large organisations and companies pulling out of wind energy generation in Ireland because of the bureaucratic red tape they have to go through, the timing for a debate is apt. I probably will not get it in next week but I will make sure that we do it very early in January for him and I will come back to him.
Senator McGahon asked when the one-stop climate shops will be established. To be frank, I do not know but I will find out and come back to him on that.
Senator Fitzpatrick also talked about immigration and the history of Ireland and the welcome for a debate on this topic.
Senator Keogan asked for an amendment to the Order of Business. I am sorry to say that I cannot because I do not have the facility to have a debate on that particular topic. Just to inform the Senator, the topic that she has raised and the committee that is being established do not have any relevance to each other today. The debates and the concerns that she has raised are probably best-placed to be brought to that committee and seven Members of the Seanad will be represented on it. We are still establishing the committee today and the Senator can bring her topics and ideas to the committee there.
Senator Carrigy talked about pantomimes. Senator O’Donovan brought the very thoughtful suggestion forward of the people of Clonakilty and of the Michael Collins committee down there for a statue. It is a wonderful idea. He has been a long-time hero of mine and of many others but I certainly will ask the Minister as to what the status and expectation is on that suggestion.
Senator Wall raised two matters. I am aware that he is not in the Chamber at the moment but the case of the young person he raised, who failed the application for the apprenticeship, is completely ludicrous and crazy. It is one of those idiosyncrasies that we have in Ireland. I will contact the Senator’s office, get the name of the young person and I certainly will make sure that both the Secretary General of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister take care of that application. I wish that young person well in their studies.
One thing I do have to raise is the point on which Senator Wall spoke this morning, namely, the welcome announcement finally made by the Minister for Education that €30 million is being allocated for HEPA filters in our primary and secondary schools in order that children do not have to sit in the freezing cold with four jumpers on them any more. The one thing that does concern me is what was reported in the newspapers this morning, which is that the filters are available but that the schools have to choose if they want the filters or some other urgent works that are required in their schools like broken windows or leaky roofs. If that is true - not everything we read in the newspapers is true - it would be outrageous. I wrote to the Minister this morning asking that she clarify that this is not true and that all of our schools, both primary and secondary, will have equal access to HEPA filters, regardless of what other works are required.
Senator Warfield asked for the date of the publication of The Future of Media Commission’s report. I do not know but I will contact the Minister today to find out.
Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about a report in the newspapers yesterday that the Data Protection Commission is under-resourced and underfunded. This is not the first time that the organisation has suggested this. I know from my own days in the Cabinet that the Department of Justice has an annual review with the commission and given the fact that this is a concern that the Data Protection Commissioner has on a recurring and annual basis, perhaps such a review needs to be a little bit more frequent.
Finally, Senator Norris spoke this morning about a green space at the heart of Dublin that he feels is going to be developed unnecessarily. Again, I do not have any details but I will find out and I will get back to the Senator and let him know what is the story.
Senator Keogan has moved an amendment to the Order of Business: "That the motion on the establishment of a special committee on gender equality be taken with debate". However, as the amendment was not seconded in the debate, it consequently falls.